I concur. Thats why so many of us would love multiple World Cup slots to be decided by intercontinental playoffs. Personally I would love each confed to have at least one playoff, if not two. It would also serve to give a more adequate reflection of the cutoff teams and help model a more fair interconfederational distribution of slots.
I just can't see New Zealand winning. Maybe they will get a lucky draw of some sort but even that I can't see play out in my mind. They have not really improved much from last cycle when Mexico absolutely annihilated them with mostly Domestic league players (that could be considered a "C" team) and a Mexican manager they only had for a few months. Peru is much more established, has a manager who has instilled his tactics over the long course of the cycle and has players who will be very difficult for the Kiwis to stop individually. Honduras-Australia on the other hand will be a war on both continents. I have no idea who to pick there. Could go to Penalties.
Unfortunately the era of intercontinental playoffs may be coming to an end with the expansion. So much storied history with teams like Australia, Uruguay, Iran and New Zealand. Not only this, but the prospect of tense world cup qualification campaigns may be coming to an end, at least for top 30 teams.
There was a proposed format for World Cup 2026 with eight teams in intercontinental playoffs if I remember correctly.
A playoff tournament with 6 teams would take place in November before the Draw more than likely at the Host Nation for the World Cup. it would be something like (This is just some random prediction for 2025): Tahiti vs Jamaica China vs El Salvador Winners play: Burkina Faso Paraguay Not that exciting or much better than the playoffs we have today. (But I would still watch.)
Not NEARLY as exciting for the sole fact it's decided in neutral ground. Because World Cup teams would now play a minimum of 2 matches, I might as well imagine the finals starting there and then.
Senegal has qualified with a game in hand after the replay in South Africa South Africa 0 v Senegal 2 They will be in pot 3
And now the nervousness levels should be going out of whack in Italia, Sweden up 1-0 with about 13 minutes to go.
That means Nigeria is practically in pot 4. POT 4 IS: Japan Panama Australia / Honduras South Korea Saudi Arabia Morocco / Cote d'Ivoire (New Zealand) / (Greece) / (Nigeria) / (Serbia)
1-0 Final Italy is in real trouble. They are going to have to attack which is not really what they want to do. And a Sweden road goal will basically kill them off. I don't know if they can score 3 on this Sweden team.
Not yet. Maybe if its still 1-0 with 30 minutes to go they'll need to step out of their comfort zone. But I don't think they need to panic yet. They'll be at home. They'll get 70% possession on Monday. Like you imply, the main priority is not to concede. Then the goal will come.
The longer it is 0-0 the panic will happen in Milan. And if Sweden get some sort of goal.... ...oh boy. But it is difficult for me to imagine a World Cup without Italy. It is like a World without Pizza.
Italy's problem is that they really have ZERO world class attacking players right now..i.e. nobody the quality of Baggio, Del Piero, Pirlo, etc. And with teams putting more and more players behind the ball, Italy simply doesn't have the type of player who can create good chances against an eight or nine-man defense.
And they'll be w/o Verratti in the second-leg. I'm kinda torn on whether I want Italy to qualify or not. I'm not a fan of their style and I'll be rooting against them pretty much no matter who they play in Russia if they get there. But at the same time, a WC wouldn't seem quite right without them.
0-0 in San Pedro Sula. Not a good result for Honduras but at least they did not give up a road goal. Knowing Pinto's tactics he will probably play for penalties
Frankly, after the last two World Cups, I hope Australia boots Honduras out of this one. They're in a very good position to do that now. Just one goal will do it...
For some reason, I couldn't find a dedicated thread on this match on Bigsoccer and this seems to be the most under reported and under covered World Cup playoff ever! From what I read, though, Australia were the dominant side and missed several easy chances despite playing away. I have given the Socceroos the edge over Honduras and this result certainly helps set up things for them.
I kind of share your sentiment except: 1- I clearly want Italy to qualify despite traditionally not being a fan of Italian football 2- I actually enjoyed Italy's performance in Euro 2016. Anyway, a World Cup without Italy wouldn't sound right and I want them in Russia.
For those of you that like to think the real tournament starts at knockouts, it should actually be pretty easy to picture at this point. Anyway, New Zealand 0-0 Peru Also, I was pretty impressed with how well Australia managed a classic Concacaf road game. But if you've been paying attention, none of the qualifying ties so far has done much to shake up my assessments.
Australia x Honduras was the worst match I've seen in a while. Honduras inept at defending, Australia inept at finishing. The Socceroos really should've won by 2 or 3 goals.
It was a poor game on an even poorer pitch. However I was surprised how well Australia took the game to Honduras on the road and they should even have won the game. Honduras looked very poor. Australia played them much better on the road than the US did. Going by the first match Australia should wrap it up at home.
If Italy fails to qualify then it would be 2 WC's in a row they failed to get out of the group, followed by failure to even qualify for the final show. They truly lack game changing players of the past.
Yes but they still qualified. They did not miss a world cup since 1958. Ivory Coast was one of the best african nations in the last 12 years and they never reached round 16 either. Does not mean they were bad. World cup is not only about teams reaching round 16.