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Post by suedehead on Jun 24, 2008 21:06:18 GMT 1
Presumably the USA's desire to play in the World Cup somehow makes them forget their hostility towards any contact with Cuba? Even the USA wouldn't be stupid enough to refuse to play a particular team in a major competition. They last met in the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2005 in the US. They haven't played each other in the World Cup since 1949 and on that occasion, all the group games were played in Mexico. I don't think the USA have ever played in Cuba so it'll be interesting to see if they try and "persuade" FIFA to switch the venue. Interestingly, the USA could meet Iraq at next year's Confederations Cup as the two teams are the champions of their respective confederations. They can't possibly justify not playing in Cuba. The only reason for not playing somewhere should be security and that doesn't apply in this case. Sadly, I wouldn't be at all surprised if FIFA somehow let them get away with it.
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Post by Panda on Jun 27, 2008 20:16:05 GMT 1
Draw for the final group stage in Asia:
GROUP 1 Australia Japan Bahrain Uzbekistan Qatar
GROUP 2 South Korea Iran Saudi Arabia North Korea United Arab Emirates
The top 2 from each group qualify for the 2010 World Cup. The two 3rd-placed teams playoff against each other with the winner facing the champions from Oceania for a place in the finals.
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Thor
Member
Why can't this moment last forever more?
Posts: 22,606
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Post by Thor on Jun 27, 2008 21:06:25 GMT 1
Group 2 looks a lot tougher. I think Australia made a very smart decision going through Asia.
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Post by Panda on Jun 29, 2008 12:24:57 GMT 1
Group 2 looks a lot tougher. I think Australia made a very smart decision going through Asia. Indeed. Australia needed to be playing competitive football on a regular basis if they were ever going to improve. Australia should qualify though they weren't convincing in the last round. They were in the toughest group but still lost 2 of their 6 games... Uzbekistan are the team to watch in that group but Japan and Oz should be the top 2. From the other group, South Korea and Saudi Arabia should start favourites. Iran will probably get 3rd ahead of North Korea, who don't seem to score enough goals, but don't concede many either. Interestingly, the three teams who have never reached the finals are all in Group 1.
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Post by Panda on Jun 29, 2008 12:36:59 GMT 1
One game played yesterday. African 2nd round, Group 5: GABON 2-0 LESOTHO This game was rescheduled from a few weeks ago when Lesotho were unable to make it to Gabon in time for the game. Gabon's win keeps them in contention and eliminates Lesotho. 1. Ghana 4-9 (+4) 2. Libya 4-9 (+3) 3. Gabon 4-6 (+1) 4. Lesotho 4-0 (-8) Qualifying now takes a 2-month break. The CONCACAF group stages start in August and the first European game will also be played before the rest of the world resumes their campaigns in September.
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Post by Panda on Aug 20, 2008 22:24:24 GMT 1
The first European game took place today. European Group 6: KAZAKHSTAN 3-0 ANDORRA Kazakhstan win the first game in England's group with 3 first half goals.
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Post by Panda on Aug 21, 2008 20:37:09 GMT 1
CONCACAF's first group stage is underway. CONCACAF 3rd round, Group 1: CUBA 1-3 TRINIDAD & TOBAGO GUATEMALA 0-1 UNITED STATES T&T start with an important win. Carlos Bocanegra scored the USA's only goal against Guatemala, with both teams finishing the game with 10 men.
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Post by Panda on Aug 21, 2008 20:43:38 GMT 1
CONCACAF 3rd round, Group 2: CANADA 1-1 JAMAICA MEXICO 2-1 HONDURAS Canada and Jamaica share the points in Toronto, while Mexico has to come from behind in their first competitive game under Sven to beat Honduras.
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Post by Panda on Aug 21, 2008 20:47:59 GMT 1
CONCACAF 3rd round, Group 3: COSTA RICA 1-0 EL SALVADOR HAITI 2-2 SURINAME Costa Rica get off to a winning start. Suriname let a 2-goal lead slip in injury time against Haiti.
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Post by Panda on Sept 4, 2008 11:52:25 GMT 1
A recap ahead of this weekend's games, which sees the European campaign start in full. EUROPE8 groups of 6, 1 group of 5. The 9 group winners qualify for the finals. The best 8 runners-up go into the playoffs.Group 1: Portugal, Sweden, Denmark, Hungary, Albania, Malta Group 2: Greece, Israel, Switzerland, Moldova, Latvia, Luxembourg Group 3: Czech Republic, Poland, Northern Ireland, Slovakia, Slovenia, San Marino Group 4: Germany, Russia, Finland, Wales, Azerbaijan, Liechtenstein Group 5: Spain, Turkey, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Armenia, Estonia Group 6: Croatia, England, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Andorra Group 7: France, Romania, Serbia, Lithuania, Austria, Faroe Islands Group 8: Italy, Bulgaria, Ireland, Cyprus, Georgia, Montenegro Group 9: Netherlands, Scotland, Norway, Macedonia, Iceland SOUTH AMERICAAll 10 teams in one group. Top 4 qualify for the finals. 5th placed team goes into playoff with 4th placed CONCACAF team.Pos | Team | Pld | GD | Pts | 1 | Paraguay | 6 | +8 | 13 | 2 | Argentina | 6 | +6 | 11 | 3 | Colombia | 6 | +2 | 10 | 4 | Chile | 6 | 0 | 10 | 5 | Brazil | 6 | +4 | 9 | 6 | Uruguay | 6 | +9 | 8 | 7 | Venezuela | 6 | -1 | 7 | 8 | Ecuador | 6 | -6 | 5 | 9 | Bolivia | 6 | -10 | 4 | 10 | Peru | 6 | -12 | 3 |
AFRICACurrently in its first group stage, featuring 11 groups of 4 and 1 group of 3. The 12 group winners plus the best 8 runners-up progress to the next stage. The next round will feature 5 groups of 4 with the 5 winners qualifying for the finals. This competition is also acting as qualifying for the 2010 Cup of Nations, which is why South Africa are involved, though their place at the World Cup is guaranteed.GROUP 1 Pos | Team | Pld | GD | Pts | 1 | Cameroon | 4 | +6 | 10 | 2 | Cape Verde | 4 | +2 | 9 | 3 | Tanzania | 4 | -2 | 2 | 4 | Mauritius | 4 | -6 | 1 |
GROUP 2 Pos | Team | Pld | GD | Pts | 1 | Guinea | 4 | +3 | 7 | 2 | Kenya | 4 | +3 | 7 | 3 | Zimbabwe | 4 | 0 | 5 | 4 | Namibia | 4 | -6 | 3 |
GROUP 3 Pos | Team | Pld | GD | Pts | 1 | Benin | 4 | +4 | 9 | 2 | Angola | 4 | +2 | 7 | 3 | Uganda | 4 | 0 | 7 | 4 | Niger | 4 | -6 | 0 |
GROUP 4 Pos | Team | Pld | GD | Pts | 1 | Nigeria | 4 | +6 | 12 | 2 | South Africa | 4 | 0 | 4 | 3 | Sierra Leone | 4 | -2 | 4 | 4 | Equatorial Guinea | 4 | -4 | 3 |
GROUP 5 Pos | Team | Pld | GD | Pts | 1 | Ghana | 4 | +4 | 9 | 2 | Libya | 4 | +3 | 9 | 3 | Gabon | 4 | +1 | 6 | 4 | Lesotho | 4 | -8 | 0 |
GROUP 6 Pos | Team | Pld | GD | Pts | 1 | Senegal | 4 | +3 | 8 | 2 | Algeria | 4 | +2 | 6 | 3 | Gambia | 4 | 0 | 5 | 4 | Liberia | 4 | -5 | 2 |
GROUP 7 Pos | Team | Pld | GD | Pts | 1 | Ivory Coast | 4 | +5 | 8 | 2 | Botswana | 4 | -3 | 5 | 3 | Mozambique | 4 | +1 | 4 | 4 | Madagascar | 4 | -3 | 3 |
GROUP 8 Pos | Team | Pld | GD | Pts | 1 | Morocco | 4 | +6 | 9 | 2 | Rwanda | 4 | +4 | 9 | 3 | Ethiopia | 4 | +2 | 6 | 4 | Mauritania | 4 | -12 | 0 |
GROUP 9 Pos | Team | Pld | GD | Pts | 1 | Burkina Faso | 4 | +7 | 12 | 2 | Tunisia | 4 | +3 | 9 | 3 | Burundi | 4 | -3 | 3 | 4 | Seychelles | 4 | -7 | 0 |
GROUP 10 Pos | Team | Pld | GD | Pts | 1 | Mali | 4 | +5 | 9 | 2 | Congo | 4 | 0 | 6 | 3 | Chad | 3 | -2 | 3 | 4 | Sudan | 3 | -3 | 3 |
GROUP 11 Pos | Team | Pld | GD | Pts | 1 | Swaziland | 3 | 0 | 4 | 2 | Zambia | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 | Togo | 2 | 0 | 3 |
GROUP 12 Pos | Team | Pld | GD | Pts | 1 | DR Congo | 4 | +10 | 9 | 2 | Egypt | 4 | +6 | 9 | 3 | Malawi | 4 | +5 | 6 | 4 | Djibouti | 4 | -21 | 0 |
ASIAHas been whittled down to 10 teams after 3 rounds. The final round features 2 groups of 5. The top 2 in each group qualify for the finals. The 2 3rd placed teams playoff against each other with the winner going into a playoff with the Oceania champions for a place in the finals.Group 1: Australia, Japan, Bahrain, Uzbekistan, Qatar Group 2: South Korea, Iran, Saudi Arabia, North Korea, United Arab Emirates CONCACAFThe first group stage has just begun following 2 knockout rounds. There are 3 groups of 4 with the top 2 in each group going forward to the final group of 6. There, the top 3 will qualify for the finals with the 4th placed team going into a playoff with the 5th placed South American team.Group 1: USA, Guatemala, Trinidad & Tobago, Cuba Group 2: Mexico, Jamaica, Honduras, Canada Group 3: Costa Rica, Suriname, El Salvador, Haiti OCEANIACurrently in its final group stage after the numbers were reduced to 4 at the South Pacific Games. The winner of the group goes into a playoff with the 5th placed Asian team.Pos | Team | Pld | GD | Pts | 1 | New Zealand | 3 | +6 | 9 | 2 | New Caledonia | 4 | +7 | 8 | 3 | Fiji | 3 | -6 | 1 | 4 | Vanuatu | 4 | -7 | 1 |
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Post by Panda on Sept 6, 2008 15:25:59 GMT 1
3 games played in Africa yesterday. African 2nd round, Group 5: LIBYA 1-0 GHANA 1. Libya 5-12 (+4) 2. Ghana 5-9 (+3) 3. Gabon 4-6 (+1) 4. Lesotho 4-0 (-8)
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Post by Panda on Sept 6, 2008 15:29:52 GMT 1
African 2nd round, Group 6: ALGERIA 3-2 SENEGAL 1. Algeria 5-9 (+3) 2. Senegal 5-8 (+2) 3. Gambia 4-5 (0) 4. Liberia 4-2 (-5)
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Post by Panda on Sept 6, 2008 15:31:39 GMT 1
African 2nd round, Group 12: DJIBOUTI 0-3 MALAWI 1. DR Congo 4-9 (+10) 2. Malawi 5-9 (+8) 3. Egypt 4-9 (+6) 4. Djibouti 5-0 (-24)
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Post by Panda on Sept 7, 2008 15:17:12 GMT 1
A big day of World Cup qualifying yesterday... Oceania 3rd round: NEW CALEDONIA 1-3 NEW ZEALAND FIJI 2-0 VANUATU Ryan Nelsen was on the scoresheet as New Zealand clinched 1st place in the group and a playoff next year. As this group was also acting as the Oceania Nations Cup, they also earn a place in the next Confederations Cup. Fiji got their first win in the group with victory over Vanuatu. 1. New Zealand 4-12 (+8) 2. New Caledonia 5-8 (+5) 3. Fiji 4-4 (-4) 4. Vanuatu 5-1 (-9)
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Post by Panda on Sept 7, 2008 15:20:03 GMT 1
Asian 4th round, Group 1: BAHRAIN 2-3 JAPAN QATAR 3-0 UZBEKISTAN
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Post by Panda on Sept 7, 2008 15:21:25 GMT 1
Asian 4th round, Group 2: SAUDI ARABIA 1-1 IRAN UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 1-2 NORTH KOREA
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Post by Panda on Sept 7, 2008 15:24:49 GMT 1
European Group 1: ALBANIA 0-0 SWEDEN HUNGARY 0-0 DENMARK MALTA 0-4 PORTUGAL
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Post by Panda on Sept 7, 2008 15:27:51 GMT 1
European Group 2: ISRAEL 2-2 SWITZERLAND LUXEMBOURG 0-3 GREECE MOLDOVA 1-2 LATVIA
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Post by Panda on Sept 7, 2008 15:30:33 GMT 1
European Group 3: POLAND 1-1 SLOVENIA SLOVAKIA 2-1 NORTHERN IRELAND
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Post by Panda on Sept 7, 2008 15:34:00 GMT 1
European Group 4: LIECHTENSTEIN 0-6 GERMANY WALES 1-0 AZERBAIJAN Not even the presence of Darlington's Franz Burgmeier was enough to stop Liechtenstein crashing to a 6-0 defeat.
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