International Qualifiers, Thursday to Whenever, October 2015

[simon]

Was sure Walters was going to miss his pen.

Straight run ups :sick:

[John]

I'm not watching this, but have a small wager on so I'm keeping track using an app on my phone. I'd like someone to tell me who the fuck Gordon Greer is.

[Giggles]

Have Ireland got injuries at centre back? Keogh is an awful player.

They have shag all at centre half since Dunne retired.

Not sure if Clark is hurt.

[Smiffy]

.....

[simon]

I'm not watching this, but have a small wager on so I'm keeping track using an app on my phone. I'd like someone to tell me who the fuck Gordon Greer is.

Who is he meant to be?

[simon]

Ah, I thought John was on about the Ireland game. Carry on.

[Yevrah]

That's been coming for a while.

That Ireland are still in this is a bit of a result.

[Toby]

In the unlikely event of Georgia scoring and holding on, would Ireland top the group on head to head results?

lol nevermind

[Max Power]

That's a quality header. No real pace on the cross, quite far out as well. Bullet.

[simon]

It doesn't actually change anything for Ireland.

[Giggles]

That's a great header. Been coming and I'd say its game over now. Can hardly cross the halfway line.

[Yevrah]

That's a great header. Been coming and I'd say its game over now. Can hardly cross the halfway line.

While it's only 2-1 you're still in with a good chance, but I'd agree, it doesn't look like it'll stay 2-1 for very long. Poland have been by far the better team.

[Toby]

It doesn't actually change anything for Ireland.

A Georgia goal would be hilarious.

[simon]

I'd say its game over now.


It doesn't actually change anything for Ireland.

:baz:

[Giggles]

:baz:

It's like another nail though to further drop heads. It's infinitely more likely to go 3-1 than 2-2.

[Yevrah]

Robbie Keane. :hail:

Make it happen Martin.

[Giggles]

Houlihan needs to get on now. He may have asked not to start, but if he's on the bench he can put in 45.

[simon]

It's anything but game over though. Let's not get overly pessimistic, eh.

[Giggles]

It's anything but game over though. Let's not get overly pessimistic, eh.

Did you watch the first 45?

[Max Power]

It's a game that is screaming out for the transcendent talents of Daryl Murphy imo

[Toby]

The Irish probably have a last minute equaliser in them, the spawny fuckers.

[Giggles]

Probably need to string two passes together first.

[Yevrah]

What the fuck are Germany playing at?

[simon]

Did you watch the first 45?

I did and Poland have been on top. But you only need one goal and it's not like you're Gibraltar playing against Brazil.

[Yevrah]

It's alright Giggles, the 14th highest international goalscorer in all of human history is now on the pitch. :cool:

[Giggles]

I did and Poland have been on top. But you only need one goal and it's not like you're Gibraltar playing against Brazil.

It looks more like what a cup match between Sunderland and Yeovil would go like.

[Davgooner]

McGeady on the pitch now. The next half an hour looks set to be the toughest period in Polish history.

[Giggles]

It's alright Giggles, the 14th highest international goalscorer in all of human history is now on the pitch. :cool:

And you'll see now what mid 30's and years of MLS do a player :nodd:

Though it'll still be a sad day when he's not there at all.

[simon]

More like Everton vs Stoke.

[Lee]

Camera man's having an epileptic fit.

[Jimmy Floyd]

What the fuck are Germany playing at?
I thought the same thing. Are they using this international weekend to try and reduce their seeding a la the legendary Belarus incident or something?

[-james-]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_2016_qualifying_Group_D

What actually happens if Germany lose and the Ireland game ends a draw? I can't think of a situation wherein Germany don't finish top 2, but some wikipedia nerd seems to think it's possible
.

[Yevrah]

I thought the same thing. Are they using this international weekend to try and reduce their seeding a la the legendary Belarus incident or something?

I know of no reason as to why they would be, but it does all look a bit Germany 0-0 Wales from way back then. Have we missed an easy betting opportunity?

[Yevrah]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_2016_qualifying_Group_D

What actually happens if Germany lose and the Ireland game ends a draw?

Head to head from matches involving all three teams, no?

[Toby]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_2016_qualifying_Group_D

What actually happens if Germany lose and the Ireland game ends a draw? I can't think of a situation wherein Germany don't finish top 2, but some wikipedia nerd seems to think it's possible
.

It goes to a minitable of results between the three of them, which I think means Ireland first and Poland second.

[simon]

That would be glorious.

[-james-]

It goes to a minitable of results between the three of them, which I think means Ireland first and Poland second.

Is that step 5 here (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_2016_qualifying#Tiebreakers)?

I don't get how Poland are above Germany, surely Germany's 3-1 trumps Poland's 2-0?

[-james-]

The race for the best third placed team is quite an interesting one as well, with Croatia's racists denying them top spot, and Turkey's hopes lying in Kazakhstan beating Latvia on Tuesday
.

[Byron]

They both count the same, after which I believe it would go to away goals scored, meaning that solitary Poland goal would do it for them.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Is that step 5 here (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_2016_qualifying#Tiebreakers)?

I don't get how Poland are above Germany, surely Germany's 3-1 trumps Poland's 2-0?

Away goals favours Poland.

I've got money on Poland to win and Lewandowski to score, but those financial gains would be trumped by a late Robbie Keane equaliser here. Come on.

[simon]

Germany have ruined it all now anyway.

[Giggles]

Robbie Brady has been surprisingly poor tonight. He's one of expect better from.

[Toby]

Is that step 5 here (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_2016_qualifying#Tiebreakers)?

I don't get how Poland are above Germany, surely Germany's 3-1 trumps Poland's 2-0?

It goes back to Criteria 1 without the other three sets of games, so Poland have 5 points to Germany's 4.

[Giggles]

That header just caused me to knock over and smash my glass.

[Yevrah]

Keep the faith Giggles. The Keane-inator will get a chance in the last 10.

[Lee]

This ref loves Ireland.

[Jimmy Floyd]

This ref loves Ireland.

He's been paid off by the bar owners of France. Either that or they've still got credit in the bank from that Henry handball.

[Giggles]

This ref loves Ireland.

He's been extremely kind so far.

[Toby]

Gibraltar again offer up the polish for the turd that is Steven Fletcher's (international) career.

[Giggles]

And there goes the centre of defence for the playoffs completely now.

[Jimmy Floyd]

These Irishmen getting late suspension cards proving that footballers really are thick.

[Yevrah]

So who are they likely to draw in the playoffs?

[Giggles]

These Irishmen getting late suspension cards proving that footballers really are thick.

They grew up kicking a ball around. Of course they are.

[The Bruce]

That result is excellent if only to see that smarmy cunt Niall Quinn's reaction in the studio.

[Giggles]

So who are they likely to draw in the playoffs?

Depends on who else gets in and the FIFA rankings I think.

I'll still take it a million times over. The playoffs looked a near impossibility last Wednesday and, even as poor as they looked for a lot of tonight, this looks a better side than the one Trappatoni brought in 2012.

[Jimmy Floyd]

So who are they likely to draw in the playoffs?

Ukraine need to beat Spain tomorrow to secure best third and qualification. Assuming they don't do that, Hungary will get it, and the seeding order will be as follows:

1 Ukraine
2 Croatia
3 Bosnia
4 Sweden
------------
5 Denmark
6 Ireland
7 Turkey
8 Slovenia

The only variable is Bosnia could lose out to Cyprus/Israel which would bump Denmark up into the seeds. From my quick calculations I think Ireland are definitely not seeded now.

[Yevrah]

Doesn't look as though it makes much of a difference whether you're seeded or not judging by that.

[SvN]

I'd say Ireland have a decent chance against any of those seeded teams.

[simon]

I'm not sure I like Yeovil's chances looking at that set of footballing powerhouses.

[Jimmy Floyd]

There are various other teams who could drop down from 2nd like Russia and Czech Republic, and Holland could go up from 4th but I don't think they will.

[Lewis]

I would normally want Ireland to fail. But if they get through that compounds Scotland's failure.

Jesus. Decisions.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Gibraltar is more of a 'home nation' than the Irish Republic.

[Giggles]

Gibraltar is more of a 'home nation' than the Irish Republic.

Seeing as we aren't at all then that would be correct. Ireland is as much of a 'home nation' as Japan.

[Yevrah]

There are various other teams who could drop down from 2nd like Russia and Czech Republic, and Holland could go up from 4th but I don't think they will.

Holland managing to fuck qualification is quite special and I hope it's made Platini cry.

[CJay]

Robbie Brady was atrocious tonight. I thought Stephen Ward was bad, but that's one of the worst performances I've seen from an Irish player in quite a while. We should have brought McGeady on at half-time, I think, and just spent the entire half trying to isolate him with the full back. The one time we did that resulted in the only chance of the game, which Keogh should have buried.

I doubt we'll be able to beat any of those seeded teams. They're all at a similar level to Poland, who proved to be an obstacle too strong for us. O'Shea's suspension is going to really hurt.

[Reg]

So Holland are pretty much out?

Think this'll be the first Euros/WC I've watched without them. It'll be a shame for nostalgic and brilliant orange crowds reasons.

[Lewis]

This Alex Ferguson programme looks like a hard-hitting piece.

[Yevrah]

Were you too young for 2002 reg?

Playing 4 strikers at Lansdowne Road. :drool:

[Yevrah]

This Alex Ferguson programme looks like a hard-hitting piece.

On that note I watched the Rooney thing last night.

Sweet mother of God...

[Giggles]

Robbie Brady was atrocious tonight. I thought Stephen Ward was bad, but that's one of the worst performances I've seen from an Irish player in quite a while. We should have brought McGeady on at half-time, I think, and just spent the entire half trying to isolate him with the full back. The one time we did that resulted in the only chance of the game, which Keogh should have buried.

I doubt we'll be able to beat any of those seeded teams. They're all at a similar level to Poland, who proved to be an obstacle too strong for us. O'Shea's suspension is going to really hurt.

That's the thing. Poland aren't great, they're just lucky enough to have one top player, and there was still a big gulf tonight (bigger than 2-1). There's nobody there worse than them in the potential opponents and the suspensions make it really uphill.

[Reg]

Nah I watched 2002, France '98 was my first.

Maybe the lack of Holland contributed to it being a bit crap. Even the final was relatively poor wasn't it?

[Giggles]

Were you too young for 2002 reg?

Playing 4 strikers at Lansdowne Road. :drool:

McAteer :cool:

Keane (Roy) was outstanding that day too. Best I seen him outside Turin.

[Yevrah]

I think it not being in a proper footballing country was what did the damage.
Reg

[Lewis]

I never watched that.

What annoys me about Ferguson is that he must have it in him to write the best book (not just football book) ever. He knows where all the bodies are buried, who is and isn't a cunt, why people succeeded or failed... He could bring it all down, or at the very least troll the entire sport into a crippling spiral of seethe. But no. He just leaks crap anecdotes and continues to reduce Roy Keane's life expectancy.

[Lewis]

Were Nick Robinson and Ronaldo even in the same room there? I bet he refused to meet him.

[Yevrah]

I never watched that.

What annoys me about Ferguson is that he must have it in him to write the best book (not just football book) ever. He knows where all the bodies are buried, who is and isn't a cunt, why people succeeded or failed... He could bring it all down, or at the very least troll the entire sport into a crippling spiral of seethe. But no. He just leaks crap anecdotes and continues to reduce Roy Keane's life expectancy.

I'd agree with that.

Given he can't be many years away from death or senility he should be cementing his status as a TOP TOP manager by doing the above. As it is he just drones on like Duncan Bannatyne, still insisting that Eric Cantona was world class.

If you're going to stay in the public eye after quitting the sport at least make that worthwhile - as it is I lose a fair bit of respect for him as a result if I'm honest.

[Jimmy Floyd]

As befits a tournament that took place in Korea and Japan, 2002 was just stark raving mad. All the teams who played slow, 'technical' football just got bummed out of the tournament amidst the madness and a lot of the purists got really upset about that, but it was what it was. England were a bit unlucky with the draw, that could easily have been a semi-final or better if we'd run into anyone other than Brazil.

The teams that did well there were the ones with the biggest hearts, and Germany of course, with their iron hearts.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The problem with Ferguson is he's always been on the take. He won't want to burn any potentially lucrative bridges by deploying honesty, even now.

[Waffdon]

I would normally want Ireland to fail. But if they get through that compounds Scotland's failure.

Jesus. Decisions.

Better at rugger, though, m9

[Utotri]

A quick look over the Dutch side doesn't reveal anyone obviously shite, though their defence does appear to have an average age of about eleven, so why have they gone to such shit? They did alright at the world cup with a load of children and 'Roncrete' at the back, what happened to all those ones?


It seems like it's all Eredivise-quality players now, with an over the hill Sneijder. With that team I wouldn't expect them to qualify automatically ahead of any decent team.

The problem is't so much the quality of the players. There is nothing wrong with the Eredivisie, the level of play is still pretty high (your average Eredivisie side would be a title contender in the Championship I'd say). Obviously we're in worse shape than we have been in ages in that respect, but we aren't worse than Turkey, Czechia or Iceland. Point is as well that we haven't been worse during the matches except for the away match against Turkey, but we were just too wasteful up front and ridiculous blunders by various players did us in. Add to this the fact that we have had an absurd amount of injuries and that's just too much to handle for this team. It's all quite reminiscent of 2000-2002 where we just couldn't get the needed points against Ireland and Portugal even though we had plenty of chances to do so (Ireland deserved their victory though, no question there, that was possibly the worst match I've ever seen by our NT).

I'm not really worried about our future. Actually I think it's fine that we experience such a catastrophe. It shows just how extremely good we were in 2010 and 2014. Those teams were hardly better than what we have now, but they performed like true heroes back then.

[Smiffy]

.....

[Toby]

Third place isn't the wooden spoon. Cameroon get that for having the worst goal difference of the teams who lost all their games.

[Jimmy Floyd]

And for having fixed the most matches, although Brazil seemed to have a late run for that at the end.

[Utotri]

You were good in one match during the 2014 World Cup, let's not paint it to be something that it wasn't. You were extremely fortunate to gain the wooden spoon.

For that group of players to beat Spain, Colombia, Brazil, Mexico and Australia and drawing against Costa Rica and Argentina is awesome however you want to look at it. Granted, only two games were actually top class, but you can't possibly ask for more from those players.

[Reg]

If Holland didn't do well, then only about 2/3 teams did, which doesn't really make sense.

[Smiffy]

.....

[SvN]

Germany were pretty poor too. In their group they beat an abysmal Portugal and then drew with Ghana, to give them their solitary point in the entire tournament.

They needed extra time to beat Algeria in the second round and barely squeezed past a pretty poor France in the quarters. Obviously they destroyed Brazil in the semis, and that was their one good performance, really. Another extra time result was needed to beat the Argies in the final - who couldn't even beat Netherlands without needing penalties.

[QE Harold Flair]

Can you tell the BBC is now based in Manchester?

[Reg]

That reads like a trolling post from SvN.

[Lewis]

I know it's a second string, but this England side is terrible. Bottom half of the league terrible.

[Giggles]

What's the lineup?

[leedsrevolution]

Hope Kane can bang a few in today. I think they would scrape 9th in the league.

Edit actually putting a lot of thought into it maybe 8th.

England
01 Butland
02 Walker
05 Jones
06 Jagielka
03 Gibbs
04 Shelvey
08 Barkley
11 Lallana
07 Oxlade-Chamberlain
09 Vardy
10 Kane

Substitutes
12 Smalling
13 Heaton
14 Walcott
15 Clyne
16 Bertrand
17 Townsend
18 Ings
19 Sterling
20 Alli

[Giggles]

Jesus, you'd swear they held a raffle.

Nothing to lose though I suppose.

[Angelsaint]

There is nothing wrong with the Eredivisie, the level of play is still pretty high (your average Eredivisie side would be a title contender in the Championship I'd say).
What a absolutely lunatic! :D

No team in Eredivisie understands the concept of defending therefore you would struggle to not be last in the Championship.

[TG09]

Nice deflection for the goal. Barkley doing well. Good to see the Ox and Gibbs start, will give them some confidence.

[CJay]

Is it just me or are commentators really bad at noticing when shots take massive deflections? I thought that deflection on Barkley's goal was pretty obvious, but Tyldesley was giving it the 'what a goal' treatment.

[TG09]

Is it just me or are commentators really bad at noticing when shots take massive deflections? I thought that deflection on Barkley's goal was pretty obvious, but Tyldesley was giving it the 'what a goal' treatment.

Definitely, did make me laugh.

Kane is up and running now.

[leedsrevolution]

Will that be classed as an own goal?

[QE Harold Flair]

That was an og, clearly.

[TG09]

Own goal, was not clearly on target.

[Yevrah]

How have we been? I've only just tuned in.

[TG09]

How have we been? I've only just tuned in.

Some good periods of play, didnt make too many shooting chances once we go near goal. Some good performances from players, could of scored a lot more.

Overall it was good considering there was a lot of changes.

[Raoul Duke]

Really boring game, but straightforward enough to spank some goatherders.

[Yevrah]

I love these post match press conferences.

We have belief, we've gained confidence from winning the group.

No you don't. No you haven't.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Here's an interesting one - tomorrow, Turkey will qualify as the best third placed team if they beat Iceland and Kazakhstan win away in Latvia. The latter two are well out of it, but Turkey need both their own win and for Latvia to drop down to 6th in their group below Kazakhstan, which will mean Turkey gain 4 extra points in the third place table and go above Hungary to 16.

Reckon the Turks could pay the Latvians off? Betting opportunity if so.

[-james-]

Here's an interesting one - tomorrow, Turkey will qualify as the best third placed team if they beat Iceland and Kazakhstan win away in Latvia. The latter two are well out of it, but Turkey need both their own win and for Latvia to drop down to 6th in their group below Kazakhstan, which will mean Turkey gain 4 extra points in the third place table and go above Hungary to 16.

Reckon the Turks could pay the Latvians off? Betting opportunity if so.

My favourite bit about those standings is Croatia's racism-ing themselves out of top spot with the point deduction. I hope they know.

[Sam]

My favourite bit about those standings is Croatia's racism-ing themselves out of top spot with the point deduction. I hope they know.

Would probably make the Croatians happy if that was to happen. Anything to piss off the corrupt powers that be.

[ItalAussie]

Here's an interesting one - tomorrow, Turkey will qualify as the best third placed team if they beat Iceland and Kazakhstan win away in Latvia. The latter two are well out of it, but Turkey need both their own win and for Latvia to drop down to 6th in their group below Kazakhstan, which will mean Turkey gain 4 extra points in the third place table and go above Hungary to 16.

Reckon the Turks could pay the Latvians off? Betting opportunity if so.

I spent about ten minutes this morning trying to figure out how Hungary could fail to be the best second-placed side, and couldn't for the life of me figure it out. Appreciated.

[Amigo]

Going into the final game having already secured qualification. What a time to be alive.

[Ian]

What games, if any, are people going for? The obvious one would appear to be the Dutch but I'm not sure if I can really be arsed.

[QE Harold Flair]

Loftus Cheek looks very good in this Under 21 game. I'm sure he'll get plenty of chances under The Average One, too.

[Jimmy Floyd]

There's a very good argument I think that Wales shouldn't be admitted into the finals unless Gareth Bale stops presenting himself like a tramp.

[Angelsaint]

Gooooooooooal! Tettey

[Max Power]

Christ Holland are terrible

[Max Power]

How much did Southampton pay for Van Dijk? Whatvever it was it was too much, he's no defender.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Cyprus are 2-1 up. What scenes.

[Max Power]

2-2 now, looks a stormer. Might watch it second half

[Andy]

How much did Southampton pay for Van Dijk? Whatvever it was it was too much, he's no defender.

12m. He's been brilliant so far for us. I do worry that he seems the type to have a few clangers about him.

[Angelsaint]

Norway only shot on goal and actually only attack in 45 min... 0-1

This is like CM 01-02 return with a bang!

[Lewis]

This half-empty Italian stadium made me think this was a dead rubber, but it's about as much a decider as you're going to get. Their fan culture (sez me from my armchair) is why their league is a shithouse.

[Max Power]

12m. He's been brilliant so far for us. I do worry that he seems the type to have a few clangers about him.

Fair enough. He's been scandalous tonight, second goal was embarrassing.

[Angelsaint]

This half-empty Italian stadium made me think this was a dead rubber, but it's about as much a decider as you're going to get. Their fan culture (sez me from my armchair) is why their league is a shithouse.

I actually thought the stadium was even more empty. The only ones I hear are some rich Norwegians who never saw football in their life but because Norway was in the country they decided to enjoy their golden retirement suddenly they are in the stadium.

[TG09]

Ramsey!!! Good lad!

[Davgooner]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Kazakhstan 1-0 up :sherlock:

Turkey yet to do their bit, though.

[AE]

Netherlands 0 - 3 Czech :D

[simon]

The Dutch are a disgrace.

[Angelsaint]

Was too good to be true :(

[Pen]

Is it only Turkey who can still knock Hungary to the playoffs, or is can Italy or Norway still do that?

edit: Apparently not, so it's all on Turkey. Rather them than Hungary.

[Vim]

Pellè's career is so strange. He was playing in the second tier in Italy at age 27, as a backup even. Somehow made his way to the Premier League, debuted in the national team at age 29 and has scored 4 in 8 so far.

[Browning]

I don't think Turkey could. Ukraine were the only team who could and they lost.

Edit- ah sorry didn't realise Kazakhstan could alter it...

[Max Power]

Selcuk Inan bends a 25 yard free kick in the top corner. Shades of Beckham vs Greece

[John]

Pellè's career is so strange. He was playing in the second tier in Italy at age 27, as a backup even. Somehow made his way to the Premier League, debuted in the national team at age 29 and has scored 4 in 8 so far.

Didn't he end up at Feyenoord because he met Koeman's son at the beach or something? I know there was a slightly mad story behind one of his transfers.

[Pen]

Turkey :drool:

(That's them on 16 now with Hungary on 15)

Did you put any money on that Jim?

edit: Turkey needed a Kazak win here to surpass Hungary as well Browning

[Amigo]

Fuck.

[Max Power]

Pellè's career is so strange. He was playing in the second tier in Italy at age 27, as a backup even. Somehow made his way to the Premier League, debuted in the national team at age 29 and has scored 4 in 8 so far.
Bit of an Italian thing maybe? Toni and Di Natale were late bloomers as well, though the first ten years of their careers weren't quite as low key as Pelle's.

[Vim]

Well, Italians generally are not given a chance in big Serie A teams until they're 21 or older, which definitely plays a part. Toni and Di Natale are prime examples. Take Zaza for example, he's just been brought to Juve as a young striker to get some minutes here and there, in England that would be a 19-year old but Zaza is 24. :D


Didn't he end up at Feyenoord because he met Koeman's son at the beach or something? I know there was a slightly mad story behind one of his transfers.

I didn't hear about that, it may well be true. There was no indication whatsoever that he would be any good.

[Baz]

Islambek Kuat again! :cool2:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Hungary will be seething, although it's their fault for shitting it up against Northern Ireland.

[Giggles]

So who's in/out?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Holland are out, Turkey are in.

[Giggles]

Holland are out, Turkey are in.

I caught something on the radio saying Croatia were momentarily out of the playoffs. Did it end that way?

[Max Power]

Croatia are through, Norway in the playoffs

[Jimmy Floyd]

Playoff seedings are:

Bosnia
Ukraine
Sweden
Hungary
-----------
Denmark
Ireland
Norway
Slovenia

[Giggles]

On paper you'd want Hungary, though they were best 2nd place for a long time so maybe not.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Best 3rd place in the worst group of all time. They're rubbish and you definitely want them over the others.

[Giggles]

Any of the other three and it's game over anyway, but at least the Croats and Dutch aren't there.

[Amigo]

Denmark, Norway and Sweden all having to go through the play-offs. :harold:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Whacked a stream on of Ecuador v Bolivia being played in the worst conditions I think I've ever seen football played in. There are several large lakes on the pitch.

[QE Harold Flair]

Turks boo and whistle during minutes silence for Ankara Bombing victims before Turkey's football game:

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=31c_1444769608

Unfortunately the Muslim disease has a stranglehold there, it seems.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'd forgotten how awful South American football is. It's a contest between 22 hotheads to see who can run the clock down most effectively, with the referee having the least composure of everyone on the pitch.

[QE Harold Flair]

Depends who you watch. Chile are the best team to watch on a consistent basis.

[Reg]

I love how Chile play. I reckon England could play in a similar way with a better coach.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The Chile national team, lovely as they are, are pretty unrepresentative. The club stuff is absolutely horrific.

[Reg]

D'you watch any Brazilian league stuff, Jim?

I enjoyed watching Atletico Mineiro in the continental comp, but I've heard the league is generally scrappy and pretty crap?

[Jimmy Floyd]

A few years ago I used to watch it when I was unemployed and had sod all to do at night. It's absolutely terrible, all comes from their hothead culture where coaches get sacked after two defeats, every contact is a foul and most fouls are a card. Brazil is a lot better than Argentina, though. What happens in the leagues these days is that they play to this rigid system (in Brazil the 4-2-2-2, in Argentina with the '10') and they try and play much better football than the players there are capable of, which makes it very disjointed.

Generally speaking, if one side goes a goal up they just dive and run the clock down for the rest of the match.

[Reg]

Cheers, will not make staying up for Brazilian league a priority then...

I'm enjoying La Liga this season. Valencia/Malaga and Real Sociedad/Atletico look good this weekend.

[Waffdon]

The utter cuntness is what made staying up and betting on South American football great.

[Jimmy Floyd]

There is a certain point in the game (about 10-15 minutes after half time, usually), when some sort of alarm goes off which causes the team which is relatively happier with the current scoreline to just feign injury for the rest of the game and kill it (Bolivia, at 0-0, have gone off quite early in this game). The 'head injury' stuff in the last few years has made this worse as the referee has to stop the game, and there have been three 'head injuries' here in the last five minutes.

One has to lol at Antonio Valencia. How is he still at United?

[Lewis]

Because Chelsea can't afford him.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Ecuador got their goal in the end. Two wins out of two puts them already in a good position.

This is actually a pretty tedious format to establish that Bolivia, Venezuela and Peru are all still crap at the end.

[ItalAussie]

This half-empty Italian stadium made me think this was a dead rubber, but it's about as much a decider as you're going to get. Their fan culture (sez me from my armchair) is why their league is a shithouse.
Italy had already qualified, had they not?

I'm disappointed that Hungary didn't qualify automatically. I wanted to see them back at a major tournament, and I think we can safely write that off now.

[Lewis]

Had they? Was it just to see who topped the group? Still, there were about thirteen people in the ground.

[Spoonsky]

What the fuck happened in Greece there? So much for austerity.

[ItalAussie]

Had they? Was it just to see who topped the group? Still, there were about thirteen people in the ground.

Italy's a basket case.

But yeah, they secured qualification on the 10th, so there was nothing at stake. Although they couldn't necessarily have known that when they were purchasing tickets, either.

[ItalAussie]

Belgium have gone No. 1 in the world rankings. :cab:

[Spoonsky]

I actually think that the Euros will be quite interesting in that there's no one huge favorite, and that it's the big chance for traditional dark-horse teams like Belgium to actually win the thing.

Still think Germany will win though.

[Luca]

Fellainimania. :cool:

[QE Harold Flair]

Great game this. Sanchez dominating for Chile once again.

[Pen]

On paper you'd want Hungary, though they were best 2nd place for a long time so maybe not.

What Jim said really. Our group was absolutely rank, which makes our failure all the more embarrassing.


Denmark, Norway and Sweden all having to go through the play-offs. :harold:

Yeah, how shit are they... Oh :moop:

I still hope all three go through.

[Andy]

Pellè's career is so strange. He was playing in the second tier in Italy at age 27, as a backup even. Somehow made his way to the Premier League, debuted in the national team at age 29 and has scored 4 in 8 so far.

He's a really strange player, I think he's the best centre forward Southampton have ever had yet there are a good chunk of Saints fans who think he's a lazy oaf with no movement, no pace, no work rate and needs far too many chances to score. Mainly the same people who thought Lambert was the best thing since sliced bread despite stinking it up for his last six months.

Pelle has either assisted or scored all our goals bar one this season in the league.

[Luca]

He's a really strange player, I think he's the best centre forward Southampton have ever had yet there are a good chunk of Saints fans who think he's a lazy oaf with no movement, no pace, no work rate and needs far too many chances to score. Mainly the same people who thought Lambert was the best thing since sliced bread despite stinking it up for his last six months.

Pelle has either assisted or scored all our goals bar one this season in the league.

The chances to score thing isn't so far off. He missed an absolute sitter earlier in the match, and sent a free header wide of the post earlier than that; the one he ended up scoring was the harder of the three by some distance.

[Andy]

Just caught up on some of the highlights from yesterday. That RvP own goal is a real thing of beauty.

[Luca]

Just caught up on some of the highlights from yesterday. That RvP own goal is a real thing of beauty.

I'm not even sure what he was playing at. A header back to the keeper? In that situation?

[Samadini]

South American club football really isn't that bad. You get some shit games yes, but I've seen plenty of really good matches.

If I didn't have to wake up for work so early these days I'd still watch it.

[Mazuuurk]

What Jim said really. Our group was absolutely rank, which makes our failure all the more embarrassing.



Yeah, how shit are they... Oh :moop:

I still hope all three go through.

As sad as it is, the best bet for all three of those countries in the Playoffs is probably to face each other, I'd say.

[Luca]

Sebastian Giovinco, who played 30m in Tuesday night's qualifier vs. Norway in Rome, came home to Toronto this afternoon and played the final 30m for TFC, scoring this goal to clinch their first-ever playoff birth.


https://cdn.streamable.com/video/webm/7pny.webm

[John]

Sebastian Giovinco, who played 30m in Tuesday night's qualifier vs. Norway in Rome, came home to Toronto this afternoon and played the final 30m for TFC, scoring this goal to clinch their first-ever playoff birth.


https://cdn.streamable.com/video/webm/7pny.webm

Berth.

I saw that on Facebook earlier, and even against MLS shite it's a bit good. If someone done that to you on FIFA you'd fling the controller through the TV, which is always a sign of a quality solo goal.

[Luca]

Berth indeed. Bamboozled by the autocorrect demon once again.

[Byron]

That said, would have been one for the highlight reel had it been birth.

[Byron]

Ireland - Bosnia
Ukraine - Slovenia
Sweden - Denmark
Norway - Hungary.

Oof. That Scandinavian showdown could be a tasty one. Ireland might have a chance to be fair.

[ItalAussie]

Ireland - Bosnia
Ukraine - Slovenia
Sweden - Denmark
Norway - Hungary

[Angelsaint]

Ital <3

[Giggles]

Norway, Sweden, Ukraine, Bosnia.

[Vim]

Sweden-Denmark. :drool: I might try to get tickets for the Danish leg.

[Angelsaint]

Also Denmark is shit. I would be very surprised if they beat a Sweden with a half bored zlatan.

[Yevrah]

Fucking rofl.

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/whitstable/news/newts-scupper-soccer-plans-44104/

Just seen this on local news, should be thankful they weren't bats.

[Lee]

Can't just go evicting endangered newts, Yev, you fucking monster. A bypass near me got delayed because there might be some great crested newts. Turned out there weren't any.

Not that asking Who the Fuck FC to find somewhere else for a protected species to live rather than concreting over them seems unreasonable to me. I know newts are boring and all that, but still.

[Yevrah]

'The man' on the news said that great crested newts were quite common in Kent, sort of intimating that they're not actually endangered.

I don't know either way, I just liked the rofl.

[Lee]

I think they're made up. Great Crested Newt sounds a bit made up.

[phonics]

Who cares about Newts? Throw them in the cement mixer.

Tinkertown would be a much better name for a football team, by the by.

[Yevrah]

Tinkertown sounds so paedophilic that that steaming pile of human excrement, Tom Watson, would almost certainly be camped outside their admin office with his Paedo-finder-general megaphone if they actually existed.

[Disco]

Turned out there weren't any.

Or more likely someone stepped on them all before the inspectors got there.

[Benny]

Fucking rofl.

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/whitstable/news/newts-scupper-soccer-plans-44104/

Just seen this on local news, should be thankful they weren't bats.

You're from Kent, near Whitstable?

:rasta:

[Yevrah]

I'm not as it happens, nowhere near.

That's the randomness of 'local' news for you.

[Yevrah]

Or more likely someone stepped on them all before the inspectors got there.

Yep, if you ever find bats in your loft I'd absolutely not suggest setting fire to them.

What you need to do is phone the Bat Conservation Trust and open your wallet until they're re-house properly.

[Benny]

I'm not as it happens, nowhere near.

That's the randomness of 'local' news for you.

Oh, was going to say how have you never mentioned this before.

Whitstable is nice though, in case you've ever wondered.

[Yevrah]

A quick aa routeplanner search shows I'm 128 miles away from Whitstable. :cab:

[phonics]

Whitstable is nice though, in case you've ever wondered.

The newts seem to enjoy it.

[Yevrah]

Fucking Lille is closer. :cab:

[Disco]

Yep, if you ever find bats in your loft I'd absolutely not suggest setting fire to them.

What you need to do is phone the Bat Conservation Trust and open your wallet until they're re-house properly.

I've seen the bill for seven (yes seven) people who carried out a two night bat survey as part of a planning application. They were absolutely clueless about even their most rudimentary behaviour too which only further enforces the idea that's it's more about the bill than they'd have you believe.