Qualifying for the 2018 World Cup

How good was it?

 

Like sex at my age, I was just happy that it went in.

 

In reply to Tex.
Here here.

 

Back of the net

 

Couple of days late but can I just say I'm glad that Coleman has a chance of going to the world cup and not that slag Taylor

 

Unless it's Seamus Coleman.

 

USA haven't qualified - first time since 1986!

Panama first time like Iceland..

But where are countries like El Salvador, Nicaragua, Belize, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cuba?

There were only 6 in the qualifying group but there are more central american nations than that..

 

That last stage was the fifth round of a strangely winding process! There were three knockout rounds, and the 6 survivors made it to a group stage with the 6 highest-ranked teams, who got a bye to stage 4 (Costa Rica, Mexico, USA, Honduras, Panama, T&T).

Six of that dozen made it to stage 5 - in fact, it was those same 6 teams.

 

Tuckin do you work for FIFA?

 

If I did I'd be much richer. No, I just love it when sport and stats collide.

 

Must be one of the easiest places to qualify for the finals , hard to believe the USA messed it up

 

There's not a great deal of strength in depth there, so you could make a claim that it's the easiest place to qualify.

However, their qualified teams have generally outperformed Asia's qualifiers in recent World Cups. Last time out, 3 of their 4 teams reached the last 16, while all four Asia qualifiers finished bottom of their groups (a combined W0, D3, L9). So I'd argue that it's easier to qualify in Asia.

 

Klinsmann created quite a mess before he was let go. I don't believe Bruce Arena is our best option at manager but he almost righted the ship in time. Perhaps the shock of not qualifying will prompt those in charge to make the necessary changes such that we can be the dominant team we should be in CONCACAF (along with Mexico).

 

Everything's for sale:


https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...-investigation-for-sponsored-goal-celebration

 

Did he eat a pie?

 

I suppose, the distinction you could draw that one was some non-Leaguer – exploiting his 15 mins – and the other is a respected international player playing in a crucial qualifier.

He scores the goal and adrenalin must be going crazy, but still he allegedly had the presence of mind to shun his regular celebration and celebrate in a way the sponsors have paid him too.

It’s shameful and ****ty. If guilty, in my opinion, he should be banned for the remainder of the qualifiers and shamed as ‘cheap’.

Think of some of the great celebrations though, how about Tardelli in ’82, instead of racing off shouting “Gol!”, he races off shouting some sort of tagline for an airline.

It needs to be stamped out.

 

New FIFA rankings are out. NI have dropped below Denmark meaning the latter are seeded and the former not. England are up to 12th for what it's worth.

http://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/ranking-table/men/index.html

Not sure how this affects the pots for the finals draw. I'm hoping Tuckin can shed some light?

 

England are in pot 2