It's not "quite a claim" when we are talking about as corrupt an organization as FIFA, or for that matter the CAS, a creation of the equally corrupt IOC. In any case, the fact that the ruling occurred immediately after the September matches concluded is at least circumstantial evidence that some sort of "understanding" may have been reached between FIFA and CAS about release of the ruling. I mean, think about it. What are the odds that the ruling would come out yesterday, of all the possible days, and that the CAS would be so dense and inept as to release it on that day without any consideration of the effects of the release?
Really. I love the doubling down on derp here - just classic. 1) How much of a surprise was it that the ruling was upheld? Honestly? 2) How much of a surprise was it that the match involved would be replayed? Goal.com discussed this as the most likely scenario as far back as March, and Danny Jordaan spent much of May claiming Bafana Bafana would never agree to a replay (probably should bold some of that sentence - it's what all the crazy kids are doin'). Do you think the teams involved are unable to think for themselves? (you must really think the Burkinabé are dumb if believe this is actually a surprise to them) I mean, FIFA ordered a replay of Bahrain v Uzbekistan when the referee made an actual error - without any suggestion of corruption. 3) What do FIFA have to gain from this? Really? Shoring up the vital Ouagadougou Spice Trade racket? Even at my most paranoid I can't think of anything here - you're going to have to tell me what FIFA are getting out of this. You would think, if anything, they would want the whole thing to disappear - and I don't see how adding a whole extra match to the calendar (and possibly stretching out the group into the next week) achieves that. 4) What do you think happened in the last week as a result of not knowing this outcome (even ignoring the previous point that any of the teams involved are really dumb if they didn't know it might happen)? J
Congrats on the the ad hominem derp comment. It really strengthened your argument. How much of a surprise was it that the order would be to replay the match? You sound as though FIFA orders these all the time. I can think of one in the last 20 years. And what did FIFA have to gain? Ordering a replay is done so rarely that FIFA is clearly not keen on it, and it can reasonably be argued that they waited until after the September matches to see if Senegal was going to need the extra points. Perhaps you think this is far-fetched, but this is FIFA we are talking about, who have behaved far more shadily in the past over far less. Anyway, we are derailing the thread with this exchange, so you can have the last word, or continue it at World Rivals if you like, and I will look for it over there.
Surprised nobody is talking about Montenegro. They have their fate in their hands, albeit some very difficult games. It all starts with a massive game against Denmark which could put them in a good position for 2nd place in that group.
Well what about all the former parts of the Soviet Union? Some of them haven't come close to qualifying on their own. If a country has to start with 0 FIFA Ranking points when they gain independence, they should be treated as new. If you go back far enough you could have African countries who have never qualified but were colonies of European countries that qualified.
I don't follow your point but I would count Montenegro as "new" because they are less than 10% of the population of Serbia. IOW I would consider the former country Serbia & Montenegro = Serbia for the purposes of this thread. Just like I would consider USSR = Russia, while the much smaller former provinces are "new".
I agree. I was saying that many countries used to be part of the USSR, part of Yugoslavia, or African countries that used to be colonies of European countries. If 60 countries have ever qualified (I'm making up that number), that number can only increase by a new country qualifying. IMO it can't increase by a country splitting up and both parts being considered to have qualified before.
When a country breaks apart FIFA usually deems one country as the successor to the defunct country's footballing history. The country (/countries) that is (/are) not deemed as successors are classified as 'new' countries in FIFA footballing terms. e.g. Yugoslavia... 1991: FR Yugoslavia ... Croatia ... FYR Macedonia ... Slovenia 1996: FR Yugoslavia ... Bosnia and Herzegovina 2003: FR Yugoslavia becomes Serbia and Montenegro 2007: Serbia ... Montenegro 2016: Serbia ... Kosovo Today, Serbia is the direct successor to Yugoslavia's FIFA history. All other countries listed have formed their own separate federations and are considered 'new' by FIFA.
As qualifying nears its end there are not many teams left that could make their debut in Russia. Of the original list in the poll only 3 remain. Syria is the only possible AFC debutante, UEFA have Montenegro, Iceland and Bosnia & Herzegovina still in the hunt, Africa has Zambia, Burkina Faso, Cape Verdi Islands and Uganda still alive, while Panama is the only potential first time qualifier from CONCACAF. Be interesting to see if any of these nine survive the last few matches and qualify for Russia.
So they did. That's what happens when you get to my age. You remember who made it in 1974 but not who made it last time.
Uzbekistan blew their chance as usual while Syria with the growing strength will tip the balance despite playing far away from home that if Australia continue to underperform. And there's no surprise at all as Zambia come back from behind, they're always a strong contender historically in Africa who just has not yet qualified for the World Cup, also being second in the group above Algeria and Cameroon two of the last World Cup's representatives shows again that it is the only continent that can match up with UEFA in terms of depth and competitiveness. Having said that, still is a very difficult to advance from their group that containing the traditional african giant Nigeria, what makes matters even more complex for the Zambians is that Nigeria are in a different class from the rest of the african teams in this campaign. On the contrary to Zambia's case, it's completely surprise to see Cape Verde with no history fighting for a World Cup spot after their last double winning against South Africa. Although Burkina Faso might have a better chance who are in a hot form and much more organized, so I think it will be quite a battle between Burkina Faso and the talented Senegalese side, but the rematch between South Africa and Senegal comes as a boost for Senegal. Uganda a more defensive approach that have achieved great results so far especially against the two powerhouses of their group Egypt and Ghana has a realistic chance which mostly depends on their tough task as they face Ghana at home. As for Gabon, with their impressive win in Bouake still they have a crucial game in Casablanca that will sets their hopes straight. Panama haven't ever been serious contenders for CONCACAF qualification only until the previous campaign as well the present. CONCACAF has the big three and it always seem to qualify for the World Cup inclined to their favor, so still requires considerable effort from the other teams in the region in order to replace one of them, I just can't see Panama have a decent chance at direct qualification maybe will go into a play-off at best. Iceland the most improved team in world football, the days of being the whipping boys are over now become more competitive team with a strong mentality, first they manage to come close to qualifying for Brazil 2014, second they qualified for the Euro 2016 as their first tournament ever after they've beaten the Netherlands both home and away then continued their fairytale and reached the quarter-finals of the Euros after they humiliated England in historic 2-1 win, which allowed this result to be ranked at the number one from the 21st century that had also opened the door for the whole world laughing at England, poor England! the same old England having a large population with all the money in the world, the premier league, the infrastructure, the backgrounds who are greatly interested in football with huge passion and after all still suck at their job! had taken enough poor record at the internatoal tournaments but losing to the tiny island nation with a population of 333,000 had reached its peak thats a whole new level of what the ****. Back to Iceland's chances, they are currently in a tight race for a direct spot with a very good generation of talented Croatian team, however both Turkey and Ukraine are still real threats . I have great respect for Montenegro a tiny nation of tiny population of 666,000 since the independence they are always highly competitive in every qualification whatever that is World Cup or Euro qualifiers, at least they're playing to the maximum potential level and push it to the limit. Montenegro is a lot more consistent that nobody ever giving them credit for that, even though they're defending deep park-the-bus style against a superior opponent and most of their matches are boring. If they make the World Cup it will be a new country on the scene because the 2006 team represents Serbia.
Panama will fight with everything against the USA, a win will essentially assure them a direct spot in the WC.
USA is in a bit of disarray right now much like Mexico in the last campaign and, unlike US last time around, I sincerely doubt that the rest of the Hex are going to do us any favors by beating Panama if they have nothing to win. There is a lot of anti-US sentiment going around Latin America right now and I wouldn't be surprised one bit if any of them tank a game that they don't need against Panama. That said, it's all on the US to get their shit together, and that includes Bruce Arena. The US is still good enough to get in on their own and should get the necessary results without any help. Period. If they don't, then it will be a shame and a lot of people around the USSF are going to be searching for answers...
You can blame Klinsmann for that. When he said, "I'd rather lose to Belgium 10 times than win against El Salvador 100 times..." I knew that this would be the moment that CONCACAF would start taking it to the US as much as they do with Mexico.