Not sure who here remembers but Italy was relegated to pot 2 for this WC qualifying because we beat them in a friendly 1-0. So effectively sending them into pot 2 led them to having Spain in their group and the rest is history. Lord Eder scored the goal that game so I'll always think of him as the dream crusher.
For Portugal to win, it's better for Italy to not be in it. Saying that, this slide for them has been a long time coming. Crazy thing is they have talented youngsters but their coach was stuck in his ways. Nothing we haven't seen before. Good enough.
Here is the list of former World or Continental Champions not going to this years World Cup: Italy 4xWC & 1XEuro Champions Netherlands 1X Euro Champions Chile 2X Copa America Champions Paraguay 2X Copa America Champions Czech Republic 1X Euro Champions Greece 1X Euro Champions Bolivia 1X Copa America Champions Cameroon 5X African Cup of Nations CAF Champions USA 6X CONCACAF Gold Cup Champions Ghana 2X CAF African Cup of Nations Champions Congo DR 2X CAF African Cup of Nations Champions Ivory Coast 2X CAF African Cup of Nations Champions Ethiopia 1X CAF African Cup of Nations Champions Sudan 1X CAF African Cup of Nations Champions Algeria 1X CAF African Cup of Nations Champions South Africa 1X CAF African Cup of Nations Champions Zambia 1X CAF African Cup of Nations Champions Canada 1X CONCACAF Gold Cup Champions Iraq 1X Asia Cup Champions Israel 1X Asia Cup Champions Kuwait 1X Asia Cup Champions Tahiti 1X OFC Nations Cup Champions
my question is: Ok Italy was in pot 2 as they never did much in the last few WC tourneys but...How in the HELL is England ALWAYS A QUALIFYING ROUND SEED? Italy at least made it to the final of EC 2012 and quarters of EC 2016 but England? They do nothing in any tourney, they failed to qualify for Euro 2008 when they had a modest Croatia and Ukraine in there group and since then they have been gifted the easiest possible qualifying groups only to do absolutely nothing in tournaments. It has to be intentional.
OH YEAH! I forgot about that. I remember telling my Italian friends sorry about that and they would go "oh that doesn't matter" lol Oh for those wondering, no humble pie will be eaten. They still contest that Italians have to play in Serie A in order to be good. Cool, TFC will have a rested Giovinco next summer while Seattle Sounders will lose Gustav Svensson to the World Cup.
I was just checking out the World Cup draw pots ahead of the final qualifying match since they're pretty much set. If Peru wins, it's in pot two and Denmark gets bumped to pot three; if NZ pulls a win out of its ass, it is pot four and Serbia moves up to pot three. Anyway, I see that Spain is in pot two and I haven't decided if there's a 100% chance or merely a 99.9% chance Portugal draws Spain on Dec. 1. I've just got that feeling.
Love it! I had to rub this in my Italian colleagues face! Here are some articles about that! http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/italy-0-1-portugal-azzurri-lose-5895652 http://www.espnfc.com/world-cup-qua...taly-miss-out-on-world-cup-qualifying-seeding http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...rri-in-uncomfortable-position-for-russia-2018 https://forzaitalianfootball.com/20...18-world-cup-seeding-on-the-line-for-azzurri/ https://egolo.pt/jornal-mirror-explica-como-eder-contribuiu-para-a-italia-falhar-o-mundial/
Anybody else find it as a strange coincidence that all of the Islamic Nations are bunched up into the same group aside from the weakest team (Tunisia)? Thus, decreasing their chances of advancing. Islamophobic rigging? It's a little upsetting because they were my fallback teams in case Portugal had a bad tournament.
Perhaps they don't want Islamic people to stay in Russia for long and cause any 'trouble' ? Russia has always been pretty xenophobic and if they were involved in the rigging of those nations, it's pretty hypocritical of them because Russia's supporters can be pretty volatile themselves.
Yeah, everything about this draw stinks. I don't mind, i've been documented on here calling for Spain in the group stage even though traditionally, we seem to be slow starters. With this team, i think we need a giant in the group stage instead of facing three teams that play exactly the same style.
Group A and Group B both have 2 Islamic nations in them. If they were spread out and in separate groups they would theoretically have a 1/4 chance of progressing. Whereas there is actually a 1/2 chance in those groups of them progressing
Correct, except that they they were placed in the same group as Portugal & Spain and the Host Nation & Uruguay.
I’d really fancy Egypt to qualify over Russia. My bad there I thought that you’d thought that Egypt and Saudi were the only Islamic nations in the tournament I’d just read your post incorrrctly Morocco is also an Islamic nation though so yeah I do see what you mean they have all been grouped together
Yep, it was as predictable as Russia getting a weak group. I'm just glad they've got the two-team confederation limitp. For just a split second my stomach sank when Portugal drew Denmark (and then Serbia), but then I quickly caught myself and remembered the group had all the UEFA it was allowed.
I did not watch the draw live. This is a real thing? they actually drew Denmark and then Serbia? though being forced to re-draw cuz of the two team limit/confederation?