Guest MattP Posted 12 June 2013 Posted 12 June 2013 Venezuela 0-1 Uruguay. Massive result for Uruguay. They are level with Vene now in the play off spot. Hard to see Vene recovering from that. Huge chance spurned.
Jordan Posted 12 June 2013 Posted 12 June 2013 Venezuela 0-1 Uruguay. Massive result for Uruguay. They are level with Vene now in the play off spot. Hard to see Vene recovering from that. Huge chance spurned. As someone that's adopted Ecuador as a team to follow; I'd have much rather that game be a draw thank anything else. Even before Friday, I worried about an otherwise solid Ecuador team blowing their big lead in the top 4 because of their tough finish to the qualifying schedule. I think the sleeping giant of Uruguay has just risen, and I fear for Ecuador, who still have to play at Colombia, at Bolivia, at home to Uruguay in what may just be a six-pointer, and at Chile.Ecuador are up by 5 pts with 4 games to go, but tell me that isn't a brutal home stretch... Meanwhile, north of the equator, the USA are top of the "Hex" at the halfway point after beating Panama 2-0. Everyone used to say that Löw was the real brains behind the Klinsi German set-up, but consider this: Tonight, Klinsi played a left wing at left back, a right midfielder at right back, a central defender as a midfielder, a striker as a right wing, and a right midfielder as a left wing. USA were apparently supposed to be so confused about this thag they'd be left dizzy, but USA's passing and movement was fantastic tonight. 2-0 flattered Panama like you wouldn't believe--Klinsi's boys were magnificent. Meanwhile, at the Estadio Azteca, Mexico were held to another 0-0 draw, and despite the team not having lost so far in the final round of qualifying, the chant around the Azteca sounded clear as day: "¡Fuera 'Chepo!'" ...
shen Posted 12 June 2013 Posted 12 June 2013 Denmark FTDenmark [0 - 4] Armenia Biggest defeat in Olsen's 13-year reign. Biggest ever home defeat in a qualifier/meaningful game. Fastest goal ever conceded at home. And this to a team that very recently lost AT HOME to Malta, who themselves had not won a qualifier in over 20 years... ? The mind just boggles, but my oh my what a horror show. The disbelief on Olsen's face, the disbelief and shame in the players' faces told its own story. I'm afraid his time is up despite how big a fan of his I am...
Dan Posted 12 June 2013 Posted 12 June 2013 That's a ridiculous scoreline. Fvcking Armenia? Bet Mkhitaryan played a blinder. Only player of theirs I can name.
eye666 Posted 12 June 2013 Posted 12 June 2013 That's a ridiculous scoreline. Fvcking Armenia? Bet Mkhitaryan played a blinder. Only player of theirs I can name. Scored the 4th. No wonder they lost - didn't have Kasper in goal and they have a defender called Bjelland...
shen Posted 12 June 2013 Posted 12 June 2013 That's a ridiculous scoreline. Fvcking Armenia? Bet Mkhitaryan played a blinder. Only player of theirs I can name. Yup, I just knew people would take a win for granted after their 0-1 loss against Malta, despite us just scraping past a poor Georgia side 2-1 at home a few days earlier. I never envisaged such a collapse, nor could anyone. Denmark were woeful to the last man and Armenia, while having easy playing conditions, were razor sharp. Yura Movsisyan (with a past in Danish football) was unstoppable and Mkhitaryan and Özbiliz could do as they pleased pretty much...
Guest MattP Posted 12 June 2013 Posted 12 June 2013 As someone that's adopted Ecuador as a team to follow; I'd have much rather that game be a draw thank anything else. Even before Friday, I worried about an otherwise solid Ecuador team blowing their big lead in the top 4 because of their tough finish to the qualifying schedule. I think the sleeping giant of Uruguay has just risen, and I fear for Ecuador, who still have to play at Colombia, at Bolivia, at home to Uruguay in what may just be a six-pointer, and at Chile. Ecuador are up by 5 pts with 4 games to go, but tell me that isn't a brutal home stretch... It's a nightmare of a run in, I didn't realise how bad it was, they should still pick up points at home but I've got them finishing fifth now on the points chart I've just worked out, should still see them go to the World Cup. Yup, I just knew people would take a win for granted after their 0-1 loss against Malta, despite us just scraping past a poor Georgia side 2-1 at home a few days earlier. I never envisaged such a collapse, nor could anyone. Denmark were woeful to the last man and Armenia, while having easy playing conditions, were razor sharp. Yura Movsisyan (with a past in Danish football) was unstoppable and Mkhitaryan and Özbiliz could do as they pleased pretty much... Incredible scoreline, have you really become that bad? It's a shame, used to enjoy Denmark at major tournaments.
shen Posted 12 June 2013 Posted 12 June 2013 It's a nightmare of a run in, I didn't realise how bad it was, they should still pick up points at home but I've got them finishing fifth now on the points chart I've just worked out, should still see them go to the World Cup. Incredible scoreline, have you really become that bad? It's a shame, used to enjoy Denmark at major tournaments. We've had a terrible year yes. Eriksen just doesn't perform consistently, and our entire attack depend on him. We still haven't found a replacement for Rommedahl who's fading fast now; Bendtner's been out for nearly a year for various reasons (like him or loathe him, he's a great player in our national team); Kvist and Zimling have been injured/off form for ages; Simon Poulsen (left-back) is getting progressively worse; Kjær is our own Jeckyll and Hyde and Krohn-Dehli has done a vanishing trick ever since the Euros. I suppose teams know how we set up and counter it easily, while our concept hasn't worked since we qualified for the Euros. At least we have some decent prospects that are slowly coming into the fold (Fischer, Okore, Cornelius, Helenius, Andersen), but I would like a different coach to blood them in with new ideas. Hjulmand maybe?
Jordan Posted 12 June 2013 Posted 12 June 2013 Mexico play to yet another 0-0 draw at home. Their fans, classy as always, spent the game chanting for Chepo to be fired. Hernandez can miss chance after chance after chance, but never mind that, it's the manager's fault. The crowd also pelted the Costa Rican players and fans with garbage and missiles any chance they got. The match was stopped for a few minutes in the 2nd half after Bryan Ruiz was hit in the head with a bottle (it was raining trash at that time). So, Mexican fans are pissed off that their team once again failed to score at home, and are demanding answers and action. You know what? Maybe the players aren't inspired to play well at home because their "support" is disgusting. Mexico, for all their woes, aren't in a terrible spot. They could still be in the top 3 after next Tuesday's games (and 4th place gets a playoff with New Zealand). Mexican fans seriously need to chill the **** out.
purpleronnie Posted 12 June 2013 Posted 12 June 2013 Mexico play to yet another 0-0 draw at home. Their fans, classy as always, spent the game chanting for Chepo to be fired. Hernandez can miss chance after chance after chance, but never mind that, it's the manager's fault. The crowd also pelted the Costa Rican players and fans with garbage and missiles any chance they got. The match was stopped for a few minutes in the 2nd half after Bryan Ruiz was hit in the head with a bottle (it was raining trash at that time). So, Mexican fans are pissed off that their team once again failed to score at home, and are demanding answers and action. You know what? Maybe the players aren't inspired to play well at home because their "support" is disgusting. Mexico, for all their woes, aren't in a terrible spot. They could still be in the top 3 after next Tuesday's games (and 4th place gets a playoff with New Zealand). Mexican fans seriously need to chill the **** out. looks like another piece of piss group to qualify, they should just give the aussies and the yanks a bye each year.
Jordan Posted 12 June 2013 Posted 12 June 2013 looks like another piece of piss group to qualify, they should just give the aussies and the yanks a bye each year.It's only easy because 3 of 6 teams from the group qualify, and a 4th can still qualify via the playoff. The games themselves, however, are difficult. If CONCACAF only got 1.5 places, like a UEFA qualifying group, qualification would be difficult, indeed. I'd say the "hexagonal" is as tough or tougher than several UEFA groups if you look at the relative strengths of the teams and the atmospheres at their respective home games. I think this group of six teams is more challenging that England's group.
OzFox Posted 13 June 2013 Posted 13 June 2013 looks like another piece of piss group to qualify, they should just give the aussies and the yanks a bye each year. talking of piece of piss groups, I notice New Zealand have topped theirs by seeing off New Caledonia, Tahiti and the Solomon Islands They now go into a playoff with the team that finishes fourth in the American group
purpleronnie Posted 13 June 2013 Posted 13 June 2013 talking of piece of piss groups, I notice New Zealand have topped theirs by seeing off New Caledonia, Tahiti and the Solomon Islands They now go into a playoff with the team that finishes fourth in the American group makes a mockery of the whole thing. I know its a WORLD cup and each continent wants a place in it, but I would love to see a proper WC qualifying meaning european teams having south or north american sides etc.... Obviously this could mean that the WC only has european teams....which I guess is the reason why qualifying is the way it is. I dont agree jordan, even though englands group is pretty easy you have to win it to be sure compared to the USA and being able to finish 4th and still qualify makes it much much easier.
Jordan Posted 13 June 2013 Posted 13 June 2013 makes a mockery of the whole thing. I know its a WORLD cup and each continent wants a place in it, but I would love to see a proper WC qualifying meaning european teams having south or north american sides etc.... Obviously this could mean that the WC only has european teams....which I guess is the reason why qualifying is the way it is. I dont agree jordan, even though englands group is pretty easy you have to win it to be sure compared to the USA and being able to finish 4th and still qualify makes it much much easier. I was saying the relative strengths of the teams in the group and the conditions at away games are more difficult than a some UEFA groups. That said, while it's no fun for teams to play at Mexico, Costa Rica, or even Honduras, a team is much better off having to finish third (or fourth) than first (or second).UEFA should probably have tiered qualifying, even if just to trim the field to 48 and have 8 groups of 6. I don't think San Marino, as an example, should be in a qualifying round unless UEFA absolutely has to have them there. I understand what you mean a about the relative strength of the teams. It wouldn't kill the Cup if a AFC/CAF/CONCACAF spot was trimmed and given to UEFA. Then again, even though a lot of non-UEFA/CONMEBOL teams struggled in the last two Wotld Cups, I never thought to myself, "This tournament would be really good if Russia or Ukraine were here."
Finnegan Posted 13 June 2013 Posted 13 June 2013 Keep it as it is and stop ****ing around with it. Let every country have their moment to have a go, even San Marino. I don't like messing with the World Cup. I love having little central American, Pacific or African nations there that aren't the norm. We've got the Euros for watching just European football.
ScouseFox Posted 13 June 2013 Posted 13 June 2013 The world cup would be shiiiiit without random African, South American and Asian teams turning up. South Korea and Ghana were two of the biggest stories/most interesting watches of the last few World Cups.
Fox in the North Posted 13 June 2013 Posted 13 June 2013 Not to mention with New Zealand having a pretty decent cup last time around.
OzFox Posted 14 June 2013 Posted 14 June 2013 Not to mention with New Zealand having a pretty decent cup last time around. Yeah watching them take the lead against Italy was hilarious. Come to think of it, the Italians seem to make a habit of humiliating themselves against footballing minnows or diving and cheating their way past them (Australia)
Pride_Of_The_Midlands Posted 14 June 2013 Posted 14 June 2013 Not to mention with New Zealand having a pretty decent cup last time around. The only team who were not defeated at the 2010 World Cup.
Kitchandro Posted 14 June 2013 Posted 14 June 2013 Yeah watching them take the lead against Italy was hilarious. Come to think of it, the Italians seem to make a habit of humiliating themselves against footballing minnows or diving and cheating their way past them (Australia) I don't remember that. I do remember an Australian legging an Italian up in the box and them scoring a last minute penalty from it. I also remember them being fixed out of it by the South Koreans.
Feed The Yak!! Posted 14 June 2013 Posted 14 June 2013 Yeah watching them take the lead against Italy was hilarious. Come to think of it, the Italians seem to make a habit of humiliating themselves against footballing minnows or diving and cheating their way past them (Australia) If you think that Grosso dived then you're a complete idiot
Fox in the North Posted 14 June 2013 Posted 14 June 2013 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JS5yLSynG2g Hmm yes the aussie sticks his leg out and gets in the way, but he goes down awfully easy.
Kitchandro Posted 14 June 2013 Posted 14 June 2013 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JS5yLSynG2g Hmm yes the aussie sticks his leg out and gets in the way, but he goes down awfully easy. Awfully easy? He'd just changed direction and there was entire huge bloke right in his path.
Jordan Posted 14 June 2013 Posted 14 June 2013 Yeah watching them take the lead against Italy was hilarious. Come to think of it, the Italians seem to make a habit of humiliating themselves against footballing minnows or diving and cheating their way past them (Australia) Just thinking about it, and you're right: There have been some games at recent World Cups where Italy has been big favorites, only for the games to descend into chaos. In 2002, Italy should have dealt with South Korea, but lost on Ahn's late winner. Perhaps this was karma for Italy playing an unnecessarily defensive game, but they were victims of an abjectly terrible job by a ref that later was convicted of drug smuggling charges.Italy-USA in 2006 was a farce. Italy blew its early lead with Zaccardo's ridiculous own goal, then De Rossi tried to kill McBride and got sent off. USA then got a pair of red cards for itself, and almost snatched the win if not for Beasley's goal being ruled out because McBride was offside on the play. And to think Italy went on to win the whole thing that year!
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