2014 FIFA World Cup

[EmergencyIan]

UPDATE: FIFA is now saying that the pitch on the field is satisfactory, in Recife, for the USA/Germany match.

- Ian

[EmergencyIan]

The USA vs Germany may or may not be played today. Currently, the streets are flooded and everyone (staying in downtown Recife) is about 15 miles from the stadium. Currently, it's still raining.

At 11am EDT (in the US) one of the refs and a FIFA official will test the field and make a decision. Kick-off is scheduled for 12pm.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they will be able to play today.

- Ian

PS. The weather conditions are great in the Brasilia where Portugal and Ghana are playing today.

[Hector]

21 reasons why Mexico's coach rules:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjkiebus/reasons-mexicos-head-coach-should-be-your-favorite-human

[Bruce Banner]

England, well, it's England, they haven't been relevant in the World Cup since 1966.

Well, the team has had its highs and lows since '66, sure. Mostly lows, admittedly. I really thought they could have won it in '90 when they reached the semi-final.
Bloody Germans and penalties!

One day... one day the Three Lions will roar again. I just hope it's during my lifetime.

In 1972, when the plane carrying a Uruguayan team crashed in the Andes, it came to light what the survivors had to do in order to survive... It became international news.

Was too young to really remember the event, but saw the movie "Alive" which recounted the tragedy. That was certainly a harrowing ordeal for the survivors.

[Hector]

Think I'll still pass...and go back to my ice cold beer, lol.

[LadyZod]

Mate if drank traditionally can indeed be an acquired taste. However, I an a modern tea drinker and therefore have found the only way I can enjoy Mate is to treat it as loose green tea.

I use a loose tea infuser from Teavana, which brews it, and then pour my strained mate into a cup, where I add my Splenda and lemon. Prepared a cup like this for my dad, who obviously prefers mate out of the gourd and with the bombilla, and even he was impressed at how much better it tastes when prepared like a high and mighty new age tea.

[Hector]

Yeah, I was about ten when that Uruguayan Rugby team crashed in the Andes...it sure fascinated the entire world...harrowing event.

[Hector]

My neighbor and buddy for the last eight years, is Uruguayan (he's married to a Canadian), Lady Zod...he tells me similar stories.

I know Uruguayans are the biggest beef consumers in the world per capita...followed by Argentina.

Yes, biting is in your blood, lol.

He thought me how to grill the perfect cuts of beef.

Check out the parilla he built, he's also the one who taught me how to make awesome chimichurri...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/16329713@N08/sets/72157633246455147/

The only thing I don't like from you guys is Mate...I'm sorry...I just couldn't get into that...

[LadyZod]

If you want to know why Suarez bites or why kids are taught that in Uruguay, I can give you this little gem... As told to me by my dad.

In 1972, when the plane carrying a Uruguayan team crashed in the Andes, it came to light what the survivors had to do in order to survive... It became international news. My dad was playing at the tail end of 72, start of 73 and some games were out of country.

In other nations they were taunted on the field as cannibals. In response, the biting started as if saying "you want cannibal, I'll give you cannibal." The Uruguayan players used it to psych other teams out.

The Andes crash is considered a huge national tragedy for Uruguay and during the 1980 Mundialito held between former World Cup champions, the other teams continued to taunt Uruguay as cannibals.

So the biting is a thing.

That being said Suarez deserves to be fined and banned in the same way Pepe was after the headbutt... Regardless of whatever taunt was sent his way. It's a World Cup, son. Act like it.

[Hector]

Néstor Pekerman's Colombia has not been tested in the worldcup yet. Although I know it is not nice to say, Japan, Greece and Ivory Coast are no real challenge in any shape or form. Uruguay had to play Italy and England, and Chile had to play Holland and Spain.

And who won the Uruguay, Italy, and England group? Costa Rica of course, lol.

Spain has never been the same since Brazil steamrolled them before the World Cup, 3-0.

England, well, it's England, they haven't been relevant in the World Cup since 1966.

Italy also was not all that.

By far the best team you mentioned, the Netherlands, they are definitely a threat to anyone.

My point, Europeans are relying too much on past glory, there's a reason why they haven't won the World Cup in the Americas, that's why despite Colombia cruising, they are a threat...especially to other non-South American teams.

[Hector]

Thanks for that background info, Lady Zod, it was a very interesting read.

[LadyZod]

My dad used to play futbol at the semi-pro level in Uruguay when he was younger. When I was little and he taught me how to play, he taught me how to slide into someone's shin, drop and cry in front of a referee and if crowded, elbow the guy behind me or bite the guy in front. It's how the game is taught to young kids. I thought it was weird cause no one played dirty in the USA, but when we visited my cousins in Uruguay, I'll be darned if those lessons didn't protect me from the neighborhood kids playing ball outside.

That being said, it's not surprising Suarez is a biter. He lived next door to my Grandmother, and I used to watch him play as a boy when I was a teen. What's surprising is he gets caught. The point is not to get caught. You're not supposed to leave marks.

And you know... it's a World Cup. Have some respect you dumb kid!

[Mongoose1983]

Of course they "deserved" to be there. They got the results required to qualify. It's just that they didn't play well once they were there.

You are right and correct, mate.

Hey, kinda strange that no one is talking about possibly the hottest and most dangerous team going about their business under the radar, Colombia.

Néstor Pekerman's Colombia has not been tested in the worldcup yet. Although I know it is not nice to say, Japan, Greece and Ivory Coast are no real challenge in any shape or form. Uruguay had to play Italy and England, and Chile had to play Holland and Spain. We yet have to see what Colombia has to show, but I'm afraid Uruguay will defeat them. And that with or without Suárez.

By the way, one of the teams to play semifinal will come out from the Chile-Brazil and Uruguay-Colombia. That means at least one Southamerican country will be included in the four best teams of the tournament. Argentina might be another one... let's see what Messi and the boys can do with the ball!

[Hector]

Hey, kinda strange that no one is talking about possibly the hottest and most dangerous team going about their business under the radar, Colombia.

And that friggin phenom of theirs, that 22 year old, James Rodriguez, what an impressive young talent, the hell with Neymar...I dig this kid more.

Watch out for Colombia, steamrolling right now...

[Hector]

Uruguay is 3-2-4 all time against Italy.

I guess they were the HUNGRIER team...thanks to Suarez.

I'll be here all week, lol.