Thread on that here.
The Other Countries forum is a strange idea and the name change from World Football to World league football is a poor concept.
Most all discussion we have had about other countries, fitted easily inside the old World Football forum threads dedicated to Euro qual/WC qual/ Euro finals and WC finals.
The World leagues forum is now supposed to hold most all the discussion that fell under the old World Football forum.
World Football was a forum for general discussion about many issues which have little to do with what is understood by the term World League football . The WC,WCQ,Euros, Euro qual,CL and EL are not world leagues per se, they are world football competitions. Football Books/ Fifa discussion are also not a World league football issue they are a World Football issue.
The World Football forum functioned, it was easy to find, easy to navigate the threads and easily accommodated the current activity from members. Not only does the name change not fit but also adds confusion. Simply change the name back to World Football and so be it if you want to have a forum dedicated to just World league football, however, I'd say the current usage does not justify that action, would not make navigation any easier and most probably will not add more activity.
Thread on that here.
Klinsmann sacked. Pretty much inevitable I suppose.
Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).
Is it just me or do England always seem to get **** easy groups?
France, Sweden and Netherlands are all in the same group and England's toughest challenge is Slovakia.
DID YOU NOTICE A SIGN OUTSIDE MY HOUSE...?
They do seem to always get the luck of the draw! Even in tournaments. In as much as constantly topping the group increases the chances to get p!ss-easy groups, getting p!ss-easy groups also increases the chances of topping the group! Lucky twits...
And yes! Netherlands are pants!
I like high energy football. A little bit rock and roll. Many finishes instead of waiting for the perfect one.
Back in action in Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania for a June session.
Saudi Arabia's scumbaggery against Australia has been well documented; thankfully, they lost in the end, but are still second with two games to go, and they host Japan in what may be a winner-takes-all last round match. Japan have to play Australia yet as well.
Iran can become the second team to qualify - after Brazil - by beating Uzbekistan tomorrow. The Uzbeks are the only potential debutants in Asia; they missed out by two goals last time, before losing to Jordan in a play-off on penalties (Jordan went on to be hammered by Uruguay)
The Yanks travel to Mexico tonight; they'll be doing well on current form to get anything out of that one, and could drop out of the automatic qualification spots again. But the remaining fixtures are kind to them, and they'll probably scrape through again. Panama are in the play-offs as it stands, but have to play Mexico and the US away. Panama were seconds away from the play-offs last time, but conceded twice against the US to let Mexico sneak in instead.
In Oceania, New Zealand are in the final, though they drew away against New Caledonia. The Solomon Islands will join them there if they can draw against Papua New Guinea on Tuesday. If PNG win, then all three teams - including Tahiti - will be level on six points; PNG need a 5-goal win to go through.
Couple of noteworthy results so far this round in Europe - Andorra got only their second competitive win ever when beating Hungary 1-0; it's 13 years since they beat Macedonia 1-0. Andorra are actually unbeaten in 2017, after a friendly win away against San Marino (their first ever away win) and a qualifying draw at home to the Faroes. Gibraltar were three minutes away from a first-ever qualifying point, but ultimately lost 2-1 at home to Cyprus.
England nearly lost a qualifier for the first time in eight years, but Scotland were Scotland... Germany dropped half their team against San Marino, but still won 7-0; Serge Gnabry and Sandro Wagner both have three goals in two matches for Germany now, after both scored hat-tricks against San Marino in the qualifying.
France lost in injury time against Sweden to this daft goal -
Best runners-up in Europe at the moment are Italy, the North and France, though a lot can change after tonight's matches.
Last edited by pineapple stu; 11/06/2017 at 12:38 PM.
A rip roaring great summer night in Reykjavik after beating the biggest fish yet, Croatia in a table topper game.
The tall skinny blonde kid who scored that free kick against Ireland, started at LB and had an excellent competitive debut (v Perisic and Modric). I know Bristol City (his club) have Roberto Carlos and Maldini in their squad but it beats me how he's not starting for them. To cap it all, he headed and shouldered in the winning goal near the end.
2-0 Iran, and they're the second team to come through qualifying and join hosts Russia
The posts about Saudi Arabia have been moved here. Football lads. The clue is in the name.
Back in action at the moment - double-headers across all the confederations. Mexico and Japan qualified in recent days, to join Iran, Brazil and Russia.
Very tight for the other two spots in Asia - Australia (who host Thailand) probably slight favourites to pip Saudi Arabia (who host Japan); Australia trail the Saudis on goal difference. In the other group, Uzbekistan will qualify if they beat South Korea at home and Syria don't beat Iran in Teheran - in that case, they'd qualify with only a 50% record in qualifying. South Korea have yet to win an away match in the group; Uzbekistan have only conceded once at home. Syria could still qualify too - although Iran haven't conceded a single goal yet in the group. Certainly, at least one of Syria/Uzbekistan will either qualify or make the play-off match against Australia/Saudi Arabia - though even then, that only gets them through to another play-off against fourth in the Hex. USA lost 2-0 at home to Costa Rica last night and are only ahead of Honduras in fourth on goal difference; they travel to Honduras on Tuesday. Panama are just a point further back, and play the US in October.
In Oceania, New Zealand beat the Solomon Islands 6-1 in the first leg of their play-off. Vital away goal there for the Solomons ahead of the second leg on Tuesday. The winners will face fifth in South America - currently Argentina. Only 5 points separates 3rd from 8th with three games to go.
Couple of potential debutants in Africa - Burkina Faso and Uganda are leading their groups coming up to the half-way stage. Burkina Faso were helped by the Cape Verde Islands beating South Africa yesterday. Uganda beat Egypt yesterday and will play the return on Tuesday - rounds 3 and 4 in Africa are all home-and-away double-headers.
In Europe, Holland lost 4-0 to France and would have almost been out had Sweden won in Bulgaria; instead, they lost to a late goal. The Dutch are still three points adrift though and in big trouble. The North are seven points clear of the Czechs in third place after beating San Marino last night; they'll confirm a play-off spot if they avoid defeat at home against the Czechs on Monday. Denmark hammered Poland 4-0, though are still behind Montenegro on goal difference for the play-off spot - although at present, this is the group losing out on the play-off by being the worst runner-up. Iceland could do with a win in Finland tonight as their next two games are big ones - Ukraine (H) and Turkey (A) - though they do have a two-point gap back to both at present, and both have to travel to leaders Croatia. LoI ref Neil Doyle sent off Axel Witsel in the first half for Belgium against Gibraltar; they were 5-0 up at that stage, and ended up winning 9-0 anyway. Cyprus beat Bosnia to keep their hopes of second alive - though they do have to go to Belgium yet, and this group could also provide the worst runner-up (as could ours of course)
Plenty more games over the next few days, so will all become a fair bit clearer by Tuesday evening.
I reckon as Iran are already through they might play a very weakened team V their old friends Syria, what you think PStu?
Wouldn't consider myself an expert on the mindset of Middle-Eastern managers benno!
Would they not want to go through the final stage unbeaten and without conceding a goal though? Don't know if politics would override that?
Luxembourg have just pulled off a 0-0 draw against France in Toulouse.
Belgium have beaten Greece 1-2 away from home and are the first UEFA side to qualify for the World Cup.
First time since 1914 that France have failed to beat Luxembourg.
Four of the starting XI were in the Dudelange squad that lost to UCD two years ago in the Europa League.
Last edited by pineapple stu; 04/09/2017 at 7:37 AM.
Australia only beat Thailand 2-1. Any win for the Saudis at home to already qualified Japan will see them book their place in Russia. I thought Australia would run up a score against Thailand making it tough for Saudi Arabia but they needed an 86th min winner. Thailand only got 2 pts in total in Rd3 and both of those were at home.
Iran / Syria (1-1) Uzb / SKo (0-0) both all square at the moment a goal for either Syria or Uzb will see them pip Korea as it stands - if they both win then the Syrians have the better goal difference. half an hour left.
South Korea through.
South Africa losing again to Cape Verde at home. Cape Verde right in the Q mix.
No pushovers them, remember watching them at AFCON a few years ago. Would be an interesting addition to the 32.
Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).
Saudi Arabia beat Japan 1-0 to qualify. Gary Breen the last player to score against them in a finals tournament.
Syria v Australia in the AFC P/O - winners play 4th in the CONCACAF HEX ( looking like Honduras or Panama)
Last edited by Real ale Madrid; 06/09/2017 at 8:58 AM.
Bookmarks