Yay! International week! (feat. u17 world cup) [5/10 - 10/10]

[Lewis]

Oh yeah, scoring with the one attack they had all month.

[Baz]

Deciding the seeding pots ignores the group points and just goes off FIFA rankings? If so that’s dumb.

[Giggles]

Deciding the seeding pots ignores the group points and just goes off FIFA rankings? If so that’s dumb.

Yeah it is pretty stupid. That table that decides who doesn't make it out of the 2nd placed teams should be used. Top 4 seeded.

[Adramelch]

It just so happens that in this case they coincide.

[Max Power]

Ecuador in front inside a minute :lol:

[phonics]

Lulling them into a false sense of security.

[phonics]

Proper Championship goal that. Love it.

[Max Power]

This could be a stormer. Argies still look a rabble despite Messi.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That was a bit of a classic Mark Hughes-esque 'If anything we scored too early, Geoff'.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Argentina won't win, that altitude is a killer.

[SvN]

Oof, liquid football. Messi is dragging them through single handedly.

[Max Power]

Messi stepping up big time but there's more goals in this you feel...

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm watching Peru, great shout.

Bolivia just gone 1-0 up at the seaest of levels in Montevideo, cripes.

[Jimmy Floyd]

USA sinking without trace in Trinidad. This would be one of the great blowouts.

[Max Power]

Chile are gonna miss out I think. Two down and a winner for either Peru or Paraguay and they are gone. Shame, an entertaining side usually in tournaments.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Peru v New Zealand. The Gap Yah derby.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Oh my word. Panamania running wild in the 90th minute.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Fucking hell, the yanks are dead.

Imagine a country of that size, economic power and footballing infrastructure getting knocked out by Trinidad and fucking Panama.

[Pepe]

Wait a second, the US didn't qualify? :harold:

How I wish I followed football right now. If only Argentina had missed out too, that would be like a dream come true.

[Pepe]

Losing to Trinidad, fuckin' hell. :harold:

[mugbull]

Nobody knows or cares here. Football's gonna go back underground i'd assume

[Queenslander]

Im pretty sure our coach just quit.

[ItalAussie]

That is one of the all-time boilovers. Makes our flapping seem almost pedestrian. Almost.

What a day.

[Spoonsky]

:|

[ItalAussie]

Honduras' equaliser for 2-2 was a rebound off the back of Ochoa's head. :D

EDIT: And Panama got a goal that didn't actually cross the line. Oh my.

[Queenslander]

Honduras' equaliser for 2-2 was a rebound off the back of Ochoa's head. :D

EDIT: And Panama got a goal that didn't actually cross the line. Oh my.

Ange will quit next month.

[-james-]

Chile are gonna miss out I think. Two down and a winner for either Peru or Paraguay and they are gone. Shame, an entertaining side usually in tournaments.

Chile have been absolutely stinking lately and don't deserve a spot. Chuffed for Peru, hope they make it.

Messi dragging Argentina through and the Yanks out in the most impossible series of events. What a night.

[ItalAussie]

Ange will quit next month.

I just saw that. I'm not sure who I'd want to replace him, to be honest. I wonder if Tony Popovic would consider bailing early. :D

[CJay]

Messi. :drool: Wish I’d been able to catch some of last night’s action. Panama and Peru (potentially) at the World Cup is crazy.

[Giggles]

Such a shame Argentina got through but I didn't realise they only had to beat Ecuador, so them not qualifying was probably blown out of proportion and was never in doubt.

[Giggles]

The presenter is loving it :D

917935602695397376

[Jimmy Floyd]

I imagine Gianni Infantino waking up now is like when we all woke up to a Trump victory, but without the lols. Didn't even bother bunging the refs by the looks of it.

[Queenslander]

I just saw that. I'm not sure who I'd want to replace him, to be honest. I wonder if Tony Popovic would consider bailing early. :D

I wonder if Batistuta is keen?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Harry Kewell's doing a great job at Crawley, and by great I mean he's about 19th in League Two.

[Queenslander]

Yikes that is still puts him the top 5 I reckon.

[CJay]

Such a shame Argentina got through but I didn't realise they only had to beat Ecuador, so them not qualifying was probably blown out of proportion and was never in doubt.

Hadn’t won in Quito since 2001, altitude, on a stinking run of form, one man team, behind after 49 seconds... there was definitely a real sense they were going to blow it. Before last night they had scored 16 goals in 17 games. For reference, only Bolivia scored less goals than Argentina.

Hopefully Sampaoli can get them going with a bit more time this summer.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Conceding early was great news for them as it took out the option of the 'Oh, we'll nick it in the second half' 0-0 disaster which has befallen them previously. As soon as you go a goal down and the task is brutally clear, players (or a player) of that quality will complete it 90% of the time. In those circumstances, I mean. I'm not saying 90% of 1-0 leads end in defeat.

[Jimmy Floyd]

This is the pot situation for the finals:

1
Russia
Brazil
Portugal
Argentina
Belgium
France
Germany
Poland

2
England
Spain
Mexico
Uruguay
Colombia
(Peru)
(Italy)
(a.n. other)

Everyone will want Poland and then Russia, presumably.

[SvN]

I hope England get a proper team. We haven't played Argentina in ages, let's have 'em.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We will get the most boring possible group, as we always do. Slovakia sadly haven't made it, so it'll probably be:

Poland
England
Tunisia
Saudi Arabia

[SvN]

Probably drawing 0-0 with Tunisia on the last day to squeeze through on goal difference.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

USA :harold:

Really hope that Peru make it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We will actually have a 50% or greater chance of getting Brazil or Argentina, because there are 4 South American teams (inc Mexico) who will have to be drawn against European teams.

Actually that's a lie as Mexico are CONCACAF. Still, Brazil/Argentina are the most likely draws for us.

[Amigo]

Trying to think of a dream group for Iceland.

I've only got one team so far and it's England.

[Adramelch]

This is the pot situation for the finals:

1
Russia
Brazil
Portugal
Argentina
Belgium
France
Germany
Poland

2
England
Spain
Mexico
Uruguay
Colombia
(Peru)
(Italy)
(a.n. other)

Everyone will want Poland and then Russia, presumably.

Did they change the seeding rules?

Used to be:

Pot 1: 8 highest seeded teams
Pot 2: Africa and rest of South America
Pot 3: Asia/Oceania and North America
Pot 4: Rest of Europe

Typically Pot 4 is more than 8 teams so the remaining teams are randomly drawn into Pot 2 (which is the one lacking).

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yeah it's now 4 pots, albeit with the same continent separation as before, i.e. you can't have two from the same continent in a group except for Europe.

[Adramelch]

Should help avoid the completely bullshit groups to an extent I guess.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I see England have made it into League A of the UEFA Nations League. A proud moment for English football.

Poor old Scotland dumped in League C.

[Adramelch]

Apparently 7 out of the 21 players of the Nigerian U17 team happened to be born on the 1st of January. :D

[ItalAussie]

Italy, Spain, and England are going to get groups of death by default, surely.

Also, how did Spain drop down into Pot 2?

[Adramelch]

Italy, Spain, and England are going to get groups of death by default, surely.

Also, how did Spain drop down into Pot 2?

Their abysmal performance in the World Cup/Euro can't have helped. It's more so the fact that those rankings are complete bullshit of course.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Playing high profile friendlies for cash is the best way to make your ranking shit. A darling strategy of the English FA.

[Browning]

I don't know if this is true but supposedly Chile got eliminated because they complained about Bolivia fielding an ineligible player to get the result overturned. It gave them 2 more points after the game ended 0-0 but it also gave Peru 3 more points because they lost to Bolivia. If that's true it's brilliant.

[Adramelch]

I don't know if this is true but supposedly Chile got eliminated because they complained about Bolivia fielding an ineligible player to get the result overturned. It gave them 2 more points after the game ended 0-0 but it also gave Peru 3 more points because they lost to Bolivia. If that's true it's brilliant.

The points thing is correct. Whether it was Chile that claimed the ineligibility thing or someone else I don't know though.

[-james-]

I can't think of many teams I'd fancy England against. Maybe Denmark/Sweden, Ireland, Panama, Tunisia or OFC sides.

[Lewis]

We never beat Sweden.

[ItalAussie]

Playing high profile friendlies for cash is the best way to make your ranking shit. A darling strategy of the English FA.

The opposite of the Wales-Poland approach, I see.

[Bernanke]

We never beat Sweden.

You did in 2012. 2-3-2-record since 2000.

I like the post-Zlatan team that's being built though, we're just in dire need of strikers who aren't 32+ and shit. Joel Asoro, Alexander Isak, Carlos Strandberg all need to start playing regularly after the WC.

Emil Forsberg beat De Bruynes assist record in Bundesliga last season, and he's still improving. :cool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

You did in 2012. 2-3-2-record since 2000.

I like the post-Zlatan team that's being built though, we're just in dire need of strikers who aren't 32+ and shit. Joel Asoro, Alexander Isak, Carlos Strandberg all need to start playing regularly after the WC.

Emil Forsberg beat De Bruynes assist record in Bundesliga last season, and he's still improving. :cool:

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/889308783092084737/0uZU2dZw.jpg

He's such a don.

[Pen]

Apparently 7 out of the 21 players of the Nigerian U17 team happened to be born on the 1st of January. :D

Apparently an exact birthday isn’t that important in some/many African countries. 1.1.birthyear is just something they get assigned. A friend of mine has worked in a asylum seekers center (there’s another word for that I’m sure) and there’s a ton of people with that birthday. Same with kids from some countries that I have taught.

[niko_cee]

Same with horses.

Something something Lukaku song.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The Lukaku song appears to have opened up a whole world of what you can and can't call black players. I saw Jonathan Liew and commentator Rob Palmer, both of whom I like, having a barney on twitter about the latter referring to some Portuguese black player as 'a monster in midfield'.

[Yevrah]

If that's the level we've reached then maybe it's not best to talk about black players at all.

[phonics]

The Lukaku song appears to have opened up a whole world of what you can and can't call black players. I saw Jonathan Liew and commentator Rob Palmer, both of whom I like, having a barney on twitter about the latter referring to some Portuguese black player as 'a monster in midfield'.

This has actually been going on a while. The Tuesday Club back when they used to do it had Tayo Popoola talk about a game he played called 'Beast or Unit' and he'd list off a bunch of players and the correlation between the black player being the beast and the white guy the unit was weirdly uncanny.

It's been bubbling underneath but you'll definitely start to see pundits being accused of subconscious bias when the likes of Lukaku, Pogba etc. are discussed on physical attributes rather than technical ones

[Jimmy Floyd]

I used to slate them years ago for referring to Yaya Touré as various great plains fauna when he burst out of midfield. Never heard that about Frank Lampard.

[Lewis]

They hardly did it in the same way though did they. 'Yaya' used to bumble through players like an elephant trying to stamp on a mouse.

[Pleb]

The US rant MELTDOWN is quite something.

Calls for the entire US soccer setup (including the FA) to be revamped from top to bottom apparently.

[mugbull]

The US rant MELTDOWN is quite something.

Calls for the entire US soccer setup (including the FA) to be revamped from top to bottom apparently.

Should happen. The players are pretty shit but the FA is a next level joke

[Kikó]

They should get Sam in. He'll sort it.

[phonics]

Strachan has gone.

[Jimmy Floyd]

David Moyes surely? Although Malky Mackay is genuinely the betting favourite.

[Lewis]

They obviously want to explore this genetic deficiencies theory.

[Magic]

Great, can't wait for the next worthless, clueless cunt to fuck up any hope we have of making a shit side worthwhile and at least good value or worth a cheeky bet.

[Giggles]

Does the bet have to be cheeky?

[Lewis]

It does if you don't want 'problem gambler' to come up in a divorce hearing.

[Magic]

Does the bet have to be cheeky?

Of course it does. Like cheeky line or cheeky sesh. It deflects from admittance of a serious problem by lightening it up.
Waffdon

[Baz]

Inb4 cheeky divorce.

Big Sam was quoted on talkSPORT (Jim White) saying he’d be in for it if Strachan went. :cool: If he got Scotland to the World Cup I’d support them.

He’s only 9/2 so not worth a bet. If N Ireland fail in the playoffs load up on Mikey O’Neill at 10/1, mind. Free money, surely.

[Waffdon]

Of course it does. Like cheeky line or cheeky sesh. It deflects from admittance of a serious problem by lightening it up.
Waffdon

Cheeky Nando’s to cure.

[Waffdon]

Of course it does. Like cheeky line or cheeky sesh. It deflects from admittance of a serious problem by lightening it up.
Waffdon

Ferry tomorrow?

[Magic]

Skint bruv. I like your frequent attempts to court me, though.

[Waffdon]

One of these days. You need a wingman x

[John]

A newly single thirty year old dad hanging around with a teenager sniffing his way to a heart attack sounds like a terrible idea anyway. You'd both end up on the eccies for a week.

[Waffdon]

21 in a few months, John Boy. What a day that will be.

Pills are an absolute no go, by the way.

[Giggles]

21 in a few months, John Boy. What a day that will be.

Pills are an absolute no go, by the way.

Just wait until Magic lands with a bag of them.

[mugbull]

Pill culture in the UK is fuckin wild. Its part of a greater underbelly i've found

[Magic]

21 in a few months, John Boy. What a day that will be.

Pills are an absolute no go, by the way.

Why? Infinitely better than coke. Coke is shit actually.

[Kikó]

Pills are better than coke. Mainly because one usually contains some mdma and the other rat poison.

I'm on my way to Newport now for the sesh fwiw.

[Waffdon]

Council stuff I’ll give you, but not 2/1 or Puro. Anyway, I’m affit after getting home at 5am last Friday morning before work at 8am. That wasn’t fun.

[Magic]

As if you're snorting pure ya Diddy. :D

On the fentanyl aye?

[Waffdon]

As if you're snorting pure ya Diddy. :D

On the fentanyl aye?

Hit the DMs, Son.

[Giggles]

http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/976/cpsprodpb/C2FB/production/_98351994_ni1.jpg

[John Arne]

Just read that Jadon Sancho was recalled from the U17 World Cup... Must be pretty gutting to have to leave a World Cup halfway though. He played tonight for Dortmund U19's, but still isn't expected to feature for the first team yet.

[John Arne]

Under 17 World Cup is ticking along nicely. Semi-finals this week.

Brazil v England (25/10 1700)
Mali v Spain (25/10 20:00)

I was somewhat surprised to notice that the Mali U17 squad actually contains players that look about 17, with one notable exception... number 15 looks like he's about 33, and he had a fairly tough life.

http://s1.firstpost.in/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Mali-U-17-825.jpg

[Giggles]

Darren Randolph (Middlesbrough), Keiren Westwood (Sheffield Wednesday), Rob Elliot (Newcastle United), Colin Doyle (Bradford City)

Cyrus Christie (Middlesbrough), Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Paul McShane (Reading), Richard Keogh (Derby County), Shane Duffy (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ciaran Clark (Newcastle United), John O'Shea (Sunderland), Kevin Long, Stephen Ward (Burnley)

Aiden McGeady (Sunderland), Daryl Horgan, Alan Browne (Preston North End), Glenn Whelan, Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), Harry Arter (Bournemouth), James McCarthy (Everton), Robbie Brady, Jeff Hendrick (Burnley), Eunan O'Kane (Leeds United), David Meyler (Hull City), Wes Hoolahan (Norwich City), Callum O'Dowda (Bristol City), Jonny Hayes (Celtic), James McClean (West Bromwich Albion)

Shane Long (Southampton), Daryl Murphy (Nottingham Forest), David McGoldrick (Ipswich Town), Sean Maguire (Preston North End), Scott Hogan (Aston Villa), Aiden O'Brien (Millwall)


I just missed out myself.