I think after the WC he'll retire. Six months after the WC, there's the Asian Cup and a successor needs to be found.
One round left for European teams: Group A is done. Belgium is qualified to the world cup with possibly their best campaign ever? (Not sure, but man, just one draw and no losses...). Croatia goes to playoffs. Group B is more open than ever! Italy is qualified. Maths says that any team apart from little Malta can still qualify to the playoffs though. But the truth is that Armenia would have to beat - a draw wouldn't be enough - Italy... in Italy. Bulgaria plays at home against Czech Republic and Denmark, well, at home against Malta, so it's surely 3 points for them, which effectively cuts Czech Republic and Armenia out. If Bulgaria wins at home, they'll get through due to a better goal difference unless Denmark can pull off more than a 7-0 And Bulgaria wins just by one goal... Group C has Germany qualified and Sweden to the playoffs thanks to today's victory against Austria. Group D has the Netherlands qualified but it's still open: Hungary has just to beat little Andorra to go up to 17 points . Turkey plays at home against the Netherlands: if they really can pull off a win - a draw wouldn't be enough unless Hungary suicides - they have to watch out that Romania doesn't beat Estonia with more than 5 goal... which is unlikely though. Romania is in a good position overall: if they can beat Estonia and Turkey can't beat the Netherlands they're gone to the playoffs. A win is a must though. Group E has Switzerland qualified thanks to today's away victory against Albania. Slovenia and Iceland can still make it. Iceland has never qualified to a world cup but they have tons (almost all the called up ones too?) of players that play in good clubs in European leagues now. They face quite the task though: they have to win away in Norway, which is already eliminated, but still... if they get a draw, then it depends on what Slovenia can do in Switzerland. If Slovenia draws, and Iceland loses, Slovenia advances due to GD. If Slovenia draws, and Iceland draws, Iceland goes through. If Slovenia wins and Iceland draws, Slovenia goes through. If both win Iceland goes through. Group F is done. Russia is back at the World Cup since 2002 and Portugal will go to playoffs. Group G is also done unless Bosnia fails to win in Lithuania. In that case Greece would go directly to the world cup and not to the playoffs. Group H is done but if England can't win at home against Polonia - who is already out - Ukraine will go directly to the world cup and not to the playoffs. Group I is done, with Spain qualified to the World Cup and France to the playoffs unless, well, Spain manages to lose at home to Georgia... and France has to bag in some goals too
Yep Btw Belgia has a beast of a team which was created basically in the last 5 years from the crazy amount of talents Hazard - Chelsea Lukaku - Chelsea (loaned to Everton begging goals there) De Bruyne - Chelsea substitute Dembele - Tottenham Felaini - MU Witsel - Zenit Defour - Porto Mirallas - Everton Alderweid - Atletico Madrid (substitute) Vermalen, Vertongen, Kompany - Arsenal, Tottenham, Man City (2 of them captains of the team) Van Buyten - substitute in Bayern Munchen Lombaerts - Zenit 2 GKs - Courtois, Mignolet (main GKs for Atletico Madrid and Liverpool) I wont even go about the bench which also has Gillet Mertens Chadli ... Seriously this team just by names can go after WC title. Naturally it is not that easy, but you can see that Belgium has a strong team which will only get better cause these are almost all young as hell lads
Updates: Mexico with a late fundamental victory against Panama who was also their direct opponent for qualification. Honduras is already qualified but they must be sure that they don't fall in the playoff spot. So they have to get at least a draw in Jamaica (who has had a decent campaign at home) or hope that Mexico doesn't win in Costa Rica. If Mexico loses and Panama has a big win against the USA then Mexico is out, but it's very unlikely. Otherwise it will be Mexico in the playoffs against New Zealand. First African playoffs are also played today. All set in South America. Brazil (hosts), Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador and Chile are qualified (Unless Chile gets literally destroyed at home by Ecuador). Uruguay will play Jordan to qualify.
Ecuador and Chile still not qualified. They have a +3 on Uruguay, but at least one of those two will be qualified on Tuesday. Only because Ecuador will face Chile and Uruguay has to beat Argentina. Jordan miracle against Cavani and Suarez? Plus, let's hope CR7 and Ibra staying home. I hate them.
Oh man, I didn't notice that Ecuador and Chile have the same points! That means they're going to draw, I'd be surprised if they don't!
Go Iceland, I really support 'em. Just like Ethiopia and Burkina Faso. Plus, I'd like another NZ miracle against (probably) Mexico.
Denmark beats Malta and Bulgaria loses at home to Czech Republic. Denmark goes to playoffs. Romania beats Estonia and Turkey loses at home against the Netherlands. Romania to playoffs. Iceland draws 1-1 in Norway and Switzerland beats Slovenia. Iceland goes to playoffs and has an historical chance to make it to the World Cup. A sole goal by Ibisevic means Bosnia qualifies to the WC. Not over yet, but England winning against Polonia so far
Iceland deserved the qualifiers for their entire campaign preformance. However they will be probably "trashed in the qualifiers. Ukraine, France, Portugal and Croatia as their possible opponents if I got the seeding right. edit: omg i didnt. Greece and Sweeden may both be infront of France and Ukraine Which would mean Croatia Portugal Greece Sweden as seeders I give Iceland chance if they get Greece. But I wish France to get Greece. Cause I really dont want to watch them in a WC (Greece I mean)
I hope that Sweden and Portugal won't face each other, I'd like to see both teams in the World Cup. Iceland is, IMO, capable of besting Greece and Ukraine, but they're no match for Portugal or Croatia.
Marketing stuff: CR7 and Ibrahimovic can really miss the WC? No... They are not Lewandosky, they will be there, probably the same Platini/Blatter would come on the pitch to let them win if things turn bad. Sure.
Seeded Countries... Brazil Spain Germany Argentina Belgium Switzerland Colombia Uruguay (Holland if they lose in the play-offs)
Man they are struggling loads as well Luckily for them CONCACAF or USA or someone must have bribed the FIFA to ensure they have the easiest qualifications in the world. 3 countries straight to WC + one gets to play New Zealand for that last spot The genious who came up with that must get some kind of prize.
CONMEBOL shouldn't have the play-off spot. They already have 5 (!) teams to WC: it's half of the squads of their confederation, c'mon. It's ridicolous. Plus, Mexico was out at 90': then Johansson scored a double. That's a shame: Panama could have been a serious team in this WC. Now, let's hope in NZ. And congrats to Honduras: they managed a pretty good qualification. Closure: Ghana should be already qualified. 6-1 to Egypt.
Does anybody know what changes did Okada made to the JNT during the WC because I remember that the state of the JNT was also pretty bad before the actual WC, losing to South Korea 2-0, etc. Was it a change in tactics, formation,etc.?
... no? holy SHIT at Mexico anyway. They were out before USA scored two goals in a couple of minutes... oh my god Panama.... what the hell..... that's as worse as Doha's tragedy even if they were going to playoffs only