Road to South Africa World Cup 2010

[Table 5]

As much as I would like them to qualify, I really don't see Hungary keeping up the pace. They used to be a great team back in the day, but the last few decades haven't really inspired confidence. I am definitely cheering for them though, knocking out that punk ass Ronaldo would be victory enough!

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Table 5

As much as I would like them to qualify, I really don't see Hungary keeping up the pace. They used to be a great team back in the day, but the last few decades haven't really inspired confidence. I am definitely cheering for them though, knocking out that punk ass Ronaldo would be victory enough!

I'm with you man, but thats why they play the games, Hungary is playing well and Portugal just isnt. Ronaldo hasnt gotten a goal in the entire qualifying campaign yet, so a good team can beat an under-performing star player.

[Table 5]

Hey don't get me wrong, I definitely am cheering for the Magyars. But being of Hungarian origin myself, I'm just used to being disappointed!

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Locke

They're struggling against Albania.....Albania.....

You border on the Adriatic . . .

[GirlySports]

Watching Portugal play a friendly in Estonia right now and although Ronaldo isn't playing, Portugal look awful. They're fortunate not to be behind.
It's 0-0 with about 25 minutes to go.

Edit: Yup 0-0... awful.

[GirlySports]

Ecuador hosting Argentina right now. An Ecuador win would help about 5 teams as Argentina are hanging on to 4th.

The atmophere looks great and the ARMY is surrounding the field to ensure peace

----

Edit: Tevez just missed a penalty!

Edit: Still 0-0. Ecuador all over the Argentines in the 2nd half as Argentina are not happy about the driving rain and the altitude. Seems only a matter of time when a goal will be scored.....

Edit: Woohoo! A magnificant 25 yard left-footer strike into the top corner. 1-0 Ecuador.

[GirlySports]

2-0 Ecuador! Another rocket into the corner.

Argentina still 4th but everyone else edges a little closer.

Chile could pull 4 points ahead of Argentina with a win tonight.

[Locke]

The Sweden vs. Malta game was actually pretty good, Isaksson kept the Swedes in it early when Malta should have been 2-0 up, but it ended 4-0 for the Swedes.

Entertaining game.

[chris_yk]

Love seeing Italy struggle against New Zealand in a friendly today at home nonetheless! They went behind 3 times before coming out on top 4-3 in the end but still a pretty good result for NZ and embarassing for the Italians.

[flip]

Originally Posted by chris_yk

Love seeing Italy struggle against New Zealand in a friendly today at home nonetheless! They went behind 3 times before coming out on top 4-3 in the end but still a pretty good result for NZ and embarassing for the Italians.

IIRC the Italians had a few guys in the lineup that were playing their first ever game for the Azzurri.

They basically fielded their "b" team. Although it would have been nice to mop the floor with the Kiwis it isn't exactly a world ending match.

EDIT: Just saw the tags, I guess I'm not welcome.

Screw you guys, I'm going home.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by flip

IIRC the Italians had a few guys in the lineup that were playing their first ever game for the Azzurri.

They basically fielded their "b" team. Although it would have been nice to mop the floor with the Kiwis it isn't exactly a world ending match.

EDIT: Just saw the tags, I guess I'm not welcome.

Screw you guys, I'm going home.

This is essentially it. To even call that Italy's B team is pretty generous. Marco Amelia is probably the lousiest third goalie going. There was little reason to rest Buffon twice in a row. Had he been in net, I kind of doubt any of those pathetic goals would have went in.

Once Lippi inserted some of his better players (Iaquinta, Pirlo, Camoranesi), the game swiftly returned to something a little more expected. Regardless, even Italy's B squad should be slapping New Zealand around, and this squad selection was Donadoni bad. Ironically, the much greener lineup fielded against Northern Ireland looked significantly better.

[KTown]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

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.

Euro 2004 they lost in the semis to greece on a late goal. Euro 2008 was the start of the teams downfall, they lost to Turkey after being up 2-0 with around 15 minutes to play.

Is it a shock that the Czechs may not make it some may say yes, I say no. The country will play well in cycles most likely as they are not very big only 10 million or so.

If they fail to beat the Slovaks in Bratislava in September then there hopes are slim for even finishing second in the group for a home and home.

They Czechs have some major internal issues right now. I've cut and paste an articl from April 8th.

"The Czech Republic Football Association have sacked national team coach Petr Rada after a string of poor results and also expelled six players for a breach of discipline after the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ qualifying loss at home to Slovakia last week.
Forwards Milan Baros, Martin Fenin and Vaclav Sverkos plus midfielders Radoslav Kovac and Marek Matejovsky and defender Tomas Ujfalusi have been banned from the national team."


The satest part is that Fenin and Sverkos are suppose to be the new young up and comer strikers.

What shocks me is, what has become of Baros if anybody remembers EURO 2004 he was the tournaments golden boot winner and was suppose to be one of the up and coming superstars and he's turned into a completely useless waste of talent.

[rubecube]

My god, I'm so used to England making the qualification so stressful, but I'm pretty pleased with where they are.

[PIMking]

deutscher fussball-bund! thats all I have to say!!!

I think Klose, Poldolski and Ballack have something to prove from the last euro and world cup.

Damn Italians. At least all the Germans/poles know the German national anthem.

I also think Gomez will get some more playing time. He has to prove himself also.

I would shoot myself if my name was Schweinsteiger......

[Locke]

Originally Posted by KTown

Euro 2004 they lost in the semis to greece on a late goal. Euro 2008 was the start of the teams downfall, they lost to Turkey after being up 2-0 with around 15 minutes to play.

Is it a shock that the Czechs may not make it some may say yes, I say no. The country will play well in cycles most likely as they are not very big only 10 million or so.

If they fail to beat the Slovaks in Bratislava in September then there hopes are slim for even finishing second in the group for a home and home.

They Czechs have some major internal issues right now. I've cut and paste an articl from April 8th.

"The Czech Republic Football Association have sacked national team coach Petr Rada after a string of poor results and also expelled six players for a breach of discipline after the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ qualifying loss at home to Slovakia last week.
Forwards Milan Baros, Martin Fenin and Vaclav Sverkos plus midfielders Radoslav Kovac and Marek Matejovsky and defender Tomas Ujfalusi have been banned from the national team."


The satest part is that Fenin and Sverkos are suppose to be the new young up and comer strikers.

What shocks me is, what has become of Baros if anybody remembers EURO 2004 he was the tournaments golden boot winner and was suppose to be one of the up and coming superstars and he's turned into a completely useless waste of talent.

Holy hell...linky? Baros and Ujfalusi are two huge players for Czech, I never heard about this....I'm not Czech and dont totally mind but those are big name players (though they probably shouldnt be...)

Originally Posted by PIMking

deutscher fussball-bund! thats all I have to say!!!

I think Klose, Poldolski and Ballack have something to prove from the last euro and world cup.

Damn Italians. At least all the Germans/poles know the German national anthem.

I also think Gomez will get some more playing time. He has to prove himself also.

I would shoot myself if my name was Schweinsteiger......

Indeed. To hell with Gomez, hes fataing terrible, hes missed so many golden opportunities it sickens me.

While Schweinsteiger's name is unfortunate, hes a helluva player!!

[troutman]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Ecuador hosting Argentina right now. An Ecuador win would help about 5 teams as Argentina are hanging on to 4th.

The atmophere looks great and the ARMY is surrounding the field to ensure peace

Was the game in Quito? Or, did FIFA ban games at high altitude? I went to a game there at a stadium named for an Inca King - Estadio Atahaulpa. Barbed wire separated the rival fans, who threw garbage at each other. The refs had to come out of a tunnel, far from the seats, to avoid aerial assaults.

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by troutman

Was the game in Quito? Or, did FIFA ban games at high altitude?

Yeah, banned a few years back. No games over 2,500m above sealevel. Don't agree with it personally.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6697159.stm

Looks like Ingerland have more or less qualified.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Yeah, banned a few years back. No games over 2,500m above sealevel. Don't agree with it personally.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6697159.stm

Looks like Ingerland have more or less qualified.

I think that is fair. Games in La Paz and Quito were very unfair for the visitors. That is the only reason Bolivia ever qualified for a World Cup. Mexico City is high altitude too. It is a chore to climb a set of stairs in Quito.

Bolivia: La Paz - 3,600m (11,811ft)
Peru: Cuzco - 3,400m (11,154ft)
Ecuador: Quito - 2,800m (9,186ft)
Colombia: Bogota: 2640m (8,661ft)
Mexico City: 2,240m (7349ft)
Denver: 1,609 m (5,280 ft)
Calgary: 1,048 m (3,438 ft)

To put this in perspective, the highest peak in Alberta, Mount Columbia, is 3,747 m (12,293 ft).

I often thought Canada should have it's home games in Inuvik. That would be a real hardship for Caribbeans and Central Americans.

[Cactus Jack]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Chile could pull 4 points ahead of Argentina with a win tonight.

Watch them on youtube, Chile put 4 beautiful goals up on Bolivia last night and move into sole position of 2nd place. They are looking good and are almost a lock to qualify now. This is the best team Chile has had in over 10 years and the coach Bielsa has a lot to do with it.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

I'm upset that I missed all that Portugal talk.......They're in a world of hurt right now, but they can pull themslves out of it, only because of the two games against Hungary......there is zero reason that Portugal shouldn't beat Hungary twice.....Hungary has 12 of their 13 points from beating Malta and Albania twice......having said that, Portugal only got 4 points from Albania and not 6.......Portugal hasn't played well all campaign and it's hard to imagine a sudden change in play. Queiroz has been next to a disaster.....I would be all for a coaching change before September's games, but I don't see it happening. This team has great talent, but haven't put it together whatsoever.....they havent played a really good game since they beat the Czechs last year at Euro. They're so bad at defending crosses and set plays, it's disgusting. Without doing any research, of the last 15 goals they have surrendered in the last year or so, I would say 10-12 of them have come from a headed cross or a set play(corner/free kick)........


I hope and believe they will surpass Hungary and get that second place and a playoff spot, but I don't know if they can beat whoever they play in the playoffs......they're just not all that good right now.....

Don't get me started on yesterday's friendly with Estonia, that game made me sick.