2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Group A

It could have been worse. Getting a single point from Portugal would be a major achievement, and I'm wary of any attempt to downplay them. Serbia I'm happy with, that's a team I think we could be capable of getting more points against than we'd lose, if we can play to the level we are capable of. Luxembourg, I'm wary of. They've had good results recently, and only lost 2-0 to Portugal last year (the second was in the last minute), and Serbia 3-2. I'm sure their coaching team will be explicitly telling them to target the Ireland games for scalps. Azerbaijan, the away trip is a ballache, but they shipped 18 goals in the last qualifying campaign and only won a point, so anything other than two wins is a disaster.

I think third is the most likely possibility, but second is far from unobtainable.

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Originally Posted by Real ale Madrid

I reckon we will get the 4 wins and draw the 4 games with Por / Srb and then will need a bit of luck. We would need to improve to do that even.

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You reckon we'll go through the group unbeaten? :eek:

People seem to be very confident about getting a result against a Serbia team who beat us at the Aviva not too long ago.

Also downplaying Cristiano Ronaldo is a new one too. I don't care how old he his, the man is an absolute goal machine. I can't see us getting anything from Portugal because it'd require to score at least one goal. There's no way we're keeping Cristiano quiet for 180 mins.

Hoping Kenny has learned enough from the nations league and the England friendly to make some adjustments where necessary. He's had a chance to assess the extended squad, they've proved capable of playing a possession based game and that should help with being more effective against the weaker teams in the group (assuming we can actually score a goal at some point).

The England game showed that trying to play out might not always be the best option against a top tier side, especially with a keeper and at least one central defender who can be targeted because of their discomfort on the ball. That doesn't mean we resort to hoofball, but it does mean trying to play the ball forward quicker and playing off breaks a bit more and accepting that 40% can be more than enough if it's in the right areas. If we have a full strength squad, or close, we have pace in the likes of Connolly and Robinson that should allow us to counter attack more effectively. The key here might be having the right pivot in midfield, Cullen looks like he might have the most promise in terms of mixing a range of passing with defensive soundness, McCarthy is probably still the first choice but can't stay fit.

We're still not conceding a lot, so add a few goals and there's hope for all the games. You could never rule out a backs to the wall 0-0 or 1-1 against Portugal, the problem is you probably can't rule out a 0-0, 1-1, or 0-1 against any of the teams in the group, unless we start being more clinical in front of goal (and at the moment, none of our strikers are really scoring).

Hoping to see Kenny given a chance, securing a couple of comfortable wins against the weaker sides, taking 2 or 3 points from Serbia and nicking a point at least against Portugal, so that we're at least in with a shot at playoffs until the final group games. If there's enough evidence of progress, we should then be in a very good place facing the Euro 2024 qualifiers, regardless of making the word cup or the playoffs.

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Originally Posted by seanfhear

Soft penalty.

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Cotton ball soft. The Serb ran across Walters? and dived into the contact, Walters halted his stride in an attempt to avoid him. Though in the end 2-2 was fair enough.
Just how happy was Randolph scooping that ball from the air after the Serb's successful crossbar challenge?

If Ronaldo has 110 international goals after the Euros he might retire from international football. He'd be 37 playing in a mid season world cup out in the middle east. He could plausibly pack it in next summer. Don't play POR in March.

It's probably the most talented squad Portugal have had during his career and it will be his last ever World Cup. There's no way he's retiring before that is said and done.

He also seems quite driven to keep scoring - and break and extend that record if he can.

I think we can but hope that he'll retire - but even then, they have players at Liverpool and Atletico to step up.

(What's POR btw? Portugal didn't have any games in March)

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Originally Posted by Real ale Madrid

If Ronaldo has 110 international goals after the Euros he might retire from international football. He'd be 37 playing in a mid season world cup out in the middle east. He could plausibly pack it in next summer. Don't play POR in March.

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My cryptic way of saying play PORtugal in Sept / Oct / Nov windows when Ronaldo has retired. Not in March when he's chasing the world record.

Ah, gotcha. Not sure if he'll retire during the campaign, but he may be that yard slower come Oct/Nov alright.

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Originally Posted by Real ale Madrid

If Ronaldo has 110 international goals after the Euros he might retire from international football. He'd be 37 playing in a mid season world cup out in the middle east. He could plausibly pack it in next summer. Don't play POR in March.

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Ronaldo could play for another 5 years, he loves playing for Portugal. Guy is a machine whos whole life is built around playing football.

Ronaldo could stick around seeing as it's a World Cup but he might pick and choose which qualifier to play in.

At Euro 2016, post Ronaldo's graceless hissy rant, Kari the Icelandic CH replied when asked about Ronaldo 'he's just a bad loser who fannied and dived about the place before fluffing his big chance at the end, and (sticking the knife in) we didn't even have to pay him any special attention - that's why he'll alway be behind Messi.'

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Originally Posted by geysir

Ronaldo could stick around seeing as it's a World Cup but he might pick and choose which qualifier to play in.

At Euro 2016, post Ronaldo's graceless hissy rant, Kari the Icelandic CH replied when asked about Ronaldo 'he's just a bad loser who fannied and dived about the place before fluffing his big chance at the end, and (sticking the knife in) we didn't even have to pay him any special attention - that's why he'll alway be behind Messi.'

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Oh we are grand so, will be easy against him. LOL

I just read online that Qatar will be joining our group unofficially and play 10 friendlies to help the prepare for the World Cup.... Can we please play them 1st before any qualifiers


https://twitter.com/JBurtTelegraph/s...165037056?s=20

Confirmed by multiple sources

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Originally Posted by Razors left peg

I just read online that Qatar will be joining our group unofficially and play 10 friendlies to help the prepare for the World Cup.... Can we please play them 1st before any qualifiers


https://twitter.com/JBurtTelegraph/s...165037056?s=20

Confirmed by multiple sources

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I think it’s a nonsensical idea by uefa/fifa.

France joined a Euro 2016 qualifying group for the same reason - to fill it up. I think it's a good idea in general. Worth noting too eloratings has Qatar one place above us (and a good bit stronger than Oman). Wouldn't want to tasked this too lightly

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Originally Posted by Real ale Madrid

This campaign is the same as every one really.

Need 4 wins against Lux / Aze
Need to beat Serbia at home and probably pick up 1 point in Belgrade and 1 point at home to Portugal.
In all likelihood that would get you second place.

I reckon we will get the 4 wins and draw the 4 games with Por / Srb and then will need a bit of luck. We would need to improve to do that even.

If Kenny can improve the team through the campaign, we start scoring a few goals and remain in contention to the end he will probably keep his job through to 2024 even with a 3rd placed finish.

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w

thats what I said if we remained undefeated its hard that we didnt get a play off spot

the fixture is realeased?

Don't see a problem with it. Gives us more chance to bed the youngsters in as it equates to a practice match during a window we'd have the players anyway.

I dont want Qatar in our group, thats just money talk, why dont go the the Italian 5-team group that in papers is the easiest of all the 5-team groups by far?

Will give me plenty chance to use my favourite Qatar gag.

Q. Who is my favourite Qatar player?
A. Eric Clapton