Official World Cup 2014 Qualifying Thread (Blame It On RIO)

[GirlySports]

Protest rejected

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/prelimi...675/index.html

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In qualifying this morning, Australia drew Oman at home and Jordan beat Japan.

Japan is still safe but it turns the rest of the group upside-down as Jordan are now in 2nd with 7 and Australia tied 3rd with Oman. Australia are in trouble, they still have to go to Japan in June. Our old friend Holger Osieck on the hotseat.

In the other Asian group, Uzbekistan continue to dominate. They have almost clinched.

[seattleflamer]

Originally Posted by NBC

I can't believe it has taken either Canada or the US this long to use cold temperatures and wintry weather to their advantage when playing Central American and Caribbean teams. What a great idea and I for one am glad that Costa Rica lost and are annoyed by it. I just wish that the CSA had figured this out themselves.

Well, I think Canada/Honduras in St. John's, Nfld, back in '85 was exactly what you're referring to except it was September.

Look at that pitch and the goosebumps on the Hondurans.

Legend has it some Honduran fans went to St. John, NB in utter confusion....

Considering it's importance in Canadian soccer history and the geographic/weather advantages, why haven't we play in there since?


link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIZYT6s9ld4

[moon]

Dammit Azerbaijan were doing so well I thought they might be able to poach one late.

[moon]

What a weak line-up for England.

Is that realty the best they can do nowadays?

Lescott, Johnson, Milner, Gerrard, Sturridge should not be close to a national team.

Edit: sorry saw Sturridge is on bench but still that is awful

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by moon

What a weak line-up for England.

Is that realty the best they can do nowadays?

Lescott, Johnson, Milner, Gerrard, Sturridge should not be close to a national team.

Edit: sorry saw Sturridge is on bench but still that is awful

Milner for defensive wing. CB is depleted with injuries, JT, Rio, Jones.
Lescott is decent.

Johnson hasn't looked catastrophic since Euro's.. but still not fond of.

Gerrad isn't fit for the National Team? I'm a United fan, and can't even tell you how far out to lunch you are.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

Gerrad isn't fit for the National Team? I'm a United fan, and can't even tell you how far out to lunch you are.

Yeah, that's a pretty ridiculous statement. Outside of JT, I think Gerrard is the most consistent international performer for England - at least effort-wise.

[d_phaneuf]

good 1st half

stonewall pen for Welbeck, ridiculous non-call that hopefully doesn't come back to haunt us

need a win here, with Spain/Portugal and one of Croatia/Belgium looking likely for the playoffs I would like to stay out of those

[cam_wmh]

Another rant:
Can Carrick get some respect ? Seriously

http://www.whoscored.com/Matches/565...enegro-England

Whoscored.com gave him second lowest ranking of all of Englands starters today.

[The Big Chill]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

Another rant:
Can Carrick get some respect ? Seriously

http://www.whoscored.com/Matches/565...enegro-England

Whoscored.com gave him second lowest ranking of all of Englands starters today.

I think most people who watch the game closely have a lot of respect for what Carrick does out there. I know I certainly do.

[GirlySports]

Lloris could have kept that one out....

1-0 Espana.

[d_phaneuf]

I think the lack of Carrick respect has more to do with the teams hes playing for than him as a player

Man United should always be as good as Barca/RM/Bayern etc are

Carrick wouldn't get in any of those teams

it's a weak spot for Man United

if he played for a different club he wouldn't get it as much

[valo403]

England are living dangerously here

[d_phaneuf]

Thankfully whenever they get it on net Hart drops it, thats confidence boosting

how many subs left? can we put Foster on to close this out

[GirlySports]

A 2nd yellow for that? Very weak.

Spain not up a goal and a man.

[valo403]

And we're tied

[d_phaneuf]

son of a

[The Big Chill]

Well that's been coming.

[GirlySports]

I see an England-France playoff in our future.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I see an England-France playoff in our future.

if there's a chance that happens

UEFA will seed it like they did for 2010

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

if there's a chance that happens

UEFA will seed it like they did for 2010

That is with seeding. France are 17th in the FIFA Rankings.
England, Portugal, Croatia, Russia, Greece and Suisse are all ahead of them.