World Cup 2014

Enough with Brazilian tunes, let's have some Rammstein or something.

if frontrunning was the dominant factor in deciding which teams chinese fans support you would expect spain fans and... definitely not arsenal fans

Well Germany was also in the '02 final, presumably a banner year for chinese World Cup pique for obvious reasons

yeah they're unambiguously a superpower both atm and historically, but there's nothing unique about that. also germany were powered into the 02 final purely by oliver kahn bellowing, find it v hard to believe ppl fell in love with that side

They are unambiguous laker/Kobe lovers too so take that fwiw

Think there's probably residual admiration for Germany too pouring over from admiration for German brands too

Probably a racial component too, Germany happens to be the 'right kind if white' but IDK if it'd be articulated in that way

Idk, I can ask my cousin - she's a big fan of Germany

Uh, right in what way?

something about the teutonic stereotype mb? you could probably make some case for germany being the most imperial major side. all the stuff about being impressed by their discipline... hard to know what that means really.

perhaps it's precisely the lack of charismatic individuals that is appealing, but I like the idea of chinese fans en masse looking past roberto carlos/ronaldinho/lucio/ronaldo/cafu & falling for hamann, frings, kahn et al in a big way

Can someone give me a good reason for wanting Argentina to win this, 'cuz I can't think of any.

Messi, Aguero, Higuain, di Maria

(xp) Well Kahn was, uh, quite individual, remember when he had a sort of midlife crisis and left his wife for some Eastern European gal and went totally off the rails... also rivalry with Lehmann brought the LOLs.

If the face of English football for the past x years had been someone other than Rooney perhaps you'd also find yourself with a billion fans on the other side of the globe

yeah they rly should have promoted john terry instead

xxp I picked those three bc I think they have quite a bit of character, idk anything about metzelder or whoever

checks thread

http://nypost.com/2014/07/10/popes-probably-wont-watch-world-cup-final-together/

http://screamer.deadspin.com/argentinas-javier-mascherano-says-he-tore-his-anus-agai-1603023083

I thought it was the Brazilians who got their asses torn up har har...

"the Dutch had spent the entire 2nd half trying to find an opening in Argentine's fierce defense line"

(or something)

uh, guess we all just missed the fact that Vlaar's penalty NEARLY WENT IN ON THE FUCKING REBOUND

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43-EtYWhhAc

that was van gaal's plan all along. it only just failed.

master tactician

Already been debunked. Vlaar touches it for a second time, nudging it towards the goal with his shoulder/chest.

and his weiner

Guys, I have determined that the winner of the whopping World Cup wager was an ilxor and that ilxor was - wait for it -Wiggy Woo.

It doesn't cross the line anyway

https://vine.co/v/MxBLtbXX5P0

No rebounds or second touches or etc etc with penalty shootout pens, though; one hit, one chance to save, that's it.

it actually rolls back a bit at the end but only because the white line is depressed slightly.

Clearly hits his shoulder too:

http://instagram.com/p/qRv0V9pI7_

Anyway, I've got money on Argentina via one of our sweepstakes, and need them to win to get back my stake (it's an auction thing; I paid £10 each for Brazil & Argentina; had they both got to the final I'd have made about £15 profit; though if Argentina finish second and Brazil finish third I think I just about recoup too), but I really like this Germany side, and frankly want to see Adrian Chiles have a hate-aneurysm if they win.

However, I also want to see Messi's dramatic narrative play out by him scoring the winning goal in the World Cup final, and then blah blah 'greatest ever' 'better than Maradona' etc etc. he's already got more international goals than Maradona in the same number of games (or possible 1 more; but he's got about 9 goals more).

I'm aware it didn't cross the line but I didn't see the shoulder. I know you're not allowed a second touch

I really like this Germany side, and frankly want to see Adrian Chiles have a hate-aneurysm if they win.

Might have to switch to ITV coverage to watch that..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBF9MUsNUkQ

talk of penalty crossing the line reminded me of this poor sod

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v509/jobhosle/penalty.gif

Don't remember that? Must've counted then, as it's just gone in off the keeper, I guess?

yeh it counted. in another match he ran off the pitch after fucking up and refused to come back on! http://youtu.be/Yidb1MiKbyI still playing in Morocco though http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khalid_Askri

here's the other cracker from this genre

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fpydN6rejI

gdamn it, why would you cut the video before their reactions, surely that would be the best part?

Amazing. But yeah, stupid cut.

well that was quick

L'Oreal Severs Ties With Viral World Cup Model After Crass Hunting Photo Emerges

L'Oreal has ended its contract with 17-year-old World Cup fan Axelle Despiegelaere, who landed a modeling deal with the world's biggest beauty company after photos of the attractive teen cheering on Belgium went viral.
But fans were outraged after Axelle recently posted a photo of herself to Facebook in which she is holding a rifle, proudly sitting behind what appears to be a dead gazelle she shot while hunting.

The caption read: "Hunting is not a matter of life or death. It's much more important than that..this was about 1 year ago...ready to hunt Americans today haha."

After feeling the heat from fans, Axelle apologized in the comments section of her post, saying "i didn't mean to offend anyone..it was a joke."

But L'Oreal isn't laughing.

The beauty giant tells The Independent that Axelle's contract has been "completed."

"L’Oréal Professionnel Belgium collaborated with her on an ad hoc basis to produce a video for social media use in Belgium," said a spokesperson. "The contract has now been completed."

The announcement came after fans took to social media to express their outrage that L'Oreal would be affiliated with Axelle after her controversial post.

Although the spokesperson said L'Oreal is aware of the photograph, it would not comment on whether it was the reason behind the decision to cut Axelle's contract.

However, they did stress to The Independent that L'Oréal "no longer tests on animals, anywhere in the world, and does not delegate this task to others."

In 2012, the beauty giant even donated $1.2 million to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to help improve the testing of safe chemicals.

Upon arriving home to Belgium after her fame-making trip to the World Cup, Axelle posted to Facebook that she had "Made my decision..signed my contract with L'Oreal!"

Don't see what's so offensive

http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/53be96f16bb3f7ae3be31143-458-628/screen%20shot%202014-07-09%20at%205.09.15%20pm.png

That was only 12 minutes of fame.

fans took to social media to express their outrage that L'Oreal would be affiliated with Axelle after her controversial post

Did this actually happen.

yeah idk, who cares

unless that gazelle is endangered or something

first Luis now Axelle, what a day

can't believe that animals die in 2014

Tbf if a young up and coming model had killed your top star Gazelle Bundchen you'd be pretty peeved too

She will sign a contract with cabela's now

out with a bullet

lol she think she's Tintin in the Congo or some shit.