World Cup 2018

[mistermagic]

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

It is my opinion that without my twattish quotes, your country wouldn't be fourth. So you and your countrymen basically owe me BIG TIME!

I changed my mind. I now want Peru to make it (a bit like Panama). And if you do, make sure you join me somewhere in Russia so I can buy you a drink.

The Conmebol has to be seriously fucking shit for Peru to be 4th though.

 

[Libertadores FC]

It is my opinion that without my twattish quotes, your country wouldn't be fourth. So you and your countrymen basically owe me BIG TIME!

I changed my mind. I now want Peru to make it (a bit like Panama). And if you do, make sure you join me somewhere in Russia so I can buy you a drink.

The Conmebol has to be seriously fucking shit for Peru to be 4th though.

Haha well played.

CONMEBOL has been of a lower standard this time around, but that doesn't mean the teams are bad. Peru as an example has been excellent since the Copa America centenario and easily one of the best South American teams at the moment.

Colombia and Argentina find themselves struggling to win games but continue to grind out as much as they can. Uruguay have been awful and have no place in the world cup.

Chile have been good when they are on form but have been extremely inconsistent and that is what might cost them.

I think we'll make it. With just 1 more win, whether its away to Argentina or home to Colombia (both winnable) then we're in unless Chile miraculously win in Brazil.

Overall though I'm still optimistic that South America will do well at the world cup. In 2010, the teams weren't great either and 4 of 5 still reached the quarter finals.

 

[mistermagic]

Watched a bit of Colombia/Brazil last night. Reckon Brazil would have taken that were they not already qualified. The 4231 looks impressive and what a goal from Willian.

 

[Vanni]

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.

Yes, one of my aunts lives in Chile. Or perhaps 'lived' would be the better word as I haven't heard from her since 1973 when Pinochet took over the country

Seriously though, I've followed Chile's fortunes ever since school. You know how it goes, your classmates tell you that you've got to pick a side from SA because everybody else has picked one. As you can well imagine, everybody goes for one of the big two, Argentina and Brazil, so I chose Chile. Nowadays I simply love watching their high pressing style, and also their at times kamikaze footy.

TBH, I reckon they won't make it this year, simply because I think they will need to win their final group match at Brazil and they won't do that.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

South Africa have now lost both of their back to back games against Cape Verde. That's South Africa - population of 55m, and Cape Verde just 550k, who are 114th in FIFA's rankings. Yet it's Cape Verde who are now goal difference away from topping their qualification group.

 

[St. Juste]

South Africa have now lost both of their back to back games against Cape Verde. That's South Africa - population of 55m, and Cape Verde just 550k, who are 114th in FIFA's rankings. Yet it's Cape Verde who are now goal difference away from topping their qualification group.

Still not quite as bad as England losing to Iceland, however.

Certainly on a population comparison basis.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Still not quite as bad as England losing to Iceland, however.

Certainly on a population comparison basis.

Tremendous dig Juste, stinging stuff. Though if we're comparing the size of incompetence, we haven't yet lost to Iceland twice on the spin. At least SA had the chance to immediately make amends. and got turned over a second time!

If Cape Verde do make it, it'd be an excellent achievement. To continue the comparison, I doubt they have the investment and infrastructure that Iceland has deployed over the last 15 years.

 

[St. Juste]

Tremendous dig Juste, stinging stuff. Though if we're comparing the size of incompetence, we haven't yet lost to Iceland twice on the spin. At least SA had the chance to immediately make amends. and got turned over a second time!

If Cape Verde do make it, it'd be an excellent achievement. To continue the comparison, I doubt they have the investment and infrastructure that Iceland has deployed over the last 15 years.

And I doubt South Africa have comparable infrastructure to England. Actually, I don't doubt it, we all know it is unequivocally not the the case.

But yes, England have not lost to Iceland twice. I'll give them that.

It would be an excellent achievement for Cape Verde, I'd be quite keen to visit there (and Iceland for that matter) at some point in the near future.

 

[epic73]

I'd be quite keen to visit there (and Iceland for that matter)

What about Kazakhstan? I hear that, despite having a population of OVER 3 TIMES the Scottish population, Scotland has a HIGHER UEFA coefficient!

 

[Libertadores FC]

South Africa have now lost both of their back to back games against Cape Verde. That's South Africa - population of 55m, and Cape Verde just 550k, who are 114th in FIFA's rankings. Yet it's Cape Verde who are now goal difference away from topping their qualification group.

Not a pop Mark, but I still would like to know when people realize that population isn't relevant.

Uruguay has a populatiopn of 3M. India has a population of over 1B. It has to do with interest in the sport and infrastructure. of course there are cases where a player could be born in a country that has that, which in Cape Verde's case, is Portugal.

 

[St. Juste]

What about Kazakhstan? I hear that, despite having a population of OVER 3 TIMES the Scottish population, Scotland has a HIGHER UEFA coefficient!

Why would that be a reason to visit Kazakhstan?

Not a pop Mark, but I still would like to know when people realize that population isn't relevant.

Uruguay has a populatiopn of 3M. India has a population of over 1B. It has to do with interest in the sport and infrastructure. of course there are cases where a player could be born in a country that has that, which in Cape Verde's case, is Portugal.

If it's not relevant, Andorra have as much chance of qualifying for the next Euros as Germany, right?

At the very least, credit for using India and no the cliched example of China.

Population absolutely does matter when comparing countries where football is the dominant sport. Brazil is the largest country where football is the dominant sport, and the most successful. In Europe that goes to Germany, France and Italy - the three largest in Western Europe.

By your reckoning San Marino could beat Brazil if they had enough interest in the sport and good infrastructure. It's a truly ludicrous proposition.

 

[Libertadores FC]

Why would that be a reason to visit Kazakhstan?



If it's not relevant, Andorra have as much chance of qualifying for the next Euros as Germany, right?

At the very least, credit for using India and no the cliched example of China.

Population absolutely does matter when comparing countries where football is the dominant sport. Brazil is the largest country where football is the dominant sport, and the most successful. In Europe that goes to Germany, France and Italy - the three largest in Western Europe.

By your reckoning San Marino could beat Brazil if they had enough interest in the sport and good infrastructure. It's a truly ludicrous proposition.

I could easily say that if Uruguay had the population of Brazil they would be the best team in the world all the time. It means absolutely fuck all.

Andorra and San Marino are cities and hardly different countries. If population was as relevant as you say, Uruguay wouldn't have 2 world cups, and Iceland would be terrible.

 

[mente captus]

Not a pop Mark, but I still would like to know when people realize that population isn't relevant.

Uruguay has a populatiopn of 3M. India has a population of over 1B. It has to do with interest in the sport and infrastructure. of course there are cases where a player could be born in a country that has that, which in Cape Verde's case, is Portugal.

So England is officially not interested in football anymore?

 

[Libertadores FC]

So England is officially not interested in football anymore?

Well according to them, they don't care for international football.

They also have a ton of talent. Just outdated in style of play.

 

[mente captus]

Well according to them, they don't care for international football.

They also have a ton of talent. Just outdated in style of play.

No. They only provide three different type of players. Centre Backs, box-to-box midfielders and poacher.

 

[epic73]

Why would that be a reason to visit Kazakhstan?

It's just a fascinating fact that you might not have known.

 

[Stevencc]

No. They only provide three different type of players. Centre Backs, box-to-box midfielders and poacher.

Neither of the two biggest young prospects in our senior side (Rashford and Alli) fit into the three categories you suggested.

 

[epic73]

Neither of the two biggest young prospects in our senior side (Rashford and Alli) fit into the three categories you suggested.

But... but...












Phil Jones?

 

[Stevencc]

But... but...












Phil Jones?

A fit Phil Jones is a wonderful, rare thing.

 

[Habbinalan]

It's just a fascinating fact that you might not have known.

There are much better reasons to visit Khazakstan. i could suggest the wildlife and scenery but if you substitute a FIFA official for the goat, I would go with:

 

[Super_horns]

Have they offered to play the Royals in a game of Horse/goat polo?

 

[St. Juste]

I could easily say that if Uruguay had the population of Brazil they would be the best team in the world all the time. It means absolutely fuck all.

Andorra and San Marino are cities and hardly different countries. If population was as relevant as you say, Uruguay wouldn't have 2 world cups, and Iceland would be terrible.

Probably not all the time, but as dominant as Brazil have been.

Regarding the two World Cups, the tournament was completely different then to it is is now. When Uruguay defeated Brazil in 1950 it was one of the biggest shocks of all time. It happens, they were a good side but most nations still only had amateur leagues in the 30s (and 50s).

Since 1950 no nation under 40 million people has ever won a World Cup. How is that possible if population doesn't matter?

Only one nation under 10 million has ever won the Euros - the bizarre situation when Denmark, who hadn't even qualified for the tournament, went on to win. In your view pretty much every nation would have an equal chance of winning either competition, but the facts do not bear this out.

And Iceland have been terrible for 99% of their footballing existence. On occasion, you will have a potent combination of good players and a good manager, and luck. Will they become a footballing powerhouse to rival, say, Italy in the next 40 years? Not unless they get 50 million or so immigrants moving to their country.

Well according to them, they don't care for international football.

They also have a ton of talent. Just outdated in style of play.

Who do England have a ton of talent in comparison to? They should be compared against their peers with similar population and where football is the dominant sport.

Spain is a smaller country with far better players.

 

[JimJams]

Ah but its unfair to compare us to countries with nicer climates. Footballing weather 365 days a year for them you see. Like Brazil...

 

[St. Juste]

Ah but its unfair to compare us to countries with nicer climates. Footballing weather 365 days a year for them you see. Like Brazil...

Having lived in both, I'd much prefer playing in UK weather.

Good luck running around a pitch in Rio in January!

 

[JimJams]

Good luck playing on waterlogged or frozen pitches

 

[St. Juste]

Good luck playing on waterlogged or frozen pitches

More a problem in Scotland than England.

I don't doubt the climate here isn't always conducive to football, but most Central and Southern European nations will have a better climate for it than Brazil.

As for Scotland, like Iceland, investing indoors should be our plan going forward. Pity the government is fervently anti football.

 

[Super_horns]

Gareth Bale out of both Wales' games - big blow for them as they probably need to win both to make sure they reach the play offs.

 

[epic73]

Bale out and Sean Maguire in. Happy days.

 

[Benji]

Bad news, but at least it isn't Chris Gunter.

 

[Craig]

Gareth Bale out of both Wales' games - big blow for them as they probably need to win both to make sure they reach the play offs.

On the bright side they have given Tom Bradshaw and Ryan Hedges the nod.