Chile's biggest problem right now isn't what their form will be like going into the tournament, but whether they'll get in at all, as they currently sit 2 points back of Argentina for the chance to compete in an intercontinental playoff with over half of qualifying complete, and would have to jump Paraguay as well. If they were positioned to qualify easily, I'd probably have them in the same tier as Belgium.
Conmebol qualifiers are the most dificult of the whole world, where everyone can beat everyone. No one has it easy along the way, and the whole process is very long and currently we are 8 matches away, which is a lot of matches still to go. It still is too early to say which teams will make it and which teams will not. After 4 more matches, you might even see those whom now are in the middle of the table, at the very top, the same as you may see those whom currently are at top, falling behind those whom are currently bellow them. In the past in other process's we've already been in this same position (for the 2014 qualifiers, at this point we had even less points than those we currently have, and only started wining points again after matchday 11), or even worse than now (for 1998 we only entered into the last qualifying position, 5 matchdates before they were over), and we still managed to get through, so with the amount of matches still pending to be played, anything can still happen. And this goes the same for the other teams in the zone, as well (for instance look at Argentina, whom in the last 3 matches have only won 2 points). Examples going the other way also happen in Conmebol (Colombia for the 2010 process started brilliantly, went on unbeaten till the 7th match date, and as they lost something happened to them that from that point they went down hill to never recover and of course they didn't make it). In Conmebol, 2 points may be a very small diference, but at the same time, a very big one. We'll just have to wait for at least 4 more match dates, to see, whom is really getting closer and whom is getting further, from the next WC. . . Oh, and allow me some fantasy here. If for the next matchday, we beat Colombia by 2 goals (with our team scoring 3 goals), Argentina loses against Brazil, Paraguay has a draw or loses against Peru and Uruguay scores their regular 3 goal diference they've been scoring over almost all their opponents when playing at home in this process, over Ecuador, after next match date we could jump all the way from the 7th position to the 3rd position, in these qualifiers.
That does sound like a fantasy. Especially since Colombia has not lost a match in Barranquilla by more than one goal in many, many, many years.
Just 4 points from these next two matches (@ COL, v URU) would put Chile in a good position. No need for anything miraculous. Not that 4 points would be easy....
I mean to be fair, Brazil looked dead in the water going into Match-Day 5 and were in 6th in the standings.... 4 Games later they are now in 1st. Things can change very quickly. Chile has just got to get Alexis Sanchez going. He has been eerily quiet.... Vargas too... they haven't gotten anything from them really so far in WCQ.
Problem is, Chile's remaining schedule is not forgiving: @Colombia Uruguay @ARGENTINA Venezuela Paraguay @Bolivia Ecuador @ Brazil Those away games.... Colombia, Argentina, Brazil - Gonna be an extremely tough road.
Everyone else has the same schedule pretty much. Paraguay slightly easier because they don't have to play Argentina. But Ecuador, Chile and Argentina's remaining schedules have the same level of difficulty.
Just saw this article on NBC Sports having some fun and predicting the 2018 field and entire tourney... Here is what they had: Asia (4 of 10 qualifiers played)IN: Iran, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, Australia PLAYOFF: Japan vs. South Korea - Japan winner CONCACAF (No Hex games played, based on last round)IN: Mexico, Costa Rica, United States PLAYOFF: Trinidad and Tobago South America (10 of 18 qualifiers played)IN: Brazil, Uruguay, Ecuador, Colombia PLAYOFF: Argentina Oceania (0 third round qualifiers played, based on last round)PLAYOFF: New Zealand Europe (3 of 10 qualifiers played)IN: France, Switzerland, Germany, Serbia, Montenegro, England, Spain, Belgium, Croatia UEFA PLAYOFFS: Italy, Iceland, Greece, Sweden, Poland, Ireland, Azerbaijan, Portugal PROJECTION: We’re using a random draw (honestly, we used Random.org) Greece vs. Sweden — Greece wins Italy vs. Ireland — Italy wins Azerbaijan vs. Iceland — Iceland wins Portugal vs. Poland — Portugal wins Intercontinental playoffs: Japan vs. Trinidad and Tobago — Japan wins Argentina vs. New Zealand — Argentina wins FIELD (FIFA Rankings) Russia (host, 38) Argentina (1) Belgium (2) Germany (3) Colombia (T-4) Brazil (T-4) Portugal (7) France (8) Uruguay (9) Spain (11) England (12) Italy (13) Croatia (14) Mexico (15) Switzerland (16) Costa Rica (18) Ecuador (19) USA (22) Iceland (27) Ivory Coast (34) Iran (37) Senegal (39) Australia (45) Greece (48) Uzbekistan (49) Serbia (50) DR Congo (51) Saudi Arabia (52) Egypt (53) Japan (56) Nigeria (64) Montenegro (105) THE POTS Like last cycle, the nine European qualifiers mean one will have to join Pot 2. Our random selection was… England. Wow. Pot 1 (seeds): Russia, Argentina, Belgium, Germany, Colombia, Brazil, Portugal, France Pot 2 (CAF & SA): England, DR Congo, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Egypt, Uruguay, Ecuador Pot 3 (AFC & CONCACAF): Japan, Iran, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, Australia, USA, Mexico, Cosa Rica Pot 4 (Europe): Italy, Greece, Iceland, Switzerland, Serbia, Montenegro, England, Spain, Croatia THE DRAW Group A: Russia, Italy, Ivory Coast, Australia Group B: Brazil, Greece, Ecuador, Uzbekistan Group C: Colombia, Spain, Serbia, Saudi Arabia Group D: Argentina, Croatia, Senegal, Japan Group E: France, Switzerland, DR Congo, Mexico Group F: Belgium, Montenegro, Uruguay, Iran Group G: Germany, England, USA, Egypt Group H: Portugal, Iceland, Nigeria, Costa Rica Round of 16 Spain def. Japan Italy def. Greece Brazil def. Russia Argentina def. Colombia France def. Uruguay Germany def. Nigeria Mexico def. Belgium USA def. Portugal* Quarterfinals Italy def. Spain Brazil def. Argentina Germany def. France USA def. Mexico* Semifinals Brazil def. Italy Germany def. USA Final Brazil def. Germany *Allow us this daydream. Thanks.
Ding Dong... ...you are wrong. That was not Barranquilla. That was Medellin (in a half empty stadium might I add).
Yeah, you are right, it was at Medellin. Whatever, fact is that particularly for WC qualifiers, in Barranquilla, we've never lost against Colombia, neither. And last time we played there, we scored 3 times.
Very difficult to predict. At this point in 2000, Brazil were struggling in qualification, yet they went on to win the tournament, while Argentina steamrolled qualifying and flopped in the tournament itself. Anything can change in about 20 months time. The form of the players will be such an important factor, as will the coaches and squad selection. I'll go with the safest choice and pick Germany as usual favorites.
Surprised more people haven't picked France. They seem to have the best talent, and key players like Pogba, Grizemann will be hitting their primes at the right time.
Don't forget Umtiti, Varane, Rabiot, Lacazette, and Coman. I was going to add Martial and Schneiderlein, but both seem to have stagnated a bit at United.
The thing is France has to find the right 11, and play those guys in the best possible way. Gonna be interesting to see how they handle the Benzema ordeal. I get there is a lot that goes into the situation but his addition would be huge. Kind of the same deal with Balotelli. Yeah there is history but Italy could really use someone with his ability and physicality up front. He has shown at Nice he still has a lot left. I'm a big Balotelli fan though.
A team that I am interested to see how they fair is Netherlands.... Robben, Sneijder and Van Persie are old as hell...where do their goals come from?
Iran is having a strong qualification, I believe we can surprise in Russia 2018 and go to the Quarter Finals.
Asian Qualies are probably the weakest in the World, so having success in them doesn't say much about those teams' real level compared to the rest of the world
Odds are Colombia will probably win by the two goals you describe. But a draw is not out of the question I will concede. Should be a fun match.
I don't think so. Colombia somehow seems to always implode, whenever they particularly, face Chile. Specially when playing at home. Besides, almost always, it is Chile whom scores first (even when playing in Colombia). And if we, by any chance happen to do it again for next match, we would have reached the same amount of points that Colombia currently has, and our team would switch all the remaining pressure of the match, to Colombia. Playing under pressure, Chile usually plays better, while Colombia under pressure, usually plays worse. At last, as another fact to keep in mind, we haven't lost in Colombia for the last 3 WC qualifiers (we've got 2 draws playing in Barranquilla (2006-2014) and slaughtered Colombia in Medellin for 2010).
As long as James is healthy there is no way Chile is winning. They can't seem to beat him during Qualifiers. And in Barranquilla I like my chances even better.
Specifically at WC qualifiers, hasn't happened, but he did play for Colombia, where he was pretty healthy, 3 months ago, when we beated Colombia at last Copa America centenario, during the semi's. Besides, Colombia with a healthy James, playing for WC qualifiers at Barranquilla, has never defeated us neither.
They should have scheduled the game in high altitude like Bogota. Look what happened when Chile played in Quito!