You guys know the Iranians come out every 4 years talking like this time is different, than it's back to underneath the rock they go until the next WC. You guys have to let them talk because it's not like they are gonna win on the field, so let them have it.
You are uninformed. You obviously did not hear that Mexico only beat them in the 2006 world cup because there was a giant brawl in the Iranian locker room at half time. THIS TIME WILL BE DIFFERENT.
Yeah it's all people being old and being stuck in time. Because Iran did so much better than Mexico in the next 2 world cups after that.
We love being underdogs.I really does think there is nothing more than the odd goal that differ between Mexico and Sweden..and it can practically go either way. We are in the present setup kinda like Northern Ireland,just a bit better. Sweden is a hard team to beat,if you don´t believe me ask France and indeed Italy. Looking at the competitive games we have lost since the start of qualifying,it is only our defeat to Bulgaria that sticks out.One has to remember though,that Bulgaria took other bigheads off when the played at home. We lost to Holland,so what?It was a match in which we were winning as long as we didn´t conceded seven goals. Against France,we actually could have won both matches..in the end we split down the middle and that was the fair result. Most people watched us against Italy. We are certainly liking our chances to advance here,Just sayin. We´re due a good result against Germany as well.Score early against us..or we are very hard to break down indeed. I do wonder if the same can be said about Mexico?
We also had five players that would be suspended in the playoff if they did recieve a yellow card against the dutch that did hold us back. One of the french goals against us at their 2-1 victory was also offside which people seem to forget and we scored most goals in our qualification group.
Korea won the 2017 EAFF(East Asian Football Federation) E-1 Football Championship after beating Japan 4-1 on Saturday. It's been 7 years and 7 months since the Korean National Team beat Japan. I think Japan also has a long way to go.
I predict Germany and Sweden to come out of this group. I learned to never underestimate a UEFA team that makes it to the world cup, let alone one that eliminated the Netherlands and Italy. I like Mexico as a team (and prefer their style compared to Sweden or even Germany) but I think that they are often over-rated by fans and observers equally. The fact that they play in cozy Concacaf also does not put them in the most competitive mind set. Mexico would be a much tougher team if they played in a more demanding confederation or if both Concacaf and Conmebol were merged together...
Sorry this is wrong. People were saying the same about Croatia at the 2014 World Cup and we saw what happened there. Never underestimate Mexico. Also just because they play in CONCACAF doesn't mean anything if they are able to make the round of 16 as often as they do.
Korea will play Poland in an international friendly next March for thier World Cup campaign. This match will give Korea an opportunity for its group stage contests against Sweden. For Poland, Korean will be a good sparring partner ahead of its match agains Japan next year (and let them know that they've already got 3 points even before the World Cup begin.) South Korea, 59th in the latest FIFA rankings, have faced Poland twice so far. The two sides first met at the 2002 World Cup where South Korea prevailed 2-0 on their home soil. In 2011, they played to a 2-2 draw in a friendly in Seoul, but it didn't count as an official international match by FIFA since the two sides exceeded substitution limits.
That sounds horrible, didn't qualify for the the past 2 world cups while Japan, Mexico and others did qualify ?. They barely got in this time as well but had to go to a play-off ?, sounds very unimpressive So let's have a closer look. Hand on my heart and the other one on the bible, I haven't even gone and checked the history as I am writing this, I just know your comment is silly and the European qualifying campaign is brutal and that the Swedish team is solid. so lets have a look................ Sweden finished 3rd after Denmark and Portugal. Denmark winning the group. Not a proud moment although Denmark is a regular fixture in the WC. 2014 Sweden finished 2nd after Germany (as a sidenote, Sweden was the first team in history to come back 4-0 to make it 4-4 in Berlin). Sweden got Portugal in the playoff and lost. 2018, Sweden ended up with France and Holland. Lead the group for a long time but ended up 2nd. Managed to best the bronze medalist of 2014 and the silver medalist of 2010 and make it to playoff where they faced Italy that hadn't missed a World Cup since 1958 and is ranked 3rd in the All-time World Cup medal rank. Which teams has Mexico beat to earn their spot this year ?
Like I said in my previous post, I don't want to bash Sweden. But I believe this is one of the weakest Sweden teams in their history. I've seen a lot stronger Sweden teams in the past. This version of Sweden doesn't scare me. I mention their qualification campaign because I wasn't impressed with them. Yes, they beat Italy in the playoff and came in second in their group over the Netherlands but lets not overlook the fact that both of those teams have critical problems of their own. It's a good feat nonetheless though. It doesn't matter what Mexico does in their qualifying campaign. Based on history, they have always advance to the round of 16 since 1986. Mexico is a tough team to beat in the WC level. It typically takes an elite team to knock them out of the WC. Look at their history. Other than 2002 loss against USA, all of Mexico's opponents in the round of 16 are considered one of the best in the world.
I honestly do not think Italy and Netherlands were that good this campaign. I am an Azzurri fan, and I'll tell you, I have seen serious problems with the team since Ventura took over, especially the shaky defense. Netherlands has been in deep trouble since the World Cup as well and do not actually have that great of a team on paper. Robben and Strootman are their best players, and even they are starting to age, although Strootman has a few more good years. I think the Netherlands shouldn't even be considered a real powerhouse. They are not a team that makes every World Cup. They are a team that sometimes produces great talent but other times not so much. Kind of like Belgium. Belgium is a slight powerhouse at the moment but they are not always. Italy has been quite inconsistent since the 2006 World Cup. We have had some great spells like when Conte was in charge, and Prandelli's Euro 2012, but the team has found it hard to play together as a team quite frequently. Prandelli was not really a good manager for us. He got lucky in Euro 2012 but the team under him was a bunch of individuals that didn't play so much as a team. 2014 World Cup proved it. Ventura was a huge disaster and he didn't even have a winning mentality. The youth players have also been quite lacking between 2010 and 2016. We are starting to see more talent come, but we need a coach who is friendly but also strict and has a good idea on what he wants to do with our team regarding game plans, and tactics. Kind of like Conte.
If Holland is not a World Cup power, than there are just five, as only Brazil, Germany, Italy, Argentina, and France have stronger results than Holland in the modern era.
Well I agree with you honestly, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Argentina, and France, are the only World Cup powers. I suppose you could add in Uruguay as well. They did win two world cups.
I honestly think Brazil, Germany, and Italy are the top 3 powerhouses of all time. Brazil made every single one. Germany missed 2, and Italy missed 3. Then you got Argentina, Uruguay, and France as second powerhouses. The rest of the teams are sometimes powerhouses but are not a frequent number of times as well.
A very long time ago, almost 90 years and 70 years respectively. A different era of football. So different Uruguay only had one opponent in their opening round of group play in 1950.
Uruguay is certainly not close to a power house. What they can produce for their size is amazing, but in this day in age Uruguay will more than likely never sniff another title or final. It took many stars to align to get the semi of 2010 and that seems to have made some people think we are back in 1950