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mdh
post Jun 28 2016, 07:29 PM
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This is relevant already now England are out tongue.gif

So is there worry for England after the Euros slip or will we be fine like usual (we're always ironically good in the qualifiers laugh.gif)
Will Iceland qualify for the World Cup?
Will we see Wales do the unthinkable again?
Can Holland recover?

DISCUSS
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Rooney
post Jun 28 2016, 07:54 PM
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We have quite a difficult group, but should finish top all being well. Similar to the last Euro qualifying period, there will be a lot of pressure on us again after such a dismal performance at the Euros.

Thing is we have so many average players that people have convinced themselves they're decent.
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Iz 🌟
post Jun 28 2016, 08:01 PM
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Aye, they're all difficult teams, but bar Slovakia they shouldn't be consistent enough to finish ahead of us over the whole qualifying period. After the disaster of the Euros there'll obviously be a bit of restructuring and in the end we'll most likely be fine. Most likely.

Iceland have possibly the most difficult group in Europe so I wouldn't be sure of them making it but if they keep what they've been doing up they can probably outplay Ukraine and Turkey, just Croatia that might push them into the playoffs.

(as a geography/stats nerd I've already been lowkey following the qualifying in the other confederations and I must say, it's exciting to see a group with Cameroon/Algeria/Nigeria/fairly recent ACN winners Zambia, which means only one of those gets to the WC and we have at least two fresh African teams, even if it'll most likely be the return of Tunisia and Senegal if we go by seedings)

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richie
post Jun 29 2016, 07:24 AM
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Even with the best chance to qualify for the World Cup in ages, Scotland will still manage to come third in their group. Probably beat England home and away but get thrashed by Slovakia and scrape draws against Lithuania and Slovenia.
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Mack.
post Jun 29 2016, 06:53 PM
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Here's a look at the groups:


Group A


Netherlands, France, Sweden, Bulgaria, Belarus, Luxembourg

Group B

Portugal, Switzerland, Hungary, Faroe Islands, Latvia, Andorra

Group C

Germany, Czech Republic, Northern Ireland, Norway, Azerbaijan, San Marino

Group D

Wales , Austria, Serbia, Republic of Ireland, Moldova, Georgia

Group E

Romania, Denmark, Poland, Montenegro, Armenia, Kazakhstan

Group F


England, Slovakia, Scotland, Slovenia, Lithuania, Malta

Group G


Spain, Italy, Albania, Israel, FYR Macedonia, Liechtenstein

Group H

Belgium, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Greece, Estonia, Cyprus

Group I

Croatia, Iceland, Ukraine, Turkey, Finland
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Steve201
post Jun 29 2016, 10:16 PM
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Only 1 team plus the best second place go through?

So many close tied groups especially with Spain and Italy in the same one.
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Steve201
post Jun 29 2016, 10:23 PM
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QUOTE(Mack @ Jun 29 2016, 07:53 PM) *
Here's a look at the groups:


Group A


Netherlands, France, Sweden, Bulgaria, Belarus, Luxembourg

Group B

Portugal, Switzerland, Hungary, Faroe Islands, Latvia, Andorra

Group C

Germany, Czech Republic, Northern Ireland, Norway, Azerbaijan, San Marino

Group D

Wales , Austria, Serbia, Republic of Ireland, Moldova, Georgia

Group E

Romania, Denmark, Poland, Montenegro, Armenia, Kazakhstan

Group F


England, Slovakia, Scotland, Slovenia, Lithuania, Malta

Group G


Spain, Italy, Albania, Israel, FYR Macedonia, Liechtenstein

Group H

Belgium, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Greece, Estonia, Cyprus

Group I

Croatia, Iceland, Ukraine, Turkey, Finland


Guesses -

Group A France Playoffs Netherlands
Group B Portugal Playoff Hungary
Group C Germany Playoff N.Ireland
Group D Austria Playoff Wales/Ireland (unsure what Serbia will do, rebuilding in progress before the euros started)
Group E Poland Playoff Denmark
Group F England Playoff Scotland
Group G Italy Playoff Spain
Group H Belgium Playoff Greece
Group I Croatia Best 2nd place Iceland
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Iz 🌟
post Jun 30 2016, 05:26 PM
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We also have Gibraltar and Kosovo as new members of FIFA in H and I respectively now, which is partly why I said Group I looks so killer as there's unlikely to be any weak teams there in even the supposed 5th and 6th places as Finland aren't a bad side and Kosovo are basically an unknown and not a walkover unknown like Gibraltar.

I'll just outline the other confederations in here.

AFC:

Two groups, top 2 of each go through, 3rd goes to playoff for intercontinental playoff, it's here where we'll see if Qatar deserve to even be in a World Cup prior to automatically getting a spot. Bolding and italicising my predictions, Japan haven't been doing as well as I'd like them to so them in 3rd, I keep thinking every time it'll be the first one for Uzbekistan but this might be it!!!

Group A
Iran, South Korea, Uzbekistan, China PR, Qatar, Syria

Group B
Australia, Japan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iraq, Thailand

CAF:

5 groups, top qualifies, aforementioned killer group included.

Group A
Tunisia, Libya, DR Congo, Guinea

Group B
Zambia, Cameroon, Algeria, Nigeria (Nigeria have been doing very badly lately so it's probably between Cameroon and Algeria)

Group C
Gabon, Mali, Ivory Coast, Morocco

Group D
Senegal, South Africa, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde (not entirely sure on this one, all have been pretty decent lately)

Group E
Ghana, Egypt, Congo, Uganda (would say Egypt but they always somehow get bad luck where the WC is concerned)

CONCACAF:

Currently in the middle of the third round before doing a final round of one group of 6, where it's top 3 and one to the playoffs. Potential for the USA to be going out to Guatemala which would be funny (but I reckon they'll pull through and do well enough in the final round), only Mexico are through to that final round at the moment.

Group A
Mexico 12, Honduras 4, Canada 4, El Salvador 2

Group B
Costa Rica 10, Panama 7, Jamaica 4, Haiti 1

Group C
Trinidad & Tobago 10, USA 7, Guatemala 6 St Vincent 0

CONMEBOL:
In the middle of their one big round, hard to say anything from this at the moment, Brazil are currently below the line but I have no doubt they'll pull themselves together and eventually make it. Between the current top 7 I guess as usual (sympathy for Peru/Bolivia/Venezuela)

Uruguay/Ecuador 13, Argentina (after the walkout following the Copa America) 11, Chile 10, Columbia 10, Brazil 9, Paraguay 9, Peru 4, Bolivia 3, Venezuela 1

OFC:
The competition set up to give New Zealand a home-and-away match to get into the WC is... progressing exactly as you'd expect. Merge them all into AFC already. Groups for the third round are still to be decided but it's New Zealand plus a bunch of islands + Papua who won't beat New Zealand)
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Steve201
post Jun 30 2016, 09:26 PM
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No 6 pointer in irelands group is annoying - Georgia are decent these days
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Mack.
post Aug 24 2016, 09:03 PM
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How do you see the home nations doing in the World Cup qualification s?
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mdh
post Aug 27 2016, 10:28 PM
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England predictably waltz through in spectacular fashion, destroying everyone including the token big team in a friendly which gives us huge expectations for the World Cup that get let down again.
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bigwiglaf
post Aug 27 2016, 10:47 PM
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QUOTE(mdh @ Aug 27 2016, 06:28 PM) *
England predictably waltz through in spectacular fashion, destroying everyone including the token big team in a friendly which gives us huge expectations for the World Cup that get let down again.



This statement DOES seem to be how the All England squad operate of late, innit.....
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Martyn
post Aug 28 2016, 10:16 AM
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England to qualify with a 100% record. Then go home with no wins.

Wales to qualify through the play offs.

Northern Ireland to lose the playoffs to someone like Sweden.

Scotland third or fourth in their group. (sadly, it all seems to have gone a bit wrong.)
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Mack.
post Aug 28 2016, 08:00 PM
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Squad for Slovakia

Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Southampton), Joe Hart (Manchester City), Tom Heaton (Burnley).

Defenders: Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur).

Midfielders: Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur), Michail Antonio (West Ham United), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Danny Drinkwater (Leicester City), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Theo Walcott (Arsenal).

Strikers: Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City).
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ML Hammer95
post Aug 28 2016, 09:17 PM
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I'm just like Iz... I'm fascinated by World Cup qualifying all over the globe and hoping to see a tournament just as strong as Brazil 2014!

That said, I think largely the same teams will be at the finals in Russia. Not a bad thing considering how strong 2014 was but I predict maybe one debutant from either Asia or CONCACAF. Algeria are the strongest team in Africa right now, so am tipping them to pip Cameroon and Nigeria. Tunisia and Senegal should qualify too, the Senegalese are particularly strong right now.

In Europe, I cannot imagine Greece or Bosnia qualifying this time. Poland will make it after a promising performance in France this summer. Hopefully Wales too, although you could see Austria, Serbia or Ireland qualifying equally. The Croatia group is very tough, again you can make a case for any of the top 4 qualifying (although Ukraine and Turkey performed poorly in the Euros). Elsewhere, expect the normal suspects to qualify... even the Dutch should best a Zlatan-less Sweden.
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Houdini
post Aug 29 2016, 12:01 AM
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I think Iceland will have a good chance of making it to the World Cup and I hope they actually get there because they were a breath of fresh air during Euro 2016. Are Algeria really the strongest team in Africa at the moment? they only got to the quarter finals of the Africa Cup Of Nations last year. It's been a tough time for the Nigerian team in recent years with managerial employment issues causing controversy and the deaths of 2 members of the coaching staff in June including former manager Stephen Keshi. Hopefully Nigeria will qualify but I wouldn't bet on it.
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Dobbo
post Aug 29 2016, 11:13 AM
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Great to see Antonio in the team, 100% should have gone to the Euros.
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ML Hammer95
post Aug 29 2016, 01:39 PM
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QUOTE(Ðøßßø @ Aug 29 2016, 12:13 PM) *
Great to see Antonio in the team, 100% should have gone to the Euros.


Second this! Been a great player for us, just don't play him right back. laugh.gif

Hazza, I think Algeria are the best African team right now. They played well at the World Cup with a young team which should peak in Russia. Ivory Coast tend to flatter to decieve and Cameroon, Nigeria seem to be in permanent turmoil (no Eto'o anymore either). Ghana are strong, always play well at World Cup's. Senegal look good in paper and Tunisia have a young team and would be an unknown quantity on the world stage. Egypt never tend to catch a break in World Cup Qualifying.
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mdh
post Aug 29 2016, 04:20 PM
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I thought Antonio was Italian until today! laugh.gif laugh.gif

Looks like a decent enough squad, Rashford wouldn't have gone amiss, though.
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DJHazey
post Aug 29 2016, 06:19 PM
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Here's DJ"Crazey" scores with my scores for Round 1. WC Qualifying matches always have a variation in scorelines compared to tournaments though.

Sweden 1:3 Netherlands
Belarus 1:1 France
Bulgaria 2:0 Luxembourg

Switzerland 1:2 Portugal
Faroe Islands 2:2 Hungary
Andorra 2:4 Latvia

Norway 0:1 Germany
Czech Republic 2:0 Northern Ireland
San Marino 0:2 Azerbaijan

Georgia 0:0 Austria
Serbia 1:3 Republic of Ireland
Wales 2:0 Moldova

Kazakhstan 1:9 Poland
Romania 1:5 Montenegro
Denmark 1:0 Armenia

Slovakia 1:4 England
Malta 0:5 Scotland
Lithuania 0:2 Slovenia

Israel 0:1 Italy
Albania 1:2 FYR Macedonia
Spain 3:0 Liechtenstein

Cyprus 0:2 Belgium
Gibraltar 0:0 Greece
Bosnia-Herzegovina 0:1 Estonia

Ukraine 2:0 Iceland
Croatia 1:0 Turkey
Finland 0:2 Kosovo

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