World Cup 2014

I bought a new TV!

never underestimate the kneejerk nationalism lurking just beneath the surface of even rational-looking English people

i find myself trying not to tilt to the other extreme of self-loathing, it's a reaction as much as anything else, but when the vast majority of your media is incapable of a clear-eyed assessment of the national team you do tend to get a bit exasperated

Watching England from 3000 miles away is a different experience, they're just treated like a minor curiosity here, certainly not as important as DaMarcus Beasley

all the irl World Cup conversations i've had so far this summer have been peeps not really into football repeating vacuous generalizations or peeps who hate football telling me why it's evil and shd be stopped :(

otm xp

people who hate football otm

careful dude i am still sensitive on this spot

Football should be more evil, but on the field not off

don't worry we will have an opportunity to explore all of the fascinating elements of the english world cup experience just as soon as the tournament gets underway and we have the traditional ilx conversation about england flags in pubs

i spoke to a USA fan after playing at the Y last week and i was pleased to see he was exactly the kind of thick sky-sports-level cliche-spouting pub bore you get in britain, except he probably didn't drink, and he was a bit wronger about some stuff.

we have the traditional ilx conversation about england flags in pubs

You're not in England right now are you? They're WAY down on four years ago.

huh, no i had no idea. that's actually pretty interesting.

post flag

is anyone doing fantasy football?

Welbeck possibly crocked for the first game, I have no problem with this

yes I'm doing the mcdonalds one: http://en.mcdonalds.fantasy.fifa.com/

perfectly chosen photos

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bp2PoDBCIAAST3S.jpg

the pubs i've been to that are going for a world cup thing have all of the flags on display. someone alert richard littlejohn.

Football should be more evil, but on the field not off

Agreed. I want to see more full force, cleats up, ankle stabbings within the box. Then again I'm also a hockey fan...

they are out there now putting up more so i cant but tomorrow i'll take a picture of my estate flags. for blocks of maisonettes where you can see the front or back of 48 homes with only a small concrete courtyard inbetween, yesterday i counted 23 flags*. today there has been coordination between top and bottom tier to put out more bunting. today each bunting and new flag has likely made it hit about 30. also half this estate isn't even english.**

*doing this i counted a union jack and each different string of bunting as 1 piece.
**it may actually be a reaction to this, idk and dont wanna know, we move in two months, let them have a race war.

been seeing a lot of pics of the playing surface in Manaus today

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bp34hZ5IAAA6RG4.jpg

looks like concacaf qualifying, nbd

not gonna suit anybody playing neat passing oh never mind

What Gary Neville's notes* read...

‘When the ball goes into control zone – team must make at least three passes before hitting the CF (centre forward).

‘Once the ball is played into the end zone – 2 MFs (midfielders) try to get in and support for a 3v2.

‘However, if the defending team win the ball back they counter straight away.’

*This is clearly Gary Neville's training notes and not secret tactical information for the big match against Italy. As big supporters of the England team, there's no way MailOnline Sport would publish details that would harm Roy Hodgson's pursuit of World Cup glory.

yeah I am doing a fifa/mcdonalds FF team, ilx league a possibility

i'd be in on that

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bp3MzolCAAA5L77.jpg

"Elfenbeinküste" !!!

don't ever knock that language to me

Jozy's 300/1 for golden boot. Hmm... (Landycakes is 250/1)

mb 3 or 4 more to make a FF league worthwhile?

in

be tight now tho

I'm up for that.

im up for it

I've already got a team and am in a couple of other leagues so count me in too.

wow this thread kinda makes me hate all of you, now i see why all the cool ppl left for I luv football

-- cankles, Saturday, June 23, 2007 8:55 AM (Yesterday) Bookmark Link

psyched to see this guy and other valuable ilxors on the world cup thread proper tbrr

All my football knowledge is based on the period 1990-94 so I'm pretty sure I'll win this thing.

i'm in, putting a lot of faith in my bench full of iranian and algerian dudes.

I'll make a team, what do I do?

fuck it, I'll play

how do i shot, etc

watching pre-WC MOTD. not seen MOTD or shearer for 3ish years. it's not just me, right? shearer is putting on a slightly posher accent.

ha the group of death thing was quite funny

http://i.minus.com/ivwjlOBEtF53h.png

Here's a league I made which you can all join!

http://en.mcdonalds.fantasy.fifa.com/leagues/105415

excellent

I picked an FFL team in our league featuring Ozil, Oscar and Pirlo and with a frontline of Messi, Neymar and Mandzukic. Plus a defence who won't even get on the pitch in the tournament. Defence is boring, and for losers.

Do we need a new thread for the Group Stages or should we just keep this running? It's not ballooned as much as I'd initially thought it would.

was thinking this one would do the job

rename tho obv

oh km

WELCOME TO THE FUCKIN WORLD CUP EVERYONE

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2011/3/23/1300910990310/James-Milner-England-007.jpg

HE'S READY.

ITV is no way to start a tournament :/