LOL.. they could still be our opponents in warmup friendlies I guess. When is the last time Italy failed to qualify?
Italy's not missing out - they're due to lose to Brazil in the Final, then throw all the eggs in the basket for 2030.
Yeah, I think they lost away to Norway then, which was a big upset (2:1?), and could only tie vs USSR in Rome 0:0 (and they had Baggio and Schilacci).
USA, Chile, and the Netherlands all outperformed Italy in each of the last two world cups. Will we get a third straight 3 and out if Italy should qualify?
World Cup Qualifiers back on for the final weekend... 23 down, only 9 places left. Africa - Nigeria and Egypt are already through, 3 groups still to go. The tie of the round is Ivory Coast vs Morocco on Saturday. The home side needs to win to qualify, where the North Africans go through with a point. Should be tight stuff. Senegal need only 2 points in their final two games ironically both against South Africa. The Bafana Bafana won their earlier game but the match was annulled by FIFA due to a refereeing error. Ironically, a point may be enough should Burkina Faso fail to beat Cape Verde by 3 goals or more. South Africa need to win both games to qualify. Tunisia are virtually there and only need a point at home to neighbors Libya in their final game. UEFA - four playoff games: Northern Ireland vs Switzerland Croatia vs Greece Denmark vs Ireland Sweden vs Italy all pretty tight games, wouldn't even count out an upset vs Italy. Intercontinental Playoffs: Peru vs New Zealand Honduras vs Australia So should be an exciting next couple of days. Also just realized Czech Republic, Iceland and Qatar are all playing a series of friendlies here in Doha. Might go an "czech" out a game or two... wouldn't mind seeing Iceland play, although I doubt they'll have many fans here. The Czechs beat Iceland 2-1 in the opening fixture.
I'm not expecting any surprises at this point as the teams with the talent generally find a way to get their stuff together when it's all on the line in a playoff. I wouldn't be thrilled with the draw if I was Italian though. Mostly, I just hope the matches are entertaining and competitive, but I prefer the likes of Croatia or Switzerland or Peru advance over squads that are significantly less likely to do anything good next summer.
oh dear... no luck for the Irish... HORRENDOUS decision from the referee to award a penalty and send off a Northern Ireland defender when a shot on goal ricochets off of a defender's back. Down a goal and a man, that ma have completely ruined this tie... Croatia now 4-`1 up vs Greece
Yes you are right! I thought I heard the commentator say it was red... that would have been very harsh. He also said "he will be suspended for the 2nd leg..." .. I guess what he meant was that he's accumulated yellow cards so he'll be suspended, I thought that meant he was sent off. Anyhoo, still think it was a harsh penalty.
That was a bad decision and one tailor made for VAR if only someone could figure out a way for the VAR process to more efficient. Hopefully Switzerland goes ahead and wins 2-0 on Sunday so that penalty doesn't continue to stand out. The Swiss are and were much better, NI did nothing at all.
In another episode of "you can't change a culture by pouring money into it," South Africa just proved the effects of the 2010 World Cup have dissipated, and their team sucks again. PS: Senegal just booked their ticket. Not that there ever was any doubt.
When did they stop sucking? Remember that they played in WC2010 qualifying since it counted for the AFCON as well...and crashed out in the first round, failing to get past Sierra Leone.
Let's say they have reverted back to the level of suckiness they had before the 2010 World Cup, which was a shade deeper of the level they had from 2010-2016. After all, they did beat Angola to get to this stage, and made the AfCoN 2015.
They were pretty decent in the late 90s/early 00s. Made the WC twice and won the Nations Cup once or twice. Really given their population, resources, and sports pedigree they should be consistently one of the top teams in Africa.