2018 World Cup

[NeverFeltBetter]

True. Another day and the Swiss would have blown them away tonight.

[bennocelt]

True. Another day and the Swiss would have blown them away tonight.

No, thats generally how Switzerland play. A team in desperate need of a striker

[pineapple stu]

Switzerland had two games to blow them away and didn't come close in either.

The North had two games to create a chance, and barely managed it, the 180th minute side.

It's a shame one side has to progress

[DeLorean]

No, thats generally how Switzerland play. A team in desperate need of a striker

Their results in the group stage don't really back that up? Seferovic had a nightmare alright, that Embolo guy looks promising though.

I agree with NFB. Obviously poor finishing made it difficult in the end but if they had led 4-0 at half time yesterday it wouldn't have flattered them. And they controlled the first game pretty well too without creating a whole pile.

[ifk101]

Switzerland were far superior, despite what Gerry Armstrong may think, and deserve to go through. Certainly the North gave them cause to concern for the last 25 minutes but Switzerland had 3 or 4 clear scoring chances during that time.

[BonnieShels]

They deserve to go through in the sense that they were better than the OZ. But they were pure gash it must be said, and will not "grace" the World Cup.

[ifk101]

Wouldn't be that dismissive but goalscoring is the obvious weakness.

[DeLorean]

Gerry Armstrong must have been at Fabian Schar's Wiki page :D

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabian_Sch%C3%A4r


On 9th November 2017, in the World Cup play-off v Northern Ireland at Windsor Park, Belfast, Schar chopped Stuart Dallas in half with one of the worst "tackles" ever witnessed in international football. The bent referee unbelievably let him away with a yellow card. He is an animal.

[DeLorean]

Wouldn't be that dismissive but goalscoring is the obvious weakness.

Agreed. They're well worth their place in Russia.

[BonnieShels]

Wouldn't be that dismissive but goalscoring is the obvious weakness.

Nah, I would be. Hopefully the're as good as they were in Euro2016. I have never warmed toi the Swiss (like the Belgians). Wonder what it could be? :) Cos I love beer and chocolate!

[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.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DPBriENWsAMG_Kv.jpg

[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.

https://foot.ie/attachment.php?attachmentid=2625&stc=1

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

[nigel-harps1954]

https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1509829448ra/24363059.gif

[OwlsFan]

So, if for the sake of argument we had been Denmark in the draw, I wouldn't have fancied the travel to Samara and Saransk but the final game against France in Moscow would have been nice. Tough group though along with D, E and F. England always seem to land on their feet in the group stages of tournaments.

[ArFella]

So, if for the sake of argument we had been Denmark in the draw, I wouldn't have fancied the travel to Samara and Saransk but the final game against France in Moscow would have been nice. Tough group though along with D, E and F. England always seem to land on their feet in the group stages of tournaments.

And yet they always find a way to beautifully screw it up, their "easy" draw makes it a much more watchable World Cup for me, can't wait to see how they contrive to mess this one up. Hotel based bantz (tm) that are labelled a massive distraction by the press? Rooney getting a late call-up based on his improving Everton form and upsetting the balance of a youthful pacy England team but Southgate doesn't have the stones to drop him? A flawless group stage display, easily topping the group with 9 points only to go out in extra time against Japan in the second round? The possibilities are endless!

[OwlsFan]

I see one of England's games is in Stalingrad (Volgograd) and another in Konigsberg (Kaliningrad), once the capital of East Prussia and now a Russian enclave. Both were sites of huge battles in WW2 but will they match the ferocity of the engagements when the English fans come to town?

[Real ale Madrid]

I see one of England's games is in Stalingrad (Volgograd) and another in Konigsberg (Kaliningrad), once the capital of East Prussia and now a Russian enclave. Both were sites of huge battles in WW2 but will they match the ferocity of the engagements when the English fans come to town?

English Hooligan element won't travel over there. What will probably happen is you will have genuine fans attacked by Russian scumbags ala what happened in Marseille during the Euros (In the ground now - not out on the street)

[Real ale Madrid]

England always seem to land on their feet in the group stages of tournaments.

Except for the last World cup.

[BonnieShels]

Except for the last World cup.

And the one before that...

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/0b/bb/a8/0bbba84570f6832f90ada21739aa4614.jpg

[NeverFeltBetter]

Squads starting to be announced around now, no gigantic shocks from what I can see. Argentina have some hard choices to make with attacking players that are causing some disquiet, they've only set a provisional squad for now. Joe Hart not being part of the England squad made headlines for some reason.