Road to South Africa World Cup 2010

[Locke]

I figured I'd start a new one as there are a number of International Qualifiers taking place right now and people may want to discuss them.

I recently watched Brazil vs. Uruguay which was a surprisingly entertaining match if you're not a fan of Uruguay, they got totally hosed in a 4-0 loss to Brazil.

The England vs. Kazakhstan match was weird but also kind of fun until England started winning...

[You Need a Thneed]

Countries Qualified so far:

South Africa (host)
Netherlands
South Korea
Japan
Australia

[GirlySports]

It's Brazil's first win in Uruguay in like 50 years!

Some countries who usually make the World Cup that are in trouble include:

Mexico
Iran
Cameroon
Colombia
Sweden
Portugal
Czech Rep.
Turkey
Ukraine

[Pagal4321]

There are roads to South Africa?

My buddy, who is a HUGE Portugal fan, is near depression that he may not get to see his team when we go to South Africa. Truthfully, makes me giggle a little inside. If only England followed suit...if only.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Pagal4321

There are roads to South Africa?

My buddy, who is a HUGE Portugal fan, is near depression that he may not get to see his team when we go to South Africa. Truthfully, makes me giggle a little inside. If only England followed suit...if only.

England is in about as good a shape you can be in without having officially being qualified. They have a 7 point lead in their pool.

[Locke]

Portugal is in serious trouble, but there is a glimmer of hope, to be honest they are in what should have been a dead-easy group. I mean, someone explain to me how they are 4 points behind Hungary and 7 points behind Denmark? They are in luck though, they play Hungary twice, Denmark once and Malta once so there are still points up for grabs and they can leapfrog Hungary at least.

Mexico and Sweden are essentially done.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Locke

Portugal is in serious trouble, but there is a glimmer of hope, to be honest they are in what should have been a dead-easy group. I mean, someone explain to me how they are 4 points behind Hungary and 7 points behind Denmark? They are in luck though, they play Hungary twice, Denmark once and Malta once so there are still points up for grabs and they can leapfrog Hungary at least.

Mexico and Sweden are essentially done.

How is Mexico essentially done? They have 6 games to go, and are only 2 points behind a guaranteed spot.

Sweden certainly isn't "essentially done" either. They are in a similar position to Portugal.

[troutman]

Come on Ireland!

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/qualifiers/index.html

[Pagal4321]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

England is in about as good a shape you can be in without having officially being qualified. They have a 7 point lead in their pool.

Sadly that is the reality of the situation, but wouldn't it be super cool if they managed to choke that way and NOT qualify?

[Cactus Jack]

My Chile is in 3rd in CONMEBOL and only one point behind first place Brazil and Paraguay. Viva Chile, mierda!!! It looks like Brazil, Paraguay, Chile and Argentina will make it and Uruguay will face a CONCACAF team in a playoff for the world cup.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Cactus Jack

My Chile is in 3rd in CONMEBOL and only one point behind first place Brazil and Paraguay. Viva Chile, mierda!!! It looks like Brazil, Paraguay, Chile and Argentina will make it and Uruguay will defeat a CONCACAF team in a playoff for the world cup.

Fixed.

[jammies]

It's a strange sport where I spend my energies cheering against teams. I'd be happy to see none of:

Italy
Portugal
Argentina
Spain

And the only teams I really like are Poland and Canada - which rarely get out of qualification. I imagine I'll end up cheering for Germany and England again.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by jammies

It's a strange sport where I spend my energies cheering against teams. I'd be happy to see none of:

Italy
Portugal
Argentina
Spain

And the only teams I really like are Poland and Canada - which rarely get out of qualification. I imagine I'll end up cheering for Germany and England again.

Are you against Latinos!? :P

----

And Portugal are in the position their in cause they lost at home to Denmark and tied Albania AT HOME! They tied Sweden twice also which would have been ok except for the previous results.

They need to go to both Denmark and Hungary... will be tough.

[Nuje]

Originally Posted by jammies

It's a strange sport where I spend my energies cheering against teams. I'd be happy to see none of:

Italy
Portugal
Argentina
Spain

And the only teams I really like are Poland and Canada - which rarely get out of qualification. I imagine I'll end up cheering for Germany and England again.

Haha funny stuff. That's the 2 passports I have.

[KTown]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

It's Brazil's first win in Uruguay in like 50 years!

Some countries who usually make the World Cup that are in trouble include:

Mexico
Iran
Cameroon
Colombia
Sweden
Portugal
Czech Rep.
Turkey
Ukraine

Czech Republic made the world cup for the first time in 2006, they've never been there before as Czech Republic. They qualified last as Czechoslovakia back in 1990.

So they don't usually make it, the Czechs are in tough the only good thing they have going for them is that 3 out of 4 matches left are at home.

[cSpooge]

I'm just happy the Oranje are in already.... Now hopefully they rest Van Persie and Robben so that they don't break themselves like they always seem to do.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by KTown

Czech Republic made the world cup for the first time in 2006, they've never been there before as Czech Republic. They qualified last as Czechoslovakia back in 1990.

So they don't usually make it, the Czechs are in tough the only good thing they have going for them is that 3 out of 4 matches left are at home.

Ooops I thought they made it in 2002. They're always in the Euros right?
I still think it would a surprise if they didn't make it.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

How is Mexico essentially done? They have 6 games to go, and are only 2 points behind a guaranteed spot.

Sweden certainly isn't "essentially done" either. They are in a similar position to Portugal.

I was misreading the stats for Mexico, my bad.

Sweden is essentially done, as is Portugal. When I say that, it isnt over by any means, but the quality of their play would have to substantially improve, and only one. If Portugal gets their act together they could do this, ostensibly so could Sweden, but not if Portugal does.

[mmanzz]

You've got to kidding me, have a look at the games Hungary have left. They are all against the better teams in this group. I guarantee you Portugal will go through to at least a playoff.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by mmanzz

You've got to kidding me, have a look at the games Hungary have left. They are all against the better teams in this group. I guarantee you Portugal will go through to at least a playoff.

What better teams? Denmark? The rest of the 'better' teams are below them in the standings. Significantly.

Portugal holds their own cards man, they play both teams ahead of them in the group and Hungary twice as well as Malta, they could easily land second in that group and go through automatically, theres 12 points left on the table.

However, theres a caveat: They've been playing like a steaming pile of dogcrap and Denmark and Hungary arent. They didnt score a goal for 3 freaking games and they conceded a goal against Albania which tells me their defence is less than stalwart. Probably still relying on Crapvalho back there.

Drawing Albania and then Sweden twice while losing to Denmark really kicks them in the nuts.

Do they have the ability to run the rest of their group games? Absolutely, I hope they dont but they could. Even if they make a playoff game, if they play a team of any quality they're done for. They're struggling against Albania.....Albania.....