Russia 2018 Chat

[blahblah]

Yep, I don't want them to, but I sense some Korean type fiascos resulting in a similarly 5hite WC.....

[bluenosey]

Die Mannschaft for me.

[Tacalabala]

Yep, I don't want them to, but I sense some Korean type fiascos resulting in a similarly 5hite WC.....

I think there agreement in and outside Russia that the team is so bad that they couldn't be helped anyway!

France for me, the depth in the squad in incredible.

[blahblah]

The EU movers and shakers can be zapped? Certain muslim too?

Rock and roll new business ventures in South America?


Had Radio5 on and a few have Bel, Ger and Bra in last 4, which is impossible?

[liquidfootball2]

Brazil definitely have a right to be favourites but since it's in Europe and European sides have won the last three, i think this could be a fourth.

While Germany can stumble pre World Cup they always seem to turn up for tournaments and i'll go with them to retain the trophy.

[Dennisthemenace]

Youngsters winning world and European trophies, now starting to make the transition into the senior ranks. Gone is the over-hyped Golden Generation and in comes wave after wave of proven world stage trophy winners.

We're not just going to win this one, we're going to dominate for the next 12 years.

Come on England!

[thebillfella]

Hard to luck past Brazil atm especially with Neymar back but as always never right off the Germans

[From4corners]

Hey all,

Sorry, haven't read any page here but merely wondering if there is a FISO league for the shitty McDonald's game??

[Latic]

Hey all,

Sorry, haven't read any page here but merely wondering if there is a FISO league for the shitty McDonald's game??

Here to go ya lazy bastart:

viewtopic.php?f=261&t=127723

[From4corners]

Here to go ya lazy bastart:

viewtopic.php?f=261&t=127723

Haha thanks, more a busy bustard than a lazy one.

[Finisher1]

I think this time England can go all the way.

[Maldini]

Amazed nobody's voted for Spain but even more amazed at the number who've voted for Brazil. Great forwards and two decent keepers but their defence and central midfield is weak.

I have it between Spain and Germany but went with the Germans because of the Spanish manager situation.

[Tacalabala]

It's going to be tough to just get the ball off them to mount an attack. Spain, they have the players, but no Xabi and Iniesta now.

[Maldini]

Iniesta sill plays. SIlva, Isco, Thiago and Busquets make a pretty formidable midfield.

[liquidfootball2]

What an opener

Russia (80/1 to win the WC) vs Saudi (2000/1)

Lots of huffing and puffing and getting nowhere fast predicted.

Should be called El Gassico

(Panama also 2000/1 and Tunisia joint next worst 1000/1 - hope the bookies have it right )

[liquidfootball2]

This Saudi keeper is in severe danger of losing a hand or two after this tournament.

Thing is I’m not sure it’d make too much difference to his career either.

[Tacalabala]

Well, not a bad start for the hosts! Saudi are awful, and to think Australia finished behind them

[forestfan]

Having representation from all parts of the world is fair enough, but when Saudi Arabia are there and Italy, Holland, Chile etc. are not, there’s something seriously wrong with the allocation system.

The Asian confederation hasn’t progressed at all in recent times, and has probably gone backwards - South Korea and Japan (and now the “relocated” Australia) qualify pretty much by default every time. Two places would be more than enough.

[Maldini]

Here’s a thought...when we have 48 teams at the finals, theoretically, there’ll be another 16 teams worse than Saudi Arabia!

[forestfan]

And I bet Europe will only get a handful of the extra places, if any at all.

[liquidfootball2]

The 48 team World Cup will see 16 groups of three teams playing 48 matches.

With 16 teams of a similar or worse standard to Saudi, (or should that rather be substandard...), which means at least 24 games featuring one or more of them.

Can't wait

[forestfan]

Top 32 teams in FIFA rankings (number of World Cup places in brackets):
Europe 20 (14)
S America 7 (5)
N America 3 (3)
Africa 2 (5)
Asia/Oceania 0 (5)

Top 48 teams:
Europe 28
S America 8
Africa 7
N America 3
Asia 2 (incl Australia)

[liquidfootball2]

And I bet Europe will only get a handful of the extra places, if any at all.

Massive dilution in quality, hard to blame Infantino as increasing the number of entrants and hence cementing his own position has to be a shrewd move for any FIFA (or UEFA) president.

Worked well for those crooks Blatter and Platini

New qualification system including a Word Cup play-off tournament
The expansion to 48 teams has been a key plank of Gianni Infantino’s policy at Fifa. It expands the number of places at the finals available to teams of every confederation, including guaranteeing that a team from Oceania will always make the cut.

The new allocation of spaces is:

AFC (Asia) – eight places (up from 4.5)
Caf (Africa) – nine places (up from 5)
Concacaf (North and Central America) – six places, of which three go to hosts (up from 3.5)
Conmebol (South America) – six places (up from 4.5)
OFC (Oceania) – one place (up from 0.5)
Uefa (Europe) – 16 places (up from 13)

In addition there will be two final spots available from a new World Cup play-off mini-tournament.


The proposal is that a nation from every confederation, EXCEPT Uefa, will play-off in a knockout tournament that doubles up as a test event for the host nation. The five teams will be joined by an additional country from the host nations’ confederation – Concacaf.

Two seeded teams will each meet the winners of a match between two unseeded teams to determine the final places.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... ork-united

[forestfan]

So New Zealand are guaranteed a place every time, unless they unexpectedly slip up in which case one of the tiny Pacific islands will get in and get battered 10-0 in every match.

I suppose with that allocation they’re trying to get China in on a regular basis as well, and perhaps India and Pakistan given time...

[liquidfootball2]

So New Zealand are guaranteed a place every time, unless they unexpectedly slip up in which case one of the tiny Pacific islands will get in and get battered 10-0 in every match.

I suppose with that allocation they’re trying to get China in on a regular basis as well, and perhaps India and Pakistan given time...

The Euros is of a far higher standard than the World Cup, of course that too will be expanded and ruined.

[forestfan]

So New Zealand are guaranteed a place every time, unless they unexpectedly slip up in which case one of the tiny Pacific islands will get in and get battered 10-0 in every match.

I suppose with that allocation they’re trying to get China in on a regular basis as well, and perhaps India and Pakistan given time...

The Euros is of a far higher standard than the World Cup, of course that too will be expanded and ruined.

Before long, both qualifying competitions will consist of a single match between San Marino and Gibraltar (perhaps throw in American Samoa as well for the World Cup). Everyone else will qualify automatically...

Anyway, why no second match on the opening day? Particularly with the first one being in the afternoon.

[Maldini]

Annoying, isn't it?

That said, the opening game was a lot more entertaining than I ever thought it would be and Yorkshire are on Sky Sports.

10 games Friday/Saturday/Sunday make up for it though.

[forestfan]

Yeah, it’s a real football binge-watch opportunity... will have to double-screen with the rugby at times as well!

[Finisher1]

With 16 teams of a similar or worse standard to Saudi, (or should that rather be substandard...), which means at least 24 games featuring one or more of them.

So you think Italy, Netherlands, Chile and USA are worse than Saudi?

[liquidfootball2]

With 16 teams of a similar or worse standard to Saudi, (or should that rather be substandard...), which means at least 24 games featuring one or more of them.

So you think Italy, Netherlands, Chile and USA are worse than Saudi?

The allocations now are uneven when taking into account the strength of the particular confederations, but next tournament they will be skewed greatly too

Europe has 28 teams in the top 48 ranking places and gets an allocation of less than 60% of this - 16

South America does slightly better and has 8 in the top 48 and gets 75% of this with 6

Africa has 7 and gets over 125% with 9

North America has 3 and gets 200% of this with 6

Asia has 2 and gets 400% of this with 8

Oceania has none in the top 48 but gets a place

In addition 2 extra places from parts other than Europe

Italy Holland and Chile blew it but it's far harder to qualify in Europe and South America as you can see from these figures.

Perhaps they're just unfortunate to come from parts of the world where Football is far stronger and one of whose confederation members always wins it.

If you were even half decent you'd be able to compete with Japan Korea and Australia. There aren't any other competitive teams coming from Asia but they're still given another three plus slots (up from 4.5 to 8, where 0.5 represents an inter-continental play-off). All these average/uncompetitive nations will be given a free ride to the world cup while countries from Europe and South America who would comfortably qualify through Asia will be staying at home.

Don't see any harm in inter-continental qualifiers. You qualify if you're good enough with no advantages or disadvantages for any countries due to the continent they're from.