World Cup 2006 Qualifying Thread

[Lambert Simnel]

Do we really not have a thread for this ?

I realise it's somewhat incongruous for someone Scottish to satrt a thread about qualifying for the 2006 World Cup, but there we are.

Any views on the weekend's results ? I think the France - Israel - Ireland - Switzerland love-in is particularly interesting, where all four are more or less level, and appear pretty evenly matched in the snippets of the games I've seen (I watched the second half of the France - Suisse game, and , apart form one horrendous miss by Trezeguet, France really didn't look like scoring).

I was also fortunate enough to miss the first half of the England - N. Ireland game but catch the second half , and lucky enough to miss the Scotland - Italy game altogether

Any thought on who will qualify ?

[Shabbaman]

Originally Posted by Lambert Simnel

Any thought on who will qualify ?

It's a bit early, but Italy seems a safe bet.

[classical_hero]

Australia will qualify once they beat Solonom Islands. Oh wait, they have to beat the fifth placed team in CONCACAF. We will still be there.

[Suppersalmon]

England look in a good posistion at the moment

[Stapel]

Originally Posted by Shabbaman

It's a bit early, but Italy seems a safe bet.

They never miss a WC, do they?

[Dell19]

Originally Posted by classical_hero

Australia will qualify once they beat Solonom Islands. Oh wait, they have to beat the fifth placed team in CONCACAF. We will still be there.

If you had more competition than the Solomon Islands then Oceania would have a direct qualification place.

[chancellor_dan]

Italy were lucky they had a weak group, in truth Scotland deserved a draw but succumbed to two free kicks that never were.

[Stapel]

As Johan Cruyff sais:
Italians can't beat you, but you can lose from them.

[naervod]

Originally Posted by classical_hero

Australia will qualify once they beat Solonom Islands. Oh wait, they have to beat the fifth placed team in CONCACAF. We will still be there.

Actually Australia has to beat the 5th place COMNEBOL (South America). The 5th Asian team plays the 4th CONCACAF team. And Australia hasn't done too hot qualifying in the past, but we will see.

More thoughts on other qualifying areas later.

[naervod]

Other thoughts on qualifying:

In Africa, things are shaping up fairly unsuprisingly, with some exceptions. Group 3 have Cote d'Ivoire running away with it ahead of Cameroon, which has traditionally been stong. Three surprises are Cape Verde, Zambia, and Angola, who are both second in their group, Cape Verde being two points behind South Africa in Group 2 (and ahead of Ghana, I might add), Zambia being tied on points at the top of Group 1 with Senegal, and Angola 2 points behind Nigeria in Group 4. It will be interesting to see how these play out, and it would be fun to see either Cape Verde or Angola to get to the WC. Otherwise, things are normal, with the other group being handled easily by Morocco.

In Asia I see no question that Saudi Arabia and South Korea will advance from Group A, though Group B is by far the more intersting. North Korea, which was touted as potentially being a big surprise, has flopped so far, but anything could happen in the next 4 games. I predict Iran and Japan to make it out of Group B with Bahrain coming in as the 5th placed Asian team playing the fourth-placed CONCACAF team for a spot.

In Europe I see the Holland and the Czech Republic out of Group 1, though I wouldn't count out Romania. Ukraine should have a lock on Group 2, though the second spot could be well contested with Greece, Denmark, and Turkey all in there. In Group 3 I see Portugal and Slovakia, but maybe Russia instead of Slovakia. Group 4 is where it gets interesting, though I personally see Ireland and France getting out. In Group 5, Italy definitely has a lock on the group, and I would put Norway as a safe bet for second, though Slovenia are starting to emerge and could grab that spot. In Group 6 it's hard to say anyone besides England and Poland, especially after Poland's 8-0 demolition of Azerbaijan. In Group 7 Lithuania seems to be doin well but hasn't clashed with Belgium or Serbia yet and have only played Spain once, and with Belgium not doing very well, I see Serbia and Spain advancing. Lastly, I see Sweden and Croatia advancing from Group 8, though I wouldn't put it past Bulgaria or Hungary to spring a surprise.

North America, I see the big three (Mexico, USA, Costa Rica) going, with Guatemala taking the fourth spot. I'd say if my Asian predictions turn out true, then Guatemala could beat Bahrain in a playoff.

In Oceania its got to be Australia, though the Solomon Islands managed to get a draw with them in the last qualifying match they played in the previous stage. However, I see Oceania once again losing to the 5th-placed South American team.

South America is always a zone that puzzled me, as they get the same amount of direct entrants as Asia (4.5) and less than Africa (5), but are clearly stronger teams. I'm guessing it has to do with the number of countries though. Anyways, Argentina and Brazil are locks, and given Ecuador's recent run of form I'd put money on them too. However, 4th-last places are within 3 points of each other, so it's really anybody's game. I'd same one of the 'guays for sure though, if not both. Otherwise Colombia or Chile and perhaps Venezuela.

Anyways, thats it for thoughts. I like the prospect of the France-Israel match tomorrow, should get something settled about that European group. Serbia-Spain will also be a big match. Japan-Bahrain will help decide Group B in Asia, and North Korea-Iran will tell us if North Korea can keep afloat. The big three will most likely win in North America. All maches in South America could be interesting as alot could be said about who qualifies from the bottom part of the table.

[Shabbaman]

Originally Posted by Stapel

As Johan Cruyff sais:
Italians can't beat you, but you can lose from them.

JC

With 8 runner-up play off matches in Europe to come, it's impossible to predict anything until we know the matchups. In some groups the first places are pretty much set, in other groups there are sometimes just two matches that still count. Which makes it kind of boring.

There are some countries that seem like they won't grab a spot, France being the main contender here. Romania lacks Hagi and Mutu.

[Stapel]

Will there be seedings for the play-off matches?
I think for euro2004,they did, by putting the 4 best numbers 2 in one bowl, and the 4 others in another.
Makes some sense.

This way, you avoid that the number 2 of a poule with two strong top nations, (for instance Holland or Czech Republic) will play another strong number 2, as they will play the best of the rest of a poule with only one top team.

[Shabbaman]

Two "best" second placed teams are placed directly. The other six "are drawn against each other". That's all the regulations say, but I'd say that means there is no weighing.

[chancellor_dan]

If the playoffs arent seeded, you can bet they are fixed so that no two powerful footballing nations are drawn against each other. This was the case during the Euro 2004 playoffs.

Many thanks, naervod, for enlightening the eurocentrics amongst of the goings on in the wacky world of non-European football.

[Inter4]

Originally Posted by Stapel

As Johan Cruyff sais:
Italians can't beat you, but you can lose from them.

so sue us

[Stapel]

Originally Posted by chancellor_dan

If the playoffs arent seeded, you can bet they are fixed so that no two powerful footballing nations are drawn against each other. This was the case during the Euro 2004 playoffs.

My memory tells me there was a fair seeding in 2004. Whether that is good thing is another discussion.

Didn't you Scots manage to win the first leg of those play-offs ?

[kronic]

How are the Netherlands doing this time?

[Dell19]

They are top of their group

[chancellor_dan]

Originally Posted by Stapel

My memory tells me there was a fair seeding in 2004. Whether that is good thing is another discussion.

Didn't you Scots manage to win the first leg of those play-offs ?

It 2004 there were three ties where a large or successful footballing nation was drawn against a **** one, and the other was effectively ensuring there would be balkan interest in the tournament. Yes Scotland did beat the Netherlands in the first leg, but the inevitable six-niller came four days later.

[kronic]

Originally Posted by Dell19

They are top of their group

Damn. I like those "Ohne Holland fahr'n wir zur WM" chants.