World Cup 2018

[mistermagic]

Yes, Liverpool won't win the league. Tell us news not history Smat.

Currently, Wales have the lowest points and GD of all runners-up so as it stands, they won't make the play-offs which is a great shame as they and ROI are a great crowd. Northern Ireland though have been phenomenal. Just 2 games they haven't won and they are proving everyone that qualifying for Euro 2016 was no fluke at all. Great stuff.

 

[AnkleBiter]

Not convinced Wales will win in Georgia, they've been tricky opponents this campaign with 5 draws out of 8. Also, Wales are currently the worst runner up, so could scrape 2nd but miss out!

Group I is awesome. Croatia 16, Iceland 16, Ukraine 14, Turkey 14. Looking at the fixtures it really could go anyway, Croatia finish with a tough trip to Ukraine. Turkey v Iceland up next too, hope Iceland can do it again but that's a hell of a challenge, they do finish at home to Kosovo though.

DR Congo fucked up their crucial game with Tunisia, so looks very likely that the latter will be going through. Egypt and Nigeria look likely too, but the other groups are really tight.

Today looked fucking awesome for Syria, can't see them getting through a playoff against Australia though.

 

[epic73]

If the US lose to Honduras today (1-0 down at HT) and Panama beat Trinidad (likely) and then us (50/50) we're pretty much out.

 

[Libertadores FC]

mistermagic

We are literally 1 game from going to the world cup.

I'm 1 game away from making you look like a right twat with all your quotes

 

[markwwfc1992]

mistermagic

We are literally 1 game from going to the world cup.

I'm 1 game away from making you look like a right twat with all your quotes

Argentina or Chile possibly not going to the WC (potentially neither)? Crazy.

 

[St. Juste]

Hardly

Which statement do you disagree with?

Would consider Serbia a better side than Ireland, not surprised they beat them away.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

If the US lose to Honduras today (1-0 down at HT) and Panama beat Trinidad (likely) and then us (50/50) we're pretty much out.

Looks just about ok now after a draw? You'd expect to get the required points from Panama and Trinidad & Tobago?

 

[Super_horns]

Argentina or Chile possibly not going to the WC (potentially neither)? Crazy.

Argentina v Peru in the next round.

Luckily for one of them they will face a play-off which could save them.

 

[shane]

Which statement do you disagree with?

Would consider Serbia a better side than Ireland, not surprised they beat them away.

There will likely be a big deal made of the (surely inevitable) non-qualification in the Irish press but the fact is that we simply don't have the players. Wes Hoolahan is arguably our most skilled and I think Glen Whelan is now Ireland's most capped central midfielder with 80+ caps. Glen Whelan.

We play better than the sum of our parts and are capable of getting results against big teams now and again but we don't have a Gareth Bale or an Aaron Ramsey and there is no sign of a Ben Woodburn anywhere near the team in the future.

I would imagine O Neil will move on/be moved on and I don't know who we would replace him with. It's likely be a non-progressive coach with little regard for the development of the International setup. Thats not a dig at O Neil but more a comment on the FAI.

Ken Early referenced the German football team and how, after the 2000 Euros, they turned their whole International system on it's head from the grass roots and its paid off massively. They're a country 20 times the size of Ireland and yet the idea of the FAI doing something similar is unthinkable.

 

[St. Juste]

There will likely be a big deal made of the (surely inevitable) non-qualification in the Irish press but the fact is that we simply don't have the players. Wes Hoolahan is arguably our most skilled and I think Glen Whelan is now Ireland's most capped central midfielder with 80+ caps. Glen Whelan.

We play better than the sum of our parts and are capable of getting results against big teams now and again but we don't have a Gareth Bale or an Aaron Ramsey and there is no sign of a Ben Woodburn anywhere near the team in the future.

I would imagine O Neil will move on/be moved on and I don't know who we would replace him with. It's likely be a non-progressive coach with little regard for the development of the International setup. Thats not a dig at O Neil but more a comment on the FAI.

Ken Early referenced the German football team and how, after the 2000 Euros, they turned their whole International system on it's head from the grass roots and its paid off massively. They're a country 20 times the size of Ireland and yet the idea of the FAI doing something similar is unthinkable.

Ireland find themselves in a very similar position to Scotland, for European nations our size it is incredibly difficult to qualify for the World Cup from the European qualification section. We might do it, on occasion, but to expect it is a recipe for disaster. Similarly, with regards to your last point, nations tend to go through these revolutions once and they can take up to a decade to bear fruit, the way some of our press and fans talk (and I imagine Irelands) you would do a different revolution after every qualifying campaign. Which would be an abject disaster.

With a 24 team Euros Scotland, and Ireland, will qualify more often than not.

I wouldn't get too excited about Woodburn, he's hardly had any senior football. Similarly, Ramsey might be better than any current Scottish or Irish player but he isn't a world class midfielder or even close.

I wouldn't sack O'Neill unless there is a clearly better candidate available, chopping and changing managers continually hasn't done much for ourselves.

 

[Railway Blue]

Which statement do you disagree with?

Would consider Serbia a better side than Ireland, not surprised they beat them away.

Northern Ireland rightly beat Czech Rep. They're having their best spell since they beat Spain in the 1884 World Cup Finals

 

[St. Juste]

Northern Ireland rightly beat Czech Rep. They're having their best spell since they beat Spain in the 1884 World Cup Finals

That's an old World Cup.

Northern Ireland did do well, but they are a small nation with a pretty average to middling squad. I'd be quite embarrassed if they beat Scotland, and the Czech Republic should be better than us.

Not a criticism of Northern Ireland, they are clearly doing extremely well, but sides the Czech Republic should be beating them.

 

[Super_horns]

All down to the managers then?

Michael O'Neil getting more out of his squad than most ...

 

[St. Juste]

All down to the managers then?

Michael O'Neil getting more out of his squad than most ...

Yeah, he is doing a great job. Austin MacPhee making waves as Assistant too.

Not a great record so far at Hearts, however.

 

[Libertadores FC]

Argentina or Chile possibly not going to the WC (potentially neither)? Crazy.

Argentina v Peru in the next round.

Luckily for one of them they will face a play-off which could save them.

Winner of that match is for sure going to the world cup. Loser will; have to win the last match.

 

[Libertadores FC]

 

[Railway Blue]

That's an old World Cup.

Northern Ireland did do well, but they are a small nation with a pretty average to middling squad. I'd be quite embarrassed if they beat Scotland, and the Czech Republic should be better than us.

Not a criticism of Northern Ireland, they are clearly doing extremely well, but sides the Czech Republic should be beating them.

Ha ha fat thumbs

 

[epic73]

Looks just about ok now after a draw? You'd expect to get the required points from Panama and Trinidad & Tobago?

Hopefully. If Panama don't beat us we should be through.

 

[Benji]

So what's wrong with USA then? They should be better than the likes of Panama and Honduras surely.

 

[Libertadores FC]

So what's wrong with USA then? They should be better than the likes of Panama and Honduras surely.

Last night the USA got an excellent result by the way.

In the last few qualifiers they almost ALWAYS lost in central america.

 

[Libertadores FC]

Still no Mistermagic

 

[Vanni]

Lib, you know I want Chile to qualify so what do they need to do so? Obviously they have to beat Ecuador first and then hope for a draw in Brazil or do they have to beat them to stand any chance?

Does gd count? Or does H2H record take priority?

Sorry for so many questions!

 

[Libertadores FC]

Lib, you know I want Chile to qualify so what do they need to do so? Obviously they have to beat Ecuador first and then hope for a draw in Brazil or do they have to beat them to stand any chance?

Here are a few situations

IF PERU BEATS ARGENTINA

Chile can beat Ecuador at home and get away with losing at Brazil if Argentina lose in Quito which is in altitude.

IF ARGENTINA BEATS PERU

2 situations

- Peru beats Colombia in the next match then Chile has to hope Argentina slip up in Quito
- Peru lose or draw to Colombia and Chile goes through assuming they beat Ecuador.

IF ARGENTINA AND PERU DRAW

- Chile can beat Ecuador and get away with a loss in Brazil if Peru or Argentina lose the last game.

I think its something like that, did that all in my head. Chile, Peru and Argentina all have +1 Goal difference right now but the 2 former have scored more goals than Argentina.

I had Chile as out of the world cup for sure after their loss vs Bolivia but Argentina drawing with Venezuela means they are still alive.

 

[Vanni]

Doesn't look good at all for Chile. I'm not one who likes to forecast SA matches - who would've thought Argentina would only get a point at home to Venezuela - but I just can't see Argentina losing in Quito in what will be their final match. Also, you lot will beat Columbia at home as they will be home and dry by that point.

BTW, I watched the second half of the Chile match in Bolivia and was so disappointed by their lack of cutting edge up front. TBH, I'm struggling to recall a single decent goal scoring opportunity in the 2nd half.

PS - I also watched the highlights form the other matches, and IMO Argentina were denied a clear pen by the ref.

 

[Libertadores FC]

Doesn't look good at all for Chile. I'm not one who likes to forecast SA matches - who would've thought Argentina would only get a point at home to Venezuela - but I just can't see Argentina losing in Quito in what will be their final match. Also, you lot will beat Columbia at home as they will be home and dry by that point.

Don't rule it out. Ecuador are absolutely terrible but Argentina always suffer in altitude.

 

[Leewilson]

Crazy that Chile probably aren't going to qualify. Only a year ago they smashed the Copa America. I suppose that's what's keeping the manager in a job although I doubt he'd stay if they missed out. Oh for the days of Sampoili and Bielsa again.

 

[epic73]

Libertadores FC Who's most likely to qualify from SA?

 

[Dirk]

Lib, you know I want Chile to qualify so what do they need to do so?

Vanni: Why's that? Do you have some relations to Chile?

It would be refreshing to see a nation like Peru at the World Cup again. I really like their shirts and one of my earliest footballing memories was as a kid seeing Germany vs Peru at the World Cup 1970 with the great Teofilo Cubillas in their squad, he even scored the one goal for Peru in their 3-1 loss to us (3-times Gerd Müller btw)

I hope that Chile reaches at least the #5 spot and Argentina out of the World Cup. With Messi they won't win anyway, he'll be the "uncrowned" in the Argentina Legends History.

 

[Leewilson]

Group I is awesome. Croatia 16, Iceland 16, Ukraine 14, Turkey 14. Looking at the fixtures it really could go anyway, Croatia finish with a tough trip to Ukraine. Turkey v Iceland up next too, hope Iceland can do it again but that's a hell of a challenge, they do finish at home to Kosovo though.

You'd expect Ukraine and Iceland to beat Kosovo and Croatia to win at home to Finland which would leave the table like this:

Croatia (played 9) 19
Iceland (played 9) 19
Ukraine (played 9) 17
Turkey (played 8) 14

Turkey have to win both games (Iceland and Finland) which would put them into the top 2 definitely since Croatia and Ukraine meet in the final round.

Basically, I think the winners of Turkey vs Iceland and Croatia vs Ukraine will get top 2. Hard to say in which order. If Croatia/Ukraine draw, then Croatia will go through. If Turkey/Iceland draw, then Iceland also go through.

 

[Libertadores FC]

Libertadores FC Who's most likely to qualify from SA?

Brazil already in.

Colombia with a win at home to Paraguay are in. Keep in mind though that Paraguay are better away from home.

Uruguay still have to get a point or 3 but they are in already for me. I can see them losing to Venezuela but Bolivia at home is almost an assured win for them.

Argentina and Peru depend on themselves. Both need just 1 win to more than likely seal their spots. Argentina at home to Peru and away to Ecuador, Peru away to Argentina and at home to Colombia.

Chile will have to win both or win one and then get a draw. Chile should beat Ecuador, but their last game is in Brazil, and they aren't going to win that. I can't see it.

Paraguay needs to win both games and that's still probably not going to be enough due to goal difference. Ecuador also needs to win both and heavily depend on others.