Ryan O'Leary

Host

Power Ranking Best World Cup Teams

Jun 23, 2014·34 visitors

Alan Abrahamson

Cohost

Stage· 214 messages

Jun 23, 2014

With one group game left for each of the World Cup teams, it's high time to take inventory of the pretenders and contenders. Find out who is set up to make a real challenge for the title, including discussion of the strong performance the U.S. has exhibited.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:00 PM

hey Alan! hey Tawkers! hey viewers!

Ryan O'Leary · 6:00 PM

I'd like to start off this Tawk with the infamous and eternal words of Nancy Kerrigan:

Alan Abrahamson · 6:00 PM

Oh, hey. I was still thinking about how bad Cameroon was. How are you, Ryan!

Ryan O'Leary · 6:00 PM

wwwwwwhyyyyyyyyyyyy wwwwwhhhhhhhyyyyyy

Alan Abrahamson · 6:01 PM

Ranking them all 1-32. 32: Cameroon!

Ryan O'Leary · 6:01 PM

hahaha....ouch Cameroon...that's rough

Alan Abrahamson · 6:01 PM

Your Nancy Kerrigan riff: lolz

Alan Abrahamson · 6:02 PM

Cameroon: worst World Cup team in memory? Seriously.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:02 PM

I felt like I had a lead pipe taken to my heart yesterday...

Alan Abrahamson · 6:02 PM

Come on, my brother. Journalism 101. Why be rooting for these guys? Be rooting for the game. If you are in Lisbon, what would you be thinking?

Ryan O'Leary · 6:02 PM

well, yes, I'm sure you can lump them in with the rabble of other teams that suffer mightily at the World Cup...but props for anyone who can be considered top 32 in the world

Ryan O'Leary · 6:03 PM

I'd be thinking that I'm in enemy territory

Ryan O'Leary · 6:03 PM

yes, journalists, but at the same time, this is an opinion site...so I was just offering mine

Alan Abrahamson · 6:03 PM

So much to talk about. I feel like when I watch Iran play, I am watching defense defense defense oh my good lord so much defense I don't know what to do wake me up ...

Alan Abrahamson · 6:04 PM

Seriously: I watched Iran v. Nigeria. The entire game. Why did I watch Iran v. Nigeria? What is wrong with me?

Ryan O'Leary · 6:04 PM

then Messi gives you a wonder strike, like only few can

Alan Abrahamson · 6:04 PM

Yes, that Messi goal was ... awesome.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:04 PM

you obviously neglected the "honey-do" list that day

Alan Abrahamson · 6:04 PM

But so was the Suarez cannon strike.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:04 PM

I'm sure you paid for it

Ryan O'Leary · 6:04 PM

Suarez is next level right now

Alan Abrahamson · 6:04 PM

So is Van Persie. And Robben. And Muller.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:04 PM

we've seen a few stars actually headline this tournament, which is great to draw folks in

Ryan O'Leary · 6:05 PM

Dempsey

Alan Abrahamson · 6:05 PM

A personal note, and for this I want to give profound thanks to soccer, and the World Cup.

Alan Abrahamson · 6:05 PM

My 17-year-old son is not a big sports fan, despite the fact that his father is a sportswriter. The boy, however, loves the World Cup.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:05 PM

and Miro Klose ties the record...let's hope he breaks it in the Round of 16

Ryan O'Leary · 6:05 PM

it's hard not to love though?

Alan Abrahamson · 6:05 PM

He has come home from his summer job yakking about soccer. And in particular Mexico's goalkeeper. Ochoa! Ochoa! Ochoa!

Ryan O'Leary · 6:05 PM

there is something innate and elemental that draws you in

Alan Abrahamson · 6:06 PM

So for this, we give thanks to FIFA and the 2014 tournament.

Alan Abrahamson · 6:06 PM

The boy wants to know when Memo is going to get a real contract. Attention, all clubs ...

Ryan O'Leary · 6:06 PM

yes, and how many conversations or articles have been written about political discord, rioting, strikes or problems with building projects?

Alan Abrahamson · 6:07 PM

To your last note: this is normal. Once the games get going, the rest of it tends to fall by the wayside. Same at the Olympics.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:07 PM

this is the power of sport -- especially international sport -- and the reason why I'm so hooked

Ryan O'Leary · 6:07 PM

exactly...but if the product was bad, scribes would be switching the conversation

Alan Abrahamson · 6:08 PM

Let us all hold our breath that no incident happens to take away from the games themselves. That way we can focus on the power of sport to remind us that, maybe, just maybe, the brilliance of the games can help bring us together. Maybe.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:08 PM

agreed...that's a noble cause right there

Ryan O'Leary · 6:08 PM

okay okay...so we've seen a lot of soccer

Ryan O'Leary · 6:08 PM

what are you most surprised about as we sit in this moment of the tournament?

Alan Abrahamson · 6:09 PM

At the risk of beating the horse: that Cameroon was in the tournament. That's one of the 32 best in the world? How is Ukraine feeling right now? For real.

Alan Abrahamson · 6:09 PM

How can a team so undisciplined in virtually every way be in this showcase?

Ryan O'Leary · 6:09 PM

(speaking of political issues)

Ryan O'Leary · 6:10 PM

ask that about France in 2010

Alan Abrahamson · 6:10 PM

The Indomitable Lions need some domitable.

Alan Abrahamson · 6:10 PM

No, this is way, way, way worse than France four years ago. This was just b-a-d.

Alan Abrahamson · 6:10 PM

Alex Song is now gone for three games. That was a malicious hit he delivered.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:10 PM

France had a coach fired and players walk off the field

Ryan O'Leary · 6:10 PM

well I'm a hockey guy too, so all these hits are child's play

Alan Abrahamson · 6:11 PM

France: for sure. But this was just bad soccer.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:11 PM

that I agree with

Ryan O'Leary · 6:11 PM

let me tell you the two teams I'm most surprised with and have climb the power rankings list

Ryan O'Leary · 6:11 PM

1. Holland

Ryan O'Leary · 6:11 PM

2. France

Alan Abrahamson · 6:12 PM

Holland is for sure No. 1. Van Persie and Robben are rocking.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:12 PM

Holland dropped off hard after the 2010 World Cup where they lost in PKs

Alan Abrahamson · 6:12 PM

France is scoring goals in bunches. Freaky.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:12 PM

they were an afterthought compared to Italy, England, Germany, Spain....but have acquitted themselves nicely

Ryan O'Leary · 6:12 PM

France was a huge question mark

Ryan O'Leary · 6:13 PM

and they're getting phenomenal play

Alan Abrahamson · 6:13 PM

This from my friend Chris Clarey of the NYT on Twitter re Dutch goal production:

Alan Abrahamson · 6:13 PM

3 for Robbenn3 for Van Persie n2 for Depayn1 for De Vrijn1 for Fer

Alan Abrahamson · 6:13 PM

I mean, yow.

Alan Abrahamson · 6:14 PM

That second goal just a few minutes ago v Chile was a thing of sublime beauty.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:14 PM

what happens when Sneijder wakes up?

Alan Abrahamson · 6:15 PM

More goals :)

Alan Abrahamson · 6:15 PM

As for the French, if you say before the tourney that you saw this coming, you are lying :)

Ryan O'Leary · 6:15 PM

I did not

Ryan O'Leary · 6:15 PM

but I knew they'd be improved

Alan Abrahamson · 6:15 PM

No one did. Not even the French press!

Ryan O'Leary · 6:15 PM

and they haven't maximized Paul Pogba yet, the Juventus man

Ryan O'Leary · 6:16 PM

well they hate everything...just ask Lance Armstrong

Alan Abrahamson · 6:16 PM

They were like, o peut etre nous we will be better. Or maybe not.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:16 PM

who would you say looks the strongest in the tournament right now?

Ryan O'Leary · 6:16 PM

give me your top 5

Alan Abrahamson · 6:16 PM

1. Dutch, and with a bullet. Agree?

Alan Abrahamson · 6:18 PM

2. Germany.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:18 PM

1. Okay, I'll agree with that: Netherlands (the Oranje)

Alan Abrahamson · 6:18 PM

3. France.

Alan Abrahamson · 6:18 PM

4. Brazil

Ryan O'Leary · 6:18 PM

2. Brazil for me...tougher opponents faced than Germany

Ryan O'Leary · 6:18 PM

3. This is where I put Germany

Ryan O'Leary · 6:19 PM

4. Brazil....I agree

Alan Abrahamson · 6:20 PM

5. Belgium. This is tough. They have won and not played well. Could put a lot of teams here. Including Argentina. Uruguay. Or even (gasp) Costa Rica. Strange things happen when you play in your own hemisphere.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:20 PM

5. I put Uruguay here, I think they'll knock off Italy tomorrow and we might be discussing Suarez as the best striker on-form in the world right now

Ryan O'Leary · 6:20 PM

and he's basically on one leg. He had surgery when?

Ryan O'Leary · 6:20 PM

★ Spotlighted from Tom Lorenzo

“1. Costa Rica 2. Everyone else”

Ryan O'Leary · 6:20 PM

Tom, you're drunk, go home...hahaha..

Alan Abrahamson · 6:21 PM

My prob with all these other teams is that it's like playing high school football. It's like what the US did Sunday with Portugal and Ronaldo. Or Iran did with Argentina and Messi. You shut down the team's star and you have a chance.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:21 PM

who is your biggest "winner" of the tournament so far?

Alan Abrahamson · 6:21 PM

Second Ryan's motion, Tom. Or keep drinking. Whichever. Tequila works.

Alan Abrahamson · 6:22 PM

"Winner" -- in which sense, please?

Ryan O'Leary · 6:22 PM

okay...I'll give you an example

Ryan O'Leary · 6:22 PM

one of the biggest winners to me is CONCACAF

Alan Abrahamson · 6:22 PM

Totally agree.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:22 PM

this is quite the referendum on all talk of how bad of continental governing body it is

Ryan O'Leary · 6:23 PM

Mexico, USA, Costa Rica...very nice stuff

Ryan O'Leary · 6:23 PM

Suarez is one of my biggest winners right now as well

Alan Abrahamson · 6:23 PM

Ecuador and Honduras have played OK as well. Even Chile played honorably today v Holland.

Alan Abrahamson · 6:24 PM

Let's see how it plays out with Suarez. I totally agree that right now he is on fire. Let's hope he doesn't bite someone. I am being serious. He has to keep his emotions under control. This is the big stage.

Alan Abrahamson · 6:25 PM

I'll tell you one thing I totally love. I love seeing the big stars step it up on the big stage.

Alan Abrahamson · 6:25 PM

Suarez, for instance.

Alan Abrahamson · 6:25 PM

Robben.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:25 PM

so who's your winner?

Alan Abrahamson · 6:26 PM

Van Persie -- to me, his goal is still the goal of the tourney.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:26 PM

yeah, that was a lot of fun...great way to start things off

Ryan O'Leary · 6:27 PM

okay...biggest losers

Ryan O'Leary · 6:27 PM

Spain and England are obvious here

Alan Abrahamson · 6:27 PM

Spain.

Alan Abrahamson · 6:27 PM

England.

Alan Abrahamson · 6:27 PM

English press. I mean it.

Alan Abrahamson · 6:28 PM

To quote Juliet Macur of the NY Times, biggest buzzkill -- US in the last 30 seconds of Sunday's game.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:28 PM

I hate to say this...but Leo Messi could be a major loser

Ryan O'Leary · 6:28 PM

it doesn't look like he has the support

Ryan O'Leary · 6:29 PM

Argentina are arguably in THE WEAKEST group and it's been tough times for them

Alan Abrahamson · 6:29 PM

This is what I was saying: he is like the star QB on a high school football team without an offensive line or receivers.

Alan Abrahamson · 6:29 PM

I mean, Iran shut them down!

Ryan O'Leary · 6:30 PM

yes, I agree

Alan Abrahamson · 6:30 PM

This is not a geopolitical statement, just a soccer question: what is Iran's strategy for scoring goals? Like, what?

Alan Abrahamson · 6:30 PM

Also, I would ask the same question about the American team?

Ryan O'Leary · 6:30 PM

somewhere on the counter, I guess

Alan Abrahamson · 6:31 PM

What is the American offensive strategy? I fail to see one. Hope the ball gets in Clint Dempsey's general direction?

Ryan O'Leary · 6:31 PM

well...you're being harsh here dude

Alan Abrahamson · 6:31 PM

No, just being a sportswriter.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:31 PM

yesterday they attacked down the wings with aplomb

Alan Abrahamson · 6:32 PM

Also, while we are on the subject -- I give D Beasley an A for effort. But, really.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:32 PM

and then, controlled the midfield, very well in fact

Ryan O'Leary · 6:32 PM

I've got Jermaine Jones on line one for you Alan...and he don't look happy

Alan Abrahamson · 6:32 PM

Zusi, to me, is the best player on the field. He and J Jones.

Alan Abrahamson · 6:32 PM

★ Spotlighted from Jeff Rose

“When is the real Bradley going to show up?”

Ryan O'Leary · 6:32 PM

interesting that you mention that, I spent a couple days with Graham in Kansas City leading up to the tournament

Ryan O'Leary · 6:33 PM

great kid...

Alan Abrahamson · 6:33 PM

I am sure Bradley is having nightmares about giving that ball up late late late in the game.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:33 PM

went to lunch, did a shoot with him, rode in his car with him...went to a Sporting KC Game

Ryan O'Leary · 6:33 PM

loves this game, super thoughtful and diligent and has a feeling for the big moment

Ryan O'Leary · 6:34 PM

hence the set up on the second goal in each game

Ryan O'Leary · 6:34 PM

had two game winning goals to win Maryland the National Championship when he was there

Alan Abrahamson · 6:34 PM

Just brutal. I mean, personally you can feel bad for Michael. Professionally, you have to call it the way it is.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:34 PM

had the goal that sent Mexico into the World Cup

Alan Abrahamson · 6:35 PM

Also, why the US tendency to give up early goals? That is, um, not good.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:35 PM

yeah, I can live with the missed goal by Bradley, but I feel like the unforgivable sin here for the U.S. was not sending the ball back down the field to Howard to kill time

Ryan O'Leary · 6:35 PM

Wondo did the same thing, tried to take a guy on one-on-one late in the game

Ryan O'Leary · 6:35 PM

can we get a kneel down play in soccer?

Alan Abrahamson · 6:36 PM

Don't forget that Wondo is in bc Dempsey went out late.

Alan Abrahamson · 6:37 PM

So let us ask the obvious q, Ryan

Ryan O'Leary · 6:37 PM

righfully so

Alan Abrahamson · 6:37 PM

You are the US team.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:37 PM

*rightfully

Alan Abrahamson · 6:37 PM

You think you have the win, and the round of 16 in the bag.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:37 PM

as are you, last time I checked your passport

Alan Abrahamson · 6:37 PM

Then comes the dagger

Alan Abrahamson · 6:37 PM

Now what?

Alan Abrahamson · 6:37 PM

I ask you, sir. Play therapist.

Alan Abrahamson · 6:37 PM

What do you say?

Ryan O'Leary · 6:37 PM

we don't know what the players were thinking

Ryan O'Leary · 6:38 PM

I say this:

Ryan O'Leary · 6:38 PM

before you go off an play Russian Roulette....know that we have 4 bullets in the gun

Ryan O'Leary · 6:38 PM

1. Get the draw...remember Germany only needs a draw itself

Ryan O'Leary · 6:39 PM

2. Portugal and Ghana can draw, and Portugal will be playing for something with some of its players back

Ryan O'Leary · 6:39 PM

3. Portugal can beat Ghana...no reason why not

Ryan O'Leary · 6:39 PM

4. The connection b/w Klinsmann and Löv

Ryan O'Leary · 6:40 PM

when that puppy is tied in the 70th minute, they'll glance at each other down the sideline and call of "das hunds"

Ryan O'Leary · 6:40 PM

and both waltz into the knockout stage

Alan Abrahamson · 6:40 PM

All of that makes perfect sense. And Nate Silver, and the soccer gods, say the US has a 76 percent chance of moving along. All good.

Alan Abrahamson · 6:40 PM

Except ...

Alan Abrahamson · 6:40 PM

It's Ghana.

Alan Abrahamson · 6:40 PM

Ghana!

Alan Abrahamson · 6:40 PM

Again.

Alan Abrahamson · 6:41 PM

If the Americans lose, and Ghana overcomes a two-goal deficit ... the Americans go home.

Alan Abrahamson · 6:41 PM

Agree at the outset that the odds are long for all that to happen.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:41 PM

you are a journalist...lovin' the negative storylines

Alan Abrahamson · 6:41 PM

But -- it's Ghana.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:42 PM

it's true

Ryan O'Leary · 6:42 PM

hopefully they've gotten their fill of putting the dagger in our hearts

Alan Abrahamson · 6:42 PM

2006. 2010. Will history repeat itself again? Yikes.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:42 PM

right?!

Ryan O'Leary · 6:42 PM

okay Alan, final predictions here

Ryan O'Leary · 6:42 PM

rapid fire

Ryan O'Leary · 6:42 PM

Italy/Uruguay?

Alan Abrahamson · 6:43 PM

Uruguay

Alan Abrahamson · 6:43 PM

You?

Ryan O'Leary · 6:43 PM

Mexico/Croatia

Ryan O'Leary · 6:43 PM

Uruguay

Alan Abrahamson · 6:43 PM

I love the "fear" quotes all over the place. Fear!

Alan Abrahamson · 6:44 PM

My son says the only thing to fear is Ochoa.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:44 PM

who is it then?

Alan Abrahamson · 6:44 PM

I say Mexico.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:44 PM

Mexico finishes this out.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:44 PM

Ghana/Portugal?

Alan Abrahamson · 6:44 PM

Ghana.

Alan Abrahamson · 6:45 PM

Portugal is truly not very good.

Alan Abrahamson · 6:45 PM

How they are ranked No. 4 in the world is beyond me.

Alan Abrahamson · 6:45 PM

But -- I don't know whether Ghana can make up the goal differential.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:45 PM

I'll take Portugal...Ghana will leave too much open space for Portugal's attack on the counter

Alan Abrahamson · 6:45 PM

Portugal, it turns out, is the weakest team in the group. Amazing.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:45 PM

alright, lastly, U.S./Germany?

Alan Abrahamson · 6:45 PM

Germany.

Alan Abrahamson · 6:46 PM

The United States needs offense. Until it gets some, it is a spunky underdog in every game.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:46 PM

we'll draw them as well...

Ryan O'Leary · 6:47 PM

I leave you with this Alan

Ryan O'Leary · 6:47 PM

#Ibelievethatwewillwin

Alan Abrahamson · 6:47 PM

Good for you.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:47 PM

follow him @alanabrahamson and me at @BR0leary

Ryan O'Leary · 6:47 PM

do it, do it now

Alan Abrahamson · 6:47 PM

I love your enthusiasm.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:48 PM

alan...I'm a firm believer in being an honest journalist and a passionate believer

Alan Abrahamson · 6:48 PM

Follow the man. He knows soccer. He loves it.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:48 PM

next week Alan?

Alan Abrahamson · 6:48 PM

Next week, Ryan. Let's see the US in the round of 16?

Ryan O'Leary · 6:48 PM

let's have it

Ryan O'Leary · 6:48 PM

viva Mexico...viva la revolucion!

Alan Abrahamson · 6:49 PM

Seriously. Laughed out loud, my friend.

Ryan O'Leary · 6:49 PM

lolz...i'm out

Alan Abrahamson · 6:49 PM

Viva Ochoa!