World Cup 2022

[forestfan]

Portugal

[blahblah]

You mean Ron is out?

[forestfan]

You mean Ron is out?

Not quite, but has a two-round play-off to negotiate…

[blahblah]

You mean Ron is out?

Not quite, but has a two-round play-off to negotiate…

More midweek games at his age.....

[forestfan]

You mean Ron is out?

Not quite, but has a two-round play-off to negotiate…

More midweek games at his age.....

He will probably enjoy the opportunity to boost his world record of international goals.

Scotland or Wales might get the chance to put them on the scrapheap…

[murf]

So we just need to avoid conceding 7 (Seven) in the second half to get through - and Southgate takes off one of our centre halves

I thought he was supposed to be a dull, risk-averse manager.

[blahblah]

Someone else has to win by loads to turn over the GD?

[forestfan]

Someone else has to win by loads to turn over the GD?

If we lose 7-6 I think Poland have to win by about 6. They’re 1-0 down…

[forestfan]

So, who’s in so far?

Qatar (obviously)
England, France, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Croatia, Serbia, Switzerland
Brazil, Argentina

Think that’s it so far, the lucky 13 who can put their feet up and prepare. Most of the others will have to wait until March to find out if their tickets will be issued.

Italy, Portugal and Uruguay among the biggest names in major jeopardy. No really significant nations eliminated (with apologies to the Irish, both sides of the border…) but Haaland will have to wait another couple of years for his major tournament debut with Norway. Should have picked England, Erling

[Mo Bot]

Ivory Coast are possibly the biggest name to not qualify so far. It'll be interesting to see what kind of shenanigans Fifa get up to to ensure Portugal don't play Italy in the playoffs

[forestfan]

Yeah, I forgot about that, they missed out in a head-to-head with Cameroon which had to eliminate one of the African powers. Guess they’re not quite what they were in the Drogba/Toure era though.

[Neath boy]

I was at the Wales game last night. Great point for Wales against Belgium to cap a good week for British teams. It was a fantastic atmosphere and now looking forward to see who is coming to Cardiff for the play off semi final.

[forestfan]

So… Portugal and Italy drawn together, assuming they both negotiate their first round game. Portugal at home… there’s no way they’ll let Ronaldo miss out on his final World Cup, so Italy are done for, I think. Likely to join Greece as European champions who missed out on the World Cups either side! (And if it’s penalties, they’ll go out without losing a match as well.)

Wales potentially facing Scotland at Cardiff for a place, again if both get through…

[blahblah]

Russia vs Poland could be tasty in the Ice Hockey group - not that I think the draw looks so good that it really couldn't be any better in respect of interest......

[forestfan]

20 of the 32 now confirmed, another 9 to follow by Friday’s draw (the Scotland/Wales/Ukraine path and two inter-continental play-offs will remain as either/or scenarios in the bottom pot).

No debutants other than the hosts Qatar so far, though Canada have qualified for the first time since 1986 and only second time ever.

Top seeding pot will be Qatar as hosts (everyone will want that group), Belgium, Brazil, France, Argentina, England, Spain and Portugal (or Denmark, if North Macedonia manage to spring another shock).

[murf]

Does that include the US?

They unfurled a banner proclaiming they had 'qualified' the other night.... but they haven't .... OK, they just need to avoid a 6 goal defeat in their next game. Even if they screw that up they still have a chance if they can beat someone like NZ.

[forestfan]

Yeah, heard about that one… not included within the official 20, though effectively in as number 21 unless something quite ridiculous happens. They missed out last time didn’t they?

Mexico only slightly less certain to qualify for their customary last-16 exit. 5 African qualifiers (the first legs followed the AFCON trend with binary scorelines) and the two European ties being completed this week complete the set, for now.

[Geoffv]

20 of the 32 now confirmed, another 9 to follow by Friday’s draw (the Scotland/Wales/Ukraine path and two inter-continental play-offs will remain as either/or scenarios in the bottom pot).

No debutants other than the hosts Qatar so far, though Canada have qualified for the first time since 1986 and only second time ever.

Top seeding pot will be Qatar as hosts (everyone will want that group), Belgium, Brazil, France, Argentina, England, Spain and Portugal (or Denmark, if North Macedonia manage to spring another shock).

Germany are not a seed?

[blahblah]

Don't worry, they'll get Qatar

[Geoffv]

Don't worry, they'll get Qatar

It's a certainty

[forestfan]

Don't worry, they'll get Qatar

It's a certainty

Shite at the Euros (and last World Cup), outside the top seeds, weakest in a generation… this is Germany, they’re certain to reach the final

[forestfan]

Likely pot 2 on rankings: Denmark, Netherlands, Germany, Mexico, USA, Switzerland, Croatia, Uruguay
Pot 3 still very dependent on who gets through.

[Just A Kiwi]

The mighty All Whites take on the might of the Solomon Islands this Wednesday to win the right to play the 4th team from the CONCACAFF qualification Group. That is Costa Rica. Also in Qatar in June.



I wonder what will happen with the Scotland/Ukraine tie if the war drags on. Surely there must come a point where a decision is made? Would the Ukrainians have any will to play if the war was still going on?

[forestfan]

The mighty All Whites take on the might of the Solomon Islands this Wednesday to win the right to play the 4th team from the CONCACAFF qualification Group. That is Costa Rica. Also in Qatar in June.



I wonder what will happen with the Scotland/Ukraine tie if the war drags on. Surely there must come a point where a decision is made? Would the Ukrainians have any will to play if the war was still going on?

At the moment they would presumably only have overseas-based players available so probably couldn’t field a team. Guess they’ll have to make a decision in June at the latest.

[Just A Kiwi]

20 of the 32 now confirmed, another 9 to follow by Friday’s draw (the Scotland/Wales/Ukraine path and two inter-continental play-offs will remain as either/or scenarios in the bottom pot).

No debutants other than the hosts Qatar so far, though Canada have qualified for the first time since 1986 and only second time ever.

Top seeding pot will be Qatar as hosts (everyone will want that group), Belgium, Brazil, France, Argentina, England, Spain and Portugal (or Denmark, if North Macedonia manage to spring another shock).

Denmark cannot be seeded now after losing this week. If Portugal lose then Holland, Mexico or Germany would be seeded. USA can't be anymore

https://twitter.com/We_Global/status/15 ... ZytMfumMaA

[sibrown4]

The mighty All Whites take on the might of the Solomon Islands this Wednesday to win the right to play the 4th team from the CONCACAFF qualification Group. That is Costa Rica. Also in Qatar in June.



I wonder what will happen with the Scotland/Ukraine tie if the war drags on. Surely there must come a point where a decision is made? Would the Ukrainians have any will to play if the war was still going on?

Qatar in June??? Phew what a scorcher.

[Just A Kiwi]

The mighty All Whites take on the might of the Solomon Islands this Wednesday to win the right to play the 4th team from the CONCACAFF qualification Group. That is Costa Rica. Also in Qatar in June.



I wonder what will happen with the Scotland/Ukraine tie if the war drags on. Surely there must come a point where a decision is made? Would the Ukrainians have any will to play if the war was still going on?

Qatar in June??? Phew what a scorcher.

He sounds horrendous but I believe the game will be played in the Al Bayt Stadium which has a roof.

[blahblah]

Will the Australia game played there too?

[forestfan]

Portugal, Poland, Ghana and Senegal in. Looking good for Morocco as well, with USA and Mexico likely to rubber-stamp their places tonight.

[sibrown4]

Lasers seem to be becoming an issue in Africa? They need to stanp on it quickly. Tunisian fans aiming them at the Mali players now.