2015 FIFA Women`s World Cup - European qualifiers

Discussion in 'Women's International' started by Lusankya, Apr 4, 2013.

  1. Lusankya

    Lusankya Moderator
    Staff Member

    Nov 14, 2007
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_FIFA_Women's_World_Cup_qualification_(UEFA)

    In Europe a record 46 entrants will be fighting for 8 berths for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada. The qualifying consists of three rounds: a preliminary round, a main round and play-offs.

    In the preliminary round the 8 lowest ranked UEFA teams (according to the current UEFA coefficients) were drawn into two groups of four. The four group winners and runner-ups will join the 38 other teams in the main round. Albania and Montenegro will give their debuts on the senior level.

    Group 1
    Malta (hosts) 3 7 9:1 +8
    Albania 3 7 5:2 +3
    -------------------------------
    Latvia 3 1 0:4 -4
    Luxembourg 3 1 1:8 -7

    Albania - Malta 1:1
    Luxembourg - Latvia 0:0

    Albania - Latvia 2:0
    Malta - Luxembourg 6:0

    Luxembourg - Albania 1:2
    Latvia - Malta 0:2

    Group 2
    Faroe Islands 3 7 6:4 +2
    Montenegro 3 5 6:4 +2
    -------------------------------
    Georgia 3 3 5:7 -2
    Lithuania (hosts) 3 1 4:6 -2

    Faroe Islands - Montenegro 3:3
    Georgia - Lithuania 4:3

    Georgia - Montenegro 0:2
    Lithuania - Faroe Islands 0:1

    Montenegro - Lithuania 1:1
    Faroe Islands - Georgia 2:1

    In the main round the 42 remaining teams will be drawn into seven groups of six. The draw date is 16.04.13. The seven group winners will directly qualify for the World Cup.

    Seeding list:
    [​IMG]

    In the play-offs the four runner-ups with the best record against the teams placed first, third, fourth and fifth in their group will compete in a series of home and away matches to determine the last place in the World Cup.
     
    blissett repped this.
  2. SiberianThunderT

    Sep 21, 2008
    DC
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    I didn't like the repechage last time and I still don't like it this time, even if there isn't a further play-off match waiting this cycle... Seems like too much waffling to me.
    Not sure if 42 was a good number for the main round in the first place; they should've just pooled everyone like in the men's competition. Then, they either should've just had eight groups with just the winners advancing or six groups with the top 4 runners-up playing single series (or all runner-up divided into two groups of three).

    Anyway, updates:
     
  3. Lusankya

    Lusankya Moderator
    Staff Member

    Nov 14, 2007
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    Six groups of eight won't happen, because UEFA only want groups with 5-6 teams.
    Eight groups of six could work, but I guess they didn't want to include too many minnows (we already see quite enough thrashings) or they just like these play-offs between group runner-ups.
     
  4. WPS_Movement

    WPS_Movement Member+

    Apr 9, 2008
    Yes, UEFA qualifying for 2015 WWC.
    Bring it on.

    This will be ....
    The most competitive confederation qualification tournament in women's football history (by far).

    Germany, France, Sweden, and England are all but guaranteed to get in.
    But there are at least a dozen nations that realistically could get spots #5, #6, #7, and #8.

    Can Iceland get in?
    What about Switzerland?
    Ukraine?
    How about the darkhorse Ireland?
    Is it now time for Spain?
    Netherlands?
    Will Denmark get squeezed out?
    What about Italy?
    Norway is at a crossroads. Most think they'll get in. But they are far from a guarantee.
    Finland is intriguing.
    Russia has a fighting chance.
    So does Scotland.
    Czech Republic even has hope.

    I guarantee a team not ranked in the Top 10 in UEFA now, will get one of the eight spots.
    Book it.
     
  5. Lusankya

    Lusankya Moderator
    Staff Member

    Nov 14, 2007
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    No draws today, and therefore Malta, Albania, Faroe Island and Montenegro are in the driving seats to finish top two in their respective groups. I think only Georgia have a realistic chance to win against Faroe Island and get their spot.
     
  6. WPS_Movement

    WPS_Movement Member+

    Apr 9, 2008
    Please post archived video webcast of full match between Georgia and Faroe Island.
    HD is preferred if available.
    Thank you. :)
     
  7. WPS_Movement

    WPS_Movement Member+

    Apr 9, 2008
    Does anyone want to predict the eight UEFA teams that will made the WWC?

    I guess I'll start.

    Germany, France, Sweden, England, Norway, Spain, Netherlands, Italy

    But if I had to put in a true darkhorse pick, I would select Switzerland.
    They do have some talent, and they may make a run at this (they made a good run at the 2011 WWC).

    I just don't see Denmark making it.
    Ireland is too young, and not ready to make this kind of splash yet.
    Finland is solid, but I just don't see it.
    They have a better chance at making a nice run at the Euro tournament.

    And Iceland is another darkhorse pick.
    They could be the surprise 8th team.
     
  8. Lusankya

    Lusankya Moderator
    Staff Member

    Nov 14, 2007
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    I will wait for the draw before I make predictions. Though Germany, France, Sweden and probably England should qualify as group winners regardless of the draw.
     
  9. toad455

    toad455 Member+

    Nov 28, 2005
    If the following countires had entered the tournament, this preliminary round wouldn't have been neccesary. All UEFA needed was for three out of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Moldova & Cyprus to enter and they could have had 8 groups of 6 each and eliminated the premilinary round.
     
  10. Cliveworshipper

    Cliveworshipper Member+

    Dec 3, 2006
    Where

    I sure dont see how you get Spain on the list of qualifiers. They have NEVER beaten Sweden, Denmark, Italy,France, Germany, Ukraine, and Norway. They haven't even beaten Hungary yet.

    They only have one win against England, Poland, and Iceland, among others

    I look for national teams they have a winning record against, and I come up with Romania, Austria, and Turkey of teams they have played more than once.

    Are you confusing them with the men's team?
     
  11. kolabear

    kolabear Member+

    Nov 10, 2006
    los angeles
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Spain is definitely up-and-coming. (and, oh, yes they have beaten Germany!)

    From 2008 on, here's the most notable results:

    Against England, one tie and one loss (0-1) in WC qualifying

    Against Germany, one win (!) and one pasting (0-5) in Euro qualifying

    Against Switzerland, one win and one loss in WC qualifying

    Against Scotland, one tie and one win in Euro qualifying

    Against Denmark, one tie in a friendly

    Against all other teams in this time, they are 13w - 0L-1T

    That record doesn't alone make them favorites to qualify but it puts them among the strong candidates. And they have a transcendent player in Veronica Boquete.
     
  12. SiberianThunderT

    Sep 21, 2008
    DC
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    Um.... I think you're confusing a 2-2 tie at home with Germany for a "win"...
    Germany haven't outright lost a EURO match (main tournament or qualifying) since a 1996 qualifying match against Norway (and the last time they drew before the recent Spain match was a 1999 4-4 draw with Italy).
     
  13. kolabear

    kolabear Member+

    Nov 10, 2006
    los angeles
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    You're right. Still good though. Spain's chances to qualify should not be taken lightly.
     
  14. shlj

    shlj Member+

    Apr 16, 2007
    London
    Club:
    FC Nantes
    Nat'l Team:
    France
    Spain also had many interesting result in youth football over the last 2-3 years. U17 winners in 2010 and 11.
     
  15. kolabear

    kolabear Member+

    Nov 10, 2006
    los angeles
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Good point. So they have some young talent coming up.

    I also noticed that Spain has the same problem as Brazil - lack of support from their federation. From 2006 on, they have played only three friendlies, one in 2012 and two so far this year. That's it. No Algarve, no Cyprus. The rest of their matches are all World Cup and Euro qualifiers.

    In the FIFA ratings, they rank 10th among European nations. Using France and Sweden as benchmarks, Spain (rated 1824) is almost exactly 200 points behind them (ratings of 2027 and 2025 respectively).

    England (1992) is close behind France and Sweden. (Germany of course sits on top of all of them)

    Norway (1932), Italy (1913) and Denmark (1910) are about 100 points behind France and Sweden and about 100 ahead of Spain. Netherlands is the 8th highest rated UEFA team at 1881. Iceland is 9th at 1841. Then you get Spain (1824) on top of a small group including Finland, Scotland, Russia and Ukraine with ratings from 1805 to 1780)

    Rating-wise, then, Spain is not far behind #8 Netherlands and #9 Iceland. And my sense is that a 100 point gap (to Italy and Denmark), while significant, is hardly overwhelming and of course you have to take into account which teams seem to be improving and which seem to be declining.
     
  16. SiberianThunderT

    Sep 21, 2008
    DC
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    I don't think it's nearly as much of a problem for the Spanish as it is for the Brazilians. UEFA has their NTs play more competitive games than CONMEBOL does anyway, and the Spanish are much better off on the club level as well.

    Anyway, I don't see this said explicitly earlier, but the four teams that were 'ahead' after match day two all advanced. Congrats particularly to the two 'newbies'. Draw for the main round in five days.
     
    kolabear repped this.
  17. Cliveworshipper

    Cliveworshipper Member+

    Dec 3, 2006

    The fact that UEFA is more competetive than COMNEBOL isn't a plus for Spain, it's a negative. While Brasil would need a plane crash that wipes out the team to not qualify ( God forbid), Spain is a VERY long shot to be in Canada.
     
  18. shlj

    shlj Member+

    Apr 16, 2007
    London
    Club:
    FC Nantes
    Nat'l Team:
    France
    I think Germany, Sweden, France and England will qualify regardless of the groups drawn. For the rest, it depends on the draw as I see some pot B and maybe some C could qualify for sure.
     
  19. SiberianThunderT

    Sep 21, 2008
    DC
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    Well if you're talking about ease of qualification, sure, but that's not what I was talking about. kolabear was talking about playing opportunities and support from the federation - which I took to mean opportunities for team/player development. (Considering he repped me for the post, I assume he was as well.) So yes, while it's much more difficult for Spain to qualify, the fact that they're playing more games in general and playing against tougher competition means they're much more likely to grow and develop than Brazil are.
     
  20. WPS_Movement

    WPS_Movement Member+

    Apr 9, 2008
    How can you not be excited about Spain?
    Vero Boquete, Adriana, Laura Del Rio.
    Let's not forget, Maria Paz Vilas, scoring seven goals in one match during UEFA qualifying.
    Plus they have a lot of great up and coming youth.

    They are one of the Top 5 teams in UEFA for U-19 and younger talent.

    Certainly by 2019 they will qualify for the WWC.
    They have such great youth.

    I have already stated that I think Spain will be Top 10 in the world, within the next 5-10 years, and they will stay there.

    [​IMG]
     
  21. gricio61

    gricio61 Member

    Aug 30, 2011
    bologna
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Back to the topic, kudos to Montenegro, and to Marija Vukcevic, who, after scoring 25 goals in 16 matches with her italian team Res Roma, scored 4 of the 6 overall goals of her NT ! :thumbsup:
    [​IMG]
     
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  22. usa3por2ft

    usa3por2ft Member

    Oct 15, 2002
    in exile
    Club:
    Millwall FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It would be more impressive if Laura Del Rio actually still played for Spain, but that has not happened in, what, almost half a decade? And the others seem underused, with fewer than 20 caps, despite being in their prime.

    They peaked at the youth level with their UEFA U19 title a decade ago. They haven't come close to that level since. Since that was, for Spain, an unusually gifted generation, it is especially shocking that so few players from that team have found a regual place in the senior team -- I think it is just Ana Romero, Veronica Boquete, Miriam Dieguez, and Ruth Garcia. That shows that there is something really wrong in transferring youth talent to the national level for Spain's women. That a young talent like Jade Boho opted for Equatorial Guinea over Spain is also telling.
    In the last decade, Spain has rocketed all the way from 19th to 18th in the FIFA women's ranking. At this rate, they will crack the top 10 in time for qualifying for the 2095 Women's World Cup.

    There is talent in Spain, but it just isn't being used and developed, and at present I don't see what is going to change. At the very least, I expect nothing from Spain while Ignacio Querada, who has lingered for a quarter century with paltry results while alienating gifted players, continues as national team trainer.
     
  23. shlj

    shlj Member+

    Apr 16, 2007
    London
    Club:
    FC Nantes
    Nat'l Team:
    France
    Group 1: Germany*, Russia*, Republic of Ireland, Slovakia, Sovenia, Croatia

    Group 2: Italy*, Spain*, Czech Republic, Romania, Estonia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

    Group 3: Denmark*, Iceland*, Switzerland, Serbia, Israel, Malta**

    Group 4: Sweden*, Scotland, Poland, Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Faroe Islands**

    Group 5: Norway*, Netherlands*, Belgium, Portugal, Greece, Albania**

    Group 6: England*, Ukraine, Belarus, Wales, Turkey, Montenegro**

    Group 7: France*, Finland*, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan

    *Competing at UEFA Women's EURO 2013 from 10–28 July
    **Qualified from preliminary round
     
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  24. shlj

    shlj Member+

    Apr 16, 2007
    London
    Club:
    FC Nantes
    Nat'l Team:
    France
    I think favorites in Group 1,4,7 to go through ie Germany Sweden and France.
    3 way fight in Group 2 with Italy Spain and Czech Republic
    Same in group 3 with Denmark, Iceland and Switzerland
    Group 5 Norway v Netherlands battle will be open
    Group 6 Wales might surprise everyone.
     
  25. JanBalk

    JanBalk Member+

    Jun 9, 2004
    Groups 1,4,6,and 7 shouldn't be any big problems for Germany, Sweden, England and France
    Group 2, a fight between Spain and Italy with Czech Republic threating them
    Group 3, Denmark are favorites but both Iceland and Switzerland are real threats
    Group 5, Norway are favorites but Netherland could win
     

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