2014 World Cup qualifying

[Metrostars]

I understand Worm's reasons for not supporting the US team, MLS or anything to do with soccer in the United States, not that I agree with him though. All MLS/US supports are dicks according to him so therefore he is embarrassed by them and cannot be in anyway associated with them e.g. I remember you once said that fans at a US game singing songs was stupid as that is not done in any other US sport (even though its done the world over in soccer). He also does not consider US "supporters" to be at the same level of an Irish/English/Italian/Spanish etc "supporter". Maybe this is because the average American doesn't care about soccer.

Also Worm, which US players do you not like and why?

[Dodge]

I understand Worm's reasons for not supporting the US team, MLS or anything to do with soccer in the United States, not that I agree with him though. All MLS/US supports are dicks according to him so therefore he is embarrassed by them and cannot be in anyway associated with them e.g. I remember you once said that fans at a US game singing songs was stupid as that is not done in any other US sport (even though its done the world over in soccer). He also does not consider US "supporters" to be at the same level of an Irish/English/Italian/Spanish etc "supporter". Maybe this is because the average American doesn't care about soccer.

I think thats why he fits in with all the lads who hate Irish (non international) football in the Ireland forum

[theworm2345]

I understand Worm's reasons for not supporting the US team, MLS or anything to do with soccer in the United States, not that I agree with him though. All MLS/US supports are dicks according to him so therefore he is embarrassed by them and cannot be in anyway associated with them e.g. I remember you once said that fans at a US game singing songs was stupid as that is not done in any other US sport (even though its done the world over in soccer).

Not exactly, but that is sort of the gist of it.

He also does not consider US "supporters" to be at the same level of an Irish/English/Italian/Spanish etc "supporter". Maybe this is because the average American doesn't care about soccer.

Also Worm, which US players do you not like and why?

Depends what you mean by level of supporter. In terms of actually supporting the team, that is a tough one as there are obviously plenty of "barstoolers," etc in Europe. I don't think I need to point out the number of fans of the Ireland team in Poland just along for the singsong. I think its different and incomparable though as the culture surrouding the game is so much different. In terms of knowledge in terms of everything about the game in general, I don't think its even close though. There are several players I have really disliked over the years, Lalas, Mathis, Donovan, Bradley, etc. Far more though are players I just didn't care about one way or the other. The only players I really remember having any affinity for were the Beasley brothers and I don't really know why, though I stopped caring about them a long time ago.

I think thats why he fits in with all the lads who hate Irish (non international) football in the Ireland forum

I might fit in with them, but would stress I'm not one of them. I do at least try to make an effort with the League of Ireland, the problem there being I don't have a team to support and never have. I did at one point like Galway United because they had three Caribbean internationals (Wes Charles, Alvin Rouse, and Regi Nooitmeer) plus Galway is Chicago's sister city, but that faded when those guys left. I'm sure most would agree, its hard to watch the League of Ireland as a neutral.

[Dodge]

I might fit in with them, but would stress I'm not one of them. I do at least try to make an effort with the League of Ireland, the problem there being I don't have a team to support and never have. I did at one point like Galway United because they had three Caribbean internationals (Wes Charles, Alvin Rouse, and Regi Nooitmeer) plus Galway is Chicago's sister city, but that faded when those guys left. I'm sure most would agree, its hard to watch the League of Ireland as a neutral.

I know you do, fair play

[pineapple stu]

A bump on this, as we've our first team to actually qualify (not counting the hosts) - Japan have come out of the Asian qualifying. South Korea are all but qualified, and if they beat Iran at home while Uzbekistan beat Qatar at home, the Uzbeks are through too. Australia have to do better at home against Iraq than Oman do in Jordan to qualify. If Jordan win; they're in the play-offs. So Uzbekistan/Iran v Oman/Jordan for the right to play, at the moment, Venezuela, for a World Cup spot.

Ethiopia, Zambia, Libya, Congo and Egypt are all leading their groups in Africa; the ten group winners then go into a play-off against each other for five places, so we could still end up with a more mundane African contingent. South Africa have to win in Ethiopia to have any hope of qualifying, Ghana have been walloping everyone bar losing to Zambia, and now need to beat them at home to qualify. Zambia are maybe a bit lucky, having lost 2-0 to Sudan only to get a 3-0 default for Sudan fielding a suspended player.

The Hex is way tighter than usual; the Yanks and Mexico are both struggling for form, and a Panama win in America tonight would make things really interesting. As it stands, Panama v New Zealand will be a play-off for a World Cup spot.

Meanwhile the worst second-place team in Europe right now is England, while the first team to be eliminated in Europe was Scotland.

A few games tonight and tomorrow morning - full schedules in North and South America; should be interesting.

[ArdeeBhoy]

​http://www.statto.com/football/stats/results

[BonnieShels]

Brilliant stuff Stu.

Being in Europe sucks sometimes when you see how it all pans out for WCQ.

[pineapple stu]

Boo as America beat Panama. Mexico draw again though, and now they're in the play-off spot, and Honduras in fourth have a game in hand. Half the group to go yet though.

Malawi conceded a last-minute own goal at home to Kenya; had they won, they'd have gone to Nigeria for the last game level on points with them.

Venezuela lost at home to Uruguay, which puts a big dent in their qualification hopes. Still the only South American team (not counting Suriname and Guyana, who play in CONCACAF, and French Guyana, who aren't in FIFA) never to have qualified.

[ArdeeBhoy]

The US were at home though and apparently the Mexican fans were playing up as they only drew 0-0 at home and have failed to score in their last 3 games?
And the Chavez boys are unlikely to ever qualify, surely?

[JC_GUFC]

Meanwhile the worst second-place team in Europe right now is England, while the first team to be eliminated in Europe was Scotland.

That's obviously not quite the full picture with England though as they have a game less played. England should win the group anyway with 3 of their last 4 games at home.

If Ireland manage to get 2nd place in our group we are in real danger of being ranked as the worst second placed team - assuming we get 4 points from the Sweden and Austria matches, lose to Germany and beat Kazakhstan (a few other results need to go our way for us to be 2nd with these results) we would end up with 12 points against the top 5 teams in the group.

For 2010 the 9th team, Norway, had 10 points while the 8th placed team, Ireland, had 12 points. For 2012 the 9th team, Turkey, had 11 points while the 8th placed team, Montenegro had 12 points.

Looking through the groups as they stand in Group A, Croatia should pick up at least 4 more points and would be boosted if Scotland finish bottom of the group to discount their last loss. They currently have 10 points against the top 5 teams so look comfortable.

Group B looks like it will be near the bottom too - both the Czechs and Bulgaria have to travel to Italy and still play each other. Denmark can't possibly manage more than 12 points, which would include a home win against Italy. It is possible Bulgaria finish 2nd with 11 points against the top 5 (lose to Italy, win at Armenia and draw with Czechs) but if they were to beat the Czechs at home they'd have 13 - that could be a crucial match for us!

Group D is another weak looking group for the 2nd placed team at the moment but Romania look best placed here though having played Holland twice and are left with 3 of their 4 games at home and their away match at Andorra. They should manage 7 points from home games against Hungary, Turkey and Estonia which would leave them on 14 points against the top 5. If Hungary manage to get a result away to them in the next game it may make things closer.

Group E is probably looking worst with all the teams taking points off each other. It is also far from sure who will finish bottom. Norway with 3 of their 4 remaining matches at home are probably very slight favourites to get 2nd despite being in 4th currently. If they were to get 7 points from their matches against Switzerland (H), Slovenia (A), Iceland (H) as well as beating Cyprus they would end up with 12 points against the top 5 teams.

Group F looks like Russia and Portugal are carving it up between them. Russia already have 12 points against the top 5 teams and Portugal have 11. No way either of these sides will be worst runners-up

Group G is similar to Group F - Greece and Bosnia already have 13 points against the top 5 teams so won't be finishing as worst runners-up.

Group H is probably going to be safe too - Ukraine haven't yet played San Marino, they've 11 points against the top 5 so even just 2 points from home games against England and Poland should see them safe. If England were to lose at Ukraine they'd still have home games against Moldova, Montenegro and Poland - 7 points from those would give them 13 against the top 5 teams.

Group I is the group with only 5 teams - Spain have 11 points and France have 10 both have 3 games left and have played each other twice so they will be same.


Obviously a lot can change but it really does look like it's groups B C and E who are most likely to have the worst runners-up spot. The worry for Ireland is that if teams are level on points the GD comes in to play and our Germany result will come back to haunt us.

[JC_GUFC]

Just as an after thought these are the current FIFA World Rankings of the teams possibly in the playoffs - this is what the seeding was based on for the last draw (when we played France)

Croatia - 4 (Group A)
Czech Rep - 24 (Group B)/Bulgaria - 46 (Group B)/Denmark - 20 (Group B)
Ireland - 41 (Group C)
Romania - 34 (Group D)/Hungary - 33 (Group D)
Norway - 29 (Group E)/Albania - 38 (Group E)/Iceland - 61 (Group E)
Portugal - 6 (Group F)/Russia - 11 (Group F)
Greece - 16 (Group G)/Bosnia - 15 (Group G)
England - 9 (Group H)/Ukraine - 39 (Group H)/Montenegro - 25 (Group H)
France - 18 (Group I)

So basically there's no way we're getting seeded - if it's done by either FIFA Rankings or Points gained in the group stages. We'll be the easy draw everyone will want... If we get that far.

[pineapple stu]

That's obviously not quite the full picture with England though as they have a game less played. England should win the group anyway with 3 of their last 4 games at home.

Yeah, I know. It's still funny though. But Ukraine's 4-0 win in Montenegro was a great win for England, unfortunately.

And the Chavez boys are unlikely to ever qualify, surely?

They've improved hugely in recent campaigns, in fairness. Missed out on a play-off by two points last time, for example. In 1998 qualifying, the got three points in the whole thing.

They're only a goal off the play-offs now, but have three tough games to go, and others have a game in hand. They really needed to beat Uruguay.

[DeLorean]

That's obviously not quite the full picture with England though as they have a game less played. England should win the group anyway with 3 of their last 4 games at home.

They could win all three home games and still not win the group if they lose in Ukraine. I think they're looking in big enough trouble and seem to be particularly poor at Wembley anyway.

Montengro.....PLD 7 PTS 14
England.........PLD 6 PTS 12
Ukraine.........PLD 7 PTS 11

Montengro ------ England ------ Ukraine
Poland (a) ----- Moldova (h) --- San Marino (h)
England (a) ----- Ukraine (a) ---- England (h)
Moldova (h) ----- Montengro (h) -- Poland (h)
----------------- Poland (h) ----- San Marino (a)

[peadar1987]

Dear Santa, I have been a good boy all year, and all I want for Christmas is for England to be knocked out of World Cup Qualifying...

[KK77]

I would hope they will qualify. Always good to have home nations involved.

[Stuttgart88]

They could win all three home games and still not win the group if they lose in Ukraine. I think they're looking in big enough trouble and seem to be particularly poor at Wembley anyway.

Montengro.....PLD 7 PTS 14
England.........PLD 6 PTS 12
Ukraine.........PLD 7 PTS 11

Montengro ------ England ------ Ukraine
Poland (a) ----- Moldova (h) --- San Marino (h)
England (a) ----- Ukraine (a) ---- England (h)
Moldova (h) ----- Montengro (h) -- Poland (h)
----------------- Poland (h) ----- San Marino (a)

Lampard's late equaliser against Ukraine at Wembley may prove crucial for them, the same night that we beat Oman.

[Closed Account 2]

They could win all three home games and still not win the group if they lose in Ukraine. I think they're looking in big enough trouble and seem to be particularly poor at Wembley anyway.

Montengro.....PLD 7 PTS 14
England.........PLD 6 PTS 12
Ukraine.........PLD 7 PTS 11

Montengro ------ England ------ Ukraine
Poland (a) ----- Moldova (h) --- San Marino (h)
England (a) ----- Ukraine (a) ---- England (h)
Moldova (h) ----- Montengro (h) -- Poland (h)
----------------- Poland (h) ----- San Marino (a)

I think they are in a spot of bother and they are relying on others dropping points. The only easy(ish) game for them left is Moldova at home. Montenegro could play for a 0-0 at Wembley and would have a reasonable chance of getting that, Ukraine will get 6 more points from the two San Marino games and they also know that a win at home to England should mean they are certainties for at least 2nd - England would do well to get a draw in Kiev. England v Poland at Wembley, well we saw how many Poles saw were at our match in Dublin, it could be the same for the English at "home" - and Poland are a big game team at the Euros they were good against Russia but whimpered against Greek and Czech teams they should have been a match for.

The guys on Sky Sports News were ecstatic about Ukraine winning in Montenegro last week but I think a draw would have been a better result for England as would have meant Ukraine were less likely to catch them.

[DeLorean]

The amazing thing is that they didn't seem to stop for a second and think..."Jesus, Ukraine just won 4-0 in a place where we were hanging on for a draw, they might actually be pretty good and we still have to go there".

[Closed Account 2]

Yeah and Ukraine had their striker, Zozulya, sent off just before half time, when the game was 0-0. You think of the trouble England had breaking down Montenegro with 11 men yet Ukraine did it with 10 men. (To be fair Montenegro then had a man sent off at 0-1 to make it 10 vs 10, and then they had another sent off at 0-2)

[bennocelt]

I would hope they will qualify. Always good to have home nations involved.

Like that, funny