The draw for groups comes on 4 December. Always exciting to see which is the "Group of Death."
I'm still a little angry in how France qualified over the Republic of Ireland yesterday. Without Ireland, I'll most likely be backing the Netherlands or the United States of America.
Originally posted by The GoonI'm still a little angry in how France qualified over the Republic of Ireland yesterday. Without Ireland, I'll most likely be backing the Netherlands or the United States of America.
France have been dreadful since they lost the final in 2006. They deserved nothing last night and would have got it but for some deft hand-work from Henry. I don't know if I blame the officials so much for this one (looked like they were unsighted) but the news that 'major decision favoured larger team' will come as a surprise to nobody who's followed either the Champions League or Euro/World Cup qualifiers the past few years. I'm not a big fan of video replays in soccer, but the regularity with which smaller teams are being hosed is getting a bit silly*.[/bitterrant]
Spain, England and Brazil are probably the favourites at this stage. I'd like to see Holland do well, but they're more likely to take over from Spain as the supremely talented side that blitzes through the group stage then gets whacked in the first knockout round.
I guess I'll be backing Algeria and the States because of their Rangers players, but I'm sure my small-minded xenophobia will have me in full Anyone But England mode by the time it kicks off. Actually, scratch that. I'll support anyone whose fans can drown out those blinking horn/kazoo things the South Africans were blowing in the Confed Cup. Screw tradition. Those things were a pain in the ass.
*I think it's more to do with the bigger nations being better 'skilled' at cheating than it is referee bias, but it still sucks.
Originally posted by dMrThey deserved nothing last night and would have got it but for some deft hand-work from Henry. I don't know if I blame the officials so much for this one (looked like they were unsighted) but the news that 'major decision favoured larger team' will come as a surprise to nobody who's followed either the Champions League or Euro/World Cup qualifiers the past few years.
I blame the Irish coach for using all his timeouts before the two-minute warning so he didn't have any replay challenges remaining.
Holy fuck shit motherfucker shit. Read comics. Fuck shit shit fuck shit I sold out when I did my job. Fuck fuck fuck shit fuck. Sorry had to do it....
*snip*
Revenge of the Sith = one thumb up from me. Fuck shit. I want to tittie fuck your ass. -- The Guinness. to Cerebus
I don't understand the Russia-Slovenia result. It was 2:1 and then 0:1 but Slovenia advances even though the aggregate was 2:2?
Was it because Slovenia scored 1 away goal, and Russia scored 0 away goals? What would have happened if each team won 1:0 at home? Extra time? Kicks from the penalty spot?
(edited by Zeruel on 19.11.09 1535)
-- 2006 Time magazine Person of the Year -- -- July 2009 Ordained Reverend --
That would be the "away goals" rule. As Slovenia scored one in first leg and the Russians didn't get one in second leg, that broke the tie in favour of Slovenia.
If both had scored the same amount of away goals, then it would have gone to 30 minutes extra time, then if still tied, penalty kicks.
Originally posted by ZeruelI don't understand the Russia-Slovenia result. It was 2:1 and then 0:1 but Slovenia advances even though the aggregate was 2:2?
Was it because Slovenia scored 1 away goal, and Russia scored 0 away goals? What would have happened if each team won 1:0 at home? Extra time? Kicks from the penalty spot?
(edited by Zeruel on 19.11.09 1535)
This is also why there was even the chance of a controversy in the Ireland-France match- France wins 1-0 in Ireland, Ireland wins 1-0 in France, so they had to go to extra time, when Thierry Henry showed that he could have doubled on the French National Basketball team.
What really bugs me was that I spent alot of time on the FIFA site trying to find answers to my confusion and couldn't find any entry on a home-and-away leg.
I was curious because my Portuguese friend was wondering what would happen if for some reason Portugal lost 0-1 in the 2nd match.
-- 2006 Time magazine Person of the Year -- -- July 2009 Ordained Reverend --
Originally posted by JayJayDeanI blame the Irish coach for using all his timeouts before the two-minute warning so he didn't have any replay challenges remaining.
Ye jest sir, but I'd have no problem with them stealing the replay system from the NFL. Two challenges a side, irrefutable evidence needed to overturn the ref's decision, and if you win both challenges you can keep challenging till you lose one.
For whatever reason, Ireland decided to request a replay they knew they had zero chance of getting and right enough FIFA said no (news.bbc.co.uk) in fairly short order.
Of course as much as the Irish got screwed by the ref, it's worth remembering this wouldn't even be an issue if Robbie Keane decided to shoot when he was clean through instead of walking the ball out of play for a goal kick.
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I'm with Medalla. All of these cinderella stories are nice, but I'd like to see the WSOP title go to a guy that's actually been around for a few years and has won a few bracelets already. So I'm with Cunningham.
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