|
Post by hal2000 on Aug 12, 2009 18:47:47 GMT
More qualifying matches are being played. Do you have a favourite yet?
And South Africa is having problems getting ready, both the stadiums and the security. There are rumours that they will use the new flu as an excuse to cancel or ask another country to take over. Is this possible?
|
|
|
Post by nic on Aug 14, 2009 10:47:15 GMT
Doubtful that anybody else will get it, not at this stage in preparations. Brazil is the country that would get it should things go Tango Uniform in South Africa, but there's no way they could get everything up and running in the (roughly) year left until kickoff.
It's time for South Africa to put up or shut up.
And as always, Forza Azzurri!
|
|
|
Post by hwinpp on Aug 20, 2009 9:28:43 GMT
I'm not sure there are any clear favourites yet. The groups haven't been drawn yet, I'm not feeling especially excited either. All still very far away. Any African team in the semifinals next year?
|
|
|
Post by BigIain on Sept 10, 2009 18:25:15 GMT
I watched Paraguay beat Argentina! Could Maradonna's Argentina truly fail to qualify? I for one would not miss them
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2009 18:31:30 GMT
I think France only bothers to play once every 8 years instead of 4.
|
|
|
Post by BigIain on Sept 10, 2009 18:44:28 GMT
France will qualify for at least a qualifying playoff with the other second-placed teams from the Europe groups.
|
|
|
Post by nic on Sept 11, 2009 3:20:26 GMT
I think France only bothers to play once every 8 years instead of 4. At least they have a World Cup championship in the modern era! And Zidane will go down in rather infamous history, but at least he showed that the French (Franco-Algerians) aren't pushovers! That should be more than enough consolation. I'm also looking forward to the new ad campaigns. Nike, Adidas, and Puma always pull out all the stops. While not a World Cup spot, this was always one of Nike's most effective ads. You can see more from the past decade at Soccer Commercials!
|
|
|
Post by hwinpp on Sept 14, 2009 6:57:45 GMT
I think Argentina has two more games. It isn't over for them yet.
|
|
|
Post by gringalais on Sept 28, 2009 18:39:34 GMT
I watched Paraguay beat Argentina! Could Maradonna's Argentina truly fail to qualify? I for one would not miss them Here the general consensus is that Argentina will likely have to play against the CONCACAF 4th place team to see if they get in. That will likely be Costa Rica and they should be able to win that, but there is always room for a surprise, with the way they have been playing. It is amazing that with such talented individual players, Maradona can't seem to do much. Messi is almost invisible in the games I have seen. If Chile wins its next game, in Colombia, it is classified (ironically with a former Argentine national coach, Bielsa). For Argentina, the big game to watch, will be Ecuador-Uruguay, which are fighting for 4th-5th place as well. Argentina's next game is with last-place Peru, but Peru did beat Uruguay recently, and would probably like to be the team that helped keep Argentina out.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2009 18:55:10 GMT
I think France will be sitting this one out.
|
|
|
Post by gringalais on Sept 29, 2009 19:35:37 GMT
I am wondering if Maradona is regretting having taken the job coaching Argentina.
|
|
|
Post by BigIain on Sept 29, 2009 22:40:28 GMT
I am sure that they are regretting having given him the job! What were they thinking? He is nowadays just a fat little ego with no decent skills for being a coach!
|
|
|
Post by gringalais on Oct 2, 2009 2:36:12 GMT
Not to defend Maradona completely, but the team was not doing so well under Basile, which is why he was replaced by Maradona.
I kind of wonder if they have focused too much on bringing the big names that have their future secured and not much left to prove, with an ego to match. Maybe they need to use more players in that are good, but have less ego and that really want to show what they can do, possibly those that are playing in South America or in the lower European divisions. Most of the Chilean team is playing in Chile, Mexico, Argentina, there is even a guy playing in UAE. There are a few in decent teams in Europe, and the goalie is on a second-division Spanish team, but together they play well; better than Argentina is doing at this point. Brazil has also left some big names like Ronaldinho out.
|
|
|
Post by gringalais on Oct 11, 2009 2:36:01 GMT
Well, Chile classified beating Colombia 4-2, although things did not look good at first. The big battle now is between Argentina and Uruguay, who are 4th and 5th, one point apart. They play in Montevideo next week. And Ecuador is in the mix too; they play against Chile and have the possibility of ending up 5th, depending on a few factors, which would mean a playoff with the CONCACAF 4th place team.
|
|
|
Post by hwinpp on Oct 12, 2009 9:28:53 GMT
The Germans made it in, beat Russia and have a game in hand.
Russia, Ireland, Bosnia and France are in the play- offs.
Hope Uruguay puts up a good show. They need to win though, while Argentina can qualify with a draw.
|
|
|
Post by happytraveller on Oct 12, 2009 10:52:31 GMT
One point... we only need one small point ! *bites fingernails* We'll see on wednesday.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2009 16:53:54 GMT
France has to play Croatia (or is it Bosnia?) to have a chance of qualification.
|
|
|
Post by happytraveller on Oct 14, 2009 6:11:22 GMT
It would be quite sad if the french would not make it. I love to watch them play!
|
|
|
Post by hwinpp on Oct 14, 2009 7:11:33 GMT
They'll make it, no worries.
|
|
|
Post by happytraveller on Oct 14, 2009 19:55:40 GMT
We're going to South Africa ! YES YES YES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
|
|
|
Post by gringalais on Oct 15, 2009 13:28:09 GMT
Yay for Switzerland!!
Well, Argentina made it. Uruguay has to play Costa Rica to see who goes. It would have been kind of amusing to see Argentina out of the World Cup, but at the same time, it wouldn't really bee the WC without them there.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2009 14:08:35 GMT
The teams still in limbo have to wait another month for the next qualifying matches.
France will be playing Bosnia, Slovenia, Ireland or Ukraine for a spot.
|
|
|
Post by happytraveller on Oct 15, 2009 15:58:02 GMT
Thanks Gringa Kerouac, should be doable for France I'd say. I keep my fingers crossed !
|
|
|
Post by BigIain on Oct 16, 2009 7:30:48 GMT
No Portugal apparently? That should cut down on a lot of the diving then? No Ronaldo, no Deco!!!! Excellent! The "Golden Generation" in that country is now officially OVER!
|
|
|
Post by hwinpp on Oct 17, 2009 3:45:11 GMT
Unfortunately not, Ian.
They too made it to the play- offs. Same situation as France.
|
|
|
Post by hal2000 on Oct 19, 2009 18:53:18 GMT
France-Eire in the playoffs.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2009 20:09:11 GMT
Damn, that means that one of the two teams will not be qualified. I have always liked the Irish team as well.
|
|
|
Post by hwinpp on Oct 20, 2009 7:18:17 GMT
The French should be able to qualify easily. They have two games, first one away.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2009 15:59:36 GMT
Although the important France-Eire match takes place tonight, it is very clear that it is Algeria-Egypt that is of the greatest importance in my neighborhood. After the major rioting that took place in both Cairo and Algiers over the last couple of days, I'm sure that the police are on alert in France tonight, too. All afternoon, cars have been honking their horns driving down the street, and Algerian flags are festooned everywhere.
Basically, Algeria should qualify, because Egypt would have to beat it by at least 3 goals for things to change. This enrages the Egyptians, because Egypt has the most powerful football team in Africa, but it always screws up for the World Cup for some reason. In any case, the bus carrying the Algerian team was stoned in Cairo on Thursday, creating a diplomatic incident.
All of North Africa might go into riot mode tonight, depending on what happens, and Paris (as well as the other major French cities) can be splashed as well.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2009 21:03:45 GMT
Minor riot in Marseille, because Egypt won 2-0. So another match must be played next week... in Khartoum!
|
|