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Post by paulgilb on Jan 17, 2015 0:17:28 GMT 1
Starts tomorrow, with highlights on ITV4 (plus some live games - some of the final group games + semi-finals + final). Originally meant to be hosted by Morocco, but they withdrew due to Ebola fears, so Equatorial Guinea stepped in.
Reigning champions Nigeria did not qualify.
Group A Equatorial Guinea Burkina Faso Gabon Congo*
Group B Zambia* Tunisia* Cape Verde DR Congo*
Group C Ghana* Algeria* South Africa* Senegal
Group D Ivory Coast* Mali Cameroon* Guinea
* = former tournament winner
Current odds (thanks to http://www.oddschecker.com):
4/1 Ivory Coast
9/2 Algeria
9/1 Ghana
11/1 Tunisia
12/1 Cameroon
16/1 Senegal
20/1 Burkina Faso
25/1 South Africa
28/1 Mali
33/1 Cape Verde
33/1 Equatorial Guinea
33/1 Zambia
40/1 Gabon
70/1 Congo
70/1 DR Congo
80/1 Guinea
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Post by o on Jan 17, 2015 11:01:56 GMT 1
I think it's wide open, Ivory Coast always flatter to deceive, I shall be watching the highlights progs and trying to avoid the scores
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Post by Panda on Jan 17, 2015 16:11:32 GMT 1
Also going on at the moment is the Asian Cup in Australia, with the winners qualifying for the 2017 Confederations Cup.
The group stage is still going on but some of the quarter-finalists have already been decided.
Through to the quarters: South Korea Australia China United Arab Emirates Iran
Other possible quarter-finalists: Saudi Arabia or Uzbekistan two from Japan, Iraq, Jordan and Palestine
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Post by Panda on Jan 17, 2015 16:19:36 GMT 1
If the Cup of Nations had still been in Morocco, I would've strongly fancied Algeria but moving the tournament plays into the hands of the teams from further south. Cameroon would be my pick but Cape Verde could be interesting outsiders.
Also, is this the first instance of a country hosting a major tournament, having earlier been disqualified from the tournament?
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Post by paulgilb on Jan 18, 2015 0:32:09 GMT 1
Group A
Equatorial Guinea 1-1 Congo Burkina Faso 0-2 Gabon
Equatorial Guinea had one goal wrongly disallowed, and both teams missed good chances. Gabon owe their win to their goalkeeper who made several good saves.
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Post by o on Jan 18, 2015 12:04:19 GMT 1
Both looked good games in the highlights show. Anyone know why the highlights show appears to disappear from itv4 in a week or so? It's at 10-11pm at the moment, but when I was looking at my planner in a week or so, it wasn't there, shall have to check if it's on earlier. Misterh is there a highlights show for that Asian cup as well?
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Jan 18, 2015 13:11:12 GMT 1
cool I will record the highlights
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Post by Mart!n on Jan 18, 2015 15:39:38 GMT 1
Just saw the TV guide online there are two highlights show, one around 3:25pm to 4:25pm and the other from 10pm to 11pm on ITV4, showing different matches. This might help www.radiotimes.com/tv/tv-listings
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Post by Panda on Jan 18, 2015 16:28:15 GMT 1
Misterh is there a highlights show for that Asian cup as well? Doesn't appear to be, apart from when the quarter-finals start on Thursday. The semi-finals and final are being shown live but the coverage this week is a bit all over the place due to Eurosport showing the tennis.
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Post by Panda on Jan 18, 2015 16:33:52 GMT 1
In the Asian Cup this morning, Uzbekistan beat Saudi Arabia to take 2nd place in Group B and set up a quarter-final with South Korea. Group winners China will play hosts Australia.
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Post by paulgilb on Jan 20, 2015 0:16:32 GMT 1
Group B
Zambia 1-1 DR Congo Tunisia 1-1 Cape Verde
Zambia scored in the 2nd minute, but DR Congo fought back and equalised in the 2nd half. Tunisia took the lead in the 2nd half but Cape Verde equalised with a penalty shortly afterwards.
Group C
Ghana 1-2 Senegal Algeria 3-1 South Africa
Ghana scored an early penalty, but Senegal dominated the 2nd half, winning with the last kick of the game in the 93rd minute. South Africa took the lead early in the second half but then missed a penalty before Algeria scored 3 goals in 16 minutes (the first an own goal) to win.
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Post by Panda on Jan 20, 2015 12:51:08 GMT 1
Asian Cup quarter-final line-up:
South Korea v Uzbekistan (Thu, 07:30) Iran v Iraq (Fri, 06:30) China v Australia (Thu, 10:30) Japan v United Arab Emirates (Fri, 09:30)
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Post by o on Jan 20, 2015 13:02:25 GMT 1
Am enjoying the highlights, they are good games, how South Africa threw that game away I dont know, they were all over Algeria and if the penalty goes in, they go on to win I reckon. May tape some of the live Asian Cup games and see what they are like.
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Post by paulgilb on Jan 21, 2015 0:23:48 GMT 1
Group D
Ivory Coast 1-1 Guinea Mali 1-1 Cameroon
Outsiders Guinea upset the odds in the first half by scoring against favourites Ivory Coast. However, Ivory Coast equalised in the second half despite having Gervinho sent off for slapping an opponent in the penalty area.
Both goals in the Mali-Cameroon game came in the second half, Mali scoring first.
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Post by suedehead on Jan 21, 2015 0:37:14 GMT 1
Interesting to note that there was not a single draw in the whole group stage of the Asian Cup. By contrast, the opening round of the African Cup Of Nations ha seen five draws in eight games.
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Post by Panda on Jan 21, 2015 15:50:22 GMT 1
I find it slightly strange the amount of coverage the BBC Sport website gives the Africa Cup of Nations (live text commentary and match reports - probably even more coverage than it gives the Copa America) yet hasn't even acknowledged the Asian Cup is taking place...
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Post by paulgilb on Jan 22, 2015 0:44:58 GMT 1
Group A
Equatorial Guinea 0-0 Burkina Faso Gabon 0-1 Congo
Gabon would have gone through with a win, but Congo managed to nick a surprise win (despite Gabon having the better chances). Burkina Faso's draw means they live to fight another day.
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Post by Panda on Jan 22, 2015 15:31:55 GMT 1
Asian Cup quarter-finals: South Korea 2-0 Uzbekistan (AET) China 0-2 Australia (Tim Cahill with both goals)
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Post by paulgilb on Jan 23, 2015 0:00:16 GMT 1
Permutations for the final group games in Group A:
If Gabon avoid defeat against Equatorial Guinea, they are through, else they are out. If EqG beat Gabon, they are through, else they are out. Burkina Faso need to beat Congo to go through. If EqG and Gabon draw, BF will need to win by at least 2 goals. Congo will go through if and only if BF do not.
A rather bizarre situation could arise. If BF beat Congo by 1 goal and EqG beat Gabon, then the result will be 5-4-4-3, with BF going through at the expense of Congo due to the head-to-head result. However, if EqG and Gabon draw and BF win by 1 goal, then the result will be 4-4-4-3, then Congo will go through and BF will go out (despite the score in their match being unchanged). Gabon will top the group in this second situation as they will have the best head-to-head goal difference.
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Post by paulgilb on Jan 23, 2015 0:19:12 GMT 1
Group B
Zambia 1-2 Tunisia Cape Verde 0-0 DR Congo
Zambia dominated the first 65 minutes but only managed 1 goal. Tunisia fought back in the last quarter, scoring the winner in the 89th minute.
Permutations for final group games:
Tunisia will go through unless they lose to DR Congo and Cape Verde beat Zambia. Cape Verde will go through if they beat Zambia or they draw and Tunisia beat DR Congo. Draws in both games could be enough - it will then come down to goals scored. DR Congo will go through if they beat Tunisia, and could go through if both games are drawn. Zambia need to beat Cape Verde and hope DR Congo do not win.
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