World Cup Qualifying
Sept 24, 2008 17:57:53 GMT -5
Post by BC on Sept 24, 2008 17:57:53 GMT -5
Since I was the unofficial soccer/World Cup Qualifying guru at OO, I just posted a new update, which I hadn't done since the changeover. I'm not sure if any of the PH'ers follow soccer at all, but if so, I figured I might as well post it here as well. If no one cares, obviously this thread will slide down the table and disappear into obscurity. So anyway, here it is:
UEFA/Europe
The big stories in Europe as the World Cup qualifiers have just begun are results by England and France. France lost their first game to lowly Austria. Way to go Les Bleus. Why Domananche wasn’t been fired after their dreadful result in Euros is beyond me, and then you add this. Yes France is getting old, but they should beat Austria.
England, on the other hand, finally looked like the team they make themselves out to be. After failing to qualify for Euros (HA!), they went into arguably the toughest place to play in Europe (Zagreb) and outplayed Croatia, getting a measure of revenge for the Croats dealing them the death blow in the Euro qualifying. Maybe the $12 mil Fabio Capello is getting paid will be worth it. But then again, if you’re paying $12 mil, nothing short of a World Cup should be worth that much.
The qualifying from Europe is just beginning and surely there will be much more to come over the next year.
CONCACAF/North America
We are halfway through the ‘semifinal’ stage and the prohibitive favorites to qualify, the United States and Mexico, are having little trouble, as they shouldn’t. Let’s face it, CONCACAF is pretty weak outside the top two. Yes Costa Rica may be heard from and Honduras is up and coming, but it will take a miracle (or disaster, depending on your point of view) for the US or Mexico to not qualify. That being said, Honduras looks like the best bet to join those two. El Salvador is punching a bit above their weight, but hey, surprises happen in qualifying, which is why it’s so fun. The best bet from the Caribbean is once again Trinidad…sorry boys.
CONMEBOL/South America
Paraguay is currently leading the ‘group’ towards 2010. The biggest story is the struggling of Brazil. Brazil is not playing like Brazil, they’re playing like some eastern European team that’s happy to be there and only plays defense. You’re the Samba Boys, 5x world champs. Play like it. While they’re tied for second, which is good enough, the tie is 2-4. Four is the last spot, so Brazil needs to be careful. I would love to see them in the play-off with CONCACAF. Playoffs? You’re talkin’ playoffs???
AFC/Asia
Asia is down to the final ten, and for the most part the usual suspects have survived. The two marquee nations missing are China (who let’s be honest, they suck) and reigning Asian Champions, Iraq. Granted Iraq’s Asian Cup win was a Cinderella story for the ages and more likely a fluke and on a one off stage anyway, it’d be nice to see them keep that momentum towards the World Cup. Oh well, the governing body has now broken up the Iraqi national team until further notice, which may put their participation as Asian Champs in the Confederation Cup in jeopardy. I’m sure runners-up Saudi Arabia are willing to play instead but I’d love to see the USA/Iraq game.
Back to qualifying. The final stage has just begun, so it’s too early to tell who the prohibitive favorites are outside of pedigree. Qatar and North Korea have looked fairly impressive so far, despite their small stature, but if it’s not some combination of Australia, South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Iran that takes the 4 or 5 spots, I’ll be stunned.
OFC/Oceania
New Zealand has won the Nations Cup, therefore winning the right to represent Oceania & the OFC in the play-off with AFC/Asia. Good looks All-Whites/Kiwis, you’re probably gonna need it.
CAF/Africa
Last but not least is Africa, which has one of the funniest results to me. South Africa, the hosts (right now anyway) for 2010 have been eliminated at the 1st stage in African qualifying. Yes, they have an automatic spot, but were participating in hopes of qualifying for the Cup of Nations (also in 2010) since the qualifiers double for both. So South Africa, supposedly one of the best nations in Africa, will not be at their own continents championship, yet will be playing in the World Cup. Way to go Bafana Bafana. You’re most likely going to embarrass your nation in your own backyard. No host nation has failed to advance from the group stage at the World Cup. Hell, even we did it here in ’94. Time to break that record.
UEFA/Europe
The big stories in Europe as the World Cup qualifiers have just begun are results by England and France. France lost their first game to lowly Austria. Way to go Les Bleus. Why Domananche wasn’t been fired after their dreadful result in Euros is beyond me, and then you add this. Yes France is getting old, but they should beat Austria.
England, on the other hand, finally looked like the team they make themselves out to be. After failing to qualify for Euros (HA!), they went into arguably the toughest place to play in Europe (Zagreb) and outplayed Croatia, getting a measure of revenge for the Croats dealing them the death blow in the Euro qualifying. Maybe the $12 mil Fabio Capello is getting paid will be worth it. But then again, if you’re paying $12 mil, nothing short of a World Cup should be worth that much.
The qualifying from Europe is just beginning and surely there will be much more to come over the next year.
CONCACAF/North America
We are halfway through the ‘semifinal’ stage and the prohibitive favorites to qualify, the United States and Mexico, are having little trouble, as they shouldn’t. Let’s face it, CONCACAF is pretty weak outside the top two. Yes Costa Rica may be heard from and Honduras is up and coming, but it will take a miracle (or disaster, depending on your point of view) for the US or Mexico to not qualify. That being said, Honduras looks like the best bet to join those two. El Salvador is punching a bit above their weight, but hey, surprises happen in qualifying, which is why it’s so fun. The best bet from the Caribbean is once again Trinidad…sorry boys.
CONMEBOL/South America
Paraguay is currently leading the ‘group’ towards 2010. The biggest story is the struggling of Brazil. Brazil is not playing like Brazil, they’re playing like some eastern European team that’s happy to be there and only plays defense. You’re the Samba Boys, 5x world champs. Play like it. While they’re tied for second, which is good enough, the tie is 2-4. Four is the last spot, so Brazil needs to be careful. I would love to see them in the play-off with CONCACAF. Playoffs? You’re talkin’ playoffs???
AFC/Asia
Asia is down to the final ten, and for the most part the usual suspects have survived. The two marquee nations missing are China (who let’s be honest, they suck) and reigning Asian Champions, Iraq. Granted Iraq’s Asian Cup win was a Cinderella story for the ages and more likely a fluke and on a one off stage anyway, it’d be nice to see them keep that momentum towards the World Cup. Oh well, the governing body has now broken up the Iraqi national team until further notice, which may put their participation as Asian Champs in the Confederation Cup in jeopardy. I’m sure runners-up Saudi Arabia are willing to play instead but I’d love to see the USA/Iraq game.
Back to qualifying. The final stage has just begun, so it’s too early to tell who the prohibitive favorites are outside of pedigree. Qatar and North Korea have looked fairly impressive so far, despite their small stature, but if it’s not some combination of Australia, South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Iran that takes the 4 or 5 spots, I’ll be stunned.
OFC/Oceania
New Zealand has won the Nations Cup, therefore winning the right to represent Oceania & the OFC in the play-off with AFC/Asia. Good looks All-Whites/Kiwis, you’re probably gonna need it.
CAF/Africa
Last but not least is Africa, which has one of the funniest results to me. South Africa, the hosts (right now anyway) for 2010 have been eliminated at the 1st stage in African qualifying. Yes, they have an automatic spot, but were participating in hopes of qualifying for the Cup of Nations (also in 2010) since the qualifiers double for both. So South Africa, supposedly one of the best nations in Africa, will not be at their own continents championship, yet will be playing in the World Cup. Way to go Bafana Bafana. You’re most likely going to embarrass your nation in your own backyard. No host nation has failed to advance from the group stage at the World Cup. Hell, even we did it here in ’94. Time to break that record.