World Cup: Australia vs Chile Preview

This one is going to be the anticlimactic finish to the day for most. Australia v Chile. So let's get to it. A few to choose from, but most are recent for Australia.

Mark Schwarzer 

 v

Elias Figueroa

Schwarzer has been a steady rock in the back for Australia.  With a career some 20 years and 109 appearance for the Socceroos, Schwarzer has appeared in 3 World Cups, Uefa Cup twice, and been a team Player of the Year and nearly as long player in the EPL.  Schwarzer's abilities can't be looked over, and he can be perhaps considered the best Aussie player ever.  He finally announced his retirement this year.

Figueroa has 47 appearances for Chile with two goals to his name at the international level.  Perhaps the most visually/spacially aware player in the game in defense, Elias is by far the most storied Chilean player of all time.

World Cup 2014: Netherlands vs Spain Preview

Ooooo kids.  Pull up a chair and let me tell you about two of the most storied players in the game.

Alfredo Di Stefano

vs.

Johan Cruyff

Di Stefano, born to Italian immigrants in Buenos Aires,

World Cup 2014: Cameroon v Mexico Preview

Well, it's off and running.

Today we get our first full day of games, which of course seems to overlap with my USSF licensing class and drive there, but so be it.

I bring you your first matchup of the day:

Roger Milla 

vs.

 Cuauhtemoc Blanco

World Cup 2014: Brazil vs Croatia Highlights

Well... Brazil was looking pretty suspect along the back line yesterday and Croatia came out surprisingly to attack. Good to see teams want to win against them rather than lay back and try to draw.
That said, here are your highlights (*Warning: I've had to relink a video 3 times as FIFA has been ruthless in cracking down on any vids, even highlights):

 
Brazylia - Chorwacja 3:1 All Goals & Highlights... by GoldenNightpl

Two things of note, if Brazil can't shore up that defense before the 2nd round, they are going to more than the ref's help to win and there were some seriously suspect calls in this game. Sure, there was a hand on Fred's shoulder, but he dropped like a rock (which we here at TSI never like to see) and that whistled foul in the Brazilian box on a in air challenge was dubious as I've seen that same call in several other UEFA/CL games not be whistled as it was a 50/50 ball.  Would Croatia have scored? Maybe, maybe not, but to whistle that dead so quickly will make me question that ref next time.

Your final, 3-1 Brazil, just as we predicted. Video: Dailymotion

World Cup 2014: Brazil v Croatia Preview

Alright kids.  Last World Cup we did a WAGs matchup and we'll continue that with our Facebook page, but here, we'll show the true fans a matchup worthy of their time.

Today, at 3pm CST, Brazil v Croatia.

In our minds, it'll be:

vs.

Both phenomenal players for their countries.  We could have gone the easy route with Pele, but Socrates was more than a player, he was a statesman and all around great man of the people.

We'll give you a taste...