2018 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)

My gut feel is that Colombia are comfortably the best team in that group but we'll find out.

colombia didn't look great getting beaten by SK the other day. that's definitely the most curious, I've not seen senegal play at all

How are Eng fucking thia up? I don't know but I'll enjoy finding out.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DP-RCM-X4AMgiVV.jpg

Love this pic; so many possible explanations for what might be happening here; most of them are more plausible than "this is the draw for the world cup 2018".

why are they in area 51

The general lack of legit good teams (four, maybe) should make this pretty even and interesting, I think.

Has anyone got tickets / plans to go?

I've not seen senegal play at all

Mane, Balde Keita, Sow and Niang up front, Koullibaly at the back - definitely wouldn’t bet on Colombia in their current form.

Russia could well be out of this after the first round; I can see Egypt and Uruguay ending above them.

Here's hoping.

I'm sure their fans will accept it with passive equanimity

Russia’s main problem, apart from Igor Akinfeev, is that they are incredibly boring but if they can click I think they should probably finish above Egypt.

Craig Bellamy
8/11
Tony Pulis
3/1
Ryan Giggs
11/2
Osian Roberts
8/1
Carl Robinson
10/1
Thierry Henry
18/1
Kit Symons
20/1
Rob Page
22/1
Dean Saunders
25/1
John Hartson
25/1

What a shitty shortlist for next Wales manager, wouldn't want any of these near a league one club.

standard Ryan Giggs hilarity:"Of course I'm interested," 44-year-old Giggs told Sky Sports.

"I've not spoken to anyone at the moment but I'd definitely be interested.

Thierry Henry!!

A bit like Giggs in that he wants to be an engine driver with an engine driver hat when he grows up, although obv Giggs is the extreme case,

Giggs very much the Full Kit Wanker of the management world. He carries a sheepskin coat, a pint of wine and a wound-down car window with him everywhere he goes these days.

and yet strangely never goes towards lower tier clubs where he might have an actual chance of being given an experimental chance

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/feb/01/russia-world-cup-locusts-pitch-damage-officials-fear

most of the world cup kits are v disappointing, boring and a bit 90s-blocky. I quite like japan & argentina's kits, and belgium's is good:

http://www.whoateallthepies.tv/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/adidas-new-kit-belgium.png

but the new nigeria kit is an instant classic

https://images.cdn.fourfourtwo.com/sites/fourfourtwo.com/files/styles/image_landscape/public/nike-news-football-soccer-nigeria-national-team-kit-12_original.jpg?itok=OAZj29nj

agree on all 4!

the away kits for portugal, france and croatia too

obvs the german 1990 nod too

oh that portugal away kit is nice and seems quite portuguese to me. the german kit is also deutsch as hell, not bad http://www2.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Leroy+Sane+Germany+Adidas+Present+New+Kit+PDmLLEODQtvl.jpg

These are all pretty nice, Nigeria especially. I like the French one too:

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C9nKP5NwspU/Wg3J6dfXvXI/AAAAAAABXPU/BlohnWUwZa00lHmXd-AaG_vFh8vLHVRKACLcBGAs/s550/france-2018-world-cup-kit-2.jpg

A lot of retro styling going on.

Ooh, new Spain and Germany away kits leaked today - very nice

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6aqVNBd-X3Q/WoHZD2UTDYI/AAAAAAABbGM/Btf2ce0pa0wZzs8j2LZYAJKhb6KWwEB4QCLcBGAs/s1600/adidas-germany-2018-world-cup-away-kit-2.jpg