(*)Brasil 27: Como cambia la vida. Dunga encontró un equilibro y Brasil sin el jugo bonito la rompe con los resultados. Le salió todo en estas dos fechas y ahora esta a un paso nada mas del Mundial. Dunga Burro! Eran los gritos.. Y Ahora? Que me dice? Primeros y sin problemas Brasil encontró el equipo. Ahora falta encontrar el juego. (*)Chile 26: La mano de un DT serio se nota acá. Bielsa cambio la cara de Chile. Y aunque tuvo alti bajos la recta final parece que la roja está adentro. Cómodas victorias a los peores pero mostrando buen futbol. Chile está a un paso. (*)Paraguay 24: Como cayo Paraguay…. Tuvo muchas ausencias pero igual perdió puntos… Es el peor momento de el hasta ahora mejor equipo de las eliminatorias. Igual una victoria mas y está adentro. (*)Argentina 22: Sigue sin jugar bien. Sigue con muchos cambios. Qué línea de 3 que Messi y Tevez arriba. Que el Cata Diaz. Argentina es un circulo de peleas internas, caprichos de toda la vida, y que Messi sea el que genera juego Y haga los Goles… Que Ruggeri si, que Ruggeri no…. Que cambio a 6 y que venga 4! Confusión es la palabra mas clara para una Argentina muy debajo de lo esperado…. No es casualidad que detrás de esto esta…. Maradona….. (R) Ecuador 20: Levanto pila.. y no fuera por ese mal arranque estaría muy cerca de su tercer mundial. Ecuador merece el repechaje. Es mucho mas que los de abajo. Uruguay 18: Un partido patético contra Brasil. Y otra vez un error contra Venezuela… Uruguay se mantiene vivo por la matemática… Pero ahora quedan 4 partidos.. Y Este equipo que no pudo ganar 2 seguidos jamás en las eliminatorias ahora debe de ganar mínimo 3… Difícil. Pero es Uruguay. Colombia 17 : Otro mas que no puede hacer goles ni a el arco del triunfo… Colombia igual que Uruguay tiene que ganar muchos partidos para estar tranquilos…. Venezuela 17 : Quien iba pensar que estaría acá a un paso del repechaje! Pero esta…. Y de los 3 que pelan a Ecuador es el que puede dar la sorpresa igual… tiene que ganar 3 o hasta los 4 que quedan! Difícil. Bolivia 12 : piensa en el 2014. Perú 7: mejor no hablar de ciertas cosas.
I'd agree with your rankings, except at this point I'd put Ecuador over Argentina based on the toughness of the schedules they've had to face up until now, head to head meetings between them, and what's left on the table for them. Ecuador seems capable to being dominant at home (despite their early problems with Tevez and Messi) and very strong on the road. right now Argentina seems to have trouble beating anyone at home, and on the road its the same story... i mean to me there are various games where you could say Argentina were somewhat lucky to get the result (Colombia, Ecuador in BA), while for Ecuador its the opposite. They were unlucky against Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina in BA etc...)
Took the words right out of my mouth. I'm still not sold on Dunga, even I would look like a great coach if I had the talent that Brasil has in my hands.
Is this a power ranking after 14 games or after 2 games? If it's after the past 1 or even 2 rounds then I agree with it but if it's after 14 games in general then Paraguay would still be either 2nd or 1st.
you would place the team that has 1 point in their past four games at number 1 or 2 still? Firstly, there can be no doubt that Brazil HAVE to be number 1. Most points, most goals scored, least goals allowed... i mean come on. and as for second Chile has 4 wins and 1 tie in the last 5 games, more points overall in the eliminatorias, better goal difference, and more goals scored.
Thats why I said if it's after the past 2 rounds I agree with Chile being 2nd, but for the qualifiers as a whole, Paraguay would still be in the top 2. The thread said after 14 games, which is why i was questioning if it's after 14 games as a whole or just the recent round(s)
I don't see Paraguay being a definite 2nd. Chile is in 2nd place, after all. You can make just as good of an argument for them as well.
well, we'll see how it ends up. the GREAT thing about south american qualifying is that the table at the end of the 18 games is the legitimate power ranking. You can't get lucky for a few wins and end up at the top of the table. the marathon rewards consistency, team depth, and at the end will pretty much reflect the reality of the teams ...
Es un DT serio, totalmente. Para mí Bielsa hizo jugar más ofensivamente a la Roja, y eso se refleja en las grandes expectativas de la gente acerca del eventual buen rendimiento que tendrá nuestra Selección en el Mundial de Sudáfrica (nadie cree que Chile caerá al 5º o 6º lugar, ni al 4º tampoco). Pero veamos, tampoco descubrió la pólvora. Cuenta con un "material humano" MUY BUENO. La INMENSA MAYORÍA los jugadores que han sido la base de esta selección, ya habían estado peleando cosas importantes, y SIEMPRE estuvieron entre los 4 mejores de América: C.Bravo: semifinalista en el Preolímpico 2004 con Olmos. G.Jara: clasificó al MUNDIAL Sub20 en el 2005 con Sulantay y 2º en Toulon 2008 con el propio Bielsa. G.Medel: 3º en el MUNDIAL Sub20 2007 con Sulantay y 2º en Toulon 2008 con el propio Bielsa. C.Carmona: clasificó al MUNDIAL Sub20 en el 2005 y 3º en el MUNDIAL Sub20 2007, ambos con Sulantay, y 2º en Toulon 2008 con el propio Bielsa. R.Millar: semifinalista en el Preolímpico 2004 con Olmos. M.Fernández: clasificó al MUNDIAL Sub20 en el 2005 con Sulantay. J.Beausejour: semifinalista en el Preolímpico 2004 con Olmos. A.Sánchez: 3º en el MUNDIAL Sub20 2007 con Sulantay. H.Suazo: semifinalista en el Preolímpico 2004 con Olmos. M.González: semifinalista en el Preolímpico 2004 con Olmos. J.Valdivia: semifinalista en el Preolímpico 2004 con Olmos. P.Contreras: Medallista de Bronce en JJ.OO 2000 con Acosta. A.Vidal: 3º en el MUNDIAL Sub20 2007 con Sulantay. M.Isla: 3º en el MUNDIAL Sub20 2007 con Sulantay. I.Fuentes: semifinalista en el Preolímpico 2004 con Olmos. C.Villanueva: clasificó al MUNDIAL Sub20 en el 2005 con Sulantay. M.Salas: MUNDIALISTA en 1998 con Acosta. F.Orellana: 2º en Toulon 2008 con el propio Bielsa. Las excepciones a nivel de selecciones jóvenes exitosas son W.Ponce y M.Estrada.
Thats somewhat true, though not completely. There's no doubt that Alexis, Vidal, Isla, Medel, Mati, Suazo, Carlitos, were all great players/prospects before Bielsa was even on the radar... But don't forget that Isla played in Pinto Duran with Bielsa for almost 6 months before he debuted in Udinese. Bielsa made him play with the ADULTA before he debut professionally in any club. Medel was doing great as a midfielder in Catolica, but Bielsa turned him into one of the best stoppers in conmbebol ... Carmona was a good young player for chile, but through Bielsa's work with him and at Toulon he 'made' him into a flank player (versatility) and got him to the Serie A, where he now is in the eye of bigger teams like Lazio. Pedro Morales before Bielsa called him to the NT?? BANCA en la U Gonzalo Jara --> banca en el colo, a 'lost' prospect Hans Martinez --> banca en la catolica Contreras --> el olvidado por todos en chile, considerado un TRONCO MATI FERNANDEZ --> banca en el villareal. si no fuera por Bielsa y las oportunidades que le a dado, estaria aun mas perdido. Cereceda --> from normal player to having Vidal/Tello on the bench... Bravo --> great goalie, pero banca el anio pasado, to being fought over by Barcelona, Real Madrid etc. The point is not that the materia prima wasn't great to begin with, but that he filled in the gaps where there was none by CREATING players (Carmona, Cereceda etc.), by REVIVING careers (Mati, Jara, Hans), and finding the right roles for talented player (Mati, Medel, Jean)...
The reality of the teams are: the only ones with a chance of winning the World Cup next year are Argentina and Brazil Chile and Paraguay will consider themselves satisfied getting to the second round(as usual) and whoever the fifth one is, will be lucky to get to the World Cup stop fooling yourselves
The reality of the teams is that Brazil, despite the lack of jogo bonito, is one of the best teams in the world and the best shot for the WC coming back to South America. Argentina will only have a chance to win if they qualify first, which in REALITY is nowhere near a sure bet. After qualifying they'd need to find a way to get rid of Maradona and get a real coach in the bench to win. Maradona CANNOT coach a successful Argentinian side I won't speak for Paraguay, though I think its probably the same. Chilean fans, players or Bielsa will not be satisfied with just getting to the second round. You're dead wrong on this one
perhaps I should've said: "should consider themselves satisfied" because that's where they'll end up unless they get lucky and get a Concacaf or an asian team in the second round and in the end the chileans will end up saying: they're too young, will be better 4 years from now, blah blah blah ... and Paraguay's team has peaked already .. too early so we'll see...
Frankly, I'd prefer if Chile, Uruguay and Colombia represented South America just because they seem a lot more feared than Paraguay and Ecuador. In the World Cup, prestige is gold. Many times a good team (like Ecuador last time) gets scared when playing one of the big names and lose. It's the weight of history. Note how the second string South American teams are usually eliminated by the Big European Names: Germany, England, France. Paraguay and Ecuador are teams that play much better in the CONMEBOL but once outside their lack of familiarity shows. Uruguay still has the pride of their noble history, Chile the many youth tournaments won, and Colombia the respect and terror inspired by their Valderrama generation. I'm not saying that Uruguay and Colombia are better teams than Paraguay and Ecuador, they are not, but they are less nervous in the big stage. I expect Brazil, Argentina and Chile to move easily into the second round, and only Brazil and Argentina to proceed further. And all that, in great part, because Brazil and Argentina won't be intimidated by the big Euro names: France, Germany, England, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Croatia.
Dude, Colombia has never even made it out of the group stages. Paraguay has 3 times already. Colombia's golden generation choked in 94 in a pretty simple group while Paraguay was a big hand in eliminating Spain and took it to France in the 2nd round in 98.
Kind of agree, but the only one with winning the WC is Brasil, I don't see Argentina in that list. About Chile and Paraguay its true, well be satisfied with second round as long as we play well and dont bunker. Uruguay should be satisfied with beating the concacaf for the spot, IF they are fifth. And why the "Stop fooling yourselves"? Read Zazal's post and he didnt say anything that would be considered foolish.
You know what bugs me? That teams like Paraguay and Ecuador can play like the big Euro teams. The Paraguay facing Brazil last time, they did play a very good game. Excellent in technique, changing strategy, solid tactics. But when they play the big European teams somehow they seem shy. Like Ecuador with England, Tenorio missed a goal that he'd have never missed against South American competition!
A group containing the hosts (hosts have never failed to advance from the group stages in WC play) and quarter-finalists Romania featuring Hagi, isn't exactly simple.
Have you been following soccer for the last 10 years?? Colombia had a great team back in the 90's but that "fear" they earned back in the 93 it's long gone. The South American Qualifiers are the toughest and u can't just get lucky and find yourself in the WC , there is a reason why they didn't make it to the WC, as for the Paraguay getting shy against the big euro teams, In 98 we lost to France the eventual champions and they were just a better team in every sence of word so is not being scared or shy they were simply better, in 02 we lost to germany with a goal at the end of the game and Paraguay was still a very limited team back them we only relied on defence we had NO strikers so we did what we could with what we had, and 06 it was a dissasterous showing from begining to end but we will be back to make up for it in South Africa, there is a reason why Paraguay is the only team other than Brazil-Argentina to make it every single time since the all against all system has been in place.
A World Cup is about the quality of the players. You dont win a World Cup with a well adjusted team without stars. Everybody has the time to practice and to get used to playing "together", therefore the teams with the best players usually win it. And I dont see Paraguay having any "stars" on their team. So it will be the usual "suspects": Brasil, Argentina(unless Maradona keeps screwing up), Italy, Germany, maybe England. And if i remember correctly in 98 you sh1t in your pants, you had that game won against France and you let it get away. You'll see the huge difference between Paraguay and Brazil/Argentina in the World Cup...
I guess that Feeling of being Eliminated again is starting to sink in, that's why U are here hating on everyone that is going to qualify, well look at it in the bright side so U won't be pissed off and amargado, at least this time U probably won't be eliminated by Guatemala or Mexico.
I guess "reality" sucks, doesn't it? keep "looking at the bright side"... and waiting for the "tooth fairy"...
