The Official 16/17 Various National Soccer Team News Thread

[Senator Clay Davis]

I thought Ireland showed Denmark way too much respect on Saturday, so it'll be interesting to see if they try and play more aggressively tonight and not just resort to hoofball. Should be an amazing, if tense, atmosphere. Early goal I think is really important to keep the crowd in it.

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

and not just resort to hoofball

What? You mean they have a plan B?

I love Ireland games as I'm emotionally invested in them but they are hard to watch.

It's weird but not too bothered if they make Russia or not. Same as that next farce in the desert.

Good thing about today's game is they all can forget about them stupid yellow cards. COYBIG!

[Senator Clay Davis]

That'll basically be that, expecting Ireland to score twice more without conceding would be a miracle.

[Locke]

Thats not gone well.

[Flamenspiel]

Italy is out for the first time since 1958 but the style of play lives on. 5 out of 8 games ended 0-0, the damage done by the Catenacio to soccer is complete.

[d_phaneuf]

The Christian Eriksen select 11 has qualified for the world cup

He should get to choose the team at this point

This is a Messi/Argentina esque carrying if a country to the world cup, the only difference is Messi actually has the talent around him they all just freeze when the wear the NT colors

[d_phaneuf]

15 goals in the last 15 caps for a player in Europe is insane form

As a non striker too

[Senator Clay Davis]

I mean it's not even close considering qualifying out of CONMEBOL is insanely difficult and Denmark basically had two games against Poland, 8 games against scrubs and then Ireland, but yes Eriksen is very good. They're likely still group stage fodder, but they'll be more interesting to watch than Ireland.

[troutman]

1-4 at home. Ouch!

[d_phaneuf]

Ireland and Ecuador are pretty even, and in what is essentially 90 minutes to qualify unless it's a minnow the margins are super thin

Both out up hat tricks after going down 1 in the first few minutes

[Senator Clay Davis]

I think the point was more if 80% of Messi's games were against teams like Borat and System of a Down they would qualify easily and wouldn't need a one game performance.

[d_phaneuf]

Ya I just meant more the one game

Obviously CONMEBOL better quality than a uefa qualifying group after the top 2-3, maybe a 4th depending on the seeding the quality drops drastically as you get past the top 20ish

Ronaldo used to do it a lot for Portugal as well, the playoff vs Sweden a few years ago etc.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Was a great performance for sure. And from a purely neutral perspective it's better to see Denmark than Ireland simply because of Eriksen. Be interesting to see what happens with Martin, he's produced decent results but watching Ireland has been a chore.

[d_phaneuf]

I'd love to see what Roy Keane had to say

I'm sure we will find out on the weekend anyway, he's not a shrinking violet when it comes to criticizing the NT even when he's a part of it

[Bagor]

Danes pillage Ireland. Some things never change.

[Locke]

Nik Bendtner still plays? Why?

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Each of the 8 groups gets one team from each pot.
So being in Pot 2 you get only 1 good team in your group instead of two.

Assuming Peru, Australia and Ireland win
Pot 1: Russia, Brazil, Germany, Portugal, Argentina, Poland, Belgium, France
Pot 2: Spain, England, Switzerland, Croatia, Colombia, Uruguay, Peru, Mexico
Pot 3: Ireland, Iceland, Sweden, Senegal, Tunisia, Egypt, Costa Rica, Iran,
Pot 4: Serbia, Morocco, Nigeria, Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Panama
Cannot have 2 teams from the same confederation in the same group except for Europe where 6 of the 8 groups will have 2 teams.

Start making your own groups

sorry for the jinx

a quick update

Pot 1: Russia, Brazil, Germany, Portugal, Argentina, Poland, Belgium, France
Pot 2: Spain, England, Switzerland, Croatia, Colombia, Uruguay, (Peru), Mexico
Pot 3: (Denmark), Iceland, Sweden, Senegal, Tunisia, Egypt, Costa Rica, Iran,
Pot 4: (Serbia), Morocco, Nigeria, Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Australia/Honduras, Panama, (New Zealand)

If Peru win
Peru is Pot 2
Denmark is Pot 3
Serbia is Pot 4

If New Zealand win
Denmark is Pot 2
Serbia is Pot 3
New Zealand is Pot 4

[SuperMatt18]

Senegal, Tunisia, Egypt, Iran, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Honduras, Panama...feels like there are more mediocre teams in this World Cup than in years past.

[Senator Clay Davis]

On paper it's a very top heavy WC. Really can only see Brazil, France, Germany, maybe Belgium or Spain winning it.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Senegal, Tunisia, Egypt, Iran, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Honduras, Panama...feels like there are more mediocre teams in this World Cup than in years past.

Italy had 2 chances to beat Sweden and didnt score a single goal. Sounds to me like some mediocre teams have been omitted.