2018 Russia World Cup Qualifying

[Vacamion]

 

Given the way the other international football has gone this weekend, are we looking at another 0-0 ?

 

At least, with the conditions, there are some thrills and spills in this one.

 

 

[AjcW]

What on earth is this pitch?? Not really acceptable for such a rich nation, England would get so much abuse if the Wembley pitch looked like that! 

 

Rain or or no rain it shouldn’t cut up like this. 

[Koke]

Credit to Northern Ireland. At least they are playing football and are giving Switzerland a game. A far cry from the first game.

[irishfoxkev]

Pains me to say it but N Ireland are a far better watch than St Martins Republic team....really giving it a go 2nd half in Switzerland on a pitch that looks like something from the 70’s 

[Vacamion]

Who is the co-commentator?

 

I want analysis, not a fan.

 

 

Would love a late goal and ET.

 

[peterborofox]

Come on NI

[Tuna]

1 minute ago, Vacamion said:

Who is the co-commentator?

 

I want analysis, not a fan.

 

 

Would love a late goal and ET.

 

Gerry Armstrong.

 

 

[Guest MattP]

Behaviour of Swiss players is an embarrassment. 

[Tuna]

Well they gave it a bloody good go but lack of quality up front has cost Northern Ireland. And the fact they were robbed by a useless referee.

[Vacamion]

 

Shame that a dodgy peno from the 1st leg decided it.

 

I'm still bitterly resentful about the penalty awarded against Leicester away at Athletico, so I can understand that it's going to sting for a while.

 

 

[fazzyfox]

All that effort and they go out because UEFA couldn't supply competent officials. Yes you need to score yourself but they've earned at least extra time and penalties. A very entertaining 0-0 though, helped by the weather.

[filbertway]

I must have missed something but Armstrong kept saying Northern ireland were all over them second half. 

A half chance for Washington and Seville are all I remember till Evans had one cleared off the line late on.

 

Seferovic could have have had about 10 goals if he wasn't a modern day version of Akinbiyi. Every time I see him play he looks like a competition winner.

[Arriba Los Zorros]

Hard luck NI. Although that safety first approach in Belfast has ultimately cost them, when they should have gone at Switzerland. Swiss don't look up to much, just making up the numbers

[bovril]

Moroccan fans smashing up Brussels after qualifying. Would hate to see them when they lose. 

[Finnegan]

Love me a bit of Dansk. Absolute closet Dane, loved Parken, smuurrrrbrooouurrrddd and a good bit of Volbeat. Sofie Grabol and the Mikkelsen brothers are my heroes. 

 

Would be happy to see them get through. Nothing against the Irish at all. 

Edited 12 November 2017 by Finnegan

[Dan LCFC]

Five 0-0 draws in a row in the play-offs. I know they're usually quite cagey games but this is unbelievable.

[spacemunky]

4 hours ago, Dan LCFC said:

Five 0-0 draws in a row in the play-offs. I know they're usually quite cagey games but this is unbelievable.

This is why I'm not a fan of International football. 

 

I'll take a regular league game any day. 

[Strokes]

7 hours ago, Finnegan said:

Love me a bit of Dansk. Absolute closet Dane, loved Parken, smuurrrrbrooouurrrddd and a good bit of Volbeat. Sofie Grabol and the Mikkelsen brothers are my heroes. 

 

Would be happy to see them get through. Nothing against the Irish at all. 

Yeah, what he said.??

[MC Prussian]

So, that's Morocco and Tunisia qualified. Welcome back to the World Cup stage! Always had a bit of a soft spot for the Moroccans since USA '94.

 

Meanwhile in Algeria...

(In their defense, Nigeria were simply too good. But losing to Zambia twice?)

 

 

Edited 13 November 2017 by MC Prussian

[shen]

48 minutes ago, MC Prussian said:

So, that's Morocco and Tunisia qualified. Welcome back to the World Cup stage! Always had a bit of a soft spot for the Moroccans since USA '94.

 

Meanwhile in Algeria...

(In their defense, Nigeria were simply too good. But losing to Zambia twice?)

 

 

It was a ridiculously tough group. Nigeria (possibly the best side in Africa right now), Cameroon (defending AFCON champions) and Zambia who are always dark horses.

Meanwhile, Senegal have near to no resistance against Cape Verde, Burkina Faso and South Africa, the perennial disappointers.

[daddylonglegs]

14 hours ago, Vacamion said:

 

Shame that a dodgy peno from the 1st leg decided it.

 

I'm still bitterly resentful about the penalty awarded against Leicester away at Athletico, so I can understand that it's going to sting for a while.

 

 

I mean... even if that wasnt given we still wouldve gone out. See your point though... the week between then and the home leg was painful. Mental how we could all see it was outside 100m away up in the stands and the ref couldnt at pitch level 10m away! 

[Kitchandro]

1 hour ago, daddylonglegs said:

I mean... even if that wasnt given we still wouldve gone out. See your point though... the week between then and the home leg was painful. Mental how we could all see it was outside 100m away up in the stands and the ref couldnt at pitch level 10m away! 

Probably considering Shakespeare wasn't interested in scoring until we were already 2 goals down....but I don't need to tell you such a decision in the first of 2 legs changes the tie massively.

 

Making a precition like that just because of the way the 2nd leg went, after that penalty incident had already happened, is not logical. Who knows how the 2nd leg, or even the rest of the 1st leg may have panned out if it wasn't for that decision (or in fact the many other disgraceful decisions that may have made a difference).

 

Always respect the space time continuum, man.

[Blue ROI]

2 hours ago, Kitchandro said:

Probably considering Shakespeare wasn't interested in scoring until we were already 2 goals down....but I don't need to tell you such a decision in the first of 2 legs changes the tie massively.

 

Making a precition like that just because of the way the 2nd leg went, after that penalty incident had already happened, is not logical. Who knows how the 2nd leg, or even the rest of the 1st leg may have panned out if it wasn't for that decision (or in fact the many other disgraceful decisions that may have made a difference).

 

Always respect the space time continuum, man.

The penalty was an awful decision but on balance we just came up short over the 2 legs. 

 

Atletico Madrid were full value for their qualification overall. 

[Kitchandro]

1 hour ago, Blue ROI said:

The penalty was an awful decision but on balance we just came up short over the 2 legs. 

 

Atletico Madrid were full value for their qualification overall. 

Can't argue with that, but as above, there was a lot of football to be played after that penalty. Had they not got it, who knows which way the momentum could have swung?

 

I can accept being beaten by the better team (they no doubt were) but having the tie basically fixed against you leaves a bitter taste in the mouth. We didn't get a fair chance with the refereeing in both games.

Edited 13 November 2017 by Kitchandro

[MC Prussian]