World Cup 2014

Nice effort by El Tri to keep the hosts at bay and grab a point.

 

Brazil has been a blast. I have drank more in the last four days than the previous two months combined. And I still have a week and a half and four more games to go.

Great pre-game tailgate at an old car dealership (I pretty much lost my voice before the game from the non stop songs/chants and entertaining every other city bus that stopped right outside our patio) followed by a huge walk to the stadium where we basically took over the street. Word here was that there was roughly 20,000 US fans, which was 5,000 more than what Mexico brought.

The Ghana Vice President (or some other high ranking official who has a huge security detail) was staying at our hotel and the Ghanian contingent was shell shocked after the game. And they probably didn't like that a bunch of us stayed down at the bar until 3 AM blaring music and having a good time.

The last time I was tackled four rows down and didn't care just started high-fiving and hugging people was after the 2005 Cap One Bowl. Exact same feeling with Brooks' goal.

Probably won't be able to post any photos from the games until I get back as I have those on my nicer camera while I can post relatively quick with things taken with my phone (and I didn't take it to the game).

Just got back from snorkeling a couple miles off the coast in a town about an hour north of Natal and I need some more beer.

 

So jealous of you Lax.

So jealous.

 

Great job, LAX, and get that liver prepared for caipirinhas galore!!!!!

Thanks for the update, man.

 

Probably wouldn't have mattered in the end, but do you think Schwarzer would've stopped that shot by Depay that cost them the game?
Yeah, me too.

 

Adios Espana! Shocking. They were never in this tournament.
Think every team still alive thinks they can win it now? Umm, yeah.

 

Agreed on both points. I was surprised at how bad Spain looked.

 

All Championship teams lose their 'edge' not just from a physical standpoint, but more importantly a mental one. Between Casillas with that dreadful parry, to everyone standing around watching, to the missed tap in at the start of the send half. No life, no sense of urgency, the end of an era for sure, but the clarity it brings to everyone that a rebuild is in order makes it easier to bring along a new group of talented players. They won't be gone for long.

 

Before the WC started was reading an article on most overrated/underrated teams. At the top of the overrated list was Ivory Coast. Only saw highlights of their opening win over Japan, but have watched the first 45 of this Columbia match, and they've controlled the action despite it still being 0-0. I guess because they've disappointed in the ACN tourney explains it, but any team with Yaya Toure needs to be reckoned with. That dude can make 10 Sunday Rec. League guys look good.

 

Toure can't help the Rec. League back 4, 2-0 Columbia at the 70 minute mark.. :doh:

 

Luis Suarez just ended Roy Hodgson's employment...well not immediately, but at some point this summer. If he's out of a job, there's always this little club in SW6 that Mr. Hodgson could take back to the top flight. I'm just sayin'....

 

:text-+1: Just what I was thinking. Maybe some day he'll be healthy enough to show why anyone in their right mind would spend so much money to acquire him.

 

Yeah, between they and the Greeks, Cameroon and a couple of the other teams, they're driving away any potential new fans with such ineptness. Be gone soon, nonfinishers! (Which I sincerely hope will not include our lads). The English haven't looked very potent either, come to think of it. The one goal they did get today was pretty, though. Great work from Sturridge and then the much maligned Glen Johnson to set up Rooney on a pedestal. Johnson's assist on that play was just sick.

 

I saw that dreadful Japan-Greece game in person. I was never a fan of the Greeks but that game left me in disgust. I also don't know why Japan kept pumping in balls from out wide when they are a foot shorter than nearly every Greek player. The Brazilian fans were booing for the last ten minutes (mainly towards the Greeks, but also growing impatient with Japan).

Still alive and only have about half of my voice back.