Continuing the look ahead to next month's World Cup qualifiers
Europe: Group Six
Free scoring England have 26 goals and 21 points to their name after 7 wins from 7 games. So why am I still biting my nails? Because Croatia can still get 23 points if they win their remaining three games, one of which is against England on September 9th. If the unthinkable were to happen and England were to draw their other two games, the group would be tied. Then the boffins at FIFA will scratch their heads before closely scrutinising the goal difference situation and wondering out loud why a bloke in England running an obscure footy blog was ever worried.
Forthcoming fixtures:
September 5th
Ukraine - Andorra
Croatia - Belarus
September 9th
England - Croatia
Belarus - Ukraine
Andorra - Kazakhstan
Europe: Group Seven
If France beat Romania next month, the clash in Belgrade four days later will take on special significance. Beat Serbia and the French would jump into top spot on 19 points. Am I alone in thinking this would be a travesty? Les Bleus have scored eight goals and conceded six in their six qualifying games so far. They only beat the Faroe Islands 1 – 0 and, by some accounts, could have lost. This is hardly the France of Platini, Tigana and Giresse; of Henry, Vieira and Zidane. Sad but true.
Forthcoming fixtures:
September 5th
Austria - Faroe Islands
France - Romania
September 9th
Faroe Islands - Lithuania
Romania - Austria
Serbia - France
Europe: Group Eight
Only one point separates the top two, so this group could still be up for grabs if The Republic of Ireland actually starts winning games. Over to you, Robbie Keane. Three wins and four draws have seen them cling on to Italy’s tatty coat tails, but somehow you feel this form won’t be good enough to secure an automatic place. That said, if they can’t beat Montenegro or Bulgaria, should the Republic be going to South Africa anyway? Watch out for the (possible) crunch game between the Irish and the Italians on October 10th in Dublin.
Forthcoming fixtures:
September 5th
Bulgaria - Montenegro
Cyprus - Republic of Ireland
Georgia - Italy
September 9th
Montenegro - Cyprus
Italy - Bulgaria
28/08/2009
Spain, Torres and Richard Curtis films
Looking ahead to World Cup qualifiers in September – Part 5
Europe: Group Five
This is another procession, with current European Champions Spain routinely seeing off a collection of minnows over the last twelve months. There is no evidence that this trend is about to end. Bosnia versus Spain in October is the closest this group comes to anything of interest, and only then because it could be the first time a visiting time has brought out pillows, duvets and mugs of hot chocolate, settled down to watch a Richard Curtis film, drifted off to sleep, and still won.
Forthcoming fixtures:
September 5th
Armenia - Bosnia-Herzegovina
Turkey - Estonia
Spain - Belgium
September 9th
Bosnia-Herzegovina - Turkey
Armenia - Belgium
Spain - Estonia
Europe: Group Five
This is another procession, with current European Champions Spain routinely seeing off a collection of minnows over the last twelve months. There is no evidence that this trend is about to end. Bosnia versus Spain in October is the closest this group comes to anything of interest, and only then because it could be the first time a visiting time has brought out pillows, duvets and mugs of hot chocolate, settled down to watch a Richard Curtis film, drifted off to sleep, and still won.
Forthcoming fixtures:
September 5th
Armenia - Bosnia-Herzegovina
Turkey - Estonia
Spain - Belgium
September 9th
Bosnia-Herzegovina - Turkey
Armenia - Belgium
Spain - Estonia
27/08/2009
Anyone for jokes about towels on sun-kissed South African beaches?
Looking ahead to World Cup qualifiers in September – Part 4
Europe: Group Four
The ruthlessly efficient Germans are ruling the roost in this group. Four points ahead, with a game against closest rivals Russia on October 10th sandwiched between visits by Azerbaijan and Finland, would it be premature to start making jokes about towels on sun kissed South African beaches? Nope, didn’t think so. In summary, Finland and Russia are almost certainly hunting for a consolation play-off place.
Forthcoming fixtures:
September 5th
Russia - Liechtenstein
Azerbaijan - Finland
September 9th
Liechtenstein - Finland
Wales - Russia
Germany - Azerbaijan
Europe: Group Four
The ruthlessly efficient Germans are ruling the roost in this group. Four points ahead, with a game against closest rivals Russia on October 10th sandwiched between visits by Azerbaijan and Finland, would it be premature to start making jokes about towels on sun kissed South African beaches? Nope, didn’t think so. In summary, Finland and Russia are almost certainly hunting for a consolation play-off place.
Forthcoming fixtures:
September 5th
Russia - Liechtenstein
Azerbaijan - Finland
September 9th
Liechtenstein - Finland
Wales - Russia
Germany - Azerbaijan
26/08/2009
Limp Central European grudge matches
Looking ahead to World Cup qualifiers in September – Part 3
Europe: Group Three
Poor old San Marino. One goal scored, 37 conceded. It’s not looking good for the landlocked microstate. Still, at least we’ll be spared commentators making what they think are clever references to the Most Serene Republic of San Marino and its status as the oldest sovereign state and constitutional republic in the world. Because nobody cares.
Look out for the limp central European grudge matches still to unfold in this group: Czech Republic v Poland, Slovakia v Slovenia and, best of all, Czech Republic v Slovakia on September 5th. They used to be part of the same country but sort of fell out without Bosnia-style repercussions. Cue jokes about homicidal maniacs and Northern Ireland, who face a tough last three games and will do well to finish second.
Forthcoming fixtures:
September 5th
Poland - Northern Ireland
Slovakia - Czech Republic
September 9th
Czech Republic - San Marino
Northern Ireland - Slovakia
Slovenia - Poland
Europe: Group Three
Poor old San Marino. One goal scored, 37 conceded. It’s not looking good for the landlocked microstate. Still, at least we’ll be spared commentators making what they think are clever references to the Most Serene Republic of San Marino and its status as the oldest sovereign state and constitutional republic in the world. Because nobody cares.
Look out for the limp central European grudge matches still to unfold in this group: Czech Republic v Poland, Slovakia v Slovenia and, best of all, Czech Republic v Slovakia on September 5th. They used to be part of the same country but sort of fell out without Bosnia-style repercussions. Cue jokes about homicidal maniacs and Northern Ireland, who face a tough last three games and will do well to finish second.
Forthcoming fixtures:
September 5th
Poland - Northern Ireland
Slovakia - Czech Republic
September 9th
Czech Republic - San Marino
Northern Ireland - Slovakia
Slovenia - Poland
25/08/2009
Looking ahead to World Cup qualifiers in September – Part 2
Europe: Group Two
This is a difficult group to read. OK, Luxembourg and Moldova have as much chance of qualifying as I have of flying to the moon; it’s just that the rest don’t seem all that keen either.
Greece and Switzerland both have 13 points, with Latvia on 10 and Israel on nine. The top two play in Basel on September 5th before the Greeks finish off with games against Moldova, Latvia and Luxembourg. On that basis they should probably qualify outright, leaving Israel and Switzerland to fight it out for a play-off place.
Forthcoming fixtures:
September 5th
Moldova - Luxembourg
Switzerland - Greece
Israel - Latvia
September 9th
Israel - Luxembourg
Moldova - Greece
Latvia - Switzerland
This is a difficult group to read. OK, Luxembourg and Moldova have as much chance of qualifying as I have of flying to the moon; it’s just that the rest don’t seem all that keen either.
Greece and Switzerland both have 13 points, with Latvia on 10 and Israel on nine. The top two play in Basel on September 5th before the Greeks finish off with games against Moldova, Latvia and Luxembourg. On that basis they should probably qualify outright, leaving Israel and Switzerland to fight it out for a play-off place.
Forthcoming fixtures:
September 5th
Moldova - Luxembourg
Switzerland - Greece
Israel - Latvia
September 9th
Israel - Luxembourg
Moldova - Greece
Latvia - Switzerland
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