After getting pummelled in the very first one - Canadian law now prevents them from participating in any Hex Look it up. J
62. Ghana Ghana scored with the final kick of the game, but the goal was scratched off for a ridiculous offside call (preceeded by a terrible non-PK call). I doubt Egypt will not win tomorrow (hence will qualify anyway), but Ghana has all the reason in the world to report this game to FIFA. I know its unheard of, but since it was the last kick of the game Ghana should get three points and not be out just yet.
Even if the game isn't appealed, you can't list Ghana as eliminated. It will be a shock if Egypt doesn't win hosting Congo, but before then UEFA could have eliminations.
O, sorry. Right. Missed that - thought Egypt had 10 pts. Ghana still theoretically in. I've never heard of FIFA or anyone reviewing the result of a game based on a bad call at the death... Seems unlikely, even if fair. VAR would have not let this stand.
UEFA Group I is the real group of death, 4 of the top 27 teams in the world! Iceland, Croatia, Ukraine, Turkey (E)
Only because of how FIFA's ranking gives a huge boost to all UEFA countries. There are quite a few teams ranked below Turkey right now who are significantly better....
But even without the FIFA Ranking, just look at the teams logically. It is definitely the group of death. Croatia have the players to be competing with the top honestly. They are inconsistent but I believe they are capable of beating anyone when they are at their best. Modric is one of the best midfielders in the world, if not the best. Iceland is quite a strong team. Turkey is quite strong as well. Sometimes they can be weak, but overall they do have talent and Turan plays for Barcelona. Ukraine has a quite a bit of talent as well with Konoplyanka and Yarmolenko. Also a great team. Finland and Kosovo are no pushovers. We just saw what Finland can do in the last few games. Kosovo as well despite being a new team, I think they can be a slight threat. Just like Luxembourg on how they drew with France, and Macedonia on how they drew with Italy.
So here's my best analysis of the 2nd place teams in UEFA. Point totals are for purposes of deciding the playoff teams, and therefore do not included points earned against the last place team in each group. Group F will be represented by either Scotland (on 14pts, if they win @ Slovenia) or Slovakia (12 pts, +5 GD). Group D will likely be represented by Wales, unless Ireland pulls an upset in Cardiff. If Wales win, they clinch a playoff spot. If they draw, they finish 2nd in their group (12 pts, +2 GD), but still could be eliminated because they will finish behind the 2nd place team in Group F, and could finish behind the 2nd place team in group I (Ukraine if they win, Croatia if they draw while scoring 2 more goals than Wales do). Group I will be either Ukraine (14 pts, +1 GD or more) if they beat Croatia, or Croatia (12 pts, +2 GD) if the match between the two ends in a draw. Additionally, if Scotland wins away to Slovenia, things then get really confusing, because all the teams currently on 13 points (Sweden, N.Ireland, Denmark, Greece) all come into play.
Also, this thread seems to be WAY OFF in counting eliminations. As I type, there are only 52 teams who have yet to be eliminated, which means that if we started with 211, 159 teams have been eliminated, not 63......
T-59. Scotland and Slovenia As mfw13 noted, Scotland's failure to win in Slovenia eliminated it. That leaves it with 18 points, the same as Slovakia, but Slovakia has a better goal difference. This result also simultaneously eliminated Slovenia, which could technically still have finished second had it beaten Scotland and Slovakia had failed to beat Malta at home. 57. Montenegro Montenegro's match in Poland concluded just a minute or two after Slovenia-Scotland, and its 2-4 loss saw it go out with 16 points in the final group standings, 4 behind second-placed Denmark. EDIT: Actually, technically, Slovenia was eliminated when Slovakia v Malta finished 3-0 a couple minutes earlier even before its own match concluded. So, technically, it should be: 59. Slovenia; 58. Scotland.
Hey Guys, any of you know which team is better Egypt or Iceland? Like who would be favorites if they face each other in 2018 World Cup? I really want to see that game so badly!
Possibly yeah. I think Iceland might be slightly better but it is close. I have always been fascinated to see those countries play each other for no real reason. Completely random, but for some reason I always wanted to see them meet somehow. Hopefully same group!
If you like both teams, wouldn't it be counterproductive if they're in the same group? I agree that could be a fascinating encounter though. Both are relatively new at this level. Iceland is a debutante (though we got some glimpses of what they could do at Euro 2016), while Egypt isn't, but hasn't been to the World Cup for ages. It would be interesting to see what they'd do. EDIT: Iceland would be a debutante. It still has to beat Kosovo tomorrow.
If I'm not mistaken, Bosnia is now officially out too, and they cannot finish as a top-9 runner up, no? Maximum only 11 points?