World Cup 2006 - Qualifying Groups

[phoenix_night]

Group 1
Czech Republic
Netherlands
Romania
Finland
FYR Macedonia
Armenia
Andorra

Group 2
Turkey
Denmark
Greece
Ukraine
Georgia
Albania
Kazakhstan

Group 3
Portugal
Russia
Slovakia
Latvia
Estonia
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg

Group 4
France
Republic of Ireland
Switzerland
Israel
Cyprus
Faroe Islands

Group 5
Italy
Slovenia
Scotland
Norway
Belarus
Moldova

Group 6
England
Poland
Austria
Wales
Northern Ireland
Azerbaijan

Group 7
Spain
Belgium
Serbia and Mont
Bosnia
Lithuania
San Marino

Group 8
Sweden
Croatia
Bulgaria
Iceland
Hungary
Malta



Great stuff.

 

[Portuguese]

Portugal with Russia again... and Latvia... Will they be a surprise?!?

PS: what about the other continent's groups?!?

 

[MCdread]

They're all in the other thread.

 

[Pangur Bán]

Originally posted by phoenix_night
Group 1


Group 5
Italy
Scotland
Norway
Belarus
Moldova

You had be thinking for 15 minutes that our group was easier than it really was...

 

[phoenix_night]

Originally posted by MCdread
They're all in the other thread.

Hey, 3 minutes apart, that's all!

Besides, I just want to celebrate our GREAT draw. Northern Ireland, and then, England...

Great stuff.

 

[phoenix_night]

Originally posted by calgacus


You had be thinking for 15 minutes that our group was easier than it really was...

Blame BBC.

 

[Alone]

England
R of Ireland
Scotland
Wels
Northern Ireland
Faroe Is.

Now that would be a good possibile group!

And another one:

Turkey
Croatia
Serbia &M.
Bosnia-H.
FYR Macedonia
Albania

I think we would see some blood in those games I think...

 

[Cilpot]

Originally posted by calgacus




You had be thinking for 15 minutes that our group was easier than it really was...

So its Scotland or Norway along with obvious winner Italy... Exciting

 

[Pangur Bán]

Well, I don't know. I was thinking that the only good thing about this group is the 6 guaranteed points against Norway

 

[Marla_Singer]

and Latvia... Will they be a surprise?!?

Since Latvia has already qualified for the Euro, it wouldn't be anymore a surprise if they do the same for the WC.

 

[Inter4]

just because they qualified for euro 2004, it doesn't mean they will qualify for the WC

 

[Marla_Singer]

just because they qualified for euro 2004, it doesn't mean they will qualify for the WC

Yeah of course. I just wanted to say they've already made the big surprise.

Just a little thing by the way. Why the UK is still split in 4 football teams ? I know that it's been built this way at the very beginning of the national teams events... but now it sounds a bit stupid...

And by the way, since all the players have the same citizenship, how do they pick their team between Scotland, Northern Ireland, England or Wales ? I mean... if an irish player is really good, why wouldn't he play in the English team to have a chance to win the WC he wouldn't have if he plays for Northern Ireland ?

 

[col]

The qualification is based on birthplace and/or birthplace of parents.

Sigh Ryan Giggs could have chosen to play for England but picked Wales instead. Englands loss. We've never had a decent left sided player.

At one time Eire was so desperate that it would said the qualification was that you had to drink a pint of Guiness. Tony Cascarino played many games for them before revealing that he had lied about his eligibility.

It is an anomaly but the real reason is the coutries have separate leagues. Thats one of the reasons why the English Football league is reluctant to allow Glasgow Rangers and Celtic to play in it. It might mean the end of separate teams which no-one here wants. Too many years of rivalry.

 

[Mega Tsunami]

@Marla_Singer

Just a little thing by the way. Why the UK is still split in 4 football teams ? I know that it's been built this way at the very beginning of the national teams events... but now it sounds a bit stupid...

It might be a little thing to those outside the UK, but I can assure you it’s a very, very big thing here. We really are 4 different countries and have been playing as separate countries since the year dot (Indeed the very first International football game ever in the world was between England and Scotland in 1872)

It is so ingrained in all of us that none of the four nations would ever give up their own associations. The thought of only being able to support Britain at football instead of England turns my stomach (And I am sure the Scots, Welsh and N.Irish are the same).
We would never accept it. When we go to the Olympics we go as Britain but, significantly, do not send a football team.

 

[Lambert Simnel]

Originally posted by col

At one time Eire was so desperate that it would said the qualification was that you had to drink a pint of Guiness. Tony Cascarino played many games for them before revealing that he had lied about his eligibility.

Cascarino claimed he only found out about his mother having been adopted after in 1996, long after having started to play for Ireland (85-99). I suppose that does mean he lied by not coming clean at that point, but your comment might be inferred (by an innocent bystander) to mean that he lied to get into the team in the first place....

 

[col]

I've heard different versions of the story. What isnt in dispute is that he continued to play after he knew he wasnt eligible.

 

[Lambert Simnel]

Maybe he meant to mention it, but forgot ? Perhaps he was moving house that day ?

 

[Darkness]

Maybe football players' memories aren't that good?

 

[phoenix_night]

Originally posted by col
Sigh Ryan Giggs could have chosen to play for England but picked Wales instead. Englands loss.

RUBBISH!

He could never have played for England! He doesn't qualify to play for England! He's not English!

 

[col]

He played for England up to the age of 18. Then switched to Wales. Reputedly when he fell out with his (english) father and switched to his mothers country.