2018 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)

sounds just like my idea for expanding eurovision
thumb up

xp That's my ideal. And just a Wimbledon like draw. No seeds.

Playing random shit teams (us included) in a drawn out league format to qualify - attritional soul killing shit

Playing these same teams as part of a month-long tournament in one country- life's rich pageant

NB I 100% mean this

Ireland’s problem is lack of raw talent, Netherlands’ seems potentially easier to fix in the short term with better management? idk

Which is obviously easier said than done...

australia leading through truly hapless attempt to defend a free kick

Lack of raw talent versus who else?

We've a team of professional topflight or near enough footballers.

Our problems are kinda like but not totally like England's- these guys have no fucking idea of tactical adaptability and little respect for the basics of playing as a responsive unit.

Northern Ireland got a lot closer to qualifying with far less raw talent, far less even than Scotland tbh.

Which is why Scotland are trying to poach Michael O'Neill.

Our FA is shambolic. Better management should be able to fix it, but we've not had good management for five, six years now.

there's no skill in the irish team. like barely anyone can beat a man. cyrus christie was like christieano ronaldo relative the the rest of the side. no striker. no passers.

they might all be playing at a pro level but it's v clear what we're missing as a team. also the defence isn't actually any good when it's not part of a 10-man behind the ball effort.

Everyone blames the FA

Players, Mgmt, FA in that order until the former two sets literally resign in protest at whatever outrage has them underperforming

XP votm LG, the type of player we produce is alarmingly identikit. Apart from Wes <3

What Irish player learns any new skills/concepts after say 16? At that stage he's fully formed, needs 'experience and to toughen up a bit"

I mean I imagine that there's an opportunity to improve here like, I can't believe that idk Italians or Spaniards have this attitude in their pro careers

australia two nil another from jedinak this time from the spot

definition of a needless handball there honduras

xps tbf jon walters hit his prime aged 46

brexit could be a good opportunity for ireland to sign up some quality players or are all remoaners shit at football?

ok fuck this, i just watched a crystal palace player score a hat trick

obv by turning the stream off i'm missing the 5 minutes of honduran ultraviolence that will inevitably follow but w/e

ok fuck this, i just watched a crystal palace player score a hat trick

~the magic of the socceroos~

we're not as crap as italy!!!!!

:D

who did australia have to play in qualification?

#australiaout

They're in the Eurovision Song Contest now, what more do they want?

they have been in the asian qualifiers for a few years now, finished 3rd in their group iirc for a first playoff vs syria then this

"ok fuck this, i just watched a crystal palace player score a hat trick"

did he sign for villa last year or was that a loan

just because we couldn't finish above saudi arabia and barely beat syria... come on

He doesn't play for Charlton anymore, so I don't know why imago's getting so excited.

Wiki:

Michael John "Mile" Jedinak (Croatian pronunciation: [jedǐːnak]; born 3 August 1984) is a God amongst men and an Australian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Aston Villa and the Australia national team, of which he is the captain. He is a front-runner for Ballon D'Or award after scoring hat-trick vs Honduras in world cup qualifying playoffs. It has been said he is the greatest player to have ever lived.

i'd be happy if ireland became part of asia if it meant we got to the wc more often.

would be easier to visit china and japan also.

I see an opportunity for Holland to play in CONCACAF. Instead of having Surinam players in the Dutch squad, we'll turn it around. They're the better players anyway.

I don't think all the very sensible reasons not to do it should overshadow the fun that could be had if world cup qualifying groups were random/global rather than continental. would also help dilute the influence of tiny teams, force brazil to play against andorra for a change

Otm. And there'll be a real chance of an England vs Argentina qualifier. Scheduled on a Tuesday night. At Stoke.

So Poland in Pot 1, Spain in Pot 2. Uh, right, OK.

Holland in po... oh

:'(

Poland, England, Iran and Panama - would England qualify from that?

might hold Panama to a draw

feels like 2 or 3 points are there to be had maybe

hang on, TWP's retired, might have a shot at progressing

I kinda think Southgate's doing ok with what he's got tbh

xps you've forgotten england always draw sweden

Is this an attempt to right historical wrongs or something? Thank god Hungary aren't there.

I'm sure there's some genuine reason for Poland being top seeded but I can't help but think UEFA are just trying to keep Russia and Poland apart.

poland apparently gamed the airtight fifa rankings by not playing friendlies. i don't understand how it worked.

Gary Lineker fronting World Cup draw for Fifa feels like a kind of betrayal

wow, so many words

:)

on this quiet friday afternoon i present my extremely authoritative ranking of teams. the WC is ofc gloriously unpredictable, but this is m/l the baseline that will determine how surprised I am by the results

Germany
France
Brazil
Argentina
Spain
Belgium
Uruguay
Portugal
England
Mexico
South Korea
Nigeria
Egypt
Peru
Colombia
Switzerland
Croatia
Poland
Japan
Serbia
Morocco
Denmark
Senegal
Australia
Iceland
Costa Rica
Panama
Iran
Russia
Tunisia
Sweden
Saudi Arabia