Euro zone:
Northern Ireland v Switzerland
Denmark v Republic of Ireland
Croatia v Greece
Sweden v Italy
Poor Sweden!
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World Cup Play-offs
In reply to NineMiles
Switzerland
RoI
Sweden
Croatia
Are my calls.
In reply to DAVE400
NI
Denmark - backing by boy Christian Eriksen
Croatia
Italy
People, feel free to put your predictions down here.
I'll collate them announce the winner after the 2nd legs on 14 November.
Cheers
In reply to NineMiles
Wait..I thought Ericksen was Swedish...that changes my prediction drastically.
So...Switzerland, Denmark, Croatia, Italy are my calls.
In reply to DAVE400
He's Danish... You dropped Sweden quick eh?
Sweden can't catch a break. Last World Cup they had to take on Portugal in the playoffs. Can't see them pulling the upset here, Italy have to be huge favourites.
Northern Ireland vs Switzerland, I'd give the Swiss the edge.
Croatia *should* be too strong for Greece but as we all know, those Greeks can play that annoying style of ball and sneak a fluke goal. I suspect most neutrals will be hoping Croatia pulls it out.
Ireland vs Denmark is probably the most open of the contests. Should be fun. Put me in for Denmark. Carlsberg vs Guinness?
In reply to Tryangle
So Tryangle is going with:
Italy
Switzerland
Croatia
Denmark
In reply to NineMiles
The romantic in me wants to pick Sweden, but the pragmatic in me says Italy at a canter
So Switzerland take a 1-0 lead and Croatia murder Greece 4-1 in the play-off first legs.
In reply to NineMiles
Nice thread bump, ninesy....
Looks like our lil pool going well...since we all chose the same combo....
In reply to DAVE400
I went for NI...you and Tryangle went for the same four
wait nobody backing the Irish? That's not a good omen. Then again St. Patrick's Day is far away.
Sweden break the deadlock in Stockholm...
In reply to Tryangle
Sweden's goal came via a deflection and they take a 1-0 lead to the return leg on Monday.
Zlatan could be going to the WC...
Denmark and ROI tie first leg....
that one surely going to penalties after Dublin return...
Don't expect the competitive Azurri to lie down on that return leg in Italy.
The Swiss are through...thanks to a dodgy penalty in the first leg.
In reply to NineMiles
omg...why are countries like the irish, scots, switzerland and greece so low on goal scoring?
In reply to DAVE400
You can also add Italy to that list these days
In reply to NineMiles
actually from long time...
Frankly, I would not miss the Italians...never been a fan of them...
In reply to NineMiles
Hard luck to the Black Stars bruh
In reply to imusic
The Black Stars made every effort to avoid going to Russia... didn't want to get their heads mashed up by the racists Russian thugs you see!
Big game just started...the Italians can't afford to concede goals tonight since they don't score much themselves!
It's been all Italy so far...but still 0-0 at HT
10 mins plus added time to go and still 0-0. This is tense and the Italians are desperate!
Italy are OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great achievement Sweden!!
It means the Azzurri will not be present in the competition for only the second time in their history having declined to play at the inaugural tournament in 1930.
Wow....
Ninesy, you saw my thread on Italian football?
It is unfortunate and stupid how some weaklings will make it to a so called World Cup when power teams such as the USA and Italy have not made it.
In reply to NineMiles
Still poor Sweden?
Italy fails to reach World Cup for 1st time since 1958
In reply to DAVE400
Just read the article.... shocking stuff! They deserve where they are!
In reply to Drapsey
And?
Didn't see you on the first page of this thread making any predictions, Mr Monday morning quarterback!
In reply to NineMiles
This is a surprise, but a pleasant one.
If I had make a prediction I would a predict Italy to go through, but it good for them.
JaJa must be out jumping up and celebrating.
there is something wrong with the game in Italy.
It has been a bad couple days if you want to see goals scored in the playoffs. Heck even England and France played a friendly and *that* finished 0-0.
Well done Sweden. Go figure. No otherworldly talented goal scorer for the first time in a while (Larsson then Ibrahimovic) and they get back to the game's centerpiece event.
Can Denmark add to the Scandinavian revival?
Will Honduras make a return trip by stopping the Aussies?
Ireland take the lead against Denmark.
Denmark equalise through an own goal and are now in prime position!
My Carlsberg vs Guinness match is still finely poised.
Ericksennnnnnnnnn........... the Spurs man makes it 2-1 to Denmark.
Ireland will have to score two clear goals in order to qualify!
3-1 to Denmark and it's Eriksen again! That's it....The Danes should qualify from here!
Meanwhile, still 0-0 in the Eng v Bra game
In reply to NineMiles
Christianoooooo.....errr, Eriksen...lol...
Yeah, looks like that's a wrap. The home of Lego will be returning to the biggest stage.
Wasn't that long ago that people were pondering having 3 or 4 of the 'Home nations' represented in the World Cup. Now it's reduced to a solitary England yet again carrying the banner for the British Isles.
In reply to DAVE400
Superb hat-trick by the Spurs man!
Great play-offs for the Scandinavians.
Playing against Nigeria, Sergio Aguero was taken to hospital after fainting in the dressing room at half-time.
Argentina lost 4-2 to Nigeria.
5-1 to the Danes... ex-Arse Bendtner scores from the penalty spot.
So Switzerland, Denmark, Croatia and Sweden make it through to Russia 2018.
Endsie and Tryangle get 3 right, only 2 to Ninesy!
Australia v Honduras and New Zealand v Peru tomorrow.
Another 0-0 draw for England at Wembley!
England missing Harry Kane!
Australia beat Honduras 3-1 to qualify for Russia 2018
Very happy to know I won't have to watch teams like RoI,N.I and Wales in the WC 2018.To tell you how shit they are,all their footballers are open to top flight football in the UK and Europe and yet they can't qualify,that's how shit they are.Take them and put them in Africa,South America or even CONCACAF and would never see a WC.
In reply to granite
That's rather harsh!
Wales are ranked 14th in the FIFA rankings ahead of Italy, Croatia, Denmark and the Netherlands.
Must be something wrong with the rankings then!
In reply to NineMiles
People with knowledge of the game always laugh at the seemingly high rankings of the US team!
In reply to NineMiles
FIFA rankings are definitely flawed... on the other hand not much you can do with the current way int'l football is set out.
This new continental league thing I've read about may help to alleviate some of the discrepancies. IIRC CONCACAF and UEFA are on board.
In reply to Tryangle & camos
Yeah, I agree the FIFA rankings are by no means perfect but it is the best we have.
The comparison I made there relate to UEFA countries only and think it is fair as they are subjected to the same qualification rules and conditions.
In reply to NineMiles
UEFA is pretty standard fare, and the qualifying process was as fair as you could expect. And for the most part, the rankings wound up being pretty accurate.
Among the higher ranked teams, Wales stumbled to Ireland, Netherlands to Sweden. Neither situation is a major upset. And teams like Poland and Iceland justified their recent rise up the boards. With the playoff structure, the opportunity is there for second-placed teams to get in the big show.
CONCACAF is fair once you get past the first rounds (I still think 2014 was better overall than 2018 because so-called 'minnows' got more matches overall). CONMEBOL is straightforward.
Africa remains tough. Only group winners qualify. But they have year-round football with AFCON seemingly happening every other month. And there's always a surprise package making a run.
In reply to NineMiles
Know what man,I never take the Rankings very seriously,like how Wales is 14,can't be right.
In reply to granite
Not too long ago, USA were ranked FOURTH!
Peru beat New Zealand to go through....big surprise upset that...
Next up would be the WC draw...with Italy out, a new seeded place will be opened..I am guessing the seeds are:
Russia
Germany
Argentina
Brazil
Portugal
Spain
France
England
Quite frankly, I think an African team deserves a seed...say Nigeria..they have qualified for all world cups since 1990.
Interesting that the winners of the Concacaf Gold Cup, African Nations Cup and Copa America are all out....
In reply to DAVE400
Yeah, shocking dat!
BTW, Nigeria were not at Germany 2006.
In reply to DAVE400
Is not cricket or rugby, hoss!
In reply to JahJah
why is he surprised, with Peru's history?
In reply to DAVE400
The pots are already set, Spain are in Pot 2, as is England. Poland and Belgium are seeded in Pot 1.
So AFAIK we could see a Group of Death featuring say Brazil, Spain, Sweden and Nigeria.
NZ were the lowest ranked of the remaining teams while Peru were ranked in the top 20 or so, so it's no upset for Peru to have finished the Kiwis off.
I'm just hoping to see a group featuring England and Iceland together, after the fun of Euros. Oh, and Costa Rica getting a chance to make another impact on behalf of CONCACAF (I'd fancy them advancing from a group with Russia, Switzerland and South Korea, for example).
In reply to camos
I don't think he's ever heard of Cubillas and dem man deh.
Even man like Solano.
Thread was so nice until the insecure buller failed to comprehend my sarcasm.
In reply to DAVE400
These would have been considered pretty competitive groups, but alas this would be FIFA's version of the NIT tournament instead:
Group A
Chile
Netherlands
Ivory Coast
Wales
Group B
Italy
USA
Ghana
Ecuador
Meanwhile, here's the confirmation of the League of Nations for CONCACAF.
In reply to Tryangle
Missed out on the World Cup? Don't worry, the good ole US of A exploring holding their own tournament.
They may even call it the World Soccer Series
That is because the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) is exploring the idea of hosting a competition featuring those who missed out on Russia 2018.
US Soccer exploring tournament for non-qualifiers
In reply to DAVE400
Coming from you, and your grinning batty-friend-in-bums, that's a massive compliment.
Maybe you should learn how to convey sarcasm a little better.
In reply to NineMiles
To be honest, the thought of it is more academic than anything. I'd like to think that teams like Italy or Holland would be reluctant to embrace being in some Tier Two tournament while the World Cup is going on.
Of course, if a bunch of $$$ is forked out, anything's possible. But who would sponsor this event when there's already the more lucrative World Cup proper to sponsor?
Curious to see if this initiative really has legs.
In reply to JahJah
Wait nuh...I didn't call your name in my post.
Do you think you are the insecure buller I referred to?
What makes you think that?
In reply to DAVE400
Don't be a fcuking ediat. It's obvious it was me you were addressing in your 'mean girl' high shool passive aggressive style.
In reply to JahJah
Are you saying "buller" is an obvious reference to you?
In reply to DAVE400
If you learned to read and comprehend, you would see that I stated your 'mean girl' passive aggressive 'throwing words' post was meant for me - the person who hadn't commented on the thread prior to ADDRESSING YOU DIRECTLY.
In reply to JahJah
You said you are obviously a buller...not me...
In reply to DAVEaka400battymen-in-arms
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