FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifying

[Tetro Kornbluth]

Why did they pair Oceania v CONCACAF and CONMEBOL v Asia? They should have switched it around so the stronger teams qualify.

I think they rotate every four years. And anyway I'm not really sure that Asia #5 is much better than Concacaf #4.

[Gustaf]

Why did they pair Oceania v CONCACAF and CONMEBOL v Asia? They should have switched it around so the stronger teams qualify.

I think they rotate every four years. And anyway I'm not really sure that Asia #5 is much better than Concacaf #4.

Sure is an abstract concept. But I would think so. CONCACAF, beyond Mexico and the US, always seem to be total crap. I think the more important thing is that OCF should get CONMEBOL so they don't have a chance. Otherwise I think it's a bit unfair.

[bore]

Belgium certainly has a shot at advancing to the play off. Croatia starts out as a slight favorite to win the group but this is still one of the most wide open - if not the most - of the groups. Even Scotland could advance to the playoff.

I'd be very, very surprised if Scotland came second.

[Tetro Kornbluth]

Why did they pair Oceania v CONCACAF and CONMEBOL v Asia? They should have switched it around so the stronger teams qualify.

I think they rotate every four years. And anyway I'm not really sure that Asia #5 is much better than Concacaf #4.

Sure is an abstract concept. But I would think so. CONCACAF, beyond Mexico and the US, always seem to be total crap. I think the more important thing is that OCF should get CONMEBOL so they don't have a chance. Otherwise I think it's a bit unfair.

Well for WC2006 there was a CONCACAF-AFC play-off and Trinidad and Tobago qualified ahead of Bahrain.

[Lief 🗽]

Why did they pair Oceania v CONCACAF and CONMEBOL v Asia? They should have switched it around so the stronger teams qualify.

I think they rotate every four years. And anyway I'm not really sure that Asia #5 is much better than Concacaf #4.

Sure is an abstract concept. But I would think so. CONCACAF, beyond Mexico and the US, always seem to be total crap. I think the more important thing is that OCF should get CONMEBOL so they don't have a chance. Otherwise I think it's a bit unfair.

The Asian federation, beyond South Korea, Japan and (I guess) Australia is also pretty crap though.

[Tender Branson]

Sept 11

Austria vs. Germany

We are going to destroy them so badly it's not even funny anymore. 5-1 for Austria.

[Franzl]

Sept 11

Austria vs. Germany

We are going to destroy them so badly it's not even funny anymore. 5-1 for Austria.

Interested in another 100€ bet on this matter?

[NVGonzalez]

I will also make a bold call here.

Venezuela will qualify for it's first World Cup ever. Heard it here first.

[Hatman 🍁]

Anyone actually want to do a tipping competition for September?

[Franzl]

Anyone actually want to do a tipping competition for September?

Would happily compete. Would you like to organize this one?

[bore]

Anyone actually want to do a tipping competition for September?

I'd join it, but it would be very difficult to organise, if we could get the numbers though...
Probably a better competition to do one for (ie not so many teams all at once and in short bursts) would be the champions league, although I'm not sure there would be enough competitors (or a willing organiser).

[Franzl]

I'm willing to organize anything, just thought Earl might want to.

[Hatman 🍁]

I'm willing to organize anything, just thought Earl might want to.

I suppose I could.

[Keystone Phil]

Capello is the new Russian coach.

[Tender Branson]

So, I'm putting this here instead of the other thread, as requested by Keystone Phil:

How would you people with football knowledge rate the chances of Austria destroying Germany in the 2014 qualifiers on Sept. 11 ?

[bore]

Capello is the new Russian coach.

This is sort of tangential but I was just reading a great book called soccernomics and it said that despite what the press said, Capello was the only England manager who got England to perform at a level significantly above average. So you can now expect Russia to do very well. You heard it here first

[Keystone Phil]

Rejoice! UEFA begins qualifying today!

Here's hoping Italy comes away with a nice away win against Bulgaria. I do hope they save some goals for Tuesday though.

[Lief 🗽]

Nah, Balotelli is injured, you guys will be lucky to get a draw.

[Tender Branson]

Germany vs. Faroer Islands should be funny ...

But this is just an appetizer for Tuesday, when we'll crush Germany and they can go home crying.

[Keystone Phil]

Ireland squeaks by Kazakhstan 2-1 thanks to a penalty in the 89th and a goal in the 90th.

[Keystone Phil]

Shocker! Portugal is down 0-1 after a 13th minute goal by Luxembourg!

[Keystone Phil]

And Bulgaria goes up 1-0.

[Keystone Phil]

Well, I'll take the point. Tuesday better be an epic beating though!

[GMantis]

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

[argentarius]

Kazakhstan game was unbelievable. No shots on target until around the 70th minute, and that was a simple catch. the penalty was our first chance. They should've won like 3-1. Jammy jammy Ireland. We'll be murdered by the Germans/Swedes though. That performance was worse than when we nearly drew with San Marino.