Yeah, I was disappointed by Japan.

Hopefully Italy show Brazil up for the overrated crap that they are.

OH NO

DROGBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

from a set piece again? fack me

pathetic

Japan are crap

Just seen this.

I guess it's another 5m on Paulinho's fee and Monaco will be in for him

The comments re the climate in Brazil made me think.

Although large parts of the Brazil are located in the tropics, 60% of the country's population lives in subtropical areas, which is where a majority of the matches will take place. As it's Southern hemisphere, the tournament will be played at the coolest time of the year.

These are the average July highs and lows (in ºC) for the cities hosting the World Cup next year:

Belo Horizonte 13-24
Brasilia 13-25
Cuiaba 16-31
Curitiba 8-19
Fortaleza 22-29
Manaus 23-32
Natal 19-28
Porto Alegre 11-19
Recife 21-27
Rio 18-26
Salvador 21-26
Sao Paulo 12-22

Expect the temps for most games to be in the mid- to top end of those brackets, as the most common kick-off times are 1pm, 4pm and 5pm local (majority of the latter two), with the odd match at 6pm and 7pm.

That means temps in most of the games should be around the low to middle 20s, which is hot but not really sweltering. In some venues, higher temps added to humidity levels could indeed make for stifling conditions, but it'll presumably be a minority.

Also, considering teams will have plenty of time to acclimatise, playing style could just as much or more of an effect than actual countries/climates of origin. This would mean a greater impact for sides looking to play a higher tempo pressing game. At least against stronger sides, England seem to prefer to sit quite deep and look to counter, so it might not really be that much of a hindrance to them. In some cases, it might actually play into their hands.

No fixtures? No links to squads? No TV coverage info?

Poor form Fabtastic.

Give this thread over to some one good.

Give it to Fiddy

Give it to RGK

I'm flattered you say that, DJ

Mexico
12 Jose CORONA, 2 Francisco RODRIGUEZ, 3 Carlos SALCIDO, 6 Gerardo TORRADO, 10 Giovani DOS SANTOS, 11 Javier AQUINO, 14 Javier HERNANDEZ, 15 Hector MORENO, 17 Jesus ZAVALA, 18 Andres GUARDADO, 22 Gerardo FLORES


Italy
1 Gianluigi BUFFON, 3 Giorgio CHIELLINI, 5 Mattia DE SCIGLIO, 8 Claudio MARCHISIO, 9 Mario BALOTELLI, 15 Andrea BARZAGLI, 16 Daniele DE ROSSI, 18 Riccardo MONTOLIVO, 20 Ignazio ABATE, 21 Andrea PIRLO, 22 Emanuele GIACCHERINI

Vamos Mexico!

Thanks DJ

Substitutes

1Guillermo OCHOA (GK)
23Alfredo TALAVERA (GK)
4Diego REYES
5Jesus MOLINA
7Pablo BARRERA
8Angel REYNA
9Aldo DE NIGRIS
13Severo MEZA
16Hector HERRERA
19Raul JIMENEZ
20Jorge TORRES
21Hiram MIER

DJ's match threads > Fab's match threads

Substitutes

12Salvatore SIRIGU (GK)
13Federico MARCHETTI (GK)
2Christian MAGGIO
4Davide ASTORI
6Antonio CANDREVA
7Alberto AQUILANI
10Sebastian GIOVINCO
11Alberto GILARDINO
14Stephan EL SHAARAWY
17Alessio CERCI
19Leonardo BONUCCI
23Alessandro DIAMANTI

El Shaarawy not starting

Maggio should be starting, he's better than Abate.

Is Poli injured?

Don't rate medicos chances at all today. Seen them a few times in WC qualifying and they've been pretty poor. Can't score to save their lives

Belgium > Mexico

No Carlos Vela for Meixco? When he was crap he was starting, now he's actually had a decent season he's dropped?

Fairly random comment but probably right