World Cup 2014 Qualifiers

[Misanthrope]

Their last cross-confederation play-off was very controversial against T&T in 2005. Or was that Bahrain?

'twas Bahrain, I think.

Jordan beat Oman 1-0, so it'll be Jordan/Iraq in the playoff in September.

 

[Jimbo]

'twas Bahrain, I think.

Jordan beat Oman 1-0, so it'll be Jordan/Iraq in the playoff in September.

Nup, it's third place in Group A v third place in Group B: Uzbekistan v Jordan. Winner plays the fifth placed South Americans, whcih is currently Uruguay

So five teams have now qualified - Brazil, Japan, Australia, Iran and South Korea

 

[Misanthrope]

Nup, it's third place in Group A v third place in Group B: Uzbekistan v Jordan. Winner plays the fifth placed South Americans, whcih is currently Uruguay

I know it's Jordan/Uzbekistan. No idea why I typed Iraq. I blame the fact I'd just woken up. Well aware Iraq finished last in our group (and so could not have played Jordan for two reasons instead of one).

Uzbekistan to take that one. Lose 1-0 in Jordan and then thump Jordan in Tashkent.

 

[Jimbo]

Understandable Mis, I'm a bit bleary-eyed myself this morning!!

 

[Mong]

I know it's Jordan/Uzbekistan. No idea why I typed Iraq. I blame the fact I'd just woken up. Well aware Iraq finished last in our group (and so could not have played Jordan for two reasons instead of one).

Uzbekistan to take that one. Lose 1-0 in Jordan and then thump Jordan in Tashkent.

Did you watch the Jordan game?

Talk about a massive pile of shite.. Decent crowd though.

 

[Misanthrope]

Did you watch the Jordan game?

Talk about a massive pile of shite.. Decent crowd though.

Didn't catch their game overnight. Had a class at 8am this morning.

Can't be any worse than Oman.

 

[Mong]

I watched both games this morning.. Shouldn't have bothered with the second, but its football and I have nothing better to do.

Totes poor quality game though. Lots of long balls and little quality on the ends of them.

 

[Tommax25]

Armenia 4 Denmark 0

WTF???!!!!

Didn't Bendtner or whatever his name is say he could be as good as/better than Messi? Didn't help them much here :lol:

 

[Latino87]

USA getting the job done in CONCACAF, safe to say they'll finish in the top 3, although they still got to play in Panama City & San Jose. Mexico need to start winning games, they've got 2 more home games against Honduras & Panama who will go for the 0-0 draw.

 

[Jimbo]

Fourth place plays New Zealand

I'd rather potentially play Honduras than Uruguay...

 

[Big Sam]

USA getting the job done in CONCACAF, safe to say they'll finish in the top 3, although they still got to play in Panama City & San Jose. Mexico need to start winning games, they've got 2 more home games against Honduras & Panama who will go for the 0-0 draw.

Do you give NZ a chance against Honduras or Panama?

 

[Jimbo]

Do you give NZ a chance against Honduras or Panama?

Stranger things have happened

They qualified last time, and managed to draw with Italy, Paraguay and Slovakia in the tournament itself...

 

[Latino87]

Stranger things have happened

They qualified last time, and managed to draw with Italy, Paraguay and Slovakia in the tournament itself...

I agree with Jimbo, there's always a chance, end of the day it's 11 v 11 & 1 round ball...but New Zealand are gonna have to hope they don't concede at home & don't go down early in Central America, Honduras can turn it on when needed like against Canada & if it's Panama then they're playing for a first ever World Cup appearance.

 

[Misanthrope]

Stranger things have happened

They qualified last time, and managed to draw with Italy, Paraguay and Slovakia in the tournament itself...

New Zealand have a much better path to qualification than Australia (or anybody in Asia).

Easy pickings against Oceanian teams and then the fourth best side in a Confederation inflated to ensure that USA never miss a World Cup? I'll take that over the best in Asia followed by Uruguay or some other South American side.

 

[Latino87]

New Zealand have a much better path to qualification than Australia (or anybody in Asia).

Easy pickings against Oceanian teams and then the fourth best side in a Confederation inflated to ensure that USA never miss a World Cup? I'll take that over the best in Asia followed by Uruguay or some other South American side.

Could you confidently say with the way Australia played in this last round that they would've qualified in top 3 of CONCACAF?

 

[Misanthrope]

Could you confidently say with the way Australia played in this last round that they would've qualified in top 3 of CONCACAF?

They wouldn't need to. They could finish fourth and just thump New Zealand.

 

[Latino87]

They wouldn't need to. They could finish fourth and just thump New Zealand.

Hahaha good point mate.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

Could you confidently say with the way Australia played in this last round that they would've qualified in top 3 of CONCACAF?

Easily. CONCACAF is dreadfully weak.

 

[Latino87]

Easily. CONCACAF is dreadfully weak.

I honestly think they would've found it tougher in the hexagonal, they struggled against the likes of Oman, Jordan away & Iraq, Honduras, Costa Rica, & Panama could've put 3-4 goals in their homes on the Aussies if they played like they did against the middle eastern nations.

But that's just my opinion from watching/following the CONCACAF qualifiers.

 

[Misanthrope]

I honestly think they would've found it tougher in the hexagonal, they struggled against the likes of Oman, Jordan away & Iraq, Honduras, Costa Rica, & Panama could've put 3-4 goals in their homes on the Aussies if they played like they did against the middle eastern nations.

I think the style of football in west Asia really hurts Australia. There's a real 'park the bus' mentality and a negativity to the play that clearly frustrates the Socceroos. It's no surprise that we performed best against Japan or when playing at home in favourable conditions.

From what I've seen of the Central American nations, they're more open in their defense in favour of attack. I think Australia could better exploit that.