FIFA World Cup 2014

[Casperian]

This 2014 Spain team giving an even worse showing than the 2002 French team.

Spain are going to be the first team to be knocked out of the WC. Unbelievable.

  That's half the fun of the Cup, the unpredictability. They're showing worse on the pitch than the French team, but that was the team that only made the Cup because of Henri's handball, wasn't it? Didn't the team go on a mini-strike during the Cup? I'd have to put them below this Spanish team overall.

Nah, that was 2010. Who's talking about 2002. Which, btw, wasn't the first time something like this happened. I just saw a statistic which showed 6 different reigning champions, including Spain, who got knocked out in the group stages.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

This 2014 Spain team giving an even worse showing than the 2002 French team.

Spain are going to be the first team to be knocked out of the WC. Unbelievable.

It's seems like this is becoming the new "Le Pattern"

France win '98, poo in '02
Italy win in '06, poo in '10
Spain win in '10, poo in '14

[Moranis]

At the risk of diverting this too far from discussions of soccer, what do those of you who are bagging on Diego Costa think of Aron Johansson?

   That he's playing for the country he was born in?

. . . to two Icelandic parents who were here as students, and he was still a toddler when he went back to Iceland.

I got no problem with Aron Johansson choosing to play for the U.S. National team, but apparently the Icelandic Football Federation does:  http://www.businessinsider.com/iceland-statement-aron-johannsson-2013-7

Just saying, if we're cool with the choice Johansson made, it's probably a bit hypocritical to call Diego Costa a turncoat.

I love how Iceland thinks it is about money with Johansson and totally just ignores the fact that the US is and has consistently been in the World Cup, while Iceland has not.

[BballTim]

This 2014 Spain team giving an even worse showing than the 2002 French team.

Spain are going to be the first team to be knocked out of the WC. Unbelievable.

  That's half the fun of the Cup, the unpredictability. They're showing worse on the pitch than the French team, but that was the team that only made the Cup because of Henri's handball, wasn't it? Didn't the team go on a mini-strike during the Cup? I'd have to put them below this Spanish team overall.

Nah, that was 2010. Who's talking about 2002. Which, btw, wasn't the first time something like this happened. I just saw a statistic which showed 6 different reigning champions, including Spain, who got knocked out in the group stages

  Oops! Thought the year was off. Posting and conference calls don't always mix well...

[Moranis]

This 2014 Spain team giving an even worse showing than the 2002 French team.

Spain are going to be the first team to be knocked out of the WC. Unbelievable.

It's seems like this is becoming the new "Le Pattern"

France win '98, poo in '02
Italy win in '06, poo in '10
Spain win in '10, poo in '14

Even Brazil won in 2002 and had to be disappointed losing in the round of 8 in 2006. 

Brazil winning in 94 and then finishing 2nd in 98 is really the last time the defending champion didn't disappoint in the World Cup.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Ha ha.

[AngryAndIrritable]

I live in Spain and it's like somebody died out here.

Nobody to blame but themselves, they don't play well with a target man striker. And should never have played Casillas who has barely played for Real Madrid.

[Sixth Man]

This 2014 Spain team giving an even worse showing than the 2002 French team.

Spain are going to be the first team to be knocked out of the WC. Unbelievable.

It's seems like this is becoming the new "Le Pattern"

France win '98, poo in '02
Italy win in '06, poo in '10
Spain win in '10, poo in '14

Maybe, but I think it's worth noting that France won Euro 2000 and Spain won Euro 2008 and Euro 2012.

[Sixth Man]

I live in Spain and it's like somebody died out here.

Nobody to blame but themselves, they don't play well with a target man striker. And should never have played Casillas who has barely played for Real Madrid.

Not sure why - after all, I thought nobody who lives in Spain considers him/herself a Spaniard.  Just Catalans, Basques, etc.

[makaveli]

since i'm a Arsenal fan, i love Song, and since being a croat i have bitter/sweet feelings with him getting himself red carded ala Pepe. You know better than that Alex. On the other hand, Croatia has to put one more goal between Cameron, just to be on a "safe" side.

[AngryAndIrritable]

I live in Spain and it's like somebody died out here.

Nobody to blame but themselves, they don't play well with a target man striker. And should never have played Casillas who has barely played for Real Madrid.

Not sure why - after all, I thought nobody who lives in Spain considers him/herself a Spaniard.  Just Catalans, Basques, etc.

Not necessarily true. Certain regions of Spain as you mentioned have a great sense of local identity, particularly the Canary Islands where I live. Doesn't mean they don't get mad as hell when their national team loses.

[LatterDayCelticsfan]

2 down 30 to go. Spain done by lack of evolution, Cameroon by lack of execution

[ederson]

It's seems like this is becoming the new "Le Pattern"

France win '98, poo in '02
Italy win in '06, poo in '10
Spain win in '10, poo in '14

there are 2 more cases
Italy won 34,38 poo in 1950
Brazil won 58,62 poo in 1966

[AngryAndIrritable]

2 down 30 to go. Spain done by lack of evolution, Cameroon by lack of execution

3 down. Australia are also out.

[LatterDayCelticsfan]

C'mon Ivory Coast. Save Africa's World Cup!