World Cup 2014 Qualifiers

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

I think Japan are a good team but our matches have been cagey affairs. I could easily see two draws, good enough IMO.

 

[Big Sam]

Whaaaat!?!? You're not seriously rating Iran higher than Japan are you!? Did you not watch WC2010!?

We've only lost twice to Japan since 2006 - the first was on penalties in the '07 Asian Cup and in the other last year David Carney went AWOL in the Asian Cup final. In both those games we had their measure and should have won.

A trip to Japan would also be far easier to deal with compared to playing in front of 110,000 rabid Iranians at the Azadi. Not too sure some of our young guys would cope with that.

 

[Misanthrope]

I can't decide whether I'd prefer Iran or Japan. I think the Japanese are a far better side - arguably Asia's best - but I can't look past the intimidation factor we'd have to contend with in a packed Iran stadium. I'll give the edge to Japan, if only because we're more familiar with them.

I'd also much rather play the over-achieving Lebanese than an Oman side that has consistently caused us trouble in the past.

I'd also prefer to play Iraq than Uzbekistan, who have some genuine firepower I'd rather not be on the wrong side of.

My ideal group would be:
Australia
Japan
Iraq
Qatar
Lebanon

 

[hellteam]

You could rig this draw so easy... you get to see the ball that he puts the names in to??? I dunno about the Japanese captain picking them out, do they usually do that?

 

[hellteam]

Group A -

South Korea
Iran
Uzbekistan
Qatar
Lebanon

Group B -

Australia
Iraq
Jordan
Oman
Japan

If we can't get top 2 out of that group, we don't deserve to be in the World Cup. Would rather be in Group B than Group A I think..

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

It's already happened? That's a pretty cruise group, nothing we haven't seem before. Well I don't think we've played Jordan but we've got enough middle east experience.

 

[Twizzle]

nice draw, we'll take that

 

[Misanthrope]

Very kind draw for us. The only way it could have been any better is if we'd drawn Lebanon ahead of Oman.

 

[CC_Eagle]

The only issue is the short timeframe between Oman and then Japan away, but no real biggie.

If we don't qualify, Frank Lowy and Holger will be drawn and quartered on the Harbour Bridge.

 

[Misanthrope]

Two home games to finish too. No excuses.

 

[roboshark]

Don't underestimate jordan

 

[Big Sam]

So aside from Euro, the other major Int'l football in June is more WC qualification matches. The next rounds of qualification begin in Africa, Nth America, Oceania, and of course Asia. There are also another 2 rounds in South America.

A few interesting match-ups around the world: Morocco v Ivory Coast, Guinea v Egypt, and Argentina v Ecuador.

Meanwhile we play Oman in Muscat on the 8th and Japan at Suncorp on the 12th. Am really concerned about the Japan game. Will gladly take a point because I suspect they'll outpace and outplay us all over the park.

 

[langpark]

A few interesting match-ups around the world: Morocco v Ivory Coast, Guinea v Egypt, and Argentina v Ecuador.

I'd only call that last one interesting really... The ko time is decent too so I might try and stream it...

 

[Big Sam]

Well I selected those African ones given the teams are somewhat evenly matched and the fact that only the group winner goes through in Africa.

In actual fact, the Socceroos v Japan will be without doubt the biggest non-Euro game in June. By far the biggest TV audience (estimated 500 million), already a great rivalry, and result could signal a major shift in power in Asian football.

 

[langpark]

late own-goal by Uruguay and they drop some precious points. 1-1 with Venezuela...

 

[abpanther]

Argentina is belting Ecuador 3-0 already

 

[Big Sam]

Japan 3-0 over Oman. Good and bad news for us and our next two games I guess.

 

[langpark]

Russia 2-0 Nth Ireland
Kazakstan 1-2 R. Ireland
Azerbaijan 1-1 Israel
Georgia 1-0 Belarus
Leichtenstein 1-8 Bosnia
Malta 0-1 Armenia
Estonia 0-2 Romania
Lithuania 1-1 Slovakia
Croatia 1-0 FYROM
Finland 0-1 France
Latvia 1-2 Greece (great comeback!)
Albania 3-1 Cyprus (fluke ;-))
Slovenia 0-2 Switzerland
Montenegro 2-2 Poland
Andorra 0-5 Hungary
Netherlands 2-0 Turkey
Germany 3-0 Faroe Islands
Iceland 2-0 Norway
Moldova 0-5 England
Wales 0-2 Belgium
Luxembourg 1-2 Portugal (nearly an embarrassing night for the prima donnas)
Bulgaria 2-2 Italy

 

[langpark]

Brilliant goal there by Messi from the free kick, in off the post.

Argentina 3-1 Paraguay (65th minute)

 

[joel caine number 1 fan]

Belgium and japan are gonna be the surprise packets at the next world cup for sure,both sides have a stack of talent