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Post by Woo on Sept 9, 2009 17:51:13 GMT -1
Okay so next year is the World Cup which is still the most watched sporting event there is and I am now officially getting excited for it!!
So for those of you not keeping tabs on the qualifying is going here are the teams that have made it thus far:
Africa:
1. South Africa Well they are the hosts, of course they are in... despite that they still had to qualify (well sort of) as the qualifying for the world cup is also the qualifying to the African Nations. South Africa didn't even make it through to the 2nd round, but they were undefeated at home, something which may come in handy? Btw no host nation as ever failed to make it past the group stage in a world cup...... until this one I reckon.
2. Ghana
3. -
4. -
5. -
6. -
There will be five more African teams making it and at the moment the teams top of their groups are Cameroon, Tunisia (currently edging out Nigeria), Algeria, Egypt and Ivory Coast.
Asia:
7. Australia
8. Japan
9. South Korea
10. Korea DPR
So the two big stories here are that North Korea managed to qualify for the first time ever and Australia..... who imo cowardly defected to Asia out of fear of having to face the 5th best South American team. How is that allowed? Surely England could then go to North America and thrash them teams all the time then?
Bahrain and Saudi Arabia will get the final spot decided in a play-off.
North America
11. -
12. -
13. -
So thus far this is pretty damn close. The top three teams automatically go through while the 4th best plays the 5th best South American team..... so they should all try to avoid that. Trinidad & Salvador are bottom with 5 points, Costa Rica and Mexico 4th and 3rd with 12 points. USA in 2nd with 13 and also with 13 points and current leaders are....
...Honduras! Yes really! Two big games tonight though as the group leaders travel to Mexico while Costa Rica take on Salvador. Come on Mexico!
Europe
14. Holland
15. England
16. Spain
17. -
18. -
19. -
20. -
21. -
22. -
23. -
24. -
25. -
26. -
It seems that no matter how well the European teams do in the World cup (All four countries in the semis three years ago were European) FIFA keep reducing the number of European teams allowed in it.
Holland have already made it having won every single one of their games, as have England and Spain who are on the verge of making it too. Germany are top of their group ahead of the up and coming Russians, world champions Italy are top of theirs too, but runners-up France are trailing to Serbia at the moment.
Other huge teams struggling include the Czechs who are being beating by David Healy's Northern Ireland and group leaders Slovakia (wtf?). Also Portugal (haha!) who are FOURTH behind Sweden, Denmark and Hungary..... they are sooooo going out!
Elsewhere the Swiss are battling former European champs Greece for top of their group, Croatia are ahead of Ukraine in England's group, Bosnia (!!!!!!) are beating Turkey for 2nd spot in Spain's and behind Holland, Scotland are favourites to take the runner up spot.
South America
27. Brazil
28. Paraguay
29. -
30. -
So Brazil are there, as they always have been and in 2nd it's "Argentina!" nope- Chile. In third it's "Argentina!", nope Paraguay. Argentina are in fourth at the moment and have a massive game with Paraguay tonight.
Play-offs
31. New Zealand vs Bahrain
32. Fourth Best North American Nation vs. Fifth Best South American Nation
So with Australia gone to Asia it's New Zealand's spot for the taking, just as long as they can beat the fifth best South American team which at the moment could be Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador or former two time champions Uruguay. Either way I don't like their chances.
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Post by Woo on Sept 9, 2009 17:53:49 GMT -1
So with that out the way on a huge night for football- COME ON ENGLAND!
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Post by Woo on Sept 9, 2009 21:31:44 GMT -1
So all of today's European games are done and the big news is that England and Spain continue their 100% record and cruise into South Africa with 5-1 and 3-0 victories. Holland had already made it, but they too kept their 100% record going. That's my three favourite European teams in RSA.
As for the rest of the countries things are getting tense!
GROUP A:
Denmark- 18 Pts
Sweden- 15
Portugal- 13
Hungary- 13
Upcoming matches:
Denmark vs Sweden
Portugal vs Hungary
Denmark vs Hungary
Sweden vs Albania
Portugal vs Malta
Obviously the first two games are huge. I don't think Hungary can beat both Denmark and Portugal, so they won't make it. If Portugal beat Hungary they should defeat Malta, but Sweden should beat Albania and if they can get result in Denmark......
GROUP B
Switzerland- 17
Greece- 14
Latvia- 14
Israel- 12
Greece vs Latvia
Israel vs Moldova
Luxembourg vs Swiss
Greece vs Luxembourg
Swiss vs Israel
Latvia vs Moldova
Now the Swiss should at least reach the top two. Obviously that Greece vs Latvia game is crucial.
GROUP C
Slovakia- 19
Slovenia- 14
N. Ireland- 14
Czech- 12
Poland- 11
Slovakia vs Slovenia
Czech vs Poland
Czech vs N. Ireland
Poland vs Slovakia
San Marino vs Slovenia
Oooooh, how do you call this? I think Slovakia will finish in the top 2, probably joined by Slovenia who have San Marino. I really want the Czech's to make it though.
GROUP D
Germany- 22
Russia- 21
Russia vs Germany
Germany vs Finland
Leitchstien vs Russia
You know what? I think with the home advantage Russia will beat Germany. The Germans should still win the playoff though, regardless of who they face.
GROUP E
*Spain- 24
Bosnia- 16
Turkey- 12
Belgium vs Turkey
Estonia vs Bosnia
Bosnia vs Spain
Turkey vs Armenia
Looks like Turkey will be going out here. If Bosnia beat Estonia they will reach the playoffs! What a shocker that would be! Come on Estonia!
GROUP F
*England- 24
Croatia- 17
Ukraine- 15
Ukraine vs England
Andorra vs Ukraine
Kazakhstan vs Croatia
I think Croatia will sneak into the playoffs.
GROUP G
Serbia- 19
France- 15
France vs Faroe Islands
Serbia vs Romania
France vs Austria
Lithuania vs Serbia
Technically 5 teams are still in this, but these will be the top 2. Serbia look certs to win while France have to go into the playoffs...... imagine if they get Germany!
GROUP H
Italy- 20
Ireland- 16
Bulgaria- 11
Ireland vs Italy
Cyprus vs Bulgaria
Bulgaria vs Georgia
Ireland vs Montenegro
Italy vs Cyprus
Italy will win this no doubt and make it to RSA (and thank god!) and I am sure Ireland will do enough to make it to the playoffs. Both Italy and Ireland are undefeated btw.
GROUP I
*Holland
Norway
Holland are there but Norway have to hope they are one of the best runners up.
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Post by Woo on Sept 10, 2009 18:09:22 GMT -1
So in South America Argentina lost their must win game against Paraguay! Paraguay are now going to 2010. Argentina now find themselves in 5th place! Chile despite losing to Brazil look good to make it into the world cup.
However just behind them it's very close for the fourth spot and only three points separate Ecuador, Argentina, Uruguay, Venezuela, Columbia. It will be heartbreak for three of those nations.
Meanwhile up North the USA were victorious over Trinidad while Mexico defeated Honduras. That means that both the USA and Mexico will at worst make to the playoff against the 5th best South American country and are just one game short of being in the world cup.
Lastly Bahrain have knocked out Saudi Arabia and will go on to face New Zealand.
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Post by MetalBlade on Sept 10, 2009 21:00:16 GMT -1
Har har! Scotland fucked it.
Woo so owns this thread.
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Post by Woo on Oct 10, 2009 12:42:30 GMT -1
So it's October the 10th and day of reckoning for many, many nations!!
In Africa the Ivory Coast and Algeria (Algeria?) should join Ghana in the World Cup but it's all to play for in Group B between Tunisia and the Eagles of Africa Nigeria. I get the feeling that for the 2nd World Cup running we may see Nigeria fail to make it. In Group A Cameroon lead the way at the moment ahead of good Morocco and Togo sides, but it is little Gabon who seem are looking to be the biggest threat for the African Giant.
Asia is already pretty much wrapped up with Japan, South Korea, North Korea and Australia (yes they are Asian......) making it at the expense of Iran and Saudi Arabia. With Australia leaving for the Asian federation it was New Zealand who won the Oceanic play-off spot and today they will travel to Bahrain today in the first leg of their play-off for a spot in the World Cup.
In North America Mexico and the USA are just one win away from South Africa, but they have to face El Salvador and Honduras, who won't be as easy as you'd expect. Salvador have already beat Mexico, however this time Mexico will be at home and looking to keep their 100% home record. USA too have a 100% home record, but so do Honduras also and sadly for our American friends, they are playing away.... However Costa Rica could also be a threat and if they beat Trinidad today they will ensure themselves a play-off spot at least. It looks good for a Costa Rica win as T&T haven't earned a point away from home while Rica's only home slip-up was a 3-0 defeat to Mexico in September.
Going down South and with Brazil already through (along with Chile) all attention will be on Diego Maradona's Argentina. Argentina will play Peru in what is a must-win game for Argentina's hopes of making it to 2010, not to mention the legendary No. 10's job. Argentina's away form as been nothing less than woeful this campaign with defeats to Columbia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Chile and a humiliating 6-1 loss to Bolivia (who are out!) of all teams. In fact their only points away are a win in Venezuela and amazingly a point against Brazil..... it's a funny old game. However their only points dropped at home were against, yes Brazil, and they are playing at home today. Peru have been shit and while they may play for pride I expect them to lose.
Elsewhere Paraguay and the three nations with almost the same flag- Columbia, Ecuador and Venezuela all have hopes of making it too. Should be fun.
So Europe then! The big game to watch is obviously Germany away to Russia. Two of the top 6 nations in the world (according to Fifa). They already have the top two spots sewn up, but Germany win they will go to RSA. A home win will make Russia odds on favorites to make it and a draw would make Wednesday very interesting!
I said earlier that if Germany don't win they could end up in a Play-off with France, which is wrong as the play-offs will be seeded, but what is certain is that if Serbia get a point against Romania today then it will look almost certain that the finalists from 2006 will have to win the play-off to make it.
Speaking of the play-offs Slovakia are already there and will qualify if they beat their neighbours Slovenia, no small feat. Slovenia themselves are looking to the World Cup and our 2nd in their group and a win would make it VERY hard for anybody else to come close to those two teams. The Czechs are not out yet, even if their team is no longer the world beaters they were four, or even two, years ago. They host Poland, who's hopes while slim, are not nill. Meanwhile Northern Ireland have played one more game than anybody else and will have to wait and see what happens.
Turkey travel to Belgium in a must-win game, but it looks like they will probably go out anyway as Bosnia (!!!) play Estonia. As I mentioned in the other thread Italy only need a point to make it against Ireland, but I still think the ROI will edge out Bulgaria win, lose or draw tonight.
In England's group Ukraine have a game in hand over Croatia, the only trouble is that it's against England..... you know it would be funny if England, with nothing to play for, lost on purpose to Ukraine to fuck over Croatia like they did to us two years ago.
Group 1 there are two huge games between the four nations with a chance of making it- Portugal vs Hungary and Sweden vs Denmark. I wonder if we get another Scandinavian Scandal where they conspire to help both go through like they were accused of doing in Euro 04. Meanwhile Group 2 is also very close with the Swiss so close to 2010, but there is a close battle behind with Israel, Latvia and former Euro champs Greece. Greece vs Latvia should be VERY tense!
Damn I am so psyched for this!
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Post by Woo on Oct 10, 2009 13:41:27 GMT -1
So we already have out first team that has qualified today and as expected the Ivory Coast. That makes it:
1. South Africa
2. Japan
3. Australia
4. South Korea
5. Holland
6. North Korea
7. Brazil
8. Ghana
9. England
10. Spain
11. Paraguay
12. Ivory Coast
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Post by Woo on Oct 10, 2009 16:01:50 GMT -1
Cameroon win 3-0 against Togo, BUT Gabon also beat Morocco 3-1, so it's still just 1 point between them with the final game to go.
Elsewhere it's full time in Moscow with Germany beating Russia 1-0 which means Ze Germans make are in the world cup and Russia will be one of the seeded teams in the play-offs. Switzerland are 3-0 at half time so they should make the world cup too. Bosnia are beating Estonia by a goal, so they could eliminate Turkey and make the play-offs.
England are down a man (Rio is useless) an a goal, which is awful news for Croatia.
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Post by Woo on Oct 10, 2009 23:08:15 GMT -1
So England lost. Hahaha Croatia are screwed!! Surely the Ukraine will edge out Croatia for the playoffs?
Some teams who won't have to worry about the playoffs are Italy, Denmark and Serbia who have made it to the world cup!
1. South Africa
2. Japan
3. Australia
4. South Korea
5. Holland
6. North Korea
7. Brazil
8. Ghana
9. England
10. Spain
11. Paraguay
12. Ivory Coast
13. Germany
14. Denmark
15. Serbia
16. Italy
So that's half the teams there! The Swiss aren't quite there as they can be caught by Greece. Israel and Latvia are still in with a chance of making the playoffs too. Portugal should now make the play-offs as all they have to do is beat Malta. The Czech's won but the worst possible result happened in their group as Slovenia beat Slovakia meaning that the only way they can go through is if Slovenia fail to beat San Marino.... who have lost EVERY won of their games....
In North America footballing legend Blanco has helped Mexico to what is currently a 4-1 lead with 1 minute left..... though there have been three goals in the last five minutes so goodness knows what will happen next. Mexico are sure to win however and be the 17th team to qualify.
Wait nope Chile are the 17th team to make it as they hammed and eliminated a home Columbia 4-2. Argentina DID win, but only just! They were leading up until the 90th minute when they let a goal in.... before scoring in the 93rd minute!! Now if they beat Uruguay they will make get the final automatic spot.
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Post by Woo on Oct 10, 2009 23:32:01 GMT -1
Ah also New Zeland managed to get a good 0-0 drawin Bahrain, which makes them favourites in to take the spot in the 2nd leg in Middle Earth.
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Post by Woo on Oct 11, 2009 11:34:49 GMT -1
Good news for Flyers- the USA came from a goal down to qualify for 2010. Costa Rica and Honduras are battling for the third and final automatic spot, which I think is the only chance either has of making it. Costa Rica are currently third, but they have to face the USA and have the harder match...
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Post by Woo on Oct 11, 2009 17:31:53 GMT -1
Both Tunisa and Nigeria won their games 1-0 today to make it go down to the wire in that group. Tunisa are still odds on favourites to qualify however and would have done so today were it not for a 90th minute goal for Nigeria. No offence to Tunisa, but I really hope Nigeria somehow make it.
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Post by Woo on Oct 14, 2009 20:54:39 GMT -1
So the group stages in Europe are after and the Czech's join Croatia and Turkey in the pile of big name sides to exit from the tournament. Holland, England, Spain, Germany, Italy all won their groups and will all enter South Africa as favorites and they will be joined by Serbia, Denmark, Switzerland and Slovakia who also topped the groups.
So that means....
1. South Africa
2. Japan
3. Australia
4. South Korea
5. Holland
6. North Korea
7. Brazil
8. Ghana
9. England
10. Spain
11. Paraguay
12. Ivory Coast
13. Germany
14. Denmark
15. Serbia
16. Italy
17. Chile
18. Mexico
19. USA
20. Switzerland
21. Slovakia
Norway finished runners-up to Holland, but don't make the play-offs as they were the worst runner-up. The other eight go into two pots with four of them being seeded depending on their world ranking- so no chance of seeing Portugal vs France. The eight runners-up, in order of their ranking are:
Russia
France
Greece
Portugal
--------
Ukraine
Republic of Ireland
Slovenia
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Could be some interesting matches here. You have to think that the lower four teams will be hoping for Greece while the top four will want to avoid Ukraine and the un-beaten thus far Ireland, though they may find out that Greece, Slovenia and Bosnia are better than expected.
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Post by Woo on Oct 15, 2009 15:58:41 GMT -1
Okay this will be the last update in a month, but yesterday Argentina secured their spot in 2010 with a late winner against Uruguay. Ecuador did not surprise Chile, which means that Uruguay go into the playoffs. They were probably hoping to face Honduras, but Costa Rica let a goal go in on the 95th minute which earned USA a draw! Seriously Costa Rica will be devastated if they now lose the play-off.
Uruguay vs Costa Rica should be a very close game on November the 14th. I'm pulling for the former champions myself.
Also on that day Bahrain travel to New Zealand for a place while in Africa it's crunch time for Cameroon, Gabon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Algeria & Egypt. Plus there is the small matter of the Euro play-offs.
1. South Africa
2. Japan
3. Australia
4. South Korea
5. Holland
6. North Korea
7. Brazil
8. Ghana
9. England
10. Spain
11. Paraguay
12. Ivory Coast
13. Germany
14. Denmark
15. Serbia
16. Italy
17. Chile
18. Mexico
19. USA
20. Switzerland
21. Slovakia
22. Argentina
23. Honduras
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Post by Woo on Oct 19, 2009 15:44:06 GMT -1
So the draws for the European play-offs were made today and they were:
Republic of Ireland v France
Portugal v Bosnia-Herzegovina
Greece v Ukraine
Russia v Slovenia
Well it looks like Ireland have been well and truly screwed by Fifa's last minute decision to seed the play-offs (in what was probably a desperate attempt to make sure France and Portugal make the play-offs...). Not only do they play the runners-up from last time, but unlike the other three non-seeds they don't even get to play the 2nd leg at home.
I think Portugal will beat Bosnia, Russia will sneak past Slovenia, Ukraine will cause an upset against the Greek's and I am going to say I think Ireland have got what it takes to knock the French out.
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