2014 FIFA World Cup Group Stage Draw - Reaction + Predictions

So, the Group Stage Draw for the 2014 FIFA World Cup is all set. After taking a few hours to digest the newly-formed groups, it's about time for me to share my thoughts on those groups, and offer (very early) predictions on who I think will make it out of the groups. Some groups were easy to predict, and others require a lot of thinking to predict. Anyways, here's what I thought:

Group A: Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon

Not surprisingly, since the World Cup is being hosted by Brazil, they are going to get most of the spotlight in the tournament. Brazil have shown that they can respond well to the pressure of the home crowd (Confederations Cup 2013), so I don't see Brazil having much trouble with their opponents. Cameroon, on the other hand, have a couple of decent players (Eto'o, Song) but I can't see them progressing out of the group.

Mexico and Croatia are interesting to me, as they both underperformed getting to the World Cup. Mexico had an awful CONCACAF campaign and had to beat New Zealand in the FIFA play-off. Croatia had to beat a spirited Iceland side in the UEFA play-off. I picked Croatia to progress because they have more quality players than Mexico, and Mexico were just plain awful in the hex. Mexico needs a lot more improvement than Croatia do.

It's worth noting that Croatia (3429) has to travel almost 3000 miles more than Mexico does (662) to get to their matches. This is an advantage for Mexico, as they will be more fresh than Croatia when they finally play each other for their final group matches.

My Predictions: Brazil to top the group, Croatia to finish runner-up.

Group B: Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia

First things first, I'm sure Australia are just happy to actually make it.

Spain, even though they've regressed slightly, are still one of the top teams in world football and are capable of repeating as World Cup champions. This is obviously a tough group for them, but they'll have these teams chasing the ball up and down the pitch with their tiki-taka style, so I'm sure they'll progress.

The Netherlands and Chile will be the ones to battle it out for the second spot out of the group. Both teams are ruthless and hungry in attack, but they are a bit weak in the back. I picked the Netherlands over Chile because of their experience in big tournaments and Chile are a bit of a young, almost naive side, especially when I watched them play Brazil at the Rogers Centre.

My Predictions: Spain to top the group, Netherlands to finish runner-up.

Group C: Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan

Colombia is my "dark horse" of the tournament. That team has the power to surprise a lot of people and go very deep in the tournament. They are the favourites to finish first in the group. Plus, they have Falcao, who is probably one of the best strikers in world football right now.

It was a tough choice for who would take the second spot. The Ivory Coast are stacked in attacking options (Drogba, Gervinho, Bony) and have Yaya Toure as their midfield destroyer. Japan are playing well right now and have some outstanding creative players in Kagawa and Honda. Greece are industrial (aka boring), but are difficult to break down. I ended up barely choosing the Ivory Coast over Japan.

My Predictions: Colombia to top the group, Ivory Coast to finish runner-up.

Group D: Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy

Costa Rica may be a solid team in CONCACAF, but they have no chance in this group.

Which leaves 3 teams competing for 2 spots. I believe Italy are the best team in this group, but not by much. If their world-renowned defence can stay focused and not make stupid mistakes, then they are winning the group. Uruguay have the best offence in the group, with Suarez and Cavani leading the charge, among other sublime players on that side.

England are another story altogether. They have good players, and on a good day, they can hang with the best of Europe, but they lack creativity. Their style of play is very direct, not very technical, and easy to figure out by opponents. It also doesn't help that there is going to be a media circus around them. The English footballing media hypes up the England players as superstars and make bold claims that "this is our year", but then slam those same players when England are knocked out. A lot of people talk about why England don't have a very good national team. Lets face it, the media is one of the major reasons why.

My Predictions: Italy to top the group, Uruguay to finish runner-up.

Group E: Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras

France ALWAYS seems to get the easiest group. I don't know if this is just coincidence, or Michel Platini is paying FIFA under the table (don't think many would be surprised at that lol). Anyways, France at a World Cup is usually hit (1998, 2006) or miss (2002, 2010). If we were to follow the pattern, France should do just fine. Let's hope there are no more mutinies in that solid core of players.

Honduras did well to get to this stage, but they will be outclassed in this group. It was a bit difficult to choose between Switzerland and Ecuador, but after looking at their teams, I chose the Swiss.

My Predictions: France to top the group, Switzerland to finish runner-up.

Group F: Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iran, Nigeria

Argentina are, by far, the best team in this group. The other teams don't come close. With Argentina, I think the narrative will surround Lionel Messi and say something like: "Can he finally win the World Cup and become one of the best players to ever play the game". Something like that.

Bosnia and Nigeria is close to call for the second spot in the group. I think Bosnia has a bit more quality going forward, and they also have a solid goalkeeper in Asmir Begovic.

Honestly, I can't really say much about the Iran national team, because I don't really know them.

My Predictions: Argentina to top the group, Bosnia-Herzegovina to finish runner-up.

Group G: Germany, Portugal, Ghana, USA

Yikes. I think this is the toughest group of them all in terms of the teams involved.

Germany are the ones that will most likely finish first in the group. They have a number of amazing players that can take the team deep in the tournament. Portugal's national team isn't that great, but they do have Cristiano Ronaldo, a player who can single-handedly turn the match on its head and push Portugal to the later stages of the tournament. Portugal is the perfect example of the "one-man team". Ghana has some very good midfield and attacking options, but I can't see them progressing.

Which brings me to the USA. The odds are stacked against them. If there is any national team I can think of that has the "never say die" attitude, it is the USA, but I think this is too much for them. They have to travel the most out of all the teams in the World Cup, they have to face a Ghana side that knocked them out of the last 2 World Cups, and they have to play two European juggernauts. The American football media can hype the team all they want, but I don't think they will be progressing.

My Predictions: Germany to top the group, Portugal to finish runner-up.

Group H: Belgium, Algeria, Russia, Korea Republic

Belgium have a "golden generation" of players, and many people pick them to be the surprise of the tournament. I don't think they will do well in the later stages of the tournament, but I think they will top the group. I picked Russia to come second, because I don't think Algeria and South Korea will do a whole lot.

My Predictions: Belgium to top the group, Russia to finish runner-up.

So, there you have it. A lot can change between now and June. Some teams that people may have wrote off can go on an incredible run of form, or maybe some teams picked to be favourites may go on a slump. Who knows? I may revisit my predictions closer to the World Cup, but for now, this is what I am sticking with.

Brazil vs. Chile – Post-Game + Media Gallery

It was a bit of an impulse decision, but there was no way I was going to miss this.

I had a ticket to go see the international friendly between Brazil and Chile this past Tuesday at the Rogers Centre. Now, I can’t remember the last time these teams were in Toronto, or if they ever played here at all, but when I sat in my cubicle at work the day of the match, I thought to myself, “This will probably be the only chance I will get to see the Brazilian and Chilean national teams”. Yes, this friendly was a bit of a cash grab, and there will be those who complain that ticket prices were too high, but these people fail to realize that there were thousands of Brazil and Chile fans who would never get the opportunity to see their heroes play in front of their own eyes, and for that kind of experience, it will be worth the money.

I left work and began to walk the few blocks to the Rogers Centre, while stopping off to get something to eat. As I approached the stadium, there was a crescendo of horns and drums surrounding it. Fans were walking around with flags of the two countries around their backs like Superman’s cape. There were kids with face paint of the two countries’ colors, big flags being waved, and fans holding up signs showing their love and admiration for the national teams. The pre-game atmosphere was very festive. There were no signs of crowd trouble, and both sets of fans seemed to get along well.

I was walking up to Gate 2 to enter the stadium, and on the way, I was caught up in a Chilean crowd full of loud banging drums, singing, and dancing. My video doesn’t do it justice. It was absolutely loud.

I entered the stadium and went up to my seat to survey the pitch. The grass looked okay for a field that was hastily put together the day before, but it would be in for a beating when the match starts.

More fans wearing the red of Chile and the yellow of Brazil began to file into the stadium, and soon after, the two teams were out for their warm-ups. There was a constant flash from cameras and phones as the two teams warmed up for the match to follow.

The majority of the cheering was for Neymar, not surprisingly, as he received the loudest roar when his name was called for Brazil’s starting eleven. Soon after the warm-ups, both teams came out for the national anthems to an energetic and raucous crowd at the Rogers Centre.

The first half, I admit, was rather dull. The only big time cheer I heard was when Hulk scored the first goal of the match to make it 1-0 to Brazil. Other than that, both teams were trying to feel each other out. Chile was marching down the field after Brazil’s first goal, but their attacking prowess was seriously lacking for a team that is considered to be an offensive powerhouse.

The early stages of the second half were a bit more adventurous for both teams, but not by much. I started to think that this match wouldn’t be as exciting as I thought it out to be. Then, out of the blue, Eduardo Vargas rips a snapshot that David Luiz lazily attempts to block. Julio Cesar doesn’t even move as the ball nestles in the corner of the net. It’s all tied up at 1-1, and the Chilean fans in the stadium go wild.

After that goal, Brazil ramped up the pressure and began to pepper the Chilean defence with their traditional Brazilian attacking flare. Neymar scored a cheeky backheel goal, but he was offside by a number of yards. A few minutes later, Neymar received the ball inside the 18-yard box and did a double flick over the Chilean goalkeeper, but his shot was blocked. If he were to score a goal from that, it would have easily been the goal of the year. Not long after, the breakthrough for Brazil finally came, when an unmarked Robinho headed in a goal from a cross. It was now 2-1 to Brazil, and Robinho and Neymar did a little dance for the cheering crowd.

The match ended, and Brazil won the friendly by two goals to one. The match initially felt like both teams didn't take the match seriously, but as the match progressed, the drive to win became more entrenched in both teams. At the end, the fans were appreciative of the effort that both Brazil and Chile put in.

Looking back at the match, I thought it was an unforgettable and surreal experience. I got to see some of the best players in the world. Seeing the likes of Neymar and Alexis Sanchez take the field was incredible. Every time they touched the ball, it felt like something magical was going to happen. I felt honoured to see them in the flesh, and I'm sure everyone else in the stadium felt the same way. This experience is something that I will treasure for the rest of my life.

Toronto FC vs. Montreal Impact: Media Gallery

Here are some photos and videos I took of the match between Toronto FC and the Montreal Impact on October 26th, 2013. The reason why I went to the match this past Saturday was not to actively support TFC, but rather to observe what was left in terms of who was still supporting this team, and in terms of the current match day experience. The day was cold, rainy, and windy, but that didn't stop me from going to the match.

First, I have a couple of videos on the pre-game TFC supporters march to BMO Field. The numbers were quite small compared to supporters marches in the past, but they still brought noise and colour on their way to the stadium.

Here are also some pictures of that same march to BMO Field.

The next picture is of the visiting Montreal Impact supporters. There were a lot more visiting supporters than the picture shows, and they actually outnumbered the TFC supporters in the south stand corner. From where I sat in the first half, I sat closer to the TFC supporters sections, and the Impact supporters out-sang the TFC supporters for large stretches of the 1st half. The only time the TFC supporters were louder was right after Robert Earnshaw scored the only goal of the game. The Impact supporters were more organized and made their voices heard, which you couldn't say about the TFC supporters. That is actually quite embarrassing.

Here are a couple of photos of some banners that were shown at BMO Field.

Here is a photo of the south stand midway through the first half. It's a bit depressing looking at it, knowing that a few years ago, the entire south stand was packed to the rafters. The only way of that ever happening again is if TFC start consistently winning, and I don't think they are capable of that. Notice that sections 112/113 were somewhat full.

Around the 85th minute, Montreal Impact were losing 1-0. The visiting Impact supporters were getting a bit antsy, so they lit up some smoke bombs and flares in the away section of BMO Field. One guy also brought in what seemed like a firecracker or homemade firework. Stadium security wasn't pleased, and rushed in to apprehend the perpetrators. There wasn't much resistance, but the situation could have gotten much worse.

So there you have it, my photos and videos from the TFC/Impact match on October 26th, 2013. Hope you enjoyed it!

Time to Walk Away from Toronto FC?

Warning: This post contains some rambling. I just want to get all of my current thoughts about Toronto FC in this one post.

Note: I wrote this before I went to the final game of the season against the Montreal Impact. My experience at that match doesn't change my feelings listed here, but I may write a separate blog post about a few things I noticed about that day.

Before setting out to write this, I took a look at a previous blog post I wrote almost two and a half years ago about the club I once loved. Reading that post took me to a time where not only a significant amount of people in the GTA gave a damn about the club, but there was actually a resemblance of atmosphere at BMO Field. At the time, there were problems surrounding the club, but I had the hope that maybe, just maybe, the club could eventually be successful in Major League Soccer.

Fast forward to today. I don't think it will be possible.

I’ll admit, I had a small feeling that Toronto FC could have been in a worse state than it was in previous years, but I was completely shocked that it is now, a reality. To say that Toronto FC is a circus would be a complete understatement. Toronto FC sucks, plain and simple. I look at every aspect of this organization, and I shake my head. How can this club continue to screw it up after 7 seasons of existence? It boggles my mind. There is always constant change in the club, with more people leaving and coming in than I can keep track of. A coach and/or manager come in, talk a bunch of bullshit like how they are going to bring in “top-class talent” on ultimately overinflated contracts, and then fail miserably on the pitch. Lather, rinse, and repeat.

In terms of the players and management, I don’t need to remind you what has happened this year, but I lost interest as the season dragged on. Now TFC have their supposed shining savior, Tim Leiweke, who, like the others that preceded him, talked a big game about the future of the club. Leiweke hired Tim Bezbatchenko as the new General Manager, who is supposed to improve TFC’s management of the salary cap (which is pretty awful) through statistical analysis. It would be pretty interesting to see this fresh approach on managing the contracts of players, but he is inexperienced in a GM role and managing an actual roster. I don’t see much hope for him though, and I think he’ll probably be gone by the end of next year.

Unfortunately, Tim Leiweke still has faith in Coach Ryan Nelsen, a man who was hired by former GM Kevin Payne while he was still under contract at Queens Park Rangers and was arguably their best player for the first half of their relegation-bound season. The hiring reeked of an “old boys club” smell, as Nelsen had no coaching experience, and hasn’t taken any coaching courses. It became pretty evident soon after that he was out of his depth in Major League Soccer and the losing tradition of Toronto FC continued. I find it infuriating that Ryan Nelsen refuses to take the blame for some defeats, or criticize the team for poor performances when talking to the media (I can’t say if he actually does that in the locker room). What he constantly does, and continues to do, is find excuses for poor performances, usually by blaming referees for their performance in a match. I also noticed that Ryan Nelsen like to coddle his players, as he would regularly say that the players played well after defeats. I simply don’t understand why Tim Leiweke will keep faith in Ryan Nelsen when he clearly isn't good enough to coach in Major League Soccer right now. Ryan Nelsen needs to go, and in his place, bring in a coach with actual MLS experience. He makes Toronto FC feel like a “project” than an actual club.

With all the problems on the team level, I did go to a few matches this season. Honestly, going to TFC matches this season almost felt like going to a funeral. The stadium is nowhere near packed and the only people regularly making noise are the 20-30 supporters in section 111/112. This season, the match-day experience at BMO Field has been devoid of any atmosphere. People finally realize that the team is awful, and are simply not going to the matches anymore.

One major thing I noticed when going to TFC matches this season as opposed to 2007/2008, is that there is a lot more marketing. Now, marketing isn’t a bad thing at all. In fact, it is essential for a product to have some of marketing in order to attract customers. Whenever I went to a TFC match this season, I felt overwhelmed by all the promotions and branding going on at BMO Field. There’s the Budweiser King Club, the Purolator delivery of the match ball, Esquire added time, and the Scotts Turf Builder lounge, just to name a few. Another thing I noticed on match-day is that even though there has been a sharp decrease in attendance at BMO Field, I have noticed a rise in families and young children at the matches. I think one of the reasons for this is because of the increased marketing that Toronto FC has done in order to try and attract more fans and replace the ones that have left. I wonder if Toronto FC knows that the ultimate marketing tool in order to attract fans is to build a successful team. Oops, I let the secret out.

I haven’t got to the biggest reason why Toronto FC is what it is. The reason why Toronto FC has been so awful for so long is because their parent organization, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, has run the club into the ground. I’ve expressed my feelings about MLSE on multiple occasions on Twitter and on the blog, so I don’t feel the need to repeat myself (If you want to learn about Tom Anselmi and MLSE’s attitude about TFC, this article sums it up well). When I heard that Tom Anselmi was resigning from his position at MLSE and that Earl Cochrane would no longer be with the club (among others), I thought I would feel overjoyed. I initially had the hope that maybe things would slowly turn around for the club, but I don’t feel that way now. I believe that the higher-ups at TFC and MLSE have permanently damaged the club’s culture and reputation. What is the first thing a person might think of when they hear “Toronto FC”? It will most likely be something negative.

I feel so drained and defeated whenever I think about Toronto FC. This time of year, it seems like the only good thing TFC is good for is spoiling the playoff chances for other teams, rather than be in the playoffs themselves. I hear the same old thing from these new coaches and managers, and I sigh. The club is a mess, the attendance is sparse at best, and a significant number of supporters, including myself, are sick and tired of it all. I can deal with losing seasons, but it is such a constant and the club seems inept and incapable of getting it right and bouncing back. The club is perpetually stuck in quicksand, and I don’t think they will be able to get out of it at all. The new management is too worried about glitz and glamour (DPs) rather than actual substance (building a team) while talking about the Toronto Argos potentially moving to BMO Field and other things to anger supporters. I can’t take it anymore.

I don’t think I can support this team anymore unless I see a team and a club I can be proud of. In fact, a part of me wants this team to fold and go away.

What about the supporters? A number of people stopped going to the matches for various reasons, but there are still many who remain loyal to Toronto FC. I'll give them credit for sticking with the team through thick and thin, but when does it get to the point that the club is so completely inept that the TFC supporters who remain aren't just supporters, but a herd of sheep following the club into a deep, dark abyss of awfulness. I would just like to know why supporters would still support the team considering all the disrespect the club has given them over the years. Even with all this garbage going on, there are people still willing to support this team. I don't quite understand it. Maybe they are still holding hope? I don't know, but it is worth asking.

I’m not forcing you to support or not support the team, but I’ll make a suggestion. If you are a Toronto FC supporter, think long and hard about where this club is right now. If you feel that the club is still worth supporting, whether it is because you are optimistic about Tim Leiweke and company or because you literally have no one else to support, then do so. If, like me, you think this club is hopeless, and will probably fold before the club shows any sort of resemblance of a winner in the City of Toronto, then there are other things to occupy your time. 

I’m just about done with this team. It’s a shame because I thought that this could be a team I could be proud of many years ago. Now, I think it’s about a 0.001% chance that TFC can be a winning club. The only reason why I would want to go to a TFC match in the future is if I received a free ticket. I can't be emotionally attached to this club anymore until I see a club I can be proud of. Unfortunately, I don't see Toronto FC shaking off the stigma that has plagued the club over the years.

It’s a shame of what could have been if the club got it right.

Why I Miss Going To School...

This September will be the first time that I will not be starting a new school year since I was a young child. I remember when I was younger how much I hated going to school, but as I grew older and went through high school and university, I began to appreciate (and eventually enjoy) going to school and actually learning about something every day. As you may or may not know, this past June, I graduated from university with my Bachelor's degree, and now work full time at a job in my general field of study. Today, I see people posting Facebook statuses, tweets, and just generally talking about going back to school, and it aggravated me. It aggravated me because I know I won't be going back, where I had much more freedom than what I'm doing now.

I hate growing up. I miss school.

Right now, with my job, I'm constantly busy, which means I don't have much time for anything. Some people think that me being busy is a blessing, but it's turning out to be a curse. I get up at 7 in the morning, sit in a cubicle and stare at a computer for 8 hours, and then come back home in the late afternoon. When I come back, I'm usually too tired to do anything. How the hell can I be tired when I sit down at work most of the time? Anyways, at school, I had a lot more free time at my disposal. I was able to have the time to go to class, do homework, work on projects, and study for exams, but I also had the time to socialize. Right now, I don't have much time to socialize with friends, or go out and meet new people.

To build on that last sentence, the only way I get to interact with friends is either by social media or calling/texting. I don't see friends anymore, because I don't have the time for it. It is something I truly miss, and it is something I desperately want back. The only people I see every day are my co-workers, and I don't really see them as friends. They are people I work with, nothing more.

Socializing is just one aspect of what made me happy while I was at school. Another aspect was how liberally I spent my money while I was at school. I would always spend on food, drink, and anything else that I either needed, or enabled me to have a good time or feel happy. Now, even though I am getting regular paychecks, I find myself being much more conservative with my money, and spending only to help my future (though this is a very good thing). You know what I did this week? I opened up an RRSP. Fun, huh? I cared less about money when I was in school, and it was another aspect of my school life that made me happy.

Nowadays, not very many things make me happy. Sure, I get to work in Downtown Toronto and walk around the city on my lunch break, which is mostly enjoyable, but it's not very fulfilling. The train ride to Union Station is reminiscent of my high school days when I would have to take a packed bus to and from school every day. The walk from Union Station to my building is like a death march with hundreds of other suits walking with you with the same drab expression, with the homeless sticking out their hand for change and other people trying to give you flyers you don't need. The elevator to my floor is usually cramped with people and full of the kind of conversation that middle-aged people talk about, such as why their spouses weren't in the mood yet again last night.

I guess what I am trying to say is that my day-to-day life right now is monotonous and predictable, when I compare it to when I went to university. I feel absolutely soulless. The only two ways where I can truly express what is in my soul is through Twitter, and this very blog you are reading. When I was in university, I was able to socialize, and work towards an attainable goal, which was to get my degree. When I was in university, I felt like I still had my soul.

I knew at some point, I would have to take the leap, and finally grow up from school, and enter the working world. I'll admit, I was a bit unprepared, and it surprised me in some ways. For everyone that is about to finish college or university soon (and to those who have just started), enjoy the time you have right now, and cherish it. When you finish school and enter the working world, your entire life will change. I hope it changes for the better for you, and not like how my life ended up. I miss school so much, but these words can't even begin to quantify how much I truly do.

Well, time for me to grow up some more...