The Soccer Thread (Version 8)

With Uruguay dismantling Jordan, I have to wonder what the hell Blatter or Platini or whoever was thinking when they announced they wanted to give an additional bid to Asia. If anything, CONMEBOL doesn't need a playoff and should just be given an additional team.

If they need to continue the intercontinental playoffs, it should be first-place Oceania vs. fifth-place Asia, winner gets fourth-place CONCACAF.

 

Blatter, thinking? Bahahaha! That's a good one!

Agree that CONMEBOL deserves an extra spot and shouldn't be forced into a playoff, and I like your idea of Asia-vs-Oceania, winner vs. CONCACAF. But that'll never happen. Not enough international fixture dates.

 

Worth remembering that although CONMEBOL only got 4.5 places for this World Cup, they also get Brazil as the host. And there aren't THAT many South American countries, at least not ones that aren't Suriname.

Of course, when the powers-that-be succeed in expanding the World Cup to 40, this will all be moot.

Meanwhile, Iceland draw 0-0 at home to Croatia, Portugal are 1-0 up against Sweden, Ukraine 2-0 up against France (!) and Greece 3-1 up against Romania. So if you bet the over on the latter game, you're in the money.

 

A fantastic result for USMNT vs. Scotland today, nobody was injured.

 

Damn, was really hoping Iceland would win.

 

1-1 in the second leg would get them there.

 

Gibraltar (pop. 29,000) will play its first full international tonight and is apparently entering Euro 2016 qualification. Although they can't be drawn against Spain, I have a feeling they're going to make far more embarrassing whipping boys than even San Marino (pop. 31,000) or Andorra (pop. 78,000).

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/nov/19/gibraltar-uefa-slovakia-spain-rock-full-international-football-fixture

Edit to add link, fix population for Gibraltar. The playing pool is about 1,400.

 

Disappointing night in the European playoffs. Croatia beat Iceland 2-0, so that dream dies. Greece draw 1-1 with Romania to go through 4-2, Portugal beat Sweden 3-2 (4-2) and most remarkably, France beat Ukraine 3-0 and go through 3-2.

Also, South Africa 1-0 Spain. Wouldn't shock me if that were a giant fuck you from the Spanish players to their federation.

 

I hope the USMNT enjoyed the per diem from that Scotland and Austria trip, because they were just going through the motions on the field.

 

Japan won 3-2 in Belgium, Honda and Kakitani looked good. Everything else tonight? Utter shit.

 

I mean, it's not that disappointing, I suppose, that Ukraine didn't make it, given that I haven't forgotten their role in easily the worst World Cup game I've ever seen. But, just, fuck France.

 

Having one team prone to RageQuitting in the World Cup is barely tolerable. Two? Ridiculous.

Maybe this is just Sports Burnout getting the better of me, but I think my interest in the next World Cup might be pretty brief.