WC qualifying rounds

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**** Croatia.

 

Holland

GO GO Finland

 

Spain is undefeated yet, just too many ties.

 

Another crap performance from England, but we got the result and that's all that matters.
I'm still confident we'll beat Poland and go through as group winners. It's a shame it's going down to this though, we really should have walked this group. England always do things the hard way!!

 

You don't have to beat Poland anymore, thanks to Holland's win in Prague, Poland, England, and Croatia are directly qualified. Wednessday's matchup between England and Poland is one for the books.

 

And we're out. Not like we didn't see it comming, but still, we have been present since 1982.

Congrats to the Dutchies.

Now all that is left is deciding who I'll be rooting for...

 

@ Uytuun: pick England! Our best player looks like Shrek!

Well, we won and gained a place in the World Cup. You'd think we'd all be happy, right? Wrong! Everyone on the radio's been bitching something chronic. O.K., the performance wasn't the best, but we could easily have gone in at half time 3-0 up, with a bit more luck / composure. The referee was having a shocker for the best part of the game, and spoilt it by sending Beckham off for 2 yellow cards that never were. He got the penalty decision right, but bless him, after that he seemed unwilling to give anything. I guess it's because it's not the kind of decision you see given regularly (holding someone back can be difficult to see), so he felt he'd been harsh on Austria, and tried to "level things up".

Still, the second half was a fairly solid defensive performance (some wobbles, but that's inevitable defending a 1-0), and when Campbell was injured Rio came on and looked more awake than he has done for ages. Thank God Sven made the decision to drop him, because everyone could see he needed a kick up the arse. Now both Rio & England will benefit (and Man U too, I expect).

What got me - and only folks in Britain will have seen it - is the doom-mongering from messrs Lineker, Hansen and Shearer (albeit less-so) at half time. The way they were talking, it was like we were 2-0 down! It felt as though anything less than Brazil-worthy football wasn't good enough, and their carping probably did more to engender the feeling of negativity from fans who then besieged the football phone-ins to have a go. I genuinely felt as though they'd been describing an entirely different game.

I compare the attitude of the fans of Scotland and Northern Ireland - both of whom lost - in getting behind their teams whatever the result and genuinely supporting them, and feel ashamed of those who took chunks out of England in spite of them winning.

If all fans can do is carp, why would the players want to play for them? If they lose, then you can criticise; but to simply barrack them all day is unexcusable, and I hold the BBC to part account for this. Have people forgotten how to enjoy a win over here? Can they take no joy in a decent (if not a patch on NIreland 2 - 3 Wales) match?

Bah! To Hades with the lot of them, and bring back the cricket season, that's what I say!

Rant over.

In positive news, Yeovil Town ended league-leader's Swansea's unbeaten run with a goal from "Captain Courageous" Terry Skiverton. Now they've almost made the leap from relegation places to play-offs. Could the unthinkable happen? Could the mighty Glovers acheive an unprecedented 4th promotion in five years? Here's hoping.

On thing's for sure, though - it was a good day for both Terry brothers, wasn't it?

 

A Yeovil supporter?

I tell you now, if Yeovil get anywhere near the play-offs I'll eat my own balls, they've got bob hope mate . Even my Chesterfield outplayed them and that's saying something!

On topic, I too am tired of everyone getting on Englands back, whatever the situation. Dodgy performance and we can do much better, but we still got the damn win. Shuddup moanin'!!!

 

Careful BA, we may hold you to that!

 

Don't pay attention to that crap, it's no different overhere. Not only do the fans and press expect the team to win, if it's not with flashy dominant football, they still find something to cry about, as if that's an easy thing to do these days. There are plenty of "weaker" opponents on paper in Europe since the collapse of the Soviet Union, but these so called weaker opponents all have a tactic based on making it impossible for the other team to pass the ball around or play their own favourite game. There are hardly any easy matches these days. Despite us being qualified early, undefeated and all, there are still people complaining about the way we achieved qualification, some people are never satisfied. Italians have a much better attitude concerning these things....it doesn't matter how you win, or with how many goals, it's the result, and the result only that matters.

 

@Uytuun: How about Poland?

It's a real surprise to me that we made it but hey, I'm not going to complain.

 

Argentine made it long time ago, but since I'm living in Spain I have to 'deal' with it, so, most of the people here wants to Spain not to make it because the team is where it is because the players, according to people the coach is a crappy one selecting the people who selected, Raul is burnt out, 'el niño' is a clown, and a long etc.,. Basically, people believes that if Spain got to the WC, will not pass first round so better to avoid the shame of that and eat the shame of not making it, with the hope of a new coach and new players.
As for me, I don't give a dime, I just know Argentine is there

 

Right. Here's another evaluatment from your favorite nerd:

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Group 1

Standings:
Netherlands-11-10-1-0-31
Romania-12-8-1-3-25
Czech Republic-11-8-0-3-24
Finland-11-5-1-5-16
Macedonia FYR-11-2-2-7-8
Andorra-11-1-2-8-5
Armenia-11-1-1-9-4

Games:
Andorra - Armenia
Finland - Czech Republic
Netherlands - Macedonia FYR

Predictions:
Andorra - Armenia 2-1
Finland - Czech Republic 0-2
Netherlands - Macedonia FYR 2-0

Predicted Standings:
Netherlands-12-11-1-0-34
Czech Republic-12-9-0-3-27
Romania-12-8-1-3-25
Finland-12-5-1-6-16
Macedonia FYR-12-2-2-8-8
Andorra-12-2-2-8-8
Armenia-12-1-1-10-4

Final Comments:
Czech Republic has to do Extra Qualifications due to poor goal advantage, and Netherlands are already free to the World Cup.

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Group 2

Standings:
Ukraine-12-7-4-1-25
Turkey-11-5-5-1-20
Denmark-11-5-4-2-19
Greece-11-5-3-3-18
Albania-11-4-1-6-13
Georgia-11-2-4-5-10
Kazakhstan-11-0-1-10-1

Games:
Kazakhstan - Denmark
Greece - Georgia
Albania - Turkey

Predictions:
Kazakhstan - Denmark 0-3
Greece - Georgia 2-0
Albania - Turkey 1-1

Predicted Standings:
Ukraine-12-7-4-1-25
Denmark-12-6-4-2-22
Greece-12-6-3-3-21
Turkey-12-5-6-1-21
Albania-12-4-2-6-14
Georgia-12-2-4-6-10
Kazakhstan-12-0-1-11-1

Final Comments:
Ukraine was already clear for the WC, and I think that Albania can shake Turkey, since Turkey have problems in must-win games with mediocre teams. See Latvia 2003. Denmark goes to Extra Qualifications.

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Group 3

Standings:
Portugal-11-8-3-0-27
Slovakia-11-6-4-1-22
Russia-11-6-4-1-22
Latvia-11-4-3-4-15
Estonia-11-4-2-5-14
Liechtenstein-12-2-2-8-8
Luxembourg-11-0-0-11-0

Games:
Portugal - Latvia
Luxembourg - Estonia
Slovakia - Russia

Predictions:
Portugal - Latvia 3-0
Luxembourg - Estonia 0-2
Slovakia - Russia 1-1

Predicted Standings:
Portugal-12-9-3-0-30
Slovakia-12-6-5-1-23
Russia-12-6-5-1-23
Latvia-12-4-3-5-15
Estonia-12-4-2-6-14
Liechtenstein-12-2-2-8-8
Luxembourg-12-0-0-12-0

Final Comments:
Portugal wins easily against Latvia, even though they are already in the World Cup. Slovakia only needs a tie against Russia to pass, which I think they manage to do, sending Russia home, missing another tournament. However, Slovakia isn't clear just because of that, they still have the Extra Qualifications to do.

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Group 4

Standings:
Israel-10-4-6-0-18
Switzerland-9-4-5-0-17
France-9-4-5-0-17
Ireland-9-4-4-1-16
Cyprus-9-1-1-7-4
Faroe Islands-10-0-1-9-1

Games:
Ireland - Switzerland
France - Cyprus

Predictions:
Ireland - Switzerland 2-1
France - Cyprus 1-0

Predicted Standings:

France-10-5-5-0-20
Ireland-10-5-4-1-19
Israel-10-4-6-0-18
Switzerland-10-4-5-1-17
Cyprus-10-1-1-8-4
Faroe Islands-10-0-1-9-1

Final Comments:
France will suck as usual, but with their luck, they'll score a goal against inferior Cyprus. Ireland will win due to home advantage over Switzerland, who unfortunatly misses this World Cup. France clear for the Cup, and Ireland goes to Extra Qualifications. France doesn't deserve it though, and I really hope that Cyprus win somehow on Wednesday while Ireland and Switzerland tie, sending the French home.

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Group 5

Standings:
Italy-9-6-2-1-20
Norway-9-4-3-2-15
Slovenia-9-3-3-3-12
Scotland-9-2-4-3-10
Belarus-9-2-4-3-10
Moldova-9-1-2-6-5

Games:
Italy - Moldova
Slovenia - Scotland
Belarus - Norway

Predictions:
Italy - Moldova 2-0
Slovenia - Scotland 2-2
Belarus - Norway 0-3

Predicted Standings:
Italy-10-7-2-1-23
Norway-10-5-3-2-18
Slovenia-10-3-4-3-13
Scotland-10-2-5-3-11
Belarus-10-2-4-4-10
Moldova-10-1-2-7-5

Final Comments:
Italy are already clear, and sends their reserves who wants to show their skills against little Moldova and takes home another win. Norway easily beat Belarus, and the proud Scotsmen manages a 2-2 result against Slovenia, sending them home as well.

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Group 6

Standings:
Poland-9-8-0-1-24
England-9-7-1-1-22
Austria-9-3-3-3-12
Northern Ireland-9-2-3-4-9
Wales-9-1-2-6-5
Azerbaijan-9-0-3-6-3

Games:
England - Poland
Austria - Northern Ireland
Wales - Azerbaijan

Predictions:
England - Poland 0-1
Austria - Northern Ireland 2-1
Wales - Azerbaijan 3-0

Predicted Standings:
Poland-10-9-0-1-27
England-10-7-1-2-22
Austria-10-4-3-3-15
Northern Ireland-10-2-3-5-9
Wales-10-2-2-6-8
Azerbaijan-10-0-3-7-3

Final Comments:
Since both England and Poland are already clear for the World Cup, England will do what they usually do when they are clear, take a nap. Poland wants to fight, like they always do, and wins this one with a late goal. Northen Ireland ****ed themselves when they couldn't beat Wales home, and gets to take a rest until the European Qualifications in two years.

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Group 7

Standings:
Serbia and Montenegro-9-5-4-0-19
Spain-9-4-5-0-17
Bosnia-Herzegovina-9-4-4-1-16
Belgium-9-3-2-4-11
Lithuania-9-2-3-4-9
San Marino-9-0-0-9-0

Games:
Serbia and Montenegro - Bosnia-Herzegovina
Lithuania - Belgium
San Marino - Spain

Predictions:
Serbia and Montenegro - Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0
Lithuania - Belgium 0-1
San Marino - Spain 0-3

Predicted Standings:
Serbia and Montenegro-10-6-4-0-22
Spain-10-5-5-0-20
Bosnia-Herzegovina-10-4-4-2-16
Belgium-10-4-2-4-14
Lithuania-10-2-3-5-9
San Marino-10-0-0-10-0

Final Comments:
Nothing suprising. If Spain had had Bosnia, Belgium, or SaM in the final round, they would've missed the World Cup. If they want to be a danger in the Cup, or even manage the Extra Qualifications, they really need to shape up.

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Group 8

Standings:
Croatia-9-7-2-0-23
Sweden-9-7-0-2-21
Bulgaria-9-4-2-3-14
Hungary-9-4-1-4-13
Iceland-9-1-1-7-4
Malta-9-0-2-7-2

Games:
Hungary - Croatia
Malta - Bulgaria
Sweden - Iceland

Predictions:
Hungary - Croatia 1-2
Malta - Bulgaria 0-3
Sweden - Iceland 3-0

Predicted Standings:
Croatia-10-8-2-0-26
Sweden-10-8-0-2-24
Bulgaria-10-5-2-3-17
Hungary-10-4-1-5-13
Iceland-10-1-1-8-4
Malta-10-0-2-8-2

Final Comments:
A bad effort by Sweden against Croatia means that Sweden isn't clear, but in practice, both Sweden and Croatia are, as they have a ten-goal advantage against Czech for the last round. Sweden and Croatia to the World Cup 2006!

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Extra qualifications:
Czech Republic
Denmark
Slovakia
Ireland
Norway
Spain

I guess that Czech Republic, Denmark, and Ireland will pass to the next stage, sending Norway, Slovakia, and Spain back home.

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So, there you have it, how I think the European Qualification will end.

 

England just beat Poland 2-1. A better performance from the lads, that's more like it. Bring on Germany!

 

Predictions:
Andorra - Armenia 2-1
Finland - Czech Republic 0-2
Netherlands - Macedonia FYR 2-0

Results:
Andorra - Armenia 0-3
Finland - Czech Republic 0-3
Netherlands - Macedonia 0-0

Final Standings:
Netherlands-12-10-2-0-32
Czech Republic-12-9-0-3-27
Romania-12-8-1-3-25
Finland-12-5-1-6-16
Macedonia FYR-12-2-3-7-9
Armenia-12-2-1-9-7
Andorra-12-1-2-9-5

Comments:
Nobody is really suprised about these standings, it's pretty much what everyone betted on before the qualifications.

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Predictions:
Kazakhstan - Denmark 0-3
Greece - Georgia 2-0
Albania - Turkey 1-1

Results:
Kazakhstan - Denmark 1-2
Greece - Georgia 1-0
Albania - Turkey 0-1

Final Standings:
Ukraine-12-7-4-1-25
Turkey-12-6-5-1-23
Denmark-12-6-4-2-22
Greece-12-6-3-3-21
Albania-12-4-1-7-13
Georgia-12-2-4-6-10
Kazakhstan-12-0-1-11-1

Comments:
Same here, but personally, I would've thought that Denmark would've been able to at least make it to the extra qualifications.

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Predictions:
Portugal - Latvia 3-0
Luxembourg - Estonia 0-2
Slovakia - Russia 1-1

Results:
Portugal - Latvia 3-0
Luxembourg - Estonia 0-2
Slovakia - Russia 0-0

Final Standings:
Portugal-12-9-3-0-30
Slovakia-12-6-5-1-23
Russia-12-6-5-1-23
Estonia-12-5-2-5-17
Latvia-12-4-3-5-15
Liechtenstein-12-2-2-8-8
Luxembourg-12-0-0-12-0

Comments:
Another unsuprising result, except that Slovakia takes the qualification-spot instead of Russia due to scoring more goals when they faced Russia in Moscow, where it ended 2-2.

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Predictions:
Ireland - Switzerland 2-1
France - Cyprus 1-0

Results:
Ireland - Switzerland 0-0
France - Cyprus 4-0

Final Standings:
France-10-5-5-0-20
Switzerland-10-4-6-0-18
Israel-10-4-6-0-18
Ireland-10-4-5-1-17
Cyprus-10-1-1-8-4
Faroe Islands-10-0-1-9-1

Comments:
This was the most exciting group of them all, and while I'm sad to not see Ireland or Israel in the World Cup, I'm even more sad to see that France made it.

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Predictions:
Italy - Moldova 2-0
Slovenia - Scotland 2-2
Belarus - Norway 0-3

Results:
Italy - Moldova 2-1
Slovenia - Scotland 0-3
Belarus - Norway 0-1

Final Standings:
Italy-10-7-2-1-23
Norway-10-5-3-2-18
Scotland-10-3-4-3-13
Slovenia-10-3-3-4-12
Belarus-10-2-4-4-10
Moldova-10-1-2-7-5

Comments:
Nothing suprising here, really. Italy came, and they were qualified even before the last round. The last time that happened was in 1982. What did Italy do in '82? Went home with a World Cup Gold in their bags.

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Predictions:
England - Poland 0-1
Austria - Northern Ireland 2-1
Wales - Azerbaijan 3-0

Results:
England - Poland 2-1
Austria - Northern Ireland 2-0
Wales - Azerbaijan 2-0

Final Standings:
England-10-8-1-1-25
Poland-10-8-0-2-24
Austria-10-4-3-3-15
Northern Ireland-10-2-3-5-9
Wales-10-2-2-6-8
Azerbaijan-10-0-3-7-3

Comments:
Very exciting group, especially the last game. Glad to see both England and Poland qualify, cause, a World Cup isn't the same without England, and Poland has a special place in my heart.

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Predictions:
Serbia and Montenegro - Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0
Lithuania - Belgium 0-1
San Marino - Spain 0-3

Results:
Serbia and Montenegro - Bosnia-Herzegovina 1-0
Lithuania - Belgium 1-1
San Marino - Spain 0-6

Final Standings:
Serbia and Montenegro-10-6-4-0-22
Spain-10-5-5-0-20
Bosnia-Herzegovina-10-4-4-2-16
Belgium-10-3-3-4-12
Lithuania-10-2-4-4-10
San Marino-10-0-0-10-0

Comments:
Spain managed to get to the extra qualifications, so here's hopings that they fail to qualify there. Congratulations to Serbia and Montenegro for qualifying to the cup, I'll be looking forward to your games there.

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Predictions:
Hungary - Croatia 1-2
Malta - Bulgaria 0-3
Sweden - Iceland 3-0

Results:
Hungary - Croatia 0-0
Malta - Bulgaria 1-1
Sweden - Iceland 3-1

Final Standings:
Croatia-10-7-3-0-24
Sweden-10-8-0-2-24
Bulgaria-10-4-3-3-15
Hungary-10-4-2-4-14
Iceland-10-1-1-8-4
Malta-10-0-3-7-3

Comments:
Croatia takes the first spot due to having won both games against just the Swedes, but Sweden qualify anyway due to being one of the two best runner-ups.

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Directly Qualified:
Germany
Netherlands
Ukraine
Portugal
France
Italy
England
Serbia and Montenegro
Croatia
Sweden
Poland

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Extra qualifications:
Czech Republic
Turkey
Slovakia
Switzerland
Norway
Spain

Comments:
Off these, I guess that Norway, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic will qualify for the World Cup, although it's very open, and the only team I'm very sure of is the Czech Republic to qualify.

 

Gutted about the Irish not making it!

 

Well, that was one of the most boring matches i've ever seen, i even fell asleep for a while. But i woke up just in time to see something funny, one of the dumbest guys ever during one of those halftime callquizes, and he kept repeating that people really should make an effort, because you could win tickets for next year's EURO 2006.

Someone please....fire that dumbass before i crap my pants laughing.

 

What a nobhead!

 

Unsurprisingly the coach change did not help and we still suck, I actually think our old tactics worked better, atleast then our all out offensive tactics could provide a few early goals even though it would end up with a complete collapse of the defence at some point, not that it would have changed anything we would have still lost to all the even remotely bigger football nations.

 

All I can say now is that I hope for Marco van Basten that he beats the germans on their own ground once more and bring us to the top again.
Sofar he's doing pretty good.