World Cup

[smusic 00]

Hope there was a refundable deposit since we hadn't qualified yet.

[RGV Pony]

What are the dates

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

What are the dates

US group matches:

June 16, 2014 U.S. Men vs. Ghana 6 p.m. ET Estadio das Dunas Natal, Brazil
June 22, 2014 U.S. Men vs. Portugal 3 p.m. ET Arena Amazonia Manaus, Brazil
June 26, 2014 U.S. Men vs. Germany 12 p.m. ET Arena Pernambuco Recife, Brazil

Round of 16 is June 28-July 1
Quarterfinals are July 4-5
Semifinals are July 8-9
Final is July 13

[mustangbill67]

Hope there was a refundable deposit since we hadn't qualified yet.

What are you talking about? We won our group.

[mustangbill67]

Hope there was a refundable deposit since we hadn't qualified yet.

What are you talking about? We won our group.

Went back and saw what you were talking about. Buying a package in 2011 seems kinda risky.

[RGV Pony]

What are the dates

US group matches:

June 16, 2014 U.S. Men vs. Ghana 6 p.m. ET Estadio das Dunas Natal, Brazil
June 22, 2014 U.S. Men vs. Portugal 3 p.m. ET Arena Amazonia Manaus, Brazil
June 26, 2014 U.S. Men vs. Germany 12 p.m. ET Arena Pernambuco Recife, Brazil

Round of 16 is June 28-July 1
Quarterfinals are July 4-5
Semifinals are July 8-9
Final is July 13

Crap. Ill be down there but later in the year

[redpony]

June is kind of like fall in the U.S. I don't know Brazil but have been told it will be very warm and humid (think Houston late summer). Hope you all have a good trip. Still trying to see if I can make connections for tickets etc.

[GiddyUp]

You think it's gonna be alright for Americans down there? I'm not being scaredy cat, but I hear a lot of chatter from travelers (solo, indie types like me) about the deteriorating state of the cities in terms of crime and theft.

Ive been to RIO a few times, nothing to worry about. I would stick to bus/ticket packages that are catered. Might be a little dicey in the outlying cities, not sure.

[StallionsModelT]

We will qualify. Christiano can't do it all by himself and I fully expect us to take care of Ghana. Germany and USA make it out of the group.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

We will qualify. Christiano can't do it all by himself and I fully expect us to take care of Ghana. Germany and USA make it out of the group.

I agree.

[StallionsModelT]

I think as a dark horse winner I'm going to be with Belgium. Eden Hazard and Christian Benteke are both world class along with a solid back four. I think Belgium could turn some heads and maybe in it all. Anybody else? Other than the usual suspects of Spain/Germany who do you think has a real shot at winning it all?

[mustangfan01]

Ghana has ousted us from the last 2 Cups, I dont see how we can expect to just walk out of there with three points. Ronaldo (literally) single-handedly owned Sweden to get Portugal into the World Cup. You think he couldn't do that against our back four, our weakest links?

I wish I could be a homer but I'll be more than pleasantly surprised if we make it out of the group. Having said that I'll be there -- bucket list trip. May skip the Portugal game in Manaus, though. I also don't plan on being in Brazil when they get ousted...yikes.

Belgium is as good a darkhorse pick as any with Kompany and Hazard. If Columbia can be considered a dark horse, I think that they have a puncher's chance with their attack. Only S. American teams have won S. American Cups, so I'd bet the mortgage on Brazil...though I wouldn't want to be there when they get ousted. Germany is terrifyingly good these days.

[redpony]

My picks would be Germany and Brazil. I suspect that the Brazilians will make every effort to be at the top of their game since the WC is being played there. I am also certain that they don't want to receive the wrath of a large Brazilian crowd.

[StallionsModelT]

Please no Brazil.

[Mustangsabu]

Ghana has ousted us from the last 2 Cups, I dont see how we can expect to just walk out of there with three points. Ronaldo (literally) single-handedly owned Sweden to get Portugal into the World Cup. You think he couldn't do that against our back four, our weakest links?

I wish I could be a homer but I'll be more than pleasantly surprised if we make it out of the group. Having said that I'll be there -- bucket list trip. May skip the Portugal game in Manaus, though. I also don't plan on being in Brazil when they get ousted...yikes.

Belgium is as good a darkhorse pick as any with Kompany and Hazard. If Columbia can be considered a dark horse, I think that they have a puncher's chance with their attack. Only S. American teams have won S. American Cups, so I'd bet the mortgage on Brazil...though I wouldn't want to be there when they get ousted. Germany is terrifyingly good these days.

Fair point except that Sweden are terrible. Ireland, who are truly awful right now, gave them good games home and away. Portugal are just CR. I would be very disappointed if the US lose that game unless CR does something truly ridiculous. The US should score two against them easily.