The problem is that Egypt is Salah and not much else. At least Senegal has a more well rounded team (plus, Sané).
The fact that Senegal and Egypt were in the same playoff bracket was similar to Portugal and Italy (although Italy could not go over the first hurdle).
I wouldn't have minded if both Egypt and Senegal had qualified, but since there could only be one, football is much better off that Senegal is going and Egypt are out. As we saw in 2018, Salah can't do much by himself with this Egypt side. In contrast, Senegal will be competitive and could go far.
This was a much better Egyptian team than in WC18, led by a coach whose tactics and personality are annoying but can be effective. But Senegal are CAF's best side overall, so I guess its best they qualified.
Happy for Poland just for Lewa's ballon d'or chances. If he didn't qualify they would have used it as a reason not to give him for the 3rd year in a row.
I mean, I don't see them going far in the World Cup itself though so the odds are still against him (with the Ballon d'Or vote taking place right after the World Cup, I expect the WC to carry even more weight than usual for that award).
Ballon d'or will be given in october before thé World cup. Then thé following ballon d'or will be given in june 2023. But i think this time Poland might go further than usual.
I don't see any reason to believe that... Would really like to draw them for my team's group if I'm honest.
they should really refurbish the UEFA play off format as it clearly benefits the home teams. i suggest as follows: in case the team with home team advamtage in both matches (semi and final) faces the team with away matches drawn for semi and final, the home advantage in the final is swapped. So this time Portugal v North Macedonia would have been swapped to N. Macedonia v Porugal, whereas Portugal v Italy, Turkey v Italy and Turkey v North Maceonia would have been kept. A home advantage swap would have been made in the other paths with a final Russia v Czech Rep. and Wales v. Ukraine. Seems fairer to me, as it gives a team that had bad luck in the draw (2 away matches) at least 1 constellation where they have a final at home.
there should be a fine in form of a home match without spectators for senegal therefore. never seen this tomsuch an extend
Yes, you say this but the reality is that I’ve been hearing this since before the existence of social media…
No way Lewa will win the Ballon d'Or. Messi's gonna score a hattrick against Clermont Foot in mid October and all those connaisseurs will vote for him again.
Everybody will want to face them and find out they are not as easy to deal with as they think. They tied Spain and Sweden in last euro. Tied England in qualifiers. Beat Sweden now in a play off. This kind of match gives a New vibe. Wouldn't bé surprised to see them in round 16.
Mali is so poor in attack.. Tunisia is just about to qualify by doing barely anything in 180 minutes.
They didn’t tie Sweden in the Euros, only had a chance to beat them because they were at home this time around. Also, a draw against England at home isn’t anything special tbh. I think it would be very surprising to see Poland in the last 16, seem to be a team that others will be eager to draw on Friday.
Damn my mistake forgot Poland conceeding After coming back to 2-2 against Sweden. But Sweden won it especially at the end cause Poland needed a 3rd goal to get through. M'y point is Poland won't be Always Taken for granted. One day thé tight games will go their way.
No need for all that complication. Next WC, UEFA will get 16 teams so just take the 10 group winners and have 6 two-legged playoffs to determine the other 6 teams. No home advantage, no single-leg non sense.