Arrogant Uruguay celebrating as if they have qualified. Dont break out the champaign yet. Still one match left
maybe because of the 12 thousand kilometers distance between Montevideo and Amman, as well as the 11 thousand kilometers distance between Wellington and Mexico City? We are talking about 15 hours flights here...
Yes, there are high probabilities Jordan will be able to pull a 12:0 victory over Uruguay, playing at a packed 65 thousand people Estádio Centenário, after losing 5-0 at home.
well, exactly. The chances of Jordan winning 6-0 at Estádio Centenário are just absurdly high. That´s why I talked about a 12-0 victory. It´s not SO EASY to pull off, although there are still good probabilities. Come on. Really? We are talking about a team that won the last Copa America (over Brazil and Argentina), 4th place in the last World Cup... against a team that never qualified to the World Cup. You could even think Jordan had a chance, BEFORE TODAY´s game... But after Jordan lost 5-0 at home, you still think they stand a chance at Estádio Centenário???
FIFA should really look at reducing AFC's representation to 4 spots and increasing UEFA to 13.5. Would be much more competitive if Uruguay played the worst 2nd-place group finisher in UEFA (Denmark). Also we are lucky that AFC got CONMEBOL in the draw. It could have been Jordan v New Zealand & Uruguay v Mexico.
I think 4.5 is fair for Asia. I think this should be the minimum, regardless what happens in playoffs. Cant start reducing just because Jordan lost by high margin in this edition
More fans will travel to Brazil from North and South America compared to Asia and Oceania, more money to be made on TV in those regions due to the time of the games. FIFA is not out to setup the most compelling playoff match, they set this edition up so the most countries from North and South America can participate next summer. Turned out to be a great move by fifa to get Mexico this tie, if they can qualify they would generate a lot of money for FIFA and sponsors.
It wasn't a decision by FIFA, it was the result of a random draw. We just got lucky. Could have got stuck with NZ or Jordan in the Finals.
My bad i thought it was determined, yea def lucky for FIFA then... looked it up and it said draw took place a day before main draw, was this televised or a behind closed door fifa draw?
Are the kiwis unhappy with this setup? Looks pretty good to me, pretty much just take care of your business and you have a chance at the world cup. I dont think they will be competitive if they moved to Asia, the travel in AFC is brutal.
Uruguay dug themselves out of a deep hole, effectively their last several matches COMNEBOL were elimination games. They qualified for WC 2010 in a playoff as well, reached the semis on the strength of Forlan's amazing form, and then won the Copa America in Argentina a year later. Now, they've handed Jordan their ass at home. Arrogant? Clearly, you weren't paying attention, and lack both respect for the opponent and a perspective that's based on anything but fantasy. It's over. Deal with it.
https://twitter.com/WestpacStadium/status/400521651197988864 I hope Westpac Stadium's ego isn't writing checks that the All Whites can't cash.
I've always wondered if FIFA has considered instead of having 2 sets of playoffs, having a little round-robin "mini-WC" qualifying group involving all 4 intercontinental playoff teams. Mexico, Uruguay, New Zealand and Jordan could meet for a week and play each other once in Brazil (or the upcoming world cup host nation). You could have a schedule like: Mexico vs. New Zealand (Weds) Jordan vs. Uruguay (Weds) NZ vs. Jordan (Sat) Uruguay vs. Mexico (Sat) NZ vs. Uruguay (Weds) Mexico vs. Jordan (Weds.) The international break is one week long anyway, so wouldn't any extra days, would just require one more game but would cut out the travel time. Would take out any "luck of the draw controversies" Anyhoo...What do you guys think?
The match between Uruguay and Jordan was mostly uneventful, if its possible to say that for a game that ends 5:0! This was a match where Uruguay appeared content to leave the job for the return leg in Uruguay, but somehow ended up scoring 5 goals with most of the goals scored almost in haphazard fashion. Jordan were without their first choice keeper and his replacement looked entirely inadequate. Defensively, the Jordanians seemed just sloppy and rather inept, making a match that should have ended scoreless at the half instead end 2:0 at that time. The Uruguayans than scored 3 more goals in the 2nd half, the last one a nicely taken free kick and the others through more or less intermittent action.