Association Football 2023/2024 Discussion Thread

[buritobr]

Macedonia failed to qualify, but at least they did its avengeance against the Romans because of what happened at 200 BC

[Alcibiades]

I think we've found our 2022 World Cup Champion.

Who?

North Macedonia, who apparently beat Italy today and I didn't notice.

After watching today's match, I think it was rather Italy that lost and not Macedonia that won. Portugal didn't played a brilliant game, but Macedonia never had a chance.

Italy had 2 missed penalties in the group stage and literally missed a literal open goal against North Macedonia, so they definitely lost it.

Sweden dominated most of the game against Poland today, but were clueless after they conceded a second against the run of play. At least the best team in Africa, Senegal, squeaked past Egypt in yet another shootout.

https://mobile.twitter.com/vaphreak/status/1508893297107996678

It’s no wonder that Egypt missed all but one of their pens. They have the right to feel extremely pissed off, and it’s a joke the shootout was even allowed to go ahead while a literal disco was going on, but this is CAF…

[NewYorkExpress]

New Zealand crushed the Solomon Islands 5-0 to lock up a playoff spot in June. Barring a miracle tonight in the USA/Costa Rica game they'll be facing Costa Rica.

[NewYorkExpress]

Those of you who like Dutch Football may have something interesting to watch next season. Rudd Van Nistelrooy, a former legend at Manchester United and Real Madrid will return to PSV, where he once played before heading to Manchester United, to serve as manager starting next season.

[NewYorkExpress]

Despite losing to Costa Rica 2-0 tonight, the United States is officially heading to Qatar!

We'll be in Pot 2 for the World Cup draw on Friday.

[JGibson]

Starting next season, the Premier League will re-enact the 5 subs/3 opportunities rule that was used during the Project Restart to conclude the 2019-20 season on a permanent basis. Sub(s) made at halftime do not count as one of the three opportunities. The bench will stay at 9.

This move puts them on terms with nearly every other major footy leagues and competitions across the world that uses the 5 subs/3 opportunities (+1 extra during extra time) rule.


https://twitter.com/premierleague/status/1509524540073910274
https://twitter.com/charles_watts/status/1509525652248035335

[buritobr]

The final draw will take place at April 1st, tomorrow, in Qatar at 7pm local time

Each group will have 1 national team of each pot. The pots are related to the FIFA ranking, whose score criteria includes the performance in the most recent World Cup, continental cups, World Cup qualifiers and friendly games.

Pot 1: Qatar (host), Brazil, Belgium, France, Argentina, England, Spain, Portugal
Pot 2: Mexico, Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Uruguay, Switzerland, USA, Croatia
Pot 3: Senegal, Iran, Japan, Morocco, Serbia, Poland, South Korea, Tunisia
Pot 4: Cameroon, Canada, Ecuador, Saudi Arabia, Ghana, Costa Rica/New Zealand, Peru/UAE/Australia, Scotland/Wales/Ukraine

More than 2 national teams from Europe and more than 1 national team from other continents cannot be in the same group. If a team is picked out of the pot into a group which presents a geographic restriction, then that team is allotted to the next group in line.

More: https://www.sportingnews.com/us/soccer/news/how-world-cup-draw-work-pots-seeds-group-stage-qatar-2022/pwstuv48qyfci8qtmelc0gjm

Examples of possible groups
Brazil, Germany, Poland, Costa Rica
Qatar, Switzerland, Tunisia, Canada

[Santander]

Qatar, Switzerland, Tunisia, Canada

That would be one of the worst World Cup groups of all-time, lol. Probably even worse than Russia's group last time around.

[Santander]

Is the World Cup draw seriously only available on Telemundo?...

[Dead Parrot]

Is the World Cup draw seriously only available on Telemundo?...

It's also on FS1.

[Santander]

Is the World Cup draw seriously only available on Telemundo?...

It's also on FS1.

Yeah, well that's even worse. I'd rather not listen to clowns like Alexi Lalas.

[Illiniwek]

"Please take out the red ball" "G1"

Why are we doing this extremely unnecessary step?

[Illiniwek]

Why does the position in each group matter other than the order of the matchups within the group?

[Santander]

Why does the position in each group matter other than the order of the matchups within the group?

Because the fixture list is pre-set.

[parochial boy]

Serbia again? Hmm

[NewYorkExpress]

I feel like we should be rooting for Scotland in the June playoff.

We could have an England/Scotland match in Group B, which would be amazing...plus England/USA.

[Santander]

The host group is the weakest as usual, and Group E is pretty strong, but overall the groups are pretty equal...

[Boobs]

The host group is the weakest as usual, and Group E is pretty strong, but overall the groups are pretty equal...

Group E is the Axis group (ignoring whoever will win the playoff for the 4th spot.)

[GenerationTerrorist]

Group B looks like it will be a bit feisty! Even more so if Wales or Scotland win the playoff.

[Santander]

Group B looks like it will be a bit feisty! Even more so if Wales or Scotland win the playoff.

It's very hard to decide who I want to lose more - USA or England or Ukraine...

[Santander]

LOL American media are saying USA is similar in quality as England. Some have specifically singled out Harry Maguire as a weak link.

While yes, Maguire sucks and is a weak link, but this is f**king fantasy based off a very lucky result for the US in 2010.

[buritobr]

Serbia again? Hmm

Brazil, Switzerland, Serbia in the same group again. Almost all the 2018 group was repeated: Costa Rica/New Zealand were in the pot 4, one of them could be drawed to this group too.

I believe many Brazilians liked this draw because Brazil won't play in the weekend in the first round. All the 3 games will be at a week day. So, we gained extra holidays.

[GenerationTerrorist]

Hmmm, let the 8 months of banter begin!
(Kickoff is at 19:30, Americans will turn up 12 minutes late and claim victory, etc!)

I know that a number of US players are comfortably regulars in top European sides at the moment. Iran are a serious side, if they can out-qualify South Korea and most of their top players are quite well known. No way to be dismissed. The mystery is the remaining team....Ukraine would probably be best for us, because there isn't the history. If it is Wales or Scotland, then that game will be insane.

Posted on another forum, but I really hope that our Group will be the "feel good" moment of the World Cup. Having English/American fans sat with Iranians (or, heaven forbid, the Sweaties) would show how most of us can get along without politics.

[NewYorkExpress]

LOL American media are saying USA is similar in quality as England. Some have specifically singled out Harry Maguire as a weak link.

While yes, Maguire sucks and is a weak link, but this is f**king fantasy based off a very lucky result for the US in 2010.

Unless Scotland manages to beat both Wales and Ukraine, the U.S should finish in a comfortable second in Group B (lose to England, defeat both Iran and the June Playoff winner). That would be enough to advance to the knockout round.

[Donerail]

LOL American media are saying USA is similar in quality as England. Some have specifically singled out Harry Maguire as a weak link.

While yes, Maguire sucks and is a weak link, but this is f**king fantasy based off a very lucky result for the US in 2010.

Unless Scotland manages to beat both Wales and Ukraine, the U.S should finish in a comfortable second in Group B (lose to England, defeat both Iran and the June Playoff winner). That would be enough to advance to the knockout round.

What happened the last time the USMNT faced Iran in the World Cup?