The Soccer Thread (IV)

A steaming crock o' shit, that is. Words cannot describe how much delight a Portugal-free World Cup would bring me.

Gimme Israel over Greece, Slovakia and Slovenia instead of the Czechs, and all the Irish that South Africa can bear. Hell, I wouldn't mind seeing Argentina miss out if it wasn't for the fact that Uruguay would benefit.

 

The Czech Republic wish you'll get, unless Slovenia lose to San Marino.

Israel, not so much. Greece would have to not beat Luxembourg.

Sadly, Switzerland are almost a cinch. I'm so glad they'll be back to light up another World Cup.

Three of the seeds will go to France, Russia and Portugal. Be interesting to see who gets the fourth. Probably Ukraine. Might be Greece if Euro 2004 still counts in their favor. Here's hoping Ireland get whoever that fourth seed is. World Cups are better when they're around.

(Though it wouldn't shock me at all if they were able to pick off one of the other three. They'll be the non-seeded team no one wants any part of.)

 

Watch out for Bosnia, they have some really good strikers.

 

Capello on Ferdinand:

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"He made one mistake, that is all, and that was for the penalty," he said. "The only other one was for the goal."
[/quote]

I make that two mistakes. Dunno about anyone else. But yeah, he wasn't THAT bad. I mean, his careless defending only led directly to a penalty for the opposition and a red card for the keeper, and his further careless defending only led to the only goal of the game, but aside from that, Mrs. Lincoln, I think you'd agree the play was excellent.

One howling mistake a game, which is Rio's average, isn't gonna cut it in the latter stages of a World Cup. Capello's been good about not giving in to the sacred cows, but he's in dangerous territory here.

 

"He made one mistake, that is all, and that was for the penalty," he said. "The only other one was for the goal."
[/quote]

I make that two mistakes. Dunno about anyone else. But yeah, he wasn't THAT bad. I mean, his careless defending only led directly to a penalty for the opposition and a red card for the keeper, and his further careless defending only led to the only goal of the game, but aside from that, Mrs. Lincoln, I think you'd agree the play was excellent.

One howling mistake a game, which is Rio's average, isn't gonna cut it in the latter stages of a World Cup. Capello's been good about not giving in to the sacred cows, but he's in dangerous territory here.
[/quote]

Injuries are taking a major toll on Rio, let's face it Vidic has been much better. Good news is that England is really deep at that position.

 

Oh, the injuries have played a huge part. It's the biggest part of the problem. The guy's not fit enough to play two straight games, and hasn't for quite a while.

Rio at his best is better than most, but he's so rarely at his best that he's become a liability. And Rio at 75, 80 percent isn't as good as someone else at 100.

 

Israel in the World Cup would rule on every level. Problem is, it will never happen as long as it keeps getting sent to the European Qualifier of Death. Every time I see one of the Arab countries step all over their dicks in a WC qualifier, I go off on a rant and want to throw something at my TV.

Why the hate for Uruguay, Trooper?

 

Truth be told, it couldn't have had a much easier qualifying group than it got this time.

Switzerland, Greece and Latvia? If you can't get through that, maybe you're not that good. (Of course, none of the Arab nations would get through that, so you do have a point.)

I still can't believe that either Bahrain or New Zealand is going to end up in the World Cup. If Bahrain is any worse than New Zealand showed itself to be at the Confederations Cup ...

 

Given the current set-up, maybe Israel should apply to rejoin Oceania. It would get a two-week vacation in the South Pacific, a stroll through qualifying and a free pass to the World Cup if Iran or any Arab nation gets the Asian playoff spot.

Uruguay = thug-tacular, even by South American standards. For all the talent it's produced, and it has some damn good players, it can't shake the mindset of kicking lumps out of the opponent as soon as outplaying them. I was crushed when Uruguay beat Australia in the WC 2002 playoff, and its first-round flameout only mildly mitigated that.

 

New Zealand is better than it showed at the ConfedCup, and I'd much rather see players like Shane Smeltz, Magic Simon Elliott and honorary YA Ryan Nelsen in South African than a country which has to buy/naturalize its best talent.

 

Don't forget, Duncan Oughton is massive.

 

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=684987&sec=mls&cc=5901

MLS explores playing indoors to shift schedule

While accepting that standards are rising in the MLS, Blatter has stated regularly that it needs to switch to Europe's August-May schedule, rather than its current March-October to entice top players.

"We have to manage our league in a way so that we can continue this careful growth, but at the same time satisfy the requests and -- in many cases -- the requirements of the world governing body," MLS commissioner Don Garber told The Associated Press. "FIFA's goal is to work with us to turn this country into valuable soccer nation and a passionate one. In order to do that our league does need to be closer to the sport internationally."


This seems to be a condition for hosting another World Cup. If Herr Blatter can get MLS to drop the playoffs and have a regular league champion I will buy him a beer.