US Arrives in Congested Sao Paulo for World Cup

Assciated Press ^ | June 9, 2014 | RONALD BLUM

[Berlin_Freeper]

The 4,080-mile overnight flight to Sao Paulo was easy for the U.S. World Cup team.

A 4-mile bus ride from its base hotel through the city's perpetually congested streets to the Americans' training camp was another matter.

"We haven't had any problem, other than the traffic. But other than that, not too bad," goalkeeper Tim Howard said Monday after the Americans arrived in Brazil exactly one week before their World Cup opener against Ghana.

[moose07]

What’s with the Negative vibes .....it only happens once every Four years.
Wave a flag and get the Beers in.
:)

[Berlin_Freeper]

warmup matches

June 10 in East Rutherford, N.J.
Portugal-Ireland

[Berlin_Freeper]

Portugal Boss Agonizes Over Cristiano Ronaldo, Pepe
Both Cristiano Ronaldo and Pepe have not been able to play a full part in Portugal's preparations and have missed the last two warm-up games, a barely deserved 1-0 win over Mexico and a dull 0-0 draw with Greece.

After practice at Jets' complex, Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo tries throwing football
Ronaldo also punted and placekicked a football. At the end of the post-practice fun, Portuguese players stood under the Jets’ goal posts and tried to determine who could jump the highest toward the crossbar.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Is this Netherlands training or Mortal Kombat: Holland? (video)
Apparently Louis van Gaal loves using our old Western New York park game called ‘Kill The Kid With The Ball’ in World Cup training for the Netherlands.

Is it any wonder the Dutch have injury concerns for the tournament in Brazil?

Man United Striker Survives Bizarre Kiteboard Scare
“There is no reason for concern. It’s nothing serious, just a few scratches.”

[Berlin_Freeper]

How World Cup could sway Ontario election outcome
Call it the football factor: If Thursday's Ontario election is as close as polls are hinting, the outcome could be tilted by a soccer game 8,000 kilometres away — a possibility several campaign teams are already bracing for.

[ken5050]

Good morning!!!!

Very good and totally unexpected things have happened for the US team once before, and in Brazil, the "Miracle on Grass":

Here's the video highlites

Here's the story: US shocks England in 1950 World Cup

Some historians of the game consider it the biggest upset ever in the World Cup!!

[Berlin_Freeper]

Football fans in China buy fake sick notes ahead of World Cup
The World Cup is apparently making a lot of people "ill" in China.

Football fans are preparing for the kick off the biggest sporting event of the year by purchasing fake sick notes online.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Good morning! :)
Hot in Berlin (91).
I ordered an ice cream.
They said they can’t deliver an ice cream.
I ordered 4 ice creams.
Now I am stocked!

[Tredegar]

England 0-1 USA in 1950 really was an earth-shaking upset. When the result reached London, the news agencies assumed it must have been a typing mistake. Surely the correct score was 10-1 to England?!!

It just goes to show what is possible. Billy Wright’s England were widely expected to win that tournament.

[Berlin_Freeper]

World Cup birthday paradox

England football fan rides scooter from London to Brazil

London Underground to ruin the World Cup for commuters with spoilers

The expert Norwegian guide on how to pick a team at the World Cup if your country didn't make it

[ken5050]

If you read the story, the US coach told reporters before that game that his team had no chance....they were “sheep being led to the slaughter.” Wonder if the current US coach knew this when he declared they couldn’t win..

[Berlin_Freeper]

Why Honduras can shock the world in Brazil
Four years ago, Switzerland and Honduras drew 0-0 in the group stage and despite the Swiss improving since then, a similar result could be on the cards in Brazil. Honduras could just as easily snatch a victory and the Ecuador result against England would’ve been welcomed by Honduras, as the South American nation now have heightened expectations for the tournament after securing a draw against the Three Lions.

[ken5050]

Check this out !!! A little diversion:

Sean Garnier, disguised as an old man, gets into a street game in Brazil

Amazing moves...he's the Meadowlark Lemon of soccer..

[Berlin_Freeper]

LoL!
Soccer for untrained 70-year-old men yields amazing results

[BeadCounter]

What do you suggest? Steroid dominated sports like football and baseball? I’ve seen the detracting statements in 2 threads. Now, tell us what is better?

[dfwgator]

LeBron sucks.

[BeadCounter]

England 0-1 USA in 1950 really was an earth-shaking upset. When the result reached London, the news agencies assumed it must have been a typing mistake. Surely the correct score was 10-1 to England?!!

It just goes to show what is possible. Billy Wright’s England were widely expected to win that tournament.

On the other hand, let's remember England had never played in any prior World Cups, yes, a fault maybe by the FA.

As for the movie, "The game of their lives" or "Miracle Match", there was no skirmish in the USA before the two teams went to Brazil. There was no arrogant English Banquet speech as the movie has by Stanley Mortensen who played for England. All that seems totally manufactured, I don't know where they got this from.

Who was Stanley Mortensen who is pegged as a troublemaker in that movie?

South Shields-born Mortensen went to war in 1939 as a wireless operator and overcame an injury – sustained when his RAF bomber crashed, leaving him as the only survivor – to become one of England's best post-war players.

Stanley Mortensen was born in South Shields on 26th May 1921. His grandfather was a Norwegian sailor who settled in England. Mortensen's father died when he was five years old and he experienced a great deal of poverty in his childhood.

So he had a fair amount of Scandinavian in him to begin with.

Oh, and as for the movie again, no way was Stanley Matthews enjoying the beach at Copacabana, taking time off to not play in that game as the movie shows. Matthews was hurt.

Oh, and the USA squad with a few players of Italian heritage and the referees were Italian?? It sounds like some fouls could have been called that weren't according to Sir Thomas Finney's book, perhaps the game itself is on youtube.

Interestingly, there was another wonder team, game of their lives in 1966 with the North Koreans and another film though that is a documentary. And it is actually a BBC documentary probably at Youtube as well

So per football/soccer, I enjoy it but take it all with a grain of salt.

There is another movie on the 1954 World Cup, I believe it is called the "Miracle at Bern". West Germany won.

But other things are written on that World Cup too. Of course, emphasis here is nothing is proven.

When the West Germans won their first World Cup in 1954 — defeating the heavily favored Hungarians — there were immediate accusations that their players had been receiving special injections. Reports in Italy claimed that several of the German players had come down with jaundice.

In 2004 a German television documentary established that injections were indeed given to the players — the team doctor, now 84, had admitted as much, but said the injections were nothing more than vitamin C. He also allowed that the jaundice that affected eight players might have spread because the hypodermic needles were not properly sterilized.

All this proves nothing, but it is worrying because it is suggestive. If both the 1966 and the 1954 teams (and the Germans did win that one) are under a cloud, where does that leave the 1974 team, World Cup winners at a time when the leaked report suggests that doping in West Germany had become “systematic”?

In Soccer.CA Article

Even if one dismisses or does not like this story, it is interesting that beyond a doubt, some of the players contracted jaundice.

Let's not forget no one other than the Germans themselves have investigated this.

The 800-page study by the Humboldt University in Berlin was commissioned in 2008 by the German Olympic sports federation (DOSB) and the Federal Institute of Sport Science (BISp); head of the DOSB is Thomas Bach who is favourite to become next president of the International Olympic Committee. Read more at http://www.worldsoccer.com/columnists/keir-radnedge/west-germanys-culture-of-doping-kept-under-wraps#6U7KPmgka2Cu2zlR.99

Diego? Grew up during a time use of methamphetamine use was more common in sports. Maradona booted out of the 1994 World Cup but who really knows. Ephedrine was used in a lot of products back then.

The list goes on.

[laotzu]

What’s with the Negative vibes

Two reasons: his team was just shamefully embarrasing this
year, and; he cannot find a decent bath-house in Arizona.

[laotzu]

[moose07]

Oh i see....Still got the Hump ,Eh?
Never mind, if the US do well in this tournament it will be something to help drown the sorrows.

I’m liking this tournament already , three teams to cheer for....UK, USA, and anyone playing Australia. (Rugby joke).