2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying IV [R]

My popcorn's ready.

 

shouldn't we have just made a poll... "Is/Was Bahrain the 5th best team in Asia?"

 

Dunno why I went with naval metaphors but there you go:

Cruising Along

Jordan, South Korea, Japan, Uzbekistan, Australia, Iran.

Torpedos Away!

Iraq vs China, Kuwait vs Lebanon, Thailand vs Saudi vs Oman, Qatar vs Bahrain.

Sinking Fast

Singapore, UAE, North Korea, Tajikistan, Indonesia.

 

Was/Is? Everyone would vote yes, cause they clearly were until recently.

 

well it doesn't necessarily need to be yes/no... could be... yes, still is/was but not anymore/never was/fluctuated/don't care... lol, probably the latter option would win

 

x2

First page, good stuff

 

How bout a more simple vote to settle the main point of the dispute, who would you rather face in the next round, Iran or Saudi Arabia?

 

we should focus on how to reach round of 16. that is our goal. we already know we qualified. the only reason we dont qualify are freak accidents in which we get edged out such as bahrain 2002 and ali daie 2010.

 

Way to sink my battleship

 

Pretty accurate description, except right now China (and perhaps Saudi Arabia) would need to be placed in the sinking fast category. China have 3 points; a narrow home win against minnow Singapore. They have 2 losses, away to Jordan and at home to Iraq. They can still rebound but at the moment their chances don't look good.

I would not write off the Saudis yet, but obviously 2 points from 3 games is not a hopeful start for them. Still, their opposition is not stellar either and if I were a betting man, I would still bet on them making it to the next round. But then again, I would have never expected the Saudis to be booted out of the Asian Cup with 3 straight losses, pointless and with a minus 7 goal difference! By that yardstick, the Saudis if anything have improved and are getting better results!

 

I wouldn't put China there yet unless they lose to Iraq again. If they manage to win they'll be in a better position. Same with NK.

 

I can't see NK displacing Uzbekistan, Uzbeks look good and just bounced them in Pyongyang. I know, by the same logic China is out, but they've got a slightly better chance against Iraq.

 

The problem is even if North Korea do win in Tashkent, they're still a point behind Uzbekistan with two games to play, and it could still all be over in the next match, where Uzbekistan is @ home to Tajikistan. If Uzbekistan beat Tajikistan as expected, and North Korea lose their home game vs. Japan, they are out. Even if they win vs. Japan, they are out if Uzbekistan beats Japan... basically not looking good for North Korea. The fate of China and Saudi is still in their own hands, but not so much for North Korea.

 

Thailand hopeless after draw Saudiarabia 0 :0 . IT'S worst result for myteams .
because at now Saudiarabia not strength same pass.

at this moment Saudiarabia not different Singapore or Vietnam.
we'r played in home draw not suitable for us so away games It's interesting so much .

 

Thai not approved draw with Saudiarabia . we'r played under pressure from 45,000 fanballs in ราชมังคลา stadium .


We'r accepted Chance for next round it's closed .....

 

Saudiarabia fanballs admired selfteams strong after can draw Big asianteam .

it's best result in 2011 for Saudiarabia before lose many games ... if not count game between Hongkong . Saudiarabia Should had verypoor fifaranking

Oh it's Amezing them can draw Thailand 0:0 great game great result for them.

Fifa 2014 not far for Saudiarabia Welldone.

Thailandteams hopeless for lastest 10 teams in round 4 Goodluck Oman or Saudiarabia

 

Reportedly Carlos Quieroz is heading to Europe for some recruits. His main targets are reportedly Ashkan Dejagah and Reza Ghoochannejhad. Dejagah plays for German side, Wolfsburg while Ghoochannejhad plays for Saint Truiden in the Belgian pro league.

Hopefully this will cement our weakest link, our inability to find the back of the net.. (bar Bahrain )

 

Good. We definitely could use Ashkan! My dad was saying that he thinks we can beat even Japan, South Korea, and Australia in our current form. I wasn't so sure but we will see.

 

Wow, the latter pages of part III of this thread was generally a continuous load of BS.

Seemingly AFC pages haven't changed since I was last here

Anyways, the groups are starting to take shape, I'll jump in with some predo's to make the final round:

Dead Certs:
Jordan, South Korea, Japan, Uzbekistan, Australia, and Iran.

50/50:
Iraq & China, Kuwait & Lebanon, Thailand & Saudi, Qatar & Bahrain (my head says Qatar but Bahrain are dirty trolls and their game will be a derby).

Nae chance:
Singapore, UAE, North Korea, Tajikstan, Oman.


You heard it here first ladies and gents.

As for the people getting carried away with a single result (great as it may have been), these world cup qualifiers are a long road. Consistency and luck play a big part, we all should know this well by now, and that final round likes to bring up a surprise package.

Having said all that, I predict Japan, Australia and South Korea to make it comfortably, Uzbekistan to flop yet again in the final round (why does this always happen?!), and some other team to take Bahrain's troll status and come out of nowhere to take that 5th spot play off...

 

So who will take fourth? If Japan, Australia and SK make it comfortably... I assume it's between Jordan and Iran based on Uzbeckistan flopping again. I don't see the 5th spot playoff doing much to be honest. In my opinion, if you don't directly qualify, you will NOT be in Brazil in 2014.

 

That's something I would agree with, and come that match, no matter which team it is, the whole world will be wanting the SA team to make it being an SA world cup.

I must admit, I would like to see Iran get there and see if they can improve of there previous world cups. I still remember 2006 against Mexico(?), that game was for the taking and somehow lost. I'd like to see what they have learnt.

Saying this, that makes me chose Japan, Australia, Korea and Iran, 4 nations we all know about, can't help but feel I want one team the whole world hasn't discovered yet - Jordan maybe.

 

Well it's a SA World Cup but we just had an African World Cup and African countries did poorly (except Ghana). I agree with you...I owuld like to see Japan, Korea, Australia, Iran and China representing Asian sides (however I don't see China qualifying). I just think the fifth best team in SA is heads and shoulders above the fifth best team in Asia. It will be ugly.

The 2006 match was definitely Iran's for the taking. We had a great opportunity in the first half to score a goal but their keeper made a great save on a header. And then we broke down in the second half after a bunch fo stupid mistakes that led to Mexico's second goal.