2014 World Cup qualifying

[Kingdom]

Hop Suisse, I say.

Uttering of that phrase resulted in an automatic tar and feathering in my house until recently.

[DannyInvincible]

'FIFA to keep World Cup play-off seeding': http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/world...y-off-seeding/

FIFA will once again keep the top four teams apart in the draw for Europe's World Cup qualifying play-offs - despite controversy over the system four years ago.

The draw to see which four of the eight group runners-up will qualify for next summer's finals in Brazil will take place on October 21 at FIFA's headquarters in Zurich.

The top four teams will be seeded according to their FIFA ranking and will play against one of four lower-ranked teams - a system that was criticised by the Republic of Ireland when they were drawn against France for the 2010 World Cup play-off.

Former Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni described the seeding system as the "death of football", while Republic goalkeeper Shay Given branded it "disgusting" and "totally unfair on the smaller nations" because the countries had already been seeded in their qualifying groups.

Roy Hodgson's England could be involved in the play-off if results in the final qualifiers against Montenegro on Friday and Poland on Tuesday do not go according to plan.

FIFA said in a statement: "The eight teams will be seeded in two pots with the four highest-ranked teams placed in one pot.

"The ranking will be based on the FIFA/Coca-Cola world ranking published on October 17, 2013. The matches are due to be played on November 15 and November 19 respectively."

There are nine European qualifying groups and the eight best runners-up will go into the play-offs, two legs played on a home-and-away basis, to determine the four remaining European slots for the final tournament.

As one of the qualifying groups has only five teams and the others all have six, the results against teams ranked sixth will not be taken into account when determining who are the best runners-up. It will be decided by points, then goal difference, goals scored, goals scored away from home and if necessary on disciplinary ranking.

Unsurprising news.

[geysir]

Former Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni described the seeding system as the "death of football"

i.e. until that time we were seeded.

[geysir]

The group of elegance, Group E, enters a sort of an x rated Tarantino standoff phase between 5 teams.
Tickets for Iceland's home game against Cyprus were sold out in no time, about 10,000 will be there and the rest of the nation watching it on tv.
Not the first time, football has knocked handball aside in popularity for a few days, but it is a rare happening. I have my tickets and will be later catching a recording of the ireland game. Sad that it's come to this, but you gotta go with the bandwagon.

Lagerback's image in coaching has undergone a transformation from staid with Sweden to progressive, adventurous and confident with Iceland.
Considering Sweden haven't changed that much since Lagerback left, except mainly to reap the bounty from the intelligent deployment of agent Zlatan, maybe the cautious side of staid is something more peculiar to Sweden than it is to Lagerback.

[geysir]

Looks like the dud group with the worst 2nd place team will be group B, Denmark or Bulgaria, possibly group D runners up.
Bendtner scored 2 for Denmark against Italy, only for Italy to draw level with the last kick of the game, that was cruel.
Better to be out of running completely, than have the guillotine come down like that.

[geysir]

Classy goal by the Faroes against Kazakhstan

[ArdeeBhoy]

Well done Iceland/Island...


Though, if they hunt whales, they can GTF.

[JC_GUFC]

Looks like the dud group with the worst 2nd place team will be group B, Denmark or Bulgaria, possibly group D runners up.
Bendtner scored 2 for Denmark against Italy, only for Italy to draw level with the last kick of the game, that was cruel.
Better to be out of running completely, than have the guillotine come down like that.

Looks almost certain to be this group Denmark play Malta in their last game so can only achieve 10 points against top 5 teams. Bulgaria same.

Group D Turkey/Romania/Hungary would need to see former 2 lose and Hungary fail to beat Andorra for runners up to be on 10 points.

In Group E because Iceland lost at Cyprus they have enough points to guarantee playoff if they finish 2nd. So only way Group E may miss out is if Iceland lose in Norway and Slovenia draw in Switzerland. Slovenia would then finish 2nd with 10 points against top 5.

[bennocelt]

Well done Iceland/Island...


Though, if they hunt whales, they can GTF.

Maybe they dont have many cows n sheep up there in iceland?

Ok head on block time - going for all home victories

• Ivory Coast v Senegal
• Ethiopia v Nigeria
• Tunisia v Cameroon
• Ghana v Egypt
• Burkina Faso v Algeria

[geysir]

The 1st goal settled it for Iceland, but the team just kept it going until they got the 2nd. Though it's tough breaking down these compact organised minnows, who camp in their own half.
Before the game, a very secure looking Lagerback was quick to put all the praise on the players and buried the perception of the experienced head (like him) needed to be able to handle the pressure that inevitably surrounds the team in this circumstance, he just totally shrugged it off and said 'the boys don't need any managing at all - Iceland should be proud of them'.
In Iceland the team are known as 'the boys', however, when they do well they are known as 'our boys'.


Slovenia have recovered well after losing 3 of the first 4 games, their only 'legend player' Katanec is their coach since game 4. Switzerland have a few weakness but would be amongst a small group of teams knocking on the door of the top 6 in Europe and would give anyone a game.
Switzerland now play Slovenia and a dying Norway take on Iceland in Oslo. The play-off dream comes to the end game and it's looking good but not certified yet for Iceland.

[DannyInvincible]

"France to speak to Fifa about 'unfair' World Cup play-off seeding system": http://www.theguardian.com/football/...eeding-ranking

France believe the seeding system is unfair for the World Cup play-offs in November and plan to ask football's ruling body Fifa to review it ahead of next week's draw.

The world and European champions Spain are three points ahead in Group I and host Georgia in their final qualifier on Tuesday when second-placed France, who look certain to go through to the playoffs, entertain Finland.

The play-off seeds will be determined by Fifa rankings and 25th-placed France face a likely meeting with another big footballing nation.

Les Bleus believe the system is flawed because fewer ranking points were available in the five-nation Group I while the other sections all contained six teams.

"We're going to contact Fifa," the French Federation's president Noël Le Graët told the radio station RMC. "There is a little injustice between the group of five and the groups of six. Our rivals from other groups have been able to score more points ... that's a fact."

I feel a distinct sense of schadenfreude reading this story given the FFF's satisfaction with FIFA's moving of the goal-posts four years ago. In saying that, I do think they also make a valid point.

[Metrostars]

France complaining about unfair playoffs - now thats a new one

[pineapple stu]

African play-off first legs completed. Ghana are basically through after beating Egypt 6-1. Burkina Faso beat Algeria 3-2 while Ethiopia lost 2-1 against Nigeria; the two will still probably be outside bets to qualify as both are away in the return legs. Ivory Coast beat Senegal 3-1 in the other game and have one foot in the draw.

Mexico finally scored at home, and then added a last-minute goal to beat Panama and basically qualify for a play-off against New Zealand, barring some unlikely results tonight. New Zealand will probably be a bit annoyed at having Mexico in the play-off, but given how Mexico are playing, NZ have to have a change.

[pineapple stu]

Amazing end to the CONCACAF qualifiers. Mexico lost 2-1 to Costa Rica, and going into injury time, Panama were 2-1 up against America - that'd mean Panama made the play-off against New Zealand on goals scored. But then the Yanks scored twice in injury time, so Panama are out and Mexico are in the play-offs.

Still, NZ don't seem to have much to fear. Dunno what's happened Mexico this campaign.

Uruguay beat Argentina, but still face a play-off against Jordan.

[Closed Account 2]

I think the guy who scored the USA's winner (and the goal that kept Mexico alive) was in the Iceland squad for their first two games of qualification this time last year.

[Zizou]

Ok head on block time - going for all home victories

• Ivory Coast v Senegal
• Ethiopia v Nigeria
• Tunisia v Cameroon
• Ghana v Egypt
• Burkina Faso v Algeria

Ghana just destroyed Egypt, I can't believe they hammered them in that way. Tunisia/Cameroon and Algeria/Burkina Faso are nicely poised, but the other three are done. I think same 5 qualifiers as last time.

[Zizou]

Amazing end to the CONCACAF qualifiers. Mexico lost 2-1 to Costa Rica, and going into injury time, Panama were 2-1 up against America - that'd mean Panama made the play-off against New Zealand on goals scored. But then the Yanks scored twice in injury time, so Panama are out and Mexico are in the play-offs.

Still, NZ don't seem to have much to fear. Dunno what's happened Mexico this campaign.

Uruguay beat Argentina, but still face a play-off against Jordan.

Uruguay will have way too much for Jordan, I watched them twice against Uzbekistan and whilst hearty and well drilled they are very poor on the ball, Suarez and Cavani will also go to town on their defence.
Gutted for Panama. So close to a first ever tournament, the Yanks saving Mexico is a real surprise! Mexico have been so bad, but are New Zealand really much better? I think Mexico to steady the ship, and sneak through, maybe on away goals.

[Metrostars]

I know that Mexico were not much better but Panama only won 1 of their 10 hex qualifiers, plus lost their last two games.

[geysir]

It could be looking good for Chris Killen et al.
It's actually is a source of inspiration that the likes of Chris Killen could well be gracing the World cup Finals for a 2nd time. If only I kept faith with my very modest talent, I too could have been a Chris Killen.

[geysir]

I think the guy who scored the USA's winner (and the goal that kept Mexico alive) was in the Iceland squad for their first two games of qualification this time last year.

He was an u21 international for Iceland, one of the golden generation and played at the 2011 Euro u21 finals, but he did not answer the call to join the senior squad.
He had no football connection and a minimal identity connection to the USA but he was eligible to play for them. It would be highly unusual for an Icelander to chose another country that he's only a passing connection with, probably unthinkable, probably unprecedented, as with island nations the nationalist pride factor is astonishing, it's just engrained in the dna. From a football point of view he made a good choice, certified qualifiers for the world cup and what a dream that is for a footballer in his situation
Iceland already have 2 ace strikers better than him and usually only use one of them for the first hour, he's a loss but it doesn't really hurt the team.