frag
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Post by frag on Oct 22, 2008 23:02:58 GMT 1
Group A is looking the toughest... three of the four teams have been in recent world cups.
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Post by Panda on Oct 22, 2008 23:12:59 GMT 1
Group A is looking the toughest... three of the four teams have been in recent world cups. Togo were all over the place in the last round until their 6-0 win. I'd be surprised if they can keep it together for 6 games. Morocco haven't qualified since '98 and maybe aren't the team they were. Cameroon should make it this time. Nigeria and the Ivory Coast should also qualify. Ghana have a tougher job but should make it through as well. For me, the interesting group is Egypt's. They haven't qualified since Italia '90, but are probably the best team in Africa at the moment. However, they seem to struggle away from home, which is why they have such a poor World Cup record. Algeria last qualified in 1986 and are starting to show signs of a revival. Zambia may have qualified during the 90s had their squad not been killed in a plane crash. It's taken them a long time to rebuild but maybe they might just make it this time and Rwanda are one of the most improved African teams in recent years and can't be ruled out.
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Tom
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Post by Tom on Oct 23, 2008 13:04:15 GMT 1
Agree with Camaroon to qualify. Also wouldnt rule out Mali from Group D which would be quite amazing. Have they ever qualified for the World Cup before? Or even the African Nations Cup?
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Post by Robin on Oct 23, 2008 13:10:11 GMT 1
Mali have definitely performed well in the African Nations Cup previously, they may have reached the QF or SF, after all they do have Fredrick Kanoute!
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Post by Panda on Oct 23, 2008 13:10:35 GMT 1
Agree with Camaroon to qualify. Also wouldnt rule out Mali from Group D which would be quite amazing. Have they ever qualified for the World Cup before? Or even the African Nations Cup? Mali have qualified for the Nations Cup 5 times (reaching the final in 1972 and actually hosting it in 2002) but never the World Cup (though they didn't actually play their first World Cup qualifier until 2000). African teams in World Cup finals: 1934: Egypt 1970: Morocco 1974: Zaire (now DR Congo) 1978: Tunisia 1982: Algeria, Cameroon 1986: Algeria, Morocco 1990: Cameroon, Egypt 1994: Cameroon, Morocco, Nigeria 1998: Cameroon, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Tunisia 2002: Cameroon, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia 2006: Angola, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Togo, Tunisia
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Post by Panda on Nov 20, 2008 10:45:55 GMT 1
Yesterday saw another round of games in Asia, the conclusion of the group stage in CONCACAF, the final game in Oceania and one game in Europe. European Group 3: SAN MARINO 0-3 CZECH REPUBLIC The Czechs move up to second in the group after beating San Marino. All 3 goals came in the second half. 1. Slovakia 4-9 (+3) 2. Czech Republuc 4-7 (+3) 3. Poland 4-7 (+2) 4. Slovenia 4-7 (+2) 5. Northern Ireland 4-4 (+1) 6. San Marino 4-0 (-11)
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Post by Panda on Nov 20, 2008 10:51:41 GMT 1
Oceania 3rd round: NEW ZEALAND 0-2 FIJI (played in Fiji) New Zealand miss out on finishing the group with a 100% record after losing to Fiji. New Zealand had goalkeeper Glen Moss sent off in the second half for dissent. New Zealand must now wait almost a year to face the winner of the playoff between the two 3rd place teams in Asia. 1. New Zealand 6-15 (+9) 2. New Caledonia 6-8 (+2) 3. Fiji 6-7 (-3) 4. Vanuatu 6-4 (-8)
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Post by Panda on Nov 20, 2008 10:56:08 GMT 1
Asian 4th round, Group 1: BAHRAIN 0-1 AUSTRALIA QATAR 0-3 JAPAN Mark Bresciano's injury time goal means Australia maintain their winning start while Japan remain unbeaten. It already looks like the other teams are playing for 3rd place. 1. Australia 3-9 (+6) 2. Japan 3-7 (+4) 3. Qatar 4-4 (-4) 4. Bahrain 3-1 (-2) 5. Uzbekistan 3-1 (-4)
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Post by Panda on Nov 20, 2008 11:00:05 GMT 1
Asian 4th round, Group 2: SAUDI ARABIA 0-2 SOUTH KOREA UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 1-1 IRAN South Korea go 2 points clear at the top. The UAE pick up their first point. 1. South Korea 3-7 (+5) 2. Iran 3-5 (+1) 3. North Korea 3-4 (0) 4. Saudi Arabia 3-4 (-1) 5. United Arab Emirates 4-1 (-5)
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Post by Panda on Nov 20, 2008 11:05:45 GMT 1
CONCACAF 3rd round, Group 1: TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 3-0 CUBA UNITED STATES 2-0 GUATEMALA Trinidad & Tobago go through to the final round after comfortably beating Cuba. That win meant Guatemala would've been out even if they'd beaten the USA, which they didn't. 1. USA 6-15 (+11) 2. Trinidad & Tobago 6-11 (+3) 3. Guatemala 6-5 (-1) 4. Cuba 6-3 (-13)
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Post by Panda on Nov 20, 2008 11:10:58 GMT 1
CONCACAF 3rd round, Group 2: HONDURAS 1-0 MEXICO JAMAICA 3-0 CANADA A tight finish in this group with Mexico scraping through on goal difference after losing to Honduras, having been reduced to 9 men. John Barnes' Jamaican side did their job, beating Canada but realistically they needed a Mexican win if they were to stand a chance of progressing to the final round. 1. Honduras 6-12 (+4) 2. Mexico 6-10 (+3) 3. Jamaica 6-10 (0) 4. Canada 6-2 (-7)
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Post by Panda on Nov 20, 2008 11:15:12 GMT 1
CONCACAF 3rd round, Group 3: EL SALVADOR 1-3 COSTA RICA SURINAME 1-1 HAITI 6 wins out of 6 for Costa Rica. They and El Salvador had both already qualified for the next stage. Suriname and Haiti drew again meaning both sides finish the group without a win. 1. Costa Rica 6-18 (+17) 2. El Salvador 6-10 (+7) 3. Haiti 6-3 (-9) 4. Suriname 6-2 (-15)
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Post by Panda on Nov 20, 2008 11:16:19 GMT 1
The next World Cup games are in February next year with another round of games in Asia and a few in Europe.
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frag
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Post by frag on Nov 20, 2008 13:22:20 GMT 1
Cheers for the update, I wasn't even aware there were qualifying matches last night.
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Post by Panda on Nov 20, 2008 13:43:10 GMT 1
The media in this country don't seem to realise international football exists outside Europe and South America.
I was just having a look at oddschecker.com to see the latest odds for the World Cup. SEVEN bookmakers are still offering odds on China despite them being knocked out 5 months ago.
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frag
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Post by frag on Nov 20, 2008 15:40:50 GMT 1
The media in this country don't seem to realise international football exists outside Europe and South America. I was just having a look at oddschecker.com to see the latest odds for the World Cup. SEVEN bookmakers are still offering odds on China despite them being knocked out 5 months ago. D'oh!
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Post by suedehead on Nov 22, 2008 23:48:48 GMT 1
The media in this country don't seem to realise international football exists outside Europe and South America. I was just having a look at oddschecker.com to see the latest odds for the World Cup. SEVEN bookmakers are still offering odds on China despite them being knocked out 5 months ago.
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frag
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Post by frag on Nov 25, 2008 10:58:39 GMT 1
Peru have been banned from international competition!
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Post by Panda on Nov 25, 2008 13:45:58 GMT 1
Peru have been banned from international competition! I suspect it won't last long. This sort of move by FIFA isn't uncommon and usually doesn't result in a team being thrown out of a competition (though Ethiopia were thrown out of this tournament). I remember Greece being temporarily suspended a couple of years ago. It's likely it will all be sorted by the time qualifying resumes.
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frag
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Post by frag on Nov 25, 2008 15:55:42 GMT 1
Yeah, particularly as they have a whole four months until the next game.
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