Official 20/21 Various National Soccer Team News Thread

[d_phaneuf]

Just looking at the pots

Someone is gonna get one of

Belgium, England, brazil, france, spain, argentina, italy/portugal from 1, and germany from 2

Unless Germany get drawn with qatar

[SuperMatt18]

Still seems ridiculous to me that since Jan 1 2019 Italy have only lost a single game (The nations league semi-final to Spain), won the Euro Cup in that time, didn’t lose a game in WC qualifying, and yet still have to play a likely head to head game with Portugal to qualify for the World Cup.

[Senator Clay Davis]

At the same time it's hard to feel too much sympathy for Italy and Portugal. It's not like they were in brutal qualifying groups, both had fairly straightforward paths and just botched it. Italy could only win four games in a group with Lithuania, Northern Ireland, Bulgaria, and Switzerland. Yeah they didn't lose a game, but to only net four wins from that is a pretty poor showing. Portugal struggled both times against a down Ireland team and just needed to avoid losing to Serbia at home to qualify.

To draw themselves in the same pod is definitely brutal luck, but at the same time they shouldn't have put themselves into the playoff draw to begin with. They underperformed in qualifying and now one of them will be punished.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Still seems ridiculous to me that since Jan 1 2019 Italy have only lost a single game (The nations league semi-final to Spain), won the Euro Cup in that time, didn’t lose a game in WC qualifying, and yet still have to play a likely head to head game with Portugal to qualify for the World Cup.

Yes, when you put it that way.

But let's remember they only mustered 4 wins in a relatively easy group. You don't get gifted a spot in the EURO or WC just because of your reputation.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

At the same time it's hard to feel too much sympathy for Italy and Portugal. It's not like they were in brutal qualifying groups, both had fairly straightforward paths and just botched it. Italy could only win four games in a group with Lithuania, Northern Ireland, Bulgaria, and Switzerland. Yeah they didn't lose a game, but to only net four wins from that is a pretty poor showing. Portugal struggled both times against a down Ireland team and just needed to avoid losing to Serbia at home to qualify.

To draw themselves in the same pod is definitely brutal luck, but at the same time they shouldn't have put themselves into the playoff draw to begin with. They underperformed in qualifying and now one of them will be punished.

Hopefully both will be punished.

Go North Macedonia! Go Turkey!

[SuperMatt18]

Not the toughest group as a whole, but on current form Switzerland was easily the toughest competition of any of the WCQ groups.

Currently 14th in FIFA rankings. Played both France (won in PKs) and Spain (lost on PKs) really tough at the Euro's.

The two draws to the Swiss are not that bad - Swiss has a way of drawing those big games. (Jorginho missing penalties in both games that would have given Italy two wins doesn't help either).

The home draw to Bulgaria is the one that hurts for sure.

It's still amazing to me that today Italy can be eliminated from qualifying for a World Cup, on the same day that Canada qualifies for the first time in years. Not sure I'd ever actually see that happen.

[CroFlames]

Portugal already scored 15 mins in.

[You Need a Thneed]

Do these EuFA games go to extra time, then penalty kicks?

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

Do these EuFA games go to extra time, then penalty kicks?

Yep

[Senator Clay Davis]

The old Messi/Ronaldo GOAT debate is pointless, Wales Bale is obviously the GOAT.

[CroFlames]

Not gonna lie it would be amusing to see Italy miss WC2018, win EC2020, the miss WC2022.

Go Macedonia!

[GirlySports]

Macedonia holding their own. Italy can't crack the combination yet. No real chances.

[MegaErtz]

He's clearly not match fit, but some of the moves Bale is pulling off here are unreal. It would be such a shame if he retired.

[GirlySports]

Immobile is slow, I know I know. Was clear on a breakaway but got caught.

[CroFlames]

Turkey awarded a PK!

[SuperMatt18]

I lied Italy don’t deserve to go through…and maybe Portugal doesn’t either lol

[SuperMatt18]

Didn’t see that coming…wow

Somehow went from looking like such a confident and united group in winning the Euro Cup.

To just a team with no confidence and cutting edge overnight in the end of World Cup qualifying.

[devo22]

ah yes, the ghost of Gareth Bale ... oh well, we didn't deserve to go to the WC anyway.

[GirlySports]

Donnarumma had to make one save and didn't. Weak to be beaten from there.

[Senator Clay Davis]

North Macedonia now two thirds of the way to the WWII Axis treble. Just gotta make the World Cup and beat Japan!