OT: Association Football

[I'm a loser baby...]

What are all you merkins whinging about? Are we in the world cup or not?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

We'll know by about five in the morning.

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

And is missing out the end of the story?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Then there are at least two more rounds of playoffs, culminating in the games against the fourth placed North/Central American team.

Like how when we were in the Oceania conference we would have to play off against the fifth place South American team.

But if Japan beats Saudi Arabia (or draws) then we avoid all that shit. Which wouldn't be very exciting.

 

[Gronk]

FMD Saudi Arabia beat Japan

Australia now faces two difficult home-and-away ties - the first against war- ravaged Syria in October - to book a spot at a fourth straight World Cup. The winner of that play-off will go on to battle North and Central America’s fourth-placed qualifier in November for a spot at the global showpiece.

 

[84 Baby]

Who's making the trip to Syria?

 

[84 Baby]

And a 3 nil win would have done it. But obviously if we don't want to be bundled up in straights sets again at World Cup we need more game time

 

[84 Baby]

And for those playing along at home, kiwis first team in intercontinental playoffs. As it stands their opponents will be the Argies

 

[strider]

Who's making the trip to Syria?

Just booked my train ticket

 

[Gronk]

Socceroos remind me of a Luke Kelly led Eels.

 

[84 Baby]

Syria is war ravaged but we're not going to war ravaged Syria. Game will be played in Tehran or Jeddah or Abu Dhabi

 

[phantom eel]

FMD Saudi Arabia beat Japan

They did what we couldn't.

We deserve to face the hard road to qualify for the WCFs - we've been pretty, shit and Australian soccer has a way to go to reclaim the dizzy heights reached between say 2004-2008.

 

[Gronk]

What I firmly agree with is that you don't get a free ride into the WC.

It would have been a travesty to qualify overnight based on such rubbish form.

 

[Eelementary]

Lol

f**k me...

Then again, Japan had nothing to play for...

 

[Twizzle]

Japan were a very weakened team last night as they had already qualified, it wasn't the same team that we played on the weekend

 

[Twizzle]

Japan's line up was a lot weaker than the roster that played against us

 

[Poupou Escobar]

And for those playing along at home, kiwis first team in intercontinental playoffs. As it stands their opponents will be the Argies

That's why we got out of the OFC. It doesn't matter how well you go, there's a playoff against a much better South American team waiting at the end of it.

 

[84 Baby]

What I firmly agree with is that you don't get a free ride into the WC.

It would have been a travesty to qualify overnight based on such rubbish form.

Agreed. I'm actually looking forward to the extra qualifiers. Remember those qualifiers against Uruguay & Iran. Better drama than any f**king show on tv

 

[84 Baby]

That's why we got out of the OFC. It doesn't matter how well you go, there's a playoff against a much better South American team waiting at the end of it.

Well there was also that one time against Iran.

And probably the main reason we got out of OFC was having Archie f**king Thompson continually breaking the record for most goals scored in a match really wasn't good lead up to having to play said South Americans

 

[Gronk]

Great read.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/syria_football_on_the_frontline