FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifying

[GMantis]

Quite a good result, considering the current condition of the Bulgarian team.

[GMantis]

Armenia equalizes.

And Bulgaria has taken the lead over Denmark, so if this situation holds, Bulgaria will lead the table

[GMantis]

The Bulgarian team has been once again screwed by a French referee. Have they still not forgiven us for 1993?

[GMantis]

Well, 1-1 is not too bad considering how we were player down for an hour. And it's nice to see that our players actually seem to want to win

[GMantis]

Decisive stage begins today! Some good matches today. We're all obviously hoping for Finland to pull off another miracle draw (dare I say "win?" No, not that crazy) at home this time against Spain!

What happened with supporting "traditional football powers"?

[GMantis]

Oh, good luck today. I'm glad my side has been warned not to take the Bulgarians lightly. 

Thanks and the same to you. By the way, an amusing statistic: both Italy and Bulgaria have conceded only four goals in six games, half of them in the game between. So a game with lots of goals?
Incidentally, today is a national day in Bulgaria, so I hope this inspires our players

[GMantis]

In the Czech Republic-Armenia match, the Armenians have taken the lead despite the  Czechs having most of the possession. Which is good news for Bulgaria (though it won't be good news if Armenia continues  playing as they do in this match

[GMantis]

Tonight, we are all Austrians ...

Even the Germans?

[GMantis]

Armenia takes the lead in the 93rd minute!

[GMantis]

Italy is very lucky to have Buffon...

[GMantis]

Georgia too.

[GMantis]

Congrats to Phil, Italy was certainly the better team tonight. But you have a lot of luck (and Buffon) to thank for this victory

[GMantis]

Three African teams who have never qualified to the World cup before - Ethiopia, Burkina Faso and Cape Verde - have now a chance to qualify just by winning a play-off. Almost as surprising as the 2006 qualification campaign, and with the strane FIFA ranking to seed Burkina and Cape Verde might actually qualify.

[GMantis]

The Israeli football and basketball teams have been competing this week with who can be more humiliating.

It's not that humiliating to lose to a good team like Russia away. Of course, compared with the 1994 Qualification campaign.

[GMantis]

Damn, I was hoping for a draw here, as it would make Bulgaria's finishing second far more likely. Then again, Armenia losing players to suspension can't hurt...

[GMantis]

The Maltese seem to be playing much better than they did at Sofia, even hitting the post at one point. Then again, there isn't snow on the field now...

[GMantis]

Now that Italy is more or less guaranteed first place, it's in Bulgaria's interest for them to win their remaining matches. So Forza Azzurri (for the rest of the qualifiers, anyway)!

[GMantis]

Interestingly, Malta managed more shots on target in the first 50 minutes than Italy in their whole match against Bulgaria. Whether this is due to the shaky Bulgarian defense in this match or Italian inability is another question...

[GMantis]

This Bulgarian victory was a lot more difficult that expected. Almost like Italy's victory four days ago

Malta score late! Find one more, please.

That's how you show gratitude?!

[GMantis]

Netherlands can book their flight.

I'm certain the Dutch fans are quite happy that they managed to qualify at least one round before Germany

[GMantis]

I suppose that Armenia was going to have to win a home game at some point

This will blow the competition for the runner up spot wide open especially if Italy beat Denmark today.

The second place in this group will most likely be useless (unless Denmark defeats Italy).

[GMantis]

Not only will they be booking their place in the World Cup with a win here, they'll be securing their place as a first seed for the group stage draw.

It's a strange system (to put it mildly) where not qualifying for two or three world cups in a row doesn't worsen a team's chance to get seeded at the world cup.

Phil, Lief - how do you think SWE vs. AUT will end tonight ?

You didn't ask me, but I predict a 1-1 draw. Then Austria loses to the Faroe Islands and doesn't qualify to the play-offs anyway

[GMantis]

A) a pyjama-style jogging outfit
B) a business-style/red-white-red national colours outfit
C) a Dirndl (a traditional Austro-Bavarian dress) that is now even becoming a global fashion trend

The readers went with with option B), which got 47% - beating the Dirndl which got 43% and the pyjama which got 10%.

http://www.krone.at/Sport/krone.at-User_stecken_ATV-Lady_Auer_in_Fananzug-Sieg_bei_Abstimmung-Story-378362

Joke decision if you ask me, because A) and C) are clearly more sexy ...

But what else expect from Krone readers, who are mostly FPÖ-people and patriots ...

So Austria is more conservative than commonly thought? Or maybe those who didn't vote for C were insulted by this rather non-traditional interpretation

[GMantis]

And Belgium becomes the 11th country to qualify to the 2014 World Cup.

[GMantis]

Bosnia seems to want to improve upon their last game with Liechstein as they lead by four after only 40 minutes.