World Cup 2018 qualiflying

[Benji]

It's a tough one for Wales. Austria and Serbia will be tough opponents, and ROI won't be guaranteed. I think Serbia will definitely qualify.

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

I don't know why any England supporter would want a tough group for England. It would mean we'd have to show our hand earlier and wouldn't have the chance to test out some other players. Which is partly why I think this "100% record in qualification" aim for the Euros is moronic. If we have a free game or two then we should make the most of them.

 

[Leewilson]

I don't know why any England supporter would want a tough group for England. It would mean we'd have to show our hand earlier and wouldn't have the chance to test out some other players. Which is partly why I think this "100% record in qualification" aim for the Euros is moronic. If we have a free game or two then we should make the most of them.

It's a mentality thing for me. We canter through our group with little challenge in 3rd gear. I'd rather us show our hand earlier and have our 18-20 players that we're realistically looking to take to the tournament gaining experience with each other in a higher stakes type of game. That breeds more confidence and self belief in a side that they can win a tournament as opposed to beating Slovenia and Slovakia home and away. Plus, the whole showing your hand thing. I don't think it's any massive secret as to who our starting 11 will be by the time these tournaments come around. There may be 1-2 positions up for grabs but there's largely few secrets.

Easy draws have hardly been the best preparation in the last 10 years or so. By the time we've got to the tournament and had a step up, we've struggled.

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

Plus, the whole showing your hand thing. I don't think it's any massive secret as to who our starting 11 will be by the time these tournaments come around. There may be 1-2 positions up for grabs but there's largely few secrets.

Not sure what your point is. Starting XI tells you very little. This isn't Football Manager.

 

[Modernist]

Another great draw for England, we don't half get some easy qualifying groups. Scotland v England is always tastey, Scotland on the up, could go close.

 

[mnb089mnb]

I guess England were preparing to show their hand in the 2nd Round of World Cup 2014.

Accidentally folded in the group stage.

 

[mente captus]

I don't know why any England supporter would want a tough group for England. It would mean we'd have to show our hand earlier and wouldn't have the chance to test out some other players. Which is partly why I think this "100% record in qualification" aim for the Euros is moronic. If we have a free game or two then we should make the most of them.

whats the meaning of testing players vs. Lithuania? if you want to test players, then against Germany, France and so on.....

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

And risk not qualifying?

 

[Alty]

Poor Northern Ireland.

Wales group is very exciting on paper. The top four seeds could quite feasibly qualify.

Really? The important thing was to avoid a very strong second seed and we've done that.

I'm happy enough with that draw.

 

[Alty]

Not sure what your point is. Starting XI tells you very little. This isn't Football Manager.

He's talking about starting xi and tactical approach. It's very rare that a team can actually surprise the opposition in a high stakes game. It's more about executing your gameplan well on the day. That'll be easier if the players have done it - and therefore believe they can do it again - against top opposition in a meaningful game.

 

[Etienne Vermeer]

It's a tough one for Wales. Austria and Serbia will be tough opponents, and ROI won't be guaranteed. I think Serbia will definitely qualify.

Serbs aren't all that. Austria will win that group.

 

[DarkSithLord]

England fixtures

England:

2016

September 4: (a) v Slovakia

October 8: (h) v Malta

October 11: (a) v Slovenia

November 11: (h) v Scotland

2017

March 26: (h) v Lithuania

June 10: (a) v Scotland

September 1: (a) v Malta

September 4: (h) v Slovakia

October 5: (h) v Slovenia

October 8: (a) v Lithuania

 

[Dazza]

Will probably go to all our home games.Can't go to any of the away games though as i'm not a member of the England supporters travel club.

 

[Libertadores FC]

Great to see new fixtures for South America rather than them being pre-determined. Peru has a much better chance of qualifying now.

Before, we HAD to beat Paraguay at home in the first game which was usually not much of a problem but there was a lot of pressure to win the game, then we had Chile away, Brazil at home, Ecuador away which we usually didn't win any of the games. I can see us losing to Colombia in the first game but then winning our next 2. I have a feeling we'll finally break our horrible away form as well.

Not going to make any predictions just yet though.

 

[ArmchairDiehard]

Serbs aren't all that. Austria will win that group.

Agree on Austria. They're starting to get a really good side together.

 

[ArmchairDiehard]

I'm actually excited about Englands group. There are a few decent away trips that I plan on doing too.

 

[epic73]

As Long as we dont get San Marino I will be happy!

Ireland will happily take your San Marino.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Ireland will happily take your San Marino.

I am sure anyone would. But after several games against them in recent years you get a bit tired of them

 

[lisbongooner]

Netherlands got a difficult group though. They're with France and Sweden.

 

[epic73]

Netherlands got a difficult group though. They're with France and Sweden.

So France will qualify through the playoffs for the third time running?

 

[lisbongooner]

It's still a year away. We know France and Holland will be battling for 2nd place. Sweden looks like they will take the top this time, after failing to qualify last year.

 

[mente captus]

Can received his first call-up

 

[Libertadores FC]

What the hell is going on in Jamaica!? Nicaragua are winning 3-0 at the moment.

 

[mistermagic]

Had no idea the European pots were drawn. I like our group. We'll the 3 minnows are boring as usual but playing Sweden and Holland should be fun.

 

[Libertadores FC]

Jamaica beat Nicaragua away as I expected them to. I didn't see the first game but those 2 goals Jamaica scored in Kingston were their saving grace. Canada, again not being broadcasted on TV, drew 1-1 away to Belize progressing to the groups. I don't support them, but I am still hoping they don't get beat 8-1 by Honduras again.

 

[Libertadores FC]

Fuck. We have our first 2 qualifiers against good teams and Vargas and Farfan get injured. Hopefully Carillo can perform.

 

[Libertadores FC]

The South American qualifiers start today.

Bolivia should be beating Uruguay comfortably. Uruguay are missing Suarez and Cavani for this match and also have to play in La Paz, a place where Uruguay never wins at. Their forwards will be Stuani and Hernandez. Bolivia is missing SOME players as well like Marcelo Moreno but they aren't missing enough and players such as Chumacero will be key for them. My prediction, a 3-0 win for Bolivia.

Colombia vs Peru is second, and I feel beating Colombia is possible. Gareca has changed the attitude completely and its finally time we break our horrible competitive away form. Not only that but Colombia are sending out a really weird team. Macnelly Torres is replacing James Rodriguez which says a lot about their depth, Cardona is playing in CM which really confuses me as he isn't a central midfielder. Cuadrado in CM is somewhat understandable but he's not natural there so there is a possibly it will go all wrong for him. As expected, Teo Guttierez is starting. Pekerman really rates him similar to Mourinho with Ivanovic. As for our lineup, it seems we are starting with Yotun in attacking midfielder, which confuses me but other than that, I'm impressed with our lineup without Farfan. Carillo and Cueva have both improved a lot, and we have both our important midfielders. If I had to make a prediction, I'd say a 1-1.

Paraguay should beat Venezuela today regardless if they're away. Barrios is a very good player and he's scoring quite a bit for Palmeiras. I rate San Lorenzo's Ortigoza as well. I thought he had a good Copa America this year. As for Venezuela, Arango is as good as done with the national team. Its really just Rondon now. Paraguay to win 2-0.

Chile have pretty much everybody with them, and with Sanchez in form, they will be a force to be reckoned with. Brazil look really poor aside from Douglas Costa. Neymar and Coutinho are missing. I know Chile have an awful record against Brazil, but I still think Chile will win 3-0 today. Even though I hate the Chilean national team, they are really, really good and with Brazil missing 2 important players, it doesn't go in their favour. David Luiz is still there. Maybe he's alright as a midfielder? As a defender, he isn't very good really.

Lastly, Argentina are missing Messi but they aren't a one man team and are sending out a strong lineup regardless. Ecuador are also sending out a very strong lineup. Unfortunately they have awful away form and against Argentina, I can't see them getting a result. I think Argentina will win this 2-1.

 

[voltage]

Neymar surely will be an important miss to brazilian national team even more with a start already against Chile that is a hard adversary. Coutinho is a very good player but Dunga seems to undervaluate him and always bench him, not to mention that Dunga wouldn't even call him for the eliminatories at first, so even if he wasn't injured I don't think he'd have much chances, what it's a pity. Douglas Costa is also an amazing player but at NT Dunga totally ruins him. I like Willian though, he can be very creative and is very dangerous at free-kicks but he can't do all the job alone.

 

[Libertadores FC]

Neymar surely will be an important miss to brazilian national team even more with a start already against Chile that is a hard adversary. Coutinho is a very good player but Dunga seems to undervaluate him and always bench him, not to mention that Dunga wouldn't even call him for the eliminatories at first, so even if he wasn't injured I don't think he'd have much chances, what it's a pity. Douglas Costa is also an amazing player but at NT Dunga totally ruins him. I like Willian though, he can be very creative and is very dangerous at free-kicks but he can't do all the job alone.

How do you think Brazil will do mate?

 

[voltage]

How do you think Brazil will do mate?

To be honest I don't think there's much chances of victory to Brazil based on the previous games that were marked by lack of chemistry in the team and Dunga's bad decisions, unless we have a bit of luck. Also Chile is with a strong team, if they come like in Copa America the good results will probably belong to them.