Stadt Posted 11 October 2013 Posted 11 October 2013 Mkrtchyan's record for Armenia is 1 in 4, and Moisivyan has a good record too.
MC Prussian Posted 11 October 2013 Posted 11 October 2013 WE'RE GOING TO THE WORLD CUP! Bemvenido, Brazil! Now a win to top it all off - can't wait for the draw.
Dan Posted 12 October 2013 Posted 12 October 2013 Belgium and more interestingly big Lukaku strolling past yet another opponent. 2 for him and 2-0 up with 15 to go at Croatia. Only need a point to qualify. Gonna be 8 wins from 9 games if they see it out. Only conceded twice in 9 games too. Genuinely in with a shout? Don't fancy them to win it but can see them making the quarters.
Uncle Albert Posted 12 October 2013 Posted 12 October 2013 Northern Ireland are embarrassing. I like Belgium and I love how they have progressed in International football, so good to see BUT some of you need to lower your expectations, I very much doubt they'll reach the semi-finals let alone the quarter-finals. Belgium will be seeded in probably pot 3 or maybe pot 4 for World Cup groupings because of their previous lack of tournaments and qualifying campaigns. Yeah they'll be a challenge for the bigger nations but they're going to have to play out of their skin to progress far in the tournament.
Pride_Of_The_Midlands Posted 12 October 2013 Posted 12 October 2013 Belgium will be seeded in probably pot 3 or maybe pot 4 for World Cup groupings because of their previous lack of tournaments and qualifying campaigns. Nah it's likely they will be top seeds because they are gonna use the FIFA world rankings and Belgium are currently 6th in those.
Uncle Albert Posted 12 October 2013 Posted 12 October 2013 Nah it's likely they will be top seeds because they are gonna use the FIFA world rankings and Belgium are currently 6th in those. They've never based World Cup seedlings on that method before?
Uncle Albert Posted 12 October 2013 Posted 12 October 2013 Jeez yeah you're right just had a look, as it stands Columbia, Belgium and Uruguay are all in Pot 1.
shen Posted 12 October 2013 Posted 12 October 2013 Sickening way to get your hopes dashed after our recent upturn in form. Hitting the woodwork three times and conceding in added time, after Bulgaria lost too. Urgh. F***ing jammy Italians...
ozleicester Posted 12 October 2013 Posted 12 October 2013 Not a qualifier, but friendlly in the lead up has seen France wallop the ozzies 6-0.... just a couple of weeks after Brazil also put 6 past them... So having got them to the WC finals the OZ manager has been sacked. http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/socceroos-thrashed-60-by-france-in-international-friendly-nightmare-20131012-2velr.html Sven.... come on dowwwnnnnnnnnnn?
Amin Posted 12 October 2013 Posted 12 October 2013 It's looking very likely that Jordan are going to have to face Uruguay in the World Cup play-off. Not looking forward to that bloodbath.
Super_horns Posted 12 October 2013 Posted 12 October 2013 Uruguay in the World Cup play-off. Noticed they are 5th in their group.. is that down to them being off form or the likes of Chile and Columbia really playing well. Cannot say I know too much about the latter 2 (Falco plays for Columbia I think?)
MC Prussian Posted 12 October 2013 Posted 12 October 2013 It's looking very likely that Jordan are going to have to face Uruguay in the World Cup play-off. Not looking forward to that bloodbath. Why would that be a "bloodbath"?
MC Prussian Posted 12 October 2013 Posted 12 October 2013 Noticed they are 5th in their group.. is that down to them being off form or the likes of Chile and Columbia really playing well. Cannot say I know too much about the latter 2 (Falco plays for Columbia I think?) It's usually down to Uruguay just scraping by to get to a World Cup tournament.
Amin Posted 12 October 2013 Posted 12 October 2013 Why would that be a "bloodbath"? Because, as well as Jordan have played, they will get annihilated by a team as good as Uruguay, especially in the away leg.
Guest ttfn Posted 12 October 2013 Posted 12 October 2013 Finners, how did King play yesterday? Presume he was the only one of our players playing last night...
Finnegan Posted 12 October 2013 Posted 12 October 2013 Finners, how did King play yesterday? Presume he was the only one of our players playing last night... Steady, reasonable. Had one good chance with a heady that he blew but it was quite tough. We played alright given the players we had out, he didn't look out of place but it was probably about a Championship level game at most anyway.
Jordan Posted 12 October 2013 Posted 12 October 2013 Noticed they are 5th in their group.. is that down to them being off form or the likes of Chile and Columbia really playing well. Cannot say I know too much about the latter 2 (Falco plays for Columbia I think?) It's down to Ecuador playing some good ball these days That was a ****ing great result for tem yesterday, I'm really happy for them.
MC Prussian Posted 12 October 2013 Posted 12 October 2013 It's down to Ecuador playing some good ball these days That was a ****ing great result for tem yesterday, I'm really happy for them. Hey Jordan, Iceland still occupies second spot in our group. Keep the faith.
Jordan Posted 12 October 2013 Posted 12 October 2013 Hey Jordan, Iceland still occupies second spot in our group. Keep the faith. They could use some help from your boys on the 15th!It's been a great run from them either way Tuesday winds up... It's crazy to see how much quality they have in their team right now for such a small country. Surely this is the best team Iceland have ever had? BTW, congrats on qualifying!
Alf Bentley Posted 14 October 2013 Posted 14 October 2013 It's down to Ecuador playing some good ball these days That was a ****ing great result for tem yesterday, I'm really happy for them. So, as our resident CONCACAF expert, Jordan, what are the chances of the USA fielding a weak team / not bothering too much / getting spooked by a bumpy pitch....and getting beaten by Panama in 24 hours time? If there's half a chance of that, is there also half a chance that the blundering Mexicans will cock it up in Costa Rica? Am considering some financial investments at the turf accountants... Also, is the South American situation as clear-cut as people seem to think? Neither Ecuador nor Chile have qualified yet and their last match is against one another. The realist in me says "bolted-on draw", which would see both qualify, but if I'm being unduly cynical (more cynical than South American football?!) and Argentina don't try too hard against Uruguay (though they probably will, I know), that could see Uruguay qualify automatically at the expense of Chile or Ecuador, couldn't it?...Yeah, I know: Ecuador v Chile draw; Argentina v Uruguay kick-fest draw with Suarez involved in some new controversy.... Also (2), what are your chances of single-handedly beating whoever finishes 5th in South America...you're taking it to the wire! My favourite two non-British Isles countries are safely through (Colombia and Belgium) and looking set to do well next year, so my main interest now is in seeing 1 or 2 different countries make it: Bosnia, Iceland via the play-offs, Armenia via an overdue Italian freak-out, Panama, Burkina Faso.....I'd settle for 2 out of those 5.
Jordan Posted 15 October 2013 Posted 15 October 2013 So, as our resident CONCACAF expert, Jordan, what are the chances of the USA fielding a weak team / not bothering too much / getting spooked by a bumpy pitch....and getting beaten by Panama in 24 hours time? If there's half a chance of that, is there also half a chance that the blundering Mexicans will cock it up in Costa Rica? Am considering some financial investments at the turf accountants... Also, is the South American situation as clear-cut as people seem to think? Neither Ecuador nor Chile have qualified yet and their last match is against one another. The realist in me says "bolted-on draw", which would see both qualify, but if I'm being unduly cynical (more cynical than South American football?!) and Argentina don't try too hard against Uruguay (though they probably will, I know), that could see Uruguay qualify automatically at the expense of Chile or Ecuador, couldn't it?...Yeah, I know: Ecuador v Chile draw; Argentina v Uruguay kick-fest draw with Suarez involved in some new controversy.... Also (2), what are your chances of single-handedly beating whoever finishes 5th in South America...you're taking it to the wire! My favourite two non-British Isles countries are safely through (Colombia and Belgium) and looking set to do well next year, so my main interest now is in seeing 1 or 2 different countries make it: Bosnia, Iceland via the play-offs, Armenia via an overdue Italian freak-out, Panama, Burkina Faso.....I'd settle for 2 out of those 5. 1) It could happen as USA is playing a weaker side. FYI, the USMNT didn't call in a couple of players that had some nagging injuries (e.g. Dempsey, though his form has been poor), and a few days ago they sent four veterans home so as not to risk injury/save them a trip (Donovan, Howard, Jermaine Jones and Matt Besler). Right now, I'd say the only guys that will be starting that regularly play in our starting XI are Beasley and Altidore. I can even see Klinsi rest Altidore but I think he is really curious to find the right strike partnership for him so I still think Jozy will start, either with Aron Johansson or Terrance Boyd. There will be lots of guys fighting for spots in Brazil, and there will be a few underrated players out there (esp. Mix Diskerud, a really creative midfielder, plus Guzan will start and he's damn good IMO), but I'd be tempted to take Panama if they had good odds. It's tough to play away in CONCACAF and sometimes Kyle Beckerman at DM scares me. He did a decent job in the Gold Cup, and vs a toothless Mexico side in September, but it'll be totally different playing away, where we're a completely different team. USA will probably play Graham Zusi on right wing to give him another shot--I like him in a slow-tempo game where he can whip in crosses all day, but if Panama ramp up the pressure I think he'll be a lot less effective. Zusi started in the game at Costa Rica, where they got right into our faces and went up 2-0 within 9 minutes. Zusi was completely taken out of the game aside from one clever long ball of a free kick in our own half which helped win us a penalty. I thought Panama was going to really try to get at the USA in the Gold Cup final (our "B" team then will be kind of similar to what we'll play Tuesday, although we won't have Donovan). In the end, their forwards were completely marked out of the game, but I came away really impressed with Panama's defense. My best guess is that there won't be many goals in this one. Costa Rica vs Mexico is a little harder to predict. If it weren't for an unbelievable bicycle kick goal in the 85th minute vs Panama, Mexico would be in a really desperate situation but all that has changed. Costa Rica is carrying a near-full-strength squad, but I couldn't tell you how they will line up or how motivated they will be. 2) For CONMEBOL, it would be a damn shame if Ecuador lose and see a six-goal swing drop them to 5th place, and as you say, despite how wild things could be in Argentina vs Uruguay, and Chile knowing they have 2 goals less breathing room than Ecuador does, I'm afraid that after tomorrow, Uruguay are going to have to wait for two more games to qualify. Chile and Ecuador should just shake hands and agree to the draw now. 3) I will say all the right things to the media over the next month, but I think I will be watching Brazil 2014 from home.
bovril Posted 15 October 2013 Posted 15 October 2013 Armenia will not qualify. I'd love to see Bosnia go through, they are ready and I think they'll do it.
Jordan Posted 15 October 2013 Posted 15 October 2013 Ghana and Egypt kick off their playoff in about an hour. Bob Bradley has done a remarkable job with the Pharaohs under awfully difficult conditions. http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/oct/15/bob-bradley-egypt-ghana-world-cup
Jordan Posted 15 October 2013 Posted 15 October 2013 Ayew and Essien (OG, perhaps?), 2-0 Ghana within 22 minutes. Egypt are simply being overwhelmed
Jordan Posted 15 October 2013 Posted 15 October 2013 Devastating result for Egypt. I've got Norway vs Iceland on now... Ajax's Kolbeinn Sigþórsson puts the visitors up 1-0 within 12 mins
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