DJHazey

Schedule for June (with current table rank): Matchday 15 (5) Paraguay vs. (3) Uruguay (2) Ecuador vs. (4) Brazil (10) Chile vs. (1) Argentina (6) Colombia vs. (9) Peru (7) Venezuela vs. (8) Bolivia Matchday 16 (8) Bolivia vs. (10) Chile (3) Uruguay vs. (7) Venezuela (1) Argentina vs. (6) Colombia (4) Brazil vs. (5) Paraguay (9) Peru vs. (2) Ecuador

There's outplaying the Celtics and there's we've had Porzingis ill, Hauser out, Brown on a bad knee, and Tatum now out with a season-ending, career altering injury.. Meanwhile, Knicks have been at full strength.

Oh Forest, that was a missed opportunity if I've ever seen one, with Chelsea losing and City only getting a draw vs Southampton.

I picked Arsenal, Man City, Forest, Newcastle. I tabulated predicted results and came up with: Arsenal 73 City 71 Forest 68 Newcastle 67 (on GD) Chelsea 67 Villa 65

Verstappen should have just given the position back, the team should've ordered it knowing it was going to be obvious penalty. At least he would've had a chance to get it back in that scenario. No chance when he has to give up time in the pits.

The tire degradation made things more entertaining than it could've been.

I was looking forward to England vs. USA in the 2022 World Cup, but that was far from a thriller.

Group A - This is going to be Egypt's, no denying that, but Burkina Faso will be trying to position themselves for playoffs. Group B - Big match in September when Congo DR hosts Senegal and winning that would go a long way to determining an upset qualification over the African powerhouse. Sudan could've really stuck in the race if they hadn't dropped points against their rival South Sudan. Three of their last four matches are on the road, but who knows they also have 12 points. Group C - South Africa is in the driver's seat. Winning at home against Nigeria in September would be the final steak in Nigeria's side to officially eliminate them for the first time in many years. Group D - It's all about that Cape Verde vs. Cameroon match in September, being played in Praia. Of course, they can't drop points elsewhere either. What a story it would be. Group E - zzz, see you in 2026 Morocco. Deservedly so though, they are the best team in Africa right now. Group F - Another big one. Gabon hosts Ivory Coast. If they want to produce a big surprise they'll need to win that match. to help their cause. Alot of great potential narratives brewing in Africa. Group G - Algeria should have this though Mozambique is mathematically in it still, but they lost both matches to Algeria already by a combined 7-1 so I don't think so. Algeria is looking closer to their 2014 form than have in recent years. Group H - Tunisia is up four points on Liberia & Namibia and hosts both nations in the fall. I think it's over. It will be more interesting to see if Namibia gets a playoff spot, since they've still enjoying their glory years right now. Group I - Ghana looked like they'd be left for dead early on, but they've righted the ship and I think they'll see it through. What is more of story is how Mali managed to screw this up and can they somehow rescue a playoff spot, though unlikely. Seems more likely that island darlings Comoros or Madagascar would do so. Predicted Qualifiers: Egypt, Congo DR, South Africa, Cameroon, Morocco, Gabon, Algeria, Tunisia, Ghana Predicted Playoffs: Senegal, Ivory Coast, Cape Verde, Namibia

Group A - Uzbekistan just needs to win either match to qualify. The first one is away to UAE though and if they lose that then it becomes 17-to-16 in points and makes the last matchday a nail-biter. If Qatar and UAE lose their first match (home vs. Iran and home vs. Uzbekistan respectively) and Kyrgyzstan wins at North Korea then the Round 4 spots become very interesting, since Kyrgyzstan's last match is at home vs. UAE. Group B - This group was always in a blender and it continues that way. Having five Arab nations that always play each other closely was always going to end up being this way. I think South Korea will easily get it done, especially since their last two matches are pretty soft. Kuwait hosts Palestine and if either country wins the match it puts them in play for Round 4. Each matchday Jordan, Iraq, and Oman play each other so the second automatic qualifier hasn't been figured out at all. Group C - Indonesia's dream rests on whether they can manage to get the three points on June 5th at home vs. China. A winnable match. Then they'd go to Japan and hope Japan rests all their starters for a shock result and possible qualification (or at least Round 4). Australia has not finished the job either, they have to play against Japan and away to Saudi Arabia and don't want to leave it to that last match. Anyone slips up and Bahrain or China could sneak into the 3rd or 4th spot. Predicted Qualifiers: Iran, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Jordan, Japan, Saudi Arabia Predicted Round 4: UAE, Kyrgyzstan, Iraq, Oman, Australia, Indonesia

Wild one. Iran tied it after 52 minutes (Taremi of course) and Uzbekistan took the lead again a minute later, but Taremi struck again in the 86th minute and it ended 2-2. Iran qualifies and Uzbekistan is now 7 points up on Qatar and UAE with only UAE having a match later with North Korea.

Huge results for South Africa's chances today. They won 2-0 at Benin and Nigeria gave up a late goal at home versus Zimbabwe for a 1-1 draw. Now South Africa will be five points up on Benin/Rwanda and six up on Nigeria with four matches to go.

Still first half, but Uzbekistan has the early 1-0 lead at Iran, if they hang on to at least one point, they will all but clinch things for their first World Cup (they'll still need to not lose both matches in June - away to UAE and Home v. Qatar)

Yeah Georgia doing to Armenia what the top European squads normally do, I will be intrigued to see how they do in WC Qualifying. They have Turkey and Spain in their group so the challenge is before them to even make the playoffs.

For those looking for different representation in Africa, as I am, Nigeria and surprisingly Senegal are doing the best at making that a reality. In fact, I think South Africa is very much in the driver's seat now in Group C. They haven't been in the World Cup since hosting in 2010.

New Caledonia vs. New Zealand since 2008 2008 OFC Nations Cup | 3-1 New Zealand 2008 OFC Nations Cup | 3-0 New Zealand 2012 OFC Nations Cup | 2-0 New Caledonia 2014 World Cup Qualifying | 2-0 New Zealand 2014 World Cup Qualifying | 2-1 New Zealand 2016 OFC Nations Cup | 1-0 New Zealand 2018 World Cup Qualifying | 2-0 New Zealand 2018 World Cup Qualifying | 0-0 2022 World Cup Qualifying | 7-1 New Zealand [note: was played Qatar during the pandemic] I don't think is going to be a blowout like the 7-1 anomaly, but it is being played in Auckland so probably like 3-0 to the Kiwis, maybe only 2-0.

That Comoros results had me going "No Baby No!". I don't know why the match was played in Morocco instead of their home country, that might have helped. We still have the Madagascar dream, but Ghana is about to throttle Chad today and take the lead in the group.

If Uzbekistan could somehow just get a draw in the match in Tehran they would pretty much seal their ticket, the first qualification in their history after so many close calls!

Yeah, it's the Nations League, the same reason the European qualifiers haven't started yet.

It's beginning to look like the 6 auto qualifiers are pretty much set in stone and the only real battle is for the playoff spot that Bolivia still holds at the moment, with Venezuela, Chile, and Peru not far behind.

Cape Verde got an 84th minute goal to beat Mauritius and moves ahead of Cameroon in the Group B standing with Libya vs. Angola still to come. They have a tough match in Angola next week, but if they can get the W in the Afro-Portuguese derby that would out-do Cameroon's 1-1 draw at Angola last summer.

Congrats to Japan. I hope they build on their stronger showing in recent World Cups. Them and South Korea who are sure to be soon to qualify as well.

Cameroon probably still has this group even with the draw vs. Eswatini played in South Africa. The only team in my estimation that has a realistic chance down the road is Cape Verde, but they're a very up and down nation. They have a history of good home results against Cameroon, but dropped their road match already to them 4-1. They did win the same match versus Eswatini that Cameroon just lost two points on. Cape Verde needs to beat Cameroon in Praia to have any shot, assuming they do well leading up to that September match. Madagascar is staking a real claim for this IF they now find a way to beat Ghana on Monday, the match is being played Morocco.

Oman gets a late goal in South Korea, that's a surprising draw. Indonesia after the coaching move? Yeah, 1-5 loss at Australia. There goes that run.

Ian Darke on the U.S. broadcast: "and Palmer just can't stop scoring!"

Now keep playing attacking football please!