As qualification set to end next month, and the draw will take place in December, I think we shall have a thread to discuss non-Japan NT WC news/issues here. First to discuss are the conclusions of CONMEBOL and CONCACAF qualifying campaigns: USA is out of the WC for the first time since their failure to qualify to the 1986 WC, while Panama secured automatic qualification by finishing third, and Honduras will play against Australia next month for a place in the WC. While Peru secured the play-off spot, and will play against New Zealand. As Chille and Paraguay failed to qualify.
What a day was in America. Big shocks. Chile may had a difficult game in Brazil, but it was unexpected to see them eliminated. About USA you have spoken.
Good thread, was thinking of making it. What a day to wake up! Panama off to the first World Cup just like Iceland. USA out in the most miserable way.
UEFA play-offs draw was held today. It will be as follows: N. Ireland vs Switzerland. Sweden vs Italy. Croatia vs Greece. Denmark vs Republic of Ireland. *Teams which will play the first-leg at home are the ones mentioned first.
I think it will be Switzerland, Italy and Croatia from the first 3 matches. Denmark vs Ireland tie is the most even of the 4 ties, and it's hard to predict who will win it.
Holland did not underestimate Sweden, Holland now is undergoing a transitional period with much of their veterans rertied/retiring and their youngster didn't integrate well into the team/gain international experience yet. They were (might still be) in a downfall since the 2014 WC, as they failed to qualify to the last Euro, finishing 4th in their qualifying group behind Iceland, Czech Republic and Turkey.
True, but we can say that about ITaly as well can't we? A lot of their key players the last 5-10 years are or have recently retired, so they are also going through some sort of a transition period. Sweden could really use Zlatan for these games though.
Senegal is the third country to qualify from Africa after Nigeria and Egypt, as they defeated South Africa 0-2 away. QUALIFIED! 👏Congratulations, 🇸🇳Senegal! 🎉They're heading back to the #WorldCup for the first time since 2002! #WCQ pic.twitter.com/HzVMDYsS7R— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 10, 2017 The remaining African two places will be contested between: 1- Morocco and Ivory Coast (they will play tomorrow at Ivory Coast, with a draw enough for Morocco to secure qualification while Ivory Coast needs a win). 2- Tunisia and DR Congo (Tunisia will host Libya and DR Congo will host Guinea tomorrow, a draw will be enough for Tunisia to secure qualification). If both Morocco and Tunisia qualify tomorrow, it will be the first World Cup with 4 Arab teams.
Australia drew 0-0 away against Honduras. A win for Australia at their home after 5 days will mean that AFC will get 5 teams as respresentatives at the WC for the first time ever.
At the end my country deserved this, we totally lost the match by mental attitude and the swedish coach was far better than ours (as personality and tactical choices). Shitstorm incoming, now I hope for an Italy - Japan friendly in spring, it will be useful for both the nations and an interesting match too (new younger italian team as a sparring partner to test JNT ambition for WC) I think Sweden will go far in the WC, except if they will face TopTier teams from the final8 on or the hardest group in the group stage.
Based on the seedings Japan will most probably find themselves either in a group of death or an easy group (at least on paper). 1- We can get Brazil/Germany/France/Argentina from pot 1 and England/Spain/Uruguay/Colombia/Mexico from pot 2 add to that the unpredictable Senegal from pot 3 and we have a very tough group. 2- While we can get Poland/Belgium from pot 1 (I don't think that Russia and Portugal will be hard either, but it is better to avoid the host country at any rate, and as for Portugal and giving the fact that our players tend shock psychologically when they face prestigious teams -like how they are doing everytime they face Brazil- and when they face prestigious players -like what they did when Drogba where subbed in for Cote D'Ivoire in our last WC and how they conceded 2 goals in the space of 5 minutes after his introduction-, so I would say that it is better to keep them away from C. Ronaldo) + if we get any European team except England and Spain (we can get Denmark/Iceland/Switzerland/Croatia) from pot 2 + Costa Rica/Egypt/Tunisia from pot 3 we will have a great chance to reach the last 16. 3- While we can get a so-so draw with one big team from either pot 1 or 2 and favourable team from either of these pots. As I said Senegal is quite unpredictable, the same could be said about Serbia (we can avoid them if they will be allocated to pot 4), they can be easily beatable in occasions and daunting and beatable in others. Having two European teams is better than having a European and a South American team (as Japan struggle against teams from South America, and sometimes even against top teams from the CONCACAF). At the end of the day, it all depends on Japan's preparation, mindset and context of the matches in the WC, for example 2014 WC draw was easier (on paper) than 2010 WC draw and yet we fared very well in 2010 and failed miserably in 2014. All what I can say is: Good Luck Japan!
I watched the game, Sweden showed a great fighting-spirit, and I hope that Japan will show a similar or superior fighting-spirit during the WC. As for Sweden WC chances, I don't think they will make it far, the best they may manage is last 16. It will be interesting to see whether if Ibrahimovic will return from his international retirement to represent Sweden for one last time in the World Cup or not, but after watching tonight's match against Italy and comparing it to their Euro 2016 matches in which Ibrahimovic played, I got the impression that Sweden is playing better as a team without him.
Fantastically well done by Sweden!=) Hope Denmark does the job tonight, so that we got Iceland, Sweden and Denmark in the WC. That might trigger Norway to finally step up too next time around
Maybe he can be there for motivational purposes like Kawaguchi in the 2010 WC. His leadership abilities can be of use.
Your wall of text depressed me. There isn't a single country from your list that I consider beatable by JNT. The same Egypt or Iceland actually are stronger, mentally and not, than Japan. We really risk to being kicked out from the WC at the group stage 2 times in a row, something Japan never suffered since its debut in '98. The point is that we didn't developed a single tangible talent after 2010 since Kagawa failed in JNT and Honda surpass his top form ages ago. Let's hope for some Okada Effect again and a lucky group as the one in 2010 where we found a Top Team with 2 mid team in totally unshapable form.
Not to criticize Sweden, because they did what they had to do, but if Japan play bunkerball to that extent it will be pretty boring.
In a war a good tactician will use the whatever tactics maximizes a chance of victory. In my view a coach should do the same thing.
Yes, and if we are needing a point in the last group match I'd say go for it, but not from the outset, please.