International Football (non-USMNT)

Zososoxfan

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DLew On Roids said:
They still have a chance.  Away goals count, so a scoring draw in Croatia would put them through.  Plus, I don't think Croatia has won anywhere in about nine months.
 
BTW, the biggest news affecting who might win the World Cup came from a friendly...Sami Khedira tore his ACL against Italy and may be out of the Finals.
 
Brutal. Not trying to hijack the thread, but does RM get any relief as a result?
 

Billy R Ford

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Zososoxfan said:
 
Brutal. Not trying to hijack the thread, but does RM get any relief as a result?
 
I think in the past they've gotten money from FIFA to cover an injured player's salary, though that's of course a small consolation, especially for a team like Madrid who don't need it.
 
For Germany, I guess this means one of the Bender brothers will have to step up, but they're both pretty inexperienced at international level.
 

Zomp

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Khedira plays next to Schweiny as holding midfielders right?  The Benders or Gundogan could move in and I don't think Gemany loses much there.
 

DLew On Roids

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Zososoxfan said:
 
Brutal. Not trying to hijack the thread, but does RM get any relief as a result?
I don't know the DFB's situation, but it seems likely. Some larger European FAs have insurance policies that pay clubs the player's wages when he's injured on international duty.

Incidentally, FIFA and UEFA tournaments are often insured at the federation level. Globally it's a patchwork; if Khedira were from Burkina Faso, he'd almost surely not be insured, and the national FAs aren't obliged to pay.
 

Infield Infidel

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Cameroon takes down Tunisia, With Ghana up over Egypt 6-1 and almost certainly going to advance, there will likely be only one middling African side in the WC: the Algeria-Burkina Faso winner. Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria and Ivory Coast are all strong sides. 
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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Infield Infidel said:
Italy's hosting a friendly with Nigeria today. I'd love to be a fly on the wall for this one. 
 
apparently it's in England. And SHOLAGOALS
 
So, I turned on BeIn sports a while ago to see if they had any 90 in 30 segments of the weekend's Africa WCQ playoffs, and found this game live.  It's now in the 84th minute.
 
Nigeria just qualified on Saturday in Calabar in a somewhat tough game where the result was still in doubt in the tie to start the game, and here they are less than 48 hours playing a friendly against Italy?  And it's at Craven Cottage -- nearly 4,000 miles away?  WTF?
 
But the most crazy part of the whole thing is that it may be one of the best games I've ever seen -- certainly one of the best friendlies.
 

teddykgb

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I agree, that Italy/Nigeria friendly was fantastic.  Balotelli is so fun to watch when he's a lone striker and focal point.  Game was wide open, chances all over the place.  I really enjoyed when the sub Italy brought on jumped on a wide open chance in front of net in front of Balotelli from 6 yds out, only to sky it over the bar.
 
I thought the Italian team looked very skilled and played some very tidy stuff.  I'm not sure they'll be as defensive as conventional wisdom says an Italian team would be, they're going to be incredibly fun to watch in Brazil.
 

Titans Bastard

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I can't believe that 
 
A) Nigeria called up Bright Dike (top-notch name, as well)
B) He scored
C) And it was against Italy
 
Along with Giuseppe Rossi, two of the goals scored in that friendly were scored by Americans.  Soccer is a strange game.
 

dirtynine

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So, here we go.  Qualifying is wrapping up. 
 
Portugal vs. Sweden
1st Leg: Lisbon, Portugal 1-0 Sweden
2nd Leg: Stockholm, today, 2:45pm ET
• if Portugal wins or draws by any score: Portugal goes through
• if Sweden wins 1-0: Extra Time
• if Sweden wins by +2 or more: Sweden goes through
 
Ukraine vs. France
1st Leg: Kiev, Ukraine 2-0 France
2nd Leg: Paris, today, 3:00pm ET
• if Ukraine wins or draws by any score: Ukraine goes through
• if France wins by +1: Ukraine goes through
• if France wins by +2
      while conceding at least 1 goal: Ukraine goes through
      by 2-0: Extra Time 
• if France wins by +3: France goes through 
 
Greece vs. Romania
1st Leg: Athens, Greece 3-1 Romania
2nd Leg: Bucharest, today, 2:00pm ET
• if Greece wins or draws by any score: Greece goes through
• if Romania wins by +1: Greece goes through
• if Romania wins by + 2
      while conceding at least 2 goals: Greece goes through
      by 3-1: Extra time
      2-0: Romania goes through
• if Romania wins by +3: Romania goes through
 
Iceland vs. Croatia
1st Leg: Reykjavik Iceland 0-0 Croatia
2nd Leg: Zagreb, today, 2:15pm ET
• if the teams draw 0-0: Extra Time
• if Iceland wins or draws while scoring at least one goal: Iceland goes through
• if Croatia wins: Croatia goes through
 
 
I'll see if I can add the Africa and international qualifiers next....
 

dirtynine

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Egypt vs. Ghana
1st Leg: Kumasi, Ghana 6-1 Egypt
2nd Leg: Cairo, today, 11am ET (in progress)
• the only scenarios that keep Egypt alive are
     a win by 6-1: Extra time
     a win by 5-0
     winning by +6 or more
​otherwise, Ghana will go through
 
Algeria vs. Burkina Faso
1st Leg: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso 3-2 Algeria
2nd Leg: Blida, today, 1:15pm ET
•  if Burkina Faso wins or draws by any score: Burkina Faso goes through
•  if Algeria wins by +1,
    while conceding 0 or 1: Algeria goes through
    while conceding 2: Extra Time
    while conceding 3 or more: Burkina Faso goes through
•  if Algeria wins by +2 or more: Algeria goes through
 
New Zealand vs. Mexico
1st Leg: Mexico City, Mexico 5-1 New Zealand
2nd Leg: Wellington, 20 Nov, 1:00am ET
• the only scenarios that keep New Zealand alive are
     a win by 5-1: Extra Time
     a win by 4-0
     winning by +5 or more
​otherwise, Mexico will go through
 
Jordan vs. Uruguay
1st Leg: Amman, Jordan 0-5 Uruguay
2nd Leg: Montevideo, 20 Nov, 6:00pm ET
• the only scenarios that keep Jordan alive are
      a win by 0-5: Extra Time
      winning by +6 or more
​otherwise, Uruguay will go through
 

dirtynine

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Egypt 2-1 Ghana, but Ghana go through.  Algeria vs. Burkina Faso 0-0 early in the first half; the four Euro games start within the next 90 minutes.  Fun little afternoon. 
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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dirtynine said:
 
So, here we go.  Qualifying is wrapping up. 
 
Portugal Christiano vs. Sweden Zlatan
 
 
There.  Fixed it.  Wouldn't want to contradict the continental narrative!
 
I have high hopes for big excitement in the Algeria v. Burkina Faso game.  If it gets to the second half scoreless, Algeria will have to open up the game. 
 

dirtynine

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Algeria score early in the second half... they will go through if they can hold on for 35+ minutes.
 
Croatia vs. Iceland has kicked off, with Iceland defending valiantly so far.  
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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Boy, these Algeria players are a whining lot.  Between their histrionics and the national outrage about the penalty awarded to Burkina Faso in the first leg, they are kind of hard to root for.
 
Edit:  And their coach too, apparently.
 

dirtynine

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Croatia 1-0 Iceland.  There will be no extra time or kicks in this one; Iceland need a goal now, but one will do.  
 

dirtynine

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Poor Iceland look like they're playing up a steep hill.  It will be a miracle if they score, and an achievement if they get a good look at goal.  
 
edit - just as I type, Croatia foolishly go down to 10 men!  Unfortunate studs-up challenge, a bit harsh on the red perhaps.  I have absolutely no idea what to expect now. 
 

dirtynine

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About 10 minutes left in Blida, with Algeria holding on.  One BF goal changes the equation. 
 
Iceland and Croatia have reached the half, in what is essentially now a toss-up.  Croatia up 1-0 but down to 10 men, Iceland needing a goal in the next 45'. 
 
Greece and Romania have reached half-time, 1-0 Greece.  Looks like very little drama there.   
 
Sweden and Portugal are approaching 10' 0-0.  
 

dirtynine

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88' in Blida.  Burkina Faso better watch that Donovan video quickly...
 
ed. it's over. Algeria are going to Brazil. 
 
Iceland/Croatia about to resume.  Should be a fun half.  
 
Romania have equalized in Bucharest, but they have a ways to go.  
 
Sweden/Portugal still scoreless in the 31'.
 

dirtynine

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Croatia 2-0 Iceland.  That removes a ton of the drama.  I don't see two goals coming from Iceland even against 10 men. 
 

dirtynine

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Halftime in Stockholm, 0-0.  
Rapture in Paris.  2-0, tied on aggregate.  Vivant!  
Greece and Romania plodding along to the inevitable.  
Iceland could play for 1000 years and not score in this match.  
 

dirtynine

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France/Ukraine reaches halftime, all tied up on aggregate.  France look fully in control, but a Ukraine goal would be a tough obstacle to overcome in 45 minutes. 
Sweden/Portugal restart, Portugal 1-0 on aggregate.  Sweden have 45 minutes to get the goal that forces extra time. 
Greece is going to beat Romania, and Croatia is going to beat Iceland, momentarily.  
 

dirtynine

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Portugal put it on virtual ice with an away goal (scored, and celebrated douche-ily, by CR).  Sweden need three goals in less than a half now. 
 
Looks like the only drama left is in Paris.  
 

dirtynine

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Greece and Croatia make it official. 
 
31 teams are, essentially, to Brazil.  Just FRA/UKR left up for grabs.  
 

dirtynine

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Zlatan pulls one back for Sweden.  Had that opened the game, it would be pandemonium in Stockholm.  But with 25 minutes left, Sweden still need two.  Unlikely. 
 

dirtynine

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They do!!  2-1 Sweden, 2-2 aggregate with Portugal's away goal the current decider.  Sweden can pull off a relative miracle with one more goal.  20 minutes left. 
 

dirtynine

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Oh boy.  Ronaldo scores on a perfect counter attack, and follows it with more annoying posturing.  That should settle it. 
 

dirtynine

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less than 10 minutes left at Stade de France.  Ukraine getting desperate, and all they need is one.  There will be no extra time. 
 

Vinho Tinto

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dirtynine said:
less than 10 minutes left at Stade de France.  Ukraine getting desperate, and all they need is one.  There will be no extra time. 
 
Down a man, a free kick may be their best chance. 
 

dirtynine

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Final whistle, France 3-0 Ukraine (3-2 agg).  Looks like the French will have to pretend to like each other for another few months... they're headed to Brazil. 
 

dirtynine

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Barring insanity in Wellington or Montevideo, here are the 32 World Cup 2014 teams, in the pots they will be drawn from into groups.
 
Pot 1 (Seeds)
Brazil
Argentina
Colombia
Uruguay
Spain
Germany
Belgium
Switzerland
 
Pot 2
Japan
Australia
Iran
South Korea 
USA
Costa Rica
Honduras
Mexico
 
Pot 3
Chile
Ecuador
Côte d'Ivoire
Nigeria
Cameroon
Ghana
Algeria
France
 
Pot 4
Netherlands
Italy
Bosnia-Herzegovina
England
Portugal
Russia
Greece
Croatia