Spain, Norway, Morocco would be brutal. But are Morocco likely to go as far as they did in Qatar that they considered a spiritual WC of sorts? Unlikely. I guess it really depends on how good the players that France, The Netherlands, Belgium produce for them are.
its drawn during the draw what teams play when. as the president of concacaf is an Italian from East Vancouver... i'm still holding out hope that he pulls some "strings" and we get drawn in Canada's group AND have a home game at BC place in Vancouver vs Canada (2/3 chance as Canada plays 2 here in group stage).
I know Andrea Bocelli has performed at football events in the past (Leicester City, Euro 20 Opener), but The Village People? Is Trump gonna dance to YMCA? It's in DC and Infantino and he seem to be inseparable so he could very well make an appearance. Nicole Schzinger??? Robbie Williams??? Aaron Judge, Wayne Gretzky, Shaquille O'Neal, Tom Brady part of the Draw.
Any chance Gattuso will go back to Calabria and pick Berardi? "A Modena giocavo tornei a 5 con mio fratello e i suoi amici. Un giorno venne al campo Pasquale Di Lillo, collaboratore del Sassuolo, che rimase colpito dal mio gioco. Mi segnalò a Luciano Carlino, vice della squadra Allievi, che nel giro di tre giorni mi contattò per un provino. Andai e feci bene, ricordo ancora il povero Gianni Soli, responsabile del settore giovanile che mi disse: “Tu rimani qui, avvertiamo noi i tuoi genitori”. E infatti non tornai a casa lasciando anche la scuola. Il primo anno non giocai per problemi di tesseramento, poi ho fatto Allievi e Primavera con una panchina in prima squadra nei playoff per salire in A a Genova contro la Samp. Nell’estate 2012 venni aggregato come Primavera nel ritiro della prima squadra. Tra me e l’allenatore ci fu subito un bel feeling. Mi fece esordire in coppa Italia contro l’Avellino e prima di scendere in campo firmai il mio primo contratto da professionista. Ma l’episodio che mi ha segnato accadde poche ore prima della prima partita di campionato: giocavamo a Cesena, un derby sentito, su un campo caldo e davanti ad un grande pubblico. Di Francesco mi avvicinò prima di dare la formazione dicendomi: “Se ti faccio giocare titolare ti tremeranno le gambe?”. Io risposi di getto: “Tranquillo mister, giocherò senza problemi come se fossi al campetto con gli amici”. Vincemmo 3-0 e da quel successo iniziò la striscia positiva che ci avrebbe portato in serie A".
I like how Azzurri's standards have dropped so much, that we're forced to pretend just being in a pool of four playoff group is enough to consider being drawn into a world cup group
I would welcome this. Don't even want to discuss it yet as it feels light years away for our squad, but would be amazing to see Italy play on Canadian soil.
It's a stupid system because UEFA insists to have their qualifiers drag on, as well as FIFA's Intercontinental Playoffs. These used to be completed by November. UEFA have their excuse because they are insisting with the Nations League and prolonging the process, but what is FIFA's excuse with their Intercontinental Playoffs not yet played?
So if Italy qualifies , they play in Toronto where there are like 500,000 Italians including offspring.
Yes, if we qualify, we literally got one of the easiest groups! Switzerland, Canada, and Qatar. We can get revenge on the Swiss.
Thank God he was great at hockey because Wayne Gretzky just embarrassed himself and the Canadian education system with the butchering of country names. Jesus.
Hahaha It won't be Canada's opening, the Swiss will, but should Italy qualify they will be playing the hosts in Toronto. There was always a possibility this day would come. Others here can back me up, as seen here on BS in 2006, Italy fans loyalty will be questioned. I hope at this point in the group both Canada and Gli Azzurri have 6 Points and they get Draw. Canada Manager Jesse Marsch and their former Captain, Hutchinson, said in an interview this is Euro Path is what they wanted to avoid. If they only knew how sad Italy has become they shouldn't think this. Qatar should be cannon fodder. How are the Swiss these days? If like Euro 2020 when Italy bitch-slapped them, then should be manageable. If like Euro 2024, then the Swiss will bitch-slap Italy as they did that day.
Apologies. You are correct. So Canada has Toronto and Vancouver x2. Besides the potential game in Toronto, the other 2 city's SHOULD Italy qualify would be Los Angeles and Seattle.
Not yet. But a pathway of; Northern Ireland, Bosnia/Wales, Canada, Qatar and Switzerland really doesn't look like the worst potential run of games. Could you really have asked for an easier set of opponents? The above should be a massive motivator for the Italy players to make it through the playoffs in March.