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  • like_that
    gorocks99;1518294 wrote:From the early UEFA games, Russia and Bosnia-Herzegovina are through to the WC while Portugal and Greece head to the playoff.
    Denmark winning big pretty much eliminates the czech republic. Bulgaria is going to need to find a way to beat the czechs or denmark will be taking the playoff spot.
  • SportsAndLady
    Pretty crazy Portugal may not get in. Also crazy the Czechs are out.
  • like_that
    NVM I am wrong. I forgot the take the best 8 runner ups. Seems like everyone in that group (bulgaria, danes, czechs) are pretty much fucked.
  • like_that
    SportsAndLady;1518300 wrote:Pretty crazy Portugal may not get in. Also crazy the Czechs are out.
    Portugal was in the playoff last cycle. This year some tough teams are going to possibly miss out on the WC. France, Portugal, and Sweden will be in the playoff pot. UEFA qualifying is just fucking tough.

    Also Turkey is down 0-2 to the netherlands. They will probably miss out on the playoff round as I don't see them winning this game :(.
  • gorocks99
    Today's results pending, England might be in that playoff pot too.
  • like_that
    gorocks99;1518305 wrote:Today's results pending, England might be in that playoff pot too.
    Yup, they have to win. Ukraine is going to come away with 3 points from san marino.

    Edit: they are already up 2-0 lol.
  • gorocks99
    like_that;1518308 wrote:Yup, they have to win. Ukraine is going to come away with 3 points from san marino.

    Edit: they are already up 2-0 lol.
    San Marino: 1 GF, 47 GA. Fucking ouch.

    Edit: 48 GA.

    Edit 2: 51 GA, lol
  • OSH
    gorocks99;1518311 wrote:San Marino: 1 GF, 47 GA.
    I may have my baby be born in San Marino...give him/her some options for international soccer...
  • sportchampps
    Europe always makes it though so the strong teams have the easiest game in the playoff. Basically they separate the top 4 teams
  • gorocks99
    So, assuming I understand things are right (which is a big assumption), looks like the playoff will be:

    Greece (25 pts)
    Portugal (21 pts)
    Ukraine (21 pts)
    Sweden (20 pts)
    Romania (19 pts)
    France (17 pts)
    Croatia (17 pts)
    Iceland (17 pts)
  • gorocks99
    Gerrard scores to put England up 2-0 ... that should seal it for them. With UEFA games complete, qualifying so far from Europe are:

    Russia
    Bosnia-Herzegovina
    Spain
    England

    Along with Italy, Switzerland, Netherlands, Germany and Belgium who had already won their groups.

    Fourteen spots still up for grabs - four will go to UEFA, two to CONMEBOL, one to CONCACAF, five to Africa, one to the winner of Jordan-CONMEBOL, and one to the winner of New Zealand-CONCACAF.
  • Laley23
    They will separate the 4 teams with the highest rankings. France will NOT be one of those teams. I would love to see Portugal get paired with France, cause I hate them both. Knock one of them out lol.

    Last time around France got Rep of Ireland, and the Henry hand-ball sent them through after the playoff...that just pissed me off. I forget who Portugal got in the playoff, but they barely escaped with a close 2nd leg as well.
  • Laley23
    Off the top of my head I think the seeded UEFA teams for the playoff will be:

    -Portugal
    -Croatia
    -Ukraine
    -Greece

    Frances poor play over the last few years is biting them in the ass right now. But they will probably avoid Portugal and beat whoever else is there. Greece is tough on D, but cant score. Id say they would be the toughest draw outside of Portugal for France. Shut them out at home and try to advance on away goals/PKS. Sweeden could be tough, cause Ibra can win a game by himself, and they can just score in general. But, they dont play much defense. Either way, France has a tough draw coming up unless they get Ukraine. I think they would beat them pretty handily.
  • gorocks99
    Laley23;1518357 wrote:They will separate the 4 teams with the highest rankings. France will NOT be one of those teams. I would love to see Portugal get paired with France, cause I hate them both. Knock one of them out lol.

    Last time around France got Rep of Ireland, and the Henry hand-ball sent them through after the playoff...that just pissed me off. I forget who Portugal got in the playoff, but they barely escaped with a close 2nd leg as well.
    Quick guess, I think the four highest ranked (by FIFA ranking) will be:

    Portugal (1036)
    Greece (983)
    Croatia (901)
    Ukraine (871)
    ----------------
    Sweden (850)
    France (802)
    Romania (767)
    Iceland (633)
  • ohiobucks1
    Really sucks, Israel was two late goal equalizizers from Portugal away from knocking them out and being in the playoff. I wish they were allowed to play in Asia, they would qualify EVERY SINGLE WC
  • gorocks99
    ohiobucks1;1518367 wrote:Really sucks, Israel was two late goal equalizizers from Portugal away from knocking them out and being in the playoff. I wish they were allowed to play in Asia, they would qualify EVERY SINGLE WC
    Can't let the Jews run everything.






    Kidding.
  • ohiobucks1
    gorocks99;1518368 wrote:Can't let the Jews run everything.






    Kidding.

    #toosoon.

    Also there are a few christians and other religions represented by the Israeli NT... look that shit up

    But seriously, I would fear for their lives if they played in Asia. They would run train on all those countries (besides Japan, Korea, and Australia), though.
  • like_that
    Laley23;1518357 wrote:They will separate the 4 teams with the highest rankings. France will NOT be one of those teams. I would love to see Portugal get paired with France, cause I hate them both. Knock one of them out lol.

    Last time around France got Rep of Ireland, and the Henry hand-ball sent them through after the playoff...that just pissed me off. I forget who Portugal got in the playoff, but they barely escaped with a close 2nd leg as well.
    The corrupt FIFA puppet masters won't allow that matchup. France didn't deserve qualification last time around, hopefully karma bites them in the ass.
  • like_that
    What does it say that the US beat Bosnia in a friendly? Bosnia is pretty damn tough imo. You gotta be to win a qualifying group in Europe.
  • Laley23
    like_that;1518400 wrote:What does it say that the US beat Bosnia in a friendly? Bosnia is pretty damn tough imo. You gotta be to win a qualifying group in Europe.
    I think we (I) addressed this a ways back. I am dry impressed with the win, and the way the USA is playing over the last year or so in general. Bosnia don't send their full A squad, but they had A squad players mixed in. It was a tremendous result. Much like the Germany win, despite the fact people play that one down as well...
  • gorocks99
    US is losing...

    ..but...

    Mexico is too! El Tri on the ropes!
  • gorocks99
    And OF COURSE Mexico ties it. Ugh.
  • like_that
    I find this stupid as hell. Italy was in the Euro Cup finals last summer, and they went undefeated in their qualification table, yet the switz will jump them in rankings?

    http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1584307/switzerland-seeded-world-cup-draw-sweden-woe?cc=5901

    Italy being unseeded is going to create quite the group of death.
  • Laley23
    like_that;1518526 wrote:I find this stupid as hell. Italy was in the Euro Cup finals last summer, and they went undefeated in their qualification table, yet the switz will jump them in rankings?

    http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1584307/switzerland-seeded-world-cup-draw-sweden-woe?cc=5901

    Italy being unseeded is going to create quite the group of death.
    Ties are killers in the rankings. I mean, a loss is ZERO points, but a tie is just the regular points versus a W being pointsX3. So their 2 most recent ties KILLED them, especially when you look at the opponent. Their rankings didnt give them many regular points, like a tie with a top 20 team wouldve.

    Also, last summer (year) I think is only weighted 50%. Once August hit, last summers Euro run went from being a major player in their ranking to a lot less...
  • like_that
    Laley23;1518529 wrote:Ties are killers in the rankings. I mean, a loss is ZERO points, but a tie is just the regular points versus a W being pointsX3. So their 2 most recent ties KILLED them, especially when you look at the opponent. Their rankings didnt give them many regular points, like a tie with a top 20 team wouldve.

    Also, last summer (year) I think is only weighted 50%. Once August hit, last summers Euro run went from being a major player in their ranking to a lot less...
    Still, they beat Uruguay this summer as well. The rankings are highly flawed. It showed in the 2006 World Cup. Switzerland is definitely not a top 8 team in the world, sorry.