Preliminary Draw of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil

[ifk101]

Sweden really aren't all that good. They are well organised and can be a physical threat. But they have big weaknesses at the back, their best defenders are past it Mellburg (33) Majsterovic and Petter Hanson (both 34), their only reliable defender with a bit of pace is the lad at Genoa Grandquist. In midfield they have a lot of average ball winners, but a lack of creativity. Wilhelmsonn looked like a promising player but has utterly stagnated since he moved to the Middle East, Kallestrom is ok but not massivly creative, he's no Johnas Turn he's a bit of a poor man's Hackan Mild. There is a lot of hype about Albin Ekdal, but he's yet to play for them and he hasnt set the world alight in a very mundane Juventus side. They do have Ibrahimovic upfront and Elmander too, but these are both immobile strikers and if we can cut of the creativity they shouldnt be too much of a handfull, they've no real pace which is a good thing looking at our back line. I'd be more worried about Rosenburg or Markus Burg running at our center backs, but they've faced pacier attackers in the past and shut them out. We should be beating the Swedes at home and aiming for a draw away. They were lucky to get to Euro 2008, getting a 3-0 default in Copenhagen against the Danes after a mad home fan struck the ref, which caused the game to be abandoned. If the Danes had won that they would have finished ahead of Sweden and made it to Euro 2008. Northern Ireland beat the Swedes 2-1 in Windsor Park and drew 1-1 away. In WC2010 qualification they were beaten home and away by the Danes 1-0 home and away, drew 0-0 with Portugal home and away and drew 0-0 in Albania. People are saying their current form (in Euro2012s) good, to an extend that's true, but theyve yet to face their hardest away games (aside from in Holland where they went down 4-1), their remaining games are Hungary away, Finland away, Holland at home and San Marino away, I'll be surprised if they get more than 4-5 points from those.

Petter Hansson hasn't played international football in a while - not sure if he is injured or retired from international duty.
Andreas Granqvist didn't make the grade at Wigan.
Mellberg and Majstorovic are the first choice centre halves.
Albin Ekdal isn't really on the international radar yet. Doubtful if he'll get much game time with Juventus this season.
Hasn't really happened for Källström at international level. Sweden's creative force would be Anders Svensson (ex Southampton).
Sebastian Larsson and Elmander would be names familiar to those that follow the British leagues.

Individually Sweden aren't great. Dodgy goalie, full backs aren't great, centre half pairing are well into their thirties. Midfield has a couple of good players but no world beaters. Probably Sweden are strongest up front where they have plenty of options.

[Closed Account 2]

Was Hannson not on the bench for that 4-1 defeat in Holland ? I thought I saw him on the bench when I watched the game...

[ifk101]

Was Hannson not on the bench for that 4-1 defeat in Holland ? I thought I saw him on the bench when I watched the game...

Yes you are correct. He was brought into the squad as they were short of defensive cover for that game. Don't think he has been included in any squad since and hasn't played a game in the last few years. Jonas Olsson (West Brom) and Granqvist would certainly be ahead of him in the pecking order.

[eekers]

So much for Sweden. Lost to Hungary the last day and now its taken them 65mins to score against San Marino.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Yes, but we'll get humped by Deutschland....

[the bear]

Not at all.

Just think them, Turkey, the Kazaks and Armenia/Azerbaijan should all play in Asia, as you have to draw a line somewhere geographically.
The fact that some of them are flawed :rolleyes: is just incidental.

i would of thought they would prefer to play in asia as they would be much more likely to ever qualify

[ArdeeBhoy]

Well, exactly. More fool them.

[Charlie Darwin]

Not at all.

Just think them, Turkey, the Kazaks and Armenia/Azerbaijan should all play in Asia, as you have to draw a line somewhere geographically.
The fact that some of them are flawed :rolleyes: is just incidental.
I think you'll find thee is a line drawn right down the middle of Istanbul.

[Closed Account 2]

So much for Sweden. Lost to Hungary the last day and now its taken them 65mins to score against San Marino.

They are no great shakes at all. I would fear the Austrians as much as the Swedes and Alma-Alta could be as difficult away as Stockholm.

[ArdeeBhoy]

I think you'll find thee is a line drawn right down the middle of Istanbul.

Which would exclude all those four for starters....

[French Toasht]

Does anyone know any details on when a fixtures meeting/random draw will take place for the World Cup qualifiers?

[geysir]

Some things never change. If someone put a gun to your head and you could measure at that moment how much you wanted to live, that's how much a Pole wants to beat Germany at football. In a friendly last night, Poland went 2-1 up with a few minutes left, game over - mass celebrations, then in the the last few moments, the Germans go up the field and equalize with the last kick of the game.

[elroy]

We have plenty of minds in the meantime but there is a decent article on basically now good Germany are at the moment. Sobering thoughts for our 2014 campaign:


While the fight goes on for England (surely), the Republic of Ireland (possibly) and Scotland (it could still happen) to qualify for Euro 2012, four of the continent's leading football nations can already start to prepare properly having sealed their places in Poland and Ukraine.

In the latest round of games, Italy joined defending European and World champions Spain in celebrating qualification, and the Dutch are definitely there too as they are guaranteed to be best runner-up at least. All, though, were beaten to the honour of being 'first past the post' by a very impressive Germany.

Their eighth win out of eight qualifying games was a 6-2 thrashing of neighbours Austria, with the display of attacking football put on by Joachim Low's side more than justifying the scoreline.

It followed a 3-2 win over Brazil in an August friendly when they were equally as impressive going forward, and the signs are that this German team will be the one to pose the biggest threat to Spain's European crown. Not that saying that represents a huge gamble!

Let's face it, the Germans have not often experienced the 'doldrums' of international football - even when they were supposed to be at a relatively low ebb they managed to reach the World Cup final in 2002.

A sprinkling of those who starred in South Africa last year were instrumental against Austria. Bastian Schweinsteiger patrolled the midfield with menace, man-of-the-match Mezut Ozil scored twice, and Thomas Mulller was arguably even better than his goalscoring 'seniors' Miroslav Klose (now 33) and Lukas Podolski (still only 26 and with 92 caps behind him).

For the second game running though, the scorers of the last two German goals caught my eye in particular.

Mario Goetze and Andre Schurrle have emerged to join the likes of Muller and Toni Kroos as the bright new things in German football. The youngest talents in a squad that, Klose aside, has a youthful energy to it throughout.

Attacking midfielder Goetze scored on his first start for his country against Brazil, and followed it up by coming off the bench to bag against the Austrians. He'll only leave his teens five days before Euro 2012 kicks off, but looks to have the ability and confidence to live up to the hype that's building rapidly in Germany.

When wise old heads like Franz Beckenbauer and Mattias Sammer give the verdicts "instinctive...just like Messi" (Beckenbauer) and "one of the best talents we've ever had" (Sammer), you know you're dealing with something special.

He's started the Bundesliga season in excellent form too, as Borussia Dortmund's creator-in-chief. And, as with most top talents, there's a fiery side - demonstrated by his (harsh) red card at Bayer Leverkusen just before the international break, a reaction to being on the end of some 'special' treatment from the opposition.

From that Leverkusen side comes 20-year-old Schurrle, who's fast becoming Germany's second wave goal threat from the bench. His goal, the team's fifth against Austria was his fourth in the last six internationals, with three scored as a substitute.

A tall, stylish forward, he's moved up after just a year in the Under-21s and by next June could be getting a regular starting place. A first season wearing number nine for Leverkusen after his move from Mainz will be a big one for him.

Last year, Goetze and Schurrle became the first Germany players to have been born after reunification in 1990. Next year, don't be surprised if their abilities help the country reunite with a trophy they last won in 1996.

[Hibs4Ever]

Yes, but we'll get humped by Deutschland....


Like we did last time we had them? Under Stan?

[ArdeeBhoy]

Yes. They've improved massively.

Have you seen their results since? Even with Trap and 11 men behind the ball, we'll be pushed to get a draw, let alone come ahead of them.

[Closed Account 2]

André Schürrle looked very good for Leverkusen last night, I'd be worried about him running at our full backs next year.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Germany will take 4 points minimum from us, so what?

[BonnieShels]

Germany are going to romp home to the Euros and Next World Cup. You heard it here first.

Edit: and I mean win both not just qualify.

[Stuttgart88]

Germany, Spain and Holland are untouchble in qualification rounds these days - virtual 100% records over two or more campaigns now. England are finding it relatively easy too, since 2008's disaster. Italy & France are still reliable qualifiers but are some way short of the top 3.

Any points at all from Germany could be valuable.

[Kingdom]

Germany are going to romp home to the Euros and Next World Cup. You heard it here first.

Edit: and I mean win both not just qualify.

Belgium in 2016 is where the money is at.

[BonnieShels]

Belgium in 2016 is where the money is at.

Funny you should say that... When purchasing Pro Ev 2011 last year I kept on ending up with these fantastical Belgian youth players so I jut couldn't let it lie and thought Seabass went a bit mad and checked the individuals out... You could be onto something.
I'd say though they'll fall short of winning it. Good bet for the semis though.

Watching Goatzy/Gatze [sic. (I know it's Goetze, but Trevor Welch's attempt at the pronunciation was doing my nut in)] last night just shows the capabilities the young Germans. That little fecker is only 19.

[pineapple stu]

When purchasing Pro Ev 2011 last year I kept on ending up with these fantastical Belgian youth players so I jut couldn't let it lie and thought Seabass went a bit mad and checked the individuals out... You could be onto something.
Sounds like the Swedish youth-team in CM01/02. They did well out of that. :)

[IsMiseSean]

Sounds like the Swedish youth-team in CM01/02. They did well out of that. :)

And who could forget Andri Sigporsson... Bargain!!

[BonnieShels]

Sounds like the Swedish youth-team in CM01/02. They did well out of that. :)

However in this case its justified. The Belgians do indeed have some whoppers coming through.

[pineapple stu]

In fairness, that is true, by all accounts. Whereas Sweden just had Kim Karlsson.

[BonnieShels]

Roll on September 26th. And we'll see what new and wonderful players are out there this year. I wager my Forest team are going to be populated by Armenians.

[French Toasht]

Some news from our group for WC 2014.

http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro2012/news/newsid=1676739.html

[BonnieShels]

Wow. Even Austrian resignations are boring and without drama.

[mypost]

Does anyone know any details on when a fixtures meeting/random draw will take place for the World Cup qualifiers?

According to Delaney at the draw in July, it was supposed to be in Frankfurt at "the end of August". It's now October, and there's no sign of them. While there's no rush, it would be nice to at least have a date for the meeting.

Currently, only Group 9 dates have been set. The deciding games are October next year in Spain, and the following March in Paris. Of course Spain and France are at home on the last night, but the other team's fixtures are of little consequence.

[French Toasht]

Fixtures meeting for the WC 2014 group due to take place in Frankfurt on November 17th and 18th 2011.

http://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=500014&tx_dfbnews_pi1%5BshowUid%5D=28710&tx_dfbnews_pi4%5Bcat%5D=56

[French Toasht]

Austria drew with Kazahkstan tonight 0-0. Two teams both in our group.


I think Germanys 100% record and Sweden top second place finish and victory over the Dutch probably indicate that we have the toughest group of the lot. (Well aside from the Spain, France group maybe).

Should be interesting.

[Stuttgart88]

If ever there's a case to retain Trap! Minimising damage from Germany and 2 draws at worst from Sweden required.

[French Toasht]

New manager for the Faroes ...

http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/news/newsid=1714722.html

Also new manager at the helm in Austria


http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/news?slug=afp-fbl_aut_sui_euro_2012_world_2014_20111004