amacpher Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 quote:Originally posted by TheSuperAttacker Dude the game is called Futbal and anything can happen. Armenia only lost against Spain 2-1, they drew Belgium, Estonia only lost 1-0 versus Brazil this year, they also Drew Portugal. Bosnia pulled a crucial Point from Turkey which guided us to the PLay-Offs. You cannot say that we didn't deserve that 2nd spot! I didn't say Bosnia didn't deserve it. Turkey and Belgium choked against weaker teams and therefore those 2 most certainly do not deserve second-place. But you are now contradicting yourself. Earlier you wrote "you must be high to believe that Peru or Bolivia would finish second in Group 5." And now you say "anything can happen." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSuperAttacker Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 quote:Originally posted by amacpher I didn't say Bosnia didn't deserve it. Turkey and Belgium choked against weaker teams and therefore those 2 most certainly do not deserve second-place. But you are now contradicting yourself. Earlier you wrote "you must be high to believe that Peru or Bolivia would finish second in Group 5." And now you say "anything can happen." Yes Anything can happen, But I HIGHLY believe that Peru nor Bloivia would be able to beat SPain, Turkey, Bosnia, Belgium, Estonia, or Armenia. Even though Estonia and Armenia are bad teams they perform great at home with some good players! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amacpher Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 quote:Originally posted by TheSuperAttacker Even though Estonia and Armenia are bad teams they perform great at home with some good players! And Peru and Bolivia doesn't?? Admittedly I don't watch Peru (or Estonia or Armenia) play very often, but I will often find myself watching a club match from Europe that has a Peruvian involved (sometimes being the best player on the team). Estonia or Armenia? Not so much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSuperAttacker Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 quote:Originally posted by amacpher And Peru and Bolivia doesn't?? Admittedly I don't watch Peru (or Estonia or Armenia) play very often, but I will often find myself watching a club match from Europe that has a Peruvian involved (sometimes being the best player on the team). Estonia or Armenia? Not so much. So you are basically insisting that if you don't see one of there players on t.v then they are bad?! Remember Estonia Drew Portugal when Portugal was doing good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amacpher Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 quote:Originally posted by TheSuperAttacker So you are basically insisting that if you don't see one of there players on t.v then they are bad?! No, its just another piece of evidence that Peru and Bolivia are better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSuperAttacker Posted November 5, 2009 Share Posted November 5, 2009 quote:Originally posted by amacpher No, its just another piece of evidence that Peru and Bolivia are better. I don't know, you are entitled to your opinion and so am I. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachesl Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 HHHHHHmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, who do I hate the most, AntiCristiano Ronaldo or Begovicbitch? ----------------------------------------- Ronaldo named in Portugal squad Ronaldo suffered further ankle damage against Hungary in October Cristiano Ronaldo has been named in Portugal's 23-man squad to face Bosnia in the two-legged World Cup play-offs despite an ongoing ankle injury. The forward has missed the last seven games for his club Real Madrid and is expected to be out of action for at least two more weeks. But Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz hopes the ex-Manchester United star can play a part in the 14 and 18 November ties. Ronaldo injured the ankle in September and aggravated it again in October. Queiroz said on Friday he would call up the winger to help Portugal "even if just for a few minutes". But on Sunday, Real Madrid director general Jorge Valdano said that playing Ronaldo now would be a serious mistake. 606: DEBATE Discuss international football on 606 "You have to remember that he injured himself again playing for Portugal and so he's a long way from being a player who lacks commitment," he said. "Perhaps it's an excess of commitment (that) has put us in this situation. Making the same mistake again would be a great deal more serious." Valdano added that Real Madrid would be sending all the information on the injury to Portugal's doctors on Monday. Portugal, World Cup semi-finalists in 2006, play Bosnia in Lisbon and then Zenica four days later, with the winners qualifying for the 2010 finals in South Africa. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Portugal squad: Goalkeepers: Hilario (Chelsea), Eduardo (Sporting Braga), Rui Patricio (Sporting Lisbon). Defenders: Ricardo Costa (Wolfsburg), Bruno Alves (FC Porto), Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea), Miguel (Valencia), Pepe (Real Madrid), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Rolando (FC Porto). Midfielders: Deco (Chelsea), Duda (Malaga), Joao Moutinho (Sporting Lisbon), Fabio Coentrao (Benfica), Miguel Veloso (Sporting Lisbon), Raul Meireles (FC Porto), Tiago (Juventus). Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Liedson (Sporting Lisbon), Nani (Manchester United), Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen), Simao Sabrosa (Atletico Madrid), Edinho (Malaga). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpg75 Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 Bosnia scouring the globe for talent: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=693774&sec=worldcup2010&cc=5901 Bosnia coach Miroslav Blazevic is hoping uncapped midfielder Haris Medunjanin will be granted approval by FIFA in time to make his debut in the two-legged World Cup play-off against Portugal later this month. Blazevic included Medunjanin in his squad for the ties on November 14 in Lisbon and Zenica four days later but the Real Valladolid midfielder must first get clearance after playing for the Dutch Under-21 squad. "The procedure for changing his soccer nationality is in progress and we expect a positive reply from FIFA by the end of the week," Blazevic told a news conference on Wednesday. "We've asked for a summary procedure because we are running out of time and we are all hoping that Medunjanin will be cleared to play for us," added Bosnia's FA secretary general Munib Usanovic. Medunjanin, 24, fled the war in Bosnia to the Netherlands with his mother and sister in 1992 and won back-to-back Under-21 European Championships with the Dutch in 2006 and 2007. His father was unable to leave with them and was later killed in the 1992-95 conflict. Medunjanin played for Dutch first division sides AZ Alkmaar and Sparta Rotterdam before joining Valladolid in 2008. Blazevic, who steered Croatia to the 1998 World Cup semi-finals, has opted to set up Bosnia's training base for the play-off against Portugal in Croatia's coastal resort of Novi Vinodolski due to its mild winter climate. "The conditions in Sarajevo are no longer ideal because of bad weather and we have opted for Novi Vinodolski because its climate is very similar to Portugal's at this time of the year," Blazevic said. "I have never been involved in a more important match in my career, there is a lot of pressure and great expectations among the fans so we mustn't let them down." The wily 74-year old, aiming to take the Bosnians to their first major tournament as an independent nation, acknowledged his team face a suspension nightmare with nine players in danger of missing the return leg if booked. "We can't imagine that we will get through the first leg without any new bookings because the Portuguese force yellow cards from the opposition with their skill and ball control. We have a lot of players who are in a precarious position and that's why I have called up 26 players for the two games." FULL SQUAD: Goalkeepers: Kenan Hasagic (Istanbul BB SK), Nemanja Supic (Timisoara), Asmir Begovic (Ipswich) Defenders: Emir Spahic (Montpellier), Adnan Mravac (Westerlo), Sanel Jahic (AEK Athens), Damir Mirvic (Roselare), Boris Pandza (Hajduk Split), Safet Nadarevic (Eskisehirspor), Dzemal Berberovic (Denizlispor), Ninoslav Milenkovic (Paralimni) Midfield: Dario Damjanovic (Kaiserslautern), Samir Muratovic (Sturm Graz), Semir Stilic (Lech Poznan), Sejad Salihovic (Hoffenheim), Miralem Pjanic (Olympique Lyon), Zvjezdan Misimovic (VfL Wolfsburg), Zlatan Bajramovic (Eintracht Frankfurt), Senijad Ibricic (Hajduk Split), Elvir Rahimic (CSKA Moscow), Haris Medunjanin (Real Valladolid), Admir Vladavic (Salzburg) Strikers: Zlatan Muslimovic (PAOK Salonika), Vedad Ibisevic (Hoffenheim), Edin Dzeko (VfL Wolfsburg), Ermin Zec (Sibenik). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSuperAttacker Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 Hey, just to let you guys know Begovic is most likely is going to start vs Portugal, so if you want to see him "Screw Up" its going to be on Setanta Sports. 3:00 pm EASTERN TIME Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpg75 Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 I'm seriously considering laying some big-time cash on Portugal. At 22 years of age Begovic is a good prospect, but at this point in his career i question if he's ready to handle a 90 minute barrage from a "backs against the wall" Portuguese squad in Lisbon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amacpher Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 quote:Originally posted by jpg75 I'm seriously considering laying some big-time cash on Portugal. At 22 years of age Begovic is a good prospect, but at this point in his career i question if he's ready to handle a 90 minute barrage from a "backs against the wall" Portuguese squad in Lisbon. Yeah, the problem is Portugal will be without Ronaldo. Without him their attack is very ordinary. Their defense is impressive but you'll have to put up a lot of money to make it worthwhile since Portugal are going to be big favories. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSuperAttacker Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 quote:Originally posted by jpg75 I'm seriously considering laying some big-time cash on Portugal. At 22 years of age Begovic is a good prospect, but at this point in his career i question if he's ready to handle a 90 minute barrage from a "backs against the wall" Portuguese squad in Lisbon. You can't automatically assume Portugal will be the winners. I am actually happy that Begovic is starting since he is the only one that is being the goalie for his squad in our squad. Yeah without Ronaldo and Bosingwa attacking the wings, Portugal is just another ordinary attacking team. Simao is completely off form as well as Maniche.. Anything can happen on Saturday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manuel Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 Maniche? He's not even in the squad. There are those who say (which I don't agree) that Portugal play better when Ronaldo isn't on the team. They play more as a team and a unit than when he is in the line up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loud Mouth Soup Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 I want to see Begovic cry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolf Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 Don't be surprised if Portugal blows it. This could be the end of a half decent run in the last few years, euro final, semis and quarters, 4th place world. Some pretty good players and their in this dilemna. In the community it's not all FORCA PORTUGAL thats for the fobs, alot of bitching and complaining goes on as well, deservedly so. Saturday night probably might be a good fado night. (portuguese blues). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveBeau Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 Algerian players attacked by Egyptian fans in Cairo prior to World cup qualifier: http://www.soccermontreal.net/2009/11/is-winning-really-only-thing-that.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ob1 Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 just like to give a big shout to the All Whites, I'll be at the game tomorrow and hopefully witness a bit of kiwi magic and a piece of history the atmosphere will be electric as the entire city has been in the grips of the worlds ultimate show. It is so amazing to be part of something like this, but.. I would trade it in, in a heart beat to watch a dodgey broken down online stream of Canada playing for such a spot go the All Whites! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachesl Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 Good BBC summary with some important details and times(London time) ---------------------------------------- World Cup qualifying reaches climax By Dan Warren In late August 2007 Pierre Wajoka netted a penalty for New Caledonia in front of 400 fans at the Toleafoa JS Blatter Complex in Samoa. So began qualification for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. New Caledonia held on to beat Tahiti 1-0, although their campaign ultimately faltered. But now - 27 months, 800-plus games and thousands of goals later - the line-up for next year's football extravaganza is on the verge of being finalised. 606: DEBATE How will you keep your nerves under control? DW - BBC Sport The remaining nine places will be decided from the last batch of qualifying games on Saturday 14 November and Wednesday 18 November. There is still much to be decided, with the draw for the final stages looming on Friday 4 December. Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal could crash out. Bahrain or New Zealand will qualify. Egypt and Algeria play a key qualifier in Cairo which may leave the teams utterly inseparable - and requiring a further winner-takes-all play-off in Sudan to choose between them. BBC Sport looks at who needs to do what to join the 22 teams which have already qualified alongside hosts South Africa. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OCEANIA/ASIA QUALIFYING New Zealand v Bahrain What's the deal? Although much of Saturday's action takes place in Africa and Europe, the first issue will be settled before many fans in those continents are out of bed. The hard-fought first leg between Bahrain and New Zealand finished 0-0 New Zealand host Bahrain in Wellington in the second leg of the Oceania v Asia play-off at 0700 GMT after the first leg in Bahrain finished goalless. A partisan crowd of around 35,500 - unprecedented for a football match in this rugby union-obsessed nation - will cheer on a Kiwi team eager to grab only its second-ever World Cup finals appearance, after reaching the 1982 finals in Spain. That's one more World Cup appearance than rivals Bahrain have managed. The tiny Gulf state is desperate to make it to South Africa after missing out to Trinidad & Tobago in a similar play-off ahead of Germany 2006. The triumphant team is almost certain to be installed as World Cup rank outsiders - not that it will matter to the jubilant fans. What they say: Bahrain's Czech coach Milan Macala: "I'm living this dream like any other Bahraini." New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert: "The nation is right behind the team and people sense a fantastic chance." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFRICA QUALIFYING Full Africa qualifying tables on fifa.com What's the deal? The qualifying group stages come to an end this weekend. All the vital matches take place on Saturday and three places are up for grabs. Who can qualify? The three qualifiers will be: One from Cameroon and Gabon One from Tunisia and Nigeria One from Algeria and Egypt. The three successful teams join Ghana and Ivory Coast, who have already qualified (along with hosts South Africa) for the World Cup. What is the situation? Group A Togo v Gabon (1530 GMT) Morocco v Cameroon (1530 GMT) Recent World Cup regulars Cameroon are in the box seat. They will qualify unless Gabon get a result better than them. If Cameroon lose and Gabon draw, it will come down to goal difference (Cameroon's is currently +5, Gabon's is +3) Group B Kenya v Nigeria (1300 GMT) Mozambique v Tunisia (1300 GMT) Tunisia are in control. They qualify with a win, but if they draw or lose, Nigeria can pip them to top spot with a win in Kenya. If Nigeria fail to win, Tunisia qualify in any case. Group C Egypt v Algeria (1730 GMT) A hugely interesting match. Algeria will qualify, unless Egypt win well in Cairo. A one-goal margin of victory is not enough. A three-goal margin puts Egypt through. If Egypt win by two goals, they will be level with Algeria - on points, goal difference, goals scored and head-to-head record. There is a joint Egyptian and Algerian desire for calm Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki Should that happen, Fifa has ruled that there will be a one-off play-off in Sudan on Wednesday 18 November. The match has the ingredients of a classic - although the authorities hope things do not boil over. The relationship between the two nations is undoubtedly tense and diplomats from both are keen to calm fans ahead of the match. A similar World Cup qualifying scenario played out 20 years ago, when a 1-0 win for Egypt in Cairo prompted brutal riots and a shocking incident in which the Egypt team doctor lost an eye at the post-game reception after being hit by a broken bottle. One hopes the appeals for calm will be heeded. But the atmosphere at the 80,000-capacity Cairo Stadium on Saturday will undoubtedly be unlike anywhere else on the planet. What they say: Egypt captain Ahmed Hassan: "It's a unique moment, without doubt the most important of our careers." Algeria captain Yazid Mansouri: "It's got the makings of a great game, the kind of match that every footballer dreams of taking part in one day." Egypt foreign ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki: "There is a joint Egyptian and Algerian desire for calm." Fifa letter to both associations: "We have been informed directly and via the media of some tensions leading up to this decisive day. In this regard, we feel it is timely to remind you that Fifa is clearly monitoring all the activities around this matchday." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EUROPE QUALIFYING What's the deal? The situation is rather more straightforward in Europe. Nine teams, including Fabio Capello's England, have booked their place. There are four more places up for grabs, to be settled by four two-legged play-offs. Saturday sees the first legs, so no team can book their place outright although the coaches know a handsome win can all-but secure a place. Who is playing? Here are Saturday's first legs, with the fixtures reversed for the second legs four days later: Russia v Slovenia (1600 GMT) Greece v Ukraine (1800 GMT) Republic of Ireland v France (2000 GMT) Portugal v Bosnia-Hercegovina (2030 GMT) Do away goals count double? Yes, in the event of aggregate scores being level over two legs. That may be of interest to the Republic of Ireland (unbeaten in 10 qualifying matches), who will note that Raymond Domenech's France conceded at home against Serbia, Romania and Austria. What they say: France coach Raymond Domenech after the play-off draw: "They are the England Bs. There won't be any surprises in the World Cup play-offs, we know precisely what to expect." Republic of Ireland defender Richard Dunne: "Every time a tournament comes round, they have all these world-class players and a man (Domenech) who seems intent on messing them up." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTH, CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN/SOUTH AMERICA QUALIFYING Costa Rica v Uruguay What's the deal? The final team to qualify for South Africa 2010 will come from Central or South America. Costa Rica, who finished fourth in the North, Central America and Caribbean zone, take on Uruguay, fifth in the South America zone. The first leg kicks off in San Jose, Costa Rica at 2000 local time on Saturday, which works out at 0200 GMT on Sunday morning - by which time the fans of the winners of New Zealand v Bahrain might be starting to think about going to bed. And then? The second leg is in Montevideo, kicking off at 2300 GMT on Wednesday 18 November. And so, at around 0100 GMT on Thursday, the last of the 32 teams to book their place at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa will be known. And all eyes will then switch to Cape Town for the draw on 4 December. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gringo Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 Saturday Freindlies........... Spain-Argentina South Africa-Japan Denmark-Korea Republic Slovakia-USA Brazil-England Italy-Netherlands Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachesl Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 FIFA specifically warned both associations that there would be consequences if there were incidents, so why not just flex some muscle and award the match to Algeria under the forfeit provisions (2-0?), giving the WC spot to Algeria? I do not see how the match can go ahead now. from BBC ------------------------ Algeria footballers hurt in Cairo Algerian footballers hit by stones Four members of the Algerian football squad were injured when their team bus came under attack from stone throwers as it arrived in Cairo. Algeria and Egypt, who are bitter football rivals, play a World Cup qualifying match in Cairo on Saturday. Egyptian police have denied that anyone was injured in the incident, and the press accuses the Algerians of fabricating the whole thing. But a Fifa official has said three players might have to miss the match. A reporter for Algerian radio said that about 200 young people appeared just as the team arrived at a Cairo hotel and launched a hail of stones at the bus. Algerian radio has been reporting that three players were injured. 'Blood on the floor' The Algerian sports minister, Hachemi Djiar, is reported to have described the incident as "very regrettable". These weren't superficial injuries. With the stitches needed, we will have to see if these players can play Walter Gagg Fifa Crunch time for Egypt and Algeria Algeria-Egypt match: Your e-mails An official from Fifa, international football's governing body, told the AFP news agency that Algerian players were injured. "We saw that three players had been injured - Khaled Lemmouchia on the head, Rafik Halliche above the eye and Rafik Saifi on the arm," Walter Gagg said. "These weren't superficial injuries. With the stitches needed, we will have to see if these players can play. The team doctor has still to make a decision on that," he added. Mr Gagg also said that Algeria's goalkeeping coach had suffered concussion, and described the bus itself as in a "very bad way with broken windows and traces of blood on the floor". Riots "The players were afraid. They were terrified," he said. AFP also reported a Fifa spokesman as saying: "We have reiterated to the Egyptian association our request that all security measures be taken so that the match can go ahead." Egyptian and Algerian officials have been trying to calm tension ahead of the match. The teams have an intense rivalry that goes back decades. The last time they met in a major tournament in 1989, the match was followed by riots. The Egyptian team has to win by a three-goal margin to qualify for the World Cup finals next year in South Africa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amacpher Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 quote:Originally posted by beachesl FIFA specifically warned both associations that there would be consequences if there were incidents, so why not just flex some muscle and award the match to Algeria under the forfeit provisions (2-0?), giving the WC spot to Algeria? I do not see how the match can go ahead now. In fairness though, getting stones thrown at you is something you can expect in Cairo just for wearing ripped jeans as I discovered first-hand. It is one crap country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amacpher Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 Now Egypt are claiming that Algeria faked the attack. lol Ideally both teams will get themselves disqualified and the best runner-up from some other group qualifies. [] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Portuguese Sensation Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 Here's the problem with FIFA "flexing its muscle" in this situation. How can it be proven that the people who attacked the Algerians were Egyptian fans? Could it not be possible for Algerian fans to attack the bus in order to force FIFA to DQ Egypt and award the World Cup spot to Algeria? I mean I personally don't buy it - but it's an argument that could certainly come up and let's face it, desperate people can do desperate things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoyleG Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 New Zealand 1 Bahrain 0 (Halftime) Fallon '45 EDIT: Fallon apparently represented England at the junior level but changed to the All Whites when FIFA changed the rules. He's on his 3rd Cap, all in New Zealand's last 3 games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the biologist Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 PK stopped by NZ at the 52' ! That was a pathetic failure on the low right shot. Still 1-0. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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