I'm hoping we get some surprise winner, Argentina or Belgium maybe...
Either way I just hope to see the beautiful game and not a bunch of diving and red cards as seems to happen most WC's.
Also getting myself ready to stop reading the usual forums and news sites during the day, until I can watch the recorded DVR games each night to avoid getting spoiled on the results.
I'll go out on a limb and say Argentina. So many attacking options, and a solid squad throughout. Almost homefield advantage without the expectation and pressure that will fall upon Brazil. Their motivation to win it, in Brazil, should be very high indeed.
Spain is an obvious choice, but all good things must come to an end. Still a threat to win it of course, but I suspect they will fall just short, a semifinalist at the least.
Germany is another favorite. I love their midfield, but there are questions for me at the back. Lahm's a great player, but I still think the defense will let them down.
Netherlands are another great team, but they always seem to implode at the wrong time and in major tournaments. I think squad harmony and chemistry is an issue for them. And they are not guaranteed to emerge from their group.
Brazil? Another squad full of talent, and what a story it would be. But the weight of expectation will be very difficult to overcome. Ya never know though.
Belgium is a darkhorse. They are entering a 'golden generation', and though I think they won't win now, they will should be among the favorites in Russia. I would love to see Belgium win it, I just suspect it's beyond them this year, but the experience should prove invaluable down the line. Should win their group and maybe get a favorable matchup in the knockouts.
France without Ribery? They seem to have less drama this time around, but not a world cup winning squad in my opinion.
Regardless, can't wait. I just have to suspend my intense hatred of FIFA and Sepp Blatter for a few weeks. That said, I do have empathy for the Brazilian people and I hope they are heard and not completely shunted to the side. Their protests are genuine. I don't mean to politicize, but I also can't blindly enjoy the tournament without considering it's effects on all levels.
Argentina? No freaking way, our performance in this World Cup will be embarrassing, I tell you... Our work performance will be embarrassing, too: we're installing TV sets all over the office. Come to work, seat at the computer... and watch the matches! Between you watching or someone else shouting at the TV, I'm pretty sure nobody will work.
As to the winner, my money is with Brazil as much as I'd hate that. If not, then Germany or England.
You can never, ever rule out Italy. They have always managed to play a great tournament despite being very lackluster in the run up to World and Euro Cups. They will find a way to play, sneak and cheat their way at least into the quarter finals.
Belgium has a great team, but I doubt they will win the Cup this year. Maybe during the Euro in 2016.
IMO the Spanish team is now past its prime, many of their great players are growing old, and they had a tough season. I don't know how good the chemistry is within the team, with players from three seperate teams that don't like each other - Real, Atlético and Barca.
Brasil is a natural contender, but DBond is right, the pressure on them will be enormous. And they are relying too much on Neymar, IMO.
Germany is always strong on paper and should be one of the teams to win, but in the past the players always lost their cool during the important matches against bogey teams like Italy and Spain. And many of the important players have been injured until very recently, and their fitness level is nothing near 100% - Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Lahm, Neuer. Marco Reus got injured during the final test match against Armenia and dropped out of the team.
Let's see who this year's surprise team will be (like Australia in 2006).
I heard they're going to CGI in some blood splatter and spurts to give some credibility to the tough men rolling around on the ground crying at the simplest of brushes from other players.
Those were called Vuvuzelas and I agree they were annoying.
This World Cup will have something called a Caxirola. Has anyone heard it?
For what I can find, it's like a maraca but made of plastic with synthetic beans inside, whatever that might mean. Makes a rattling sound, so, not loud at all. Thanks good.
edit- Nice, and like i said in an earlier topic..i hope we are not unlucky enough to win any future bid if the Qatar one falls through and we are back in the running.
Brasil is a natural contender, but DBond is right, the pressure on them will be enormous. And they are relying too much on Neymar, IMO.
Maybe, but Scolari knows quite well how to take advantage of pressure. Euro 2014 with portugal was a good example, eventhough we were not a contender the expectations were high around here. We have to wait one or two games to see who's playing better and then do the bets..
Brasil is a natural contender, but DBond is right, the pressure on them will be enormous. And they are relying too much on Neymar, IMO.
Maybe, but Scolari knows quite well how to take advantage of pressure. Euro 2014 with portugal was a good example, eventhough we were not a contender the expectations were high around here. We have to wait one or two games to see who's playing better and then do the bets..
Yeah I am also really surprised at the huge Neymar expectations, he has not exactly set the world on fire at Barca yet.
Brasil is a natural contender, but DBond is right, the pressure on them will be enormous. And they are relying too much on Neymar, IMO.
Maybe, but Scolari knows quite well how to take advantage of pressure. Euro 2014 with portugal was a good example, eventhough we were not a contender the expectations were high around here. We have to wait one or two games to see who's playing better and then do the bets..
I'm curious about how the Portuguese team is perceived at home: do you feel that the team is built too much around Ronaldo? I mean there are other good players in your team, like Coentrão, Pepe, Vieirinha, Almeida and Nani, but would the team "work" without Ronaldo (from a psychological point of view)?
At least here, the media are totally focused on Ronaldo and whether he would be able to play on Monday. Granted, he is one of the best players in the world, even though I can't stand his antics. He is a painstaking, hard-working perfectionist, and he is not just relying on his talent. But still.
Brasil is a natural contender, but DBond is right, the pressure on them will be enormous. And they are relying too much on Neymar, IMO.
Maybe, but Scolari knows quite well how to take advantage of pressure. Euro 2014 with portugal was a good example, eventhough we were not a contender the expectations were high around here. We have to wait one or two games to see who's playing better and then do the bets..
I'm curious about how the Portuguese team is perceived at home: do you feel that the team is built too much around Ronaldo? I mean there are other good players in your team, like Coentrão, Pepe, Vieirinha, Almeida and Nani, but would the team "work" without Ronaldo (from a psychological point of view)?
At least here, the media are totally focused on Ronaldo and whether he would be able to play on Monday. Granted, he is one of the best players in the world, even though I can't stand his antics. He is a painstaking, hard-working perfectionist, and he is not just relying on his talent. But still.
Yeah unfortunately Ronaldo is the engine of the team, not just psychologically but as a "brain"! Since players like Rui Costa, Figo, Simão, Pauleta and others left the Portuguese team we have a great dependency of him. We have good values popping up such as William Carvalho and Vieirinha but the team as a whole is IMO a bit weak comparing with the previous generation.
I heard they're going to CGI in some blood splatter and spurts to give some credibility to the tough men rolling around on the ground crying at the simplest of brushes from other players.
Originally Posted By: jack72
I heard that a lot of hollywood talent agents will be going to the matches to see if they can find any good actors on the teams. Also, at the end of the World Cup, Oscars will be handed out for the best dive, and best injury recovery within a 30 second mark.
Hello, how is the transmission of the games out there ? here they muffled the background audio becouse during the opening the audience were chanting hey Dilma, go f#@%¨¨ youself when they saw the president, and out PT.
Thanks all. I worked my arse off for six months over that so it's good to know it's appreciated. There are 30 second edits for TV commercials as well, I saw one of them at half time this evening. There's also a billboard in Times Square, and life-size (or thereabouts) mannequins of the characters in Nike stores around the world.
As for the film. I was 3D modelling supervisor for the environments and props, but did a lot of the modelling and texturing myself as well (sometimes it's the only way to get it done properly). Notable things being the stadium, astronaut, a crap ton of stuff in the favela as well as the footballs and the boots. At one point my own models of my actual bikes were in the sports shop but they got removed for some reason. Still slightly annoyed about that, not that it makes much difference to the final thing.
Will probably be sick of seeing it in a months time
Just an FYI, Univision is streaming all the games from the first two rounds online in the U.S. The websites in spanish, as is the commentary, but the games still international
Its on FB so i dont know if everyone can see it, but this is the outrageous chanting telling the president to go furnicate herself, it was the whole stadium, i'm sure they anticipated this cos during the transmission the audio was muffed https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=670302589710199
Wow what a great world cup, they invested more the elite toop into that carnivale opening, and now its leaking on the internet that police officers destined to keep the peace during the event are not receiving lunch, instead they are treated with a hot dog (FIFA standarts,only sausage and bread) and soda pops.
Yes, in this World Cup they have the goal line technology. But England shouldn't hang its hopes too high, as the technology is coming from a German company
their way at least into the quarter finals. 
