2018 World Cup

[pineapple stu]

Half an hour left for Italy to turn things around against Sweden; still 0-0, and though it's been mostly Italy, Sweden have apparently had a perfectly good penalty turned down.

And on a similar note, the North are apparently officially backing VARs now, which could be quite a big development given the power the UK nations have within FIFA, and given how conservative they've been in terms of rule changes.

[pineapple stu]

And out they go! Stats show 22 shots to 3, and 8 corners to 0 - but also 0-0 on the night.

First time since 1958 we won't have Italy. The biggest pity about a 48-team World Cup is that there'll be less of this kind of stuff. No USA, no Holland, no Italy - makes qualifying worthwhile really.

It also means all three second legs so far have ended 0-0 - a trend we have to buck of course.

[osarusan]

Sweden pull an O'Neill and sacrifice territory and possession to defend the last third in depth, and pull it off relatively comfortably against a plodding Italian team. A good El Shaarawy volley late on was beaten away, but not a whole lot else, and Sweden had a very good shout for a handball turned down.

[BonnieShels]

And out they go! Stats show 22 shots to 3, and 8 corners to 0 - but also 0-0 on the night.

First time since 1958 we won't have Italy. The biggest pity about a 48-team World Cup is that there'll be less of this kind of stuff. No USA, no Holland, no Italy - makes qualifying worthwhile really.

It also means all three second legs so far have ended 0-0 - a trend we have to buck of course.

The odds are against all 4 being 0-0.

Score draw Win please.

[pineapple stu]

Well - we literally can't get a 0-0 draw, because it'd mean extra time and then penalties.

Why do you want a score draw?

[BonnieShels]

Well - we literally can't get a 0-0 draw, because it'd mean extra time and then penalties.

Why do you want a score draw?

Cos I'm exhausted and have been staring at my thesis proposal all day and forgot we're playing at home tomorrow.

Scratch that.

[nigel-harps1954]

Well - we literally can't get a 0-0 draw, because it'd mean extra time and then penalties.

Why do you want a score draw?

Because we, as Irish, love to be miserable and complain.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Just the two inter-confederation spots to be decided then. Aussies host Honduras tomorrow at 0900, then Peru at home to New Zealand in the early hours of Thursday. Both nil-all, you have to fancy both hosts.

[Kingdom]

Imagine, we could be dreaming of a group of Russia, Peru, ourselves and the Saudi's in a few weeks time......I love this time of year, pre-World Cup.

You bloody.clown.

[NeverFeltBetter]

That's the Aussies in then. 3-1 winners. Only one spot left.

[NeverFeltBetter]

And Peru makes 32. Draw on the 1st of December I believe.

[osarusan]

Didn't really know where to put this..here will do. Qualification history for next and 2 most recent world cups.

[Gather round]

And on a similar note, the North are apparently officially backing VARs now, which could be quite a big development given the power the UK nations have within FIFA, and given how conservative they've been in terms of rule changes

I'm looking forward to seeing this tested. Wonder if it will be like cricket (each team gets to challenge a fixed number of decisions) or rugby (basically at the referee's discretion)?

Generally, however much or little influence IFAB has, it's archaic that NI (or anyone) gets a permanent place on the committee...

[NeverFeltBetter]

Is already been tested, in the most recent Confederations Cup, with decidedly mixed results. Needs serious improvement.

[sidewayspasser]

It's also being tested in the Bundesliga this season, and from the matches I've seen, the refs seem to be better trained for its use than they were at the Confed Cup. Overall, it seems to help in getting more decisions right, but some decisions still remain controversial.
It's at the ref's discretion to decide whether a situation needs to be reviewed, and it's only supposed to be used for major decisions such as straight red cards, penalties or irregular goals (offside, handball or foul in the build-up to the goal).

[NeverFeltBetter]

Draw tomorrow at 3. Been playing with some of the simulators, a few interesting groups possible.



Second half of this draw looks real watchable. And the hosts get a handy path to the knock-outs.

[DeLorean]

I'm underwhelmed.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Group A
Russia
Uruguay
Egypt
Saudi Arabia

Set up for Egypt to get through, if Russia don't get wonky officiating in their favour.

Group B
Portugal
Spain
Iran
Morocco

Should be straightforward for Iberian duo right?

Group C
France
Peru
Denmark
Australia

Some interesting match-ups here. Hard to call. Aussies could be a spoiler for people.

Group D
Argentina
Croatia
Iceland
Nigeria

Iceland to top the group. Want to call it before everyone else on here does.

Group E
Brazil
Switzerland
Costa Rica
Serbia

Group of death? Kind of? If Costa Rica can replicate form anyway.

Group F
Germany
Mexico
Sweden
South Korea

Sweden/Mexico for second spot.

Group G
Belgium
England
Tunisia
Panama

Straightforward enough for top two seeds, right?

Group H
Poland
Columbia
Senegal
Japan

Straightforward enough I'd say, unless Japan are much better than I remember.

[KrisLetang]

I think Tunisia could be a dark horse in group G.

[bennocelt]

Just knew Russia would get those 3 points in SA, a hot ball, eh!! There is always one