2018 World Cup Qualifiers

[TCO]

Wales as the one seed was the ideal outcome, so I can't complain. We can forget about the Euros realistically but I'm very optimistic about Russia 2018!

[FestiveJack]

Brutal is that Group A for Europe as well. Holland, France and Sweden all in the same group.

Portugal's could be difficult going for them, especially if Ronaldo has retired from internationals from then. 

I'd think he would have one more WC left in him. He'll be 33 in 2018.

Probably, but I think that depends on his mentality at the time. He carries (or is expected to carry) Portugal for 90% of the time, and there really isn't anyone else in that team that you'd compare favourably to the Figo era, for instance.

[Gorka]

[Dan]

I still can't get my head around the fact that Wales are ranked higher in the World than France and Italy.

[Lineker]

It's been their year

[Lineker]

John Oliver Lays into FIFA as Sepp Blatter Meets Vladimir Putin

[Lineker]

This has been doing the rounds: 

[Lineker]

Kosovo can take a step closer to joining Uefa this week, a move that could lead to a place in 2018 World Cup qualifying.

Membership of Europe’s football governing body will allow the former Serbian enclave’s national team and clubs to start playing in continental competitions.

That is the first step required before gaining Fifa membership, part of Kosovo’s wider push for international recognition since defying Serbia by declaring independence in 2008.

Uefa’s executive committee can rule the Balkan republic eligible to apply when it opens a two-day session on Thursday in Malta. Full membership can be granted only by Uefa’s annual congress, which meets in March in Budapest, Hungary.

“We are expecting in March to be full members of Uefa and then Fifa and to catch the qualification,” the Kosovo football federation secretary general, Eroll Salihu, said.

With fast-track support from Fifa, Kosovo could begin World Cup qualifying next September. Fifa’s 209 members could allow Kosovo to join at meetings in Mexico City next May, allowing time to place Kosovo in one of the two European qualifying groups which have only five teams instead of six.

“Because there are two groups with five, we hope to be like all others in this qualification,” Salihu said.

Fifa said it “cannot make comments about potential scenarios.”

Uefa is now supporting Kosovo’s case after resisting efforts by Fifa to let its teams play opponents from other countries.

“Based on our commitment and the will Uefa is showing to resolve Kosovo’s problem, we believe that in Malta the Uefa executive committee will propose to the congress a solution for us,” Fadil Vokrri, the FFK president, said.

In May 2012, Fifa president Sepp Blatter announced that Kosovo clubs and national teams should be cleared to play friendly matches. That was soon blocked by Michel Platini, the Uefa president, who sided with Serbian officials and cited a “purely political” decision. Russia, a traditional Serbian ally, and Spain, which opposes independence movements in its own regions, have also opposed Kosovo’s football diplomacy.

A breakthrough came in January 2014 when Fifa ruled that Kosovo teams could play international matches, except against teams from other parts of the former Yugoslavia.

As a further security measure, Fifa said Kosovo “may not display national symbols (flags, emblems, etc) or play national anthems” at these matches.

Kosovo’s national team finally made its debut in March 2014, drawing 0-0 with Haiti in Mitrovica.

Though Kosovo is not formally recognised by the United Nations as Uefa statutes require of its members, it won a sports politics victory last December when it was granted recognition by the International Olympic Committee.

In March, visiting FFK officials met with Platini and Uefa lawyers at their headquarters in Switzerland. “It is absurd not to be part of Uefa at a time when the country is recognised by more than 100 countries in the world and (22 of 28 European Union) member countries,” Vokrri said. “Uefa is not complete without Kosovo, one of the most football-loving countries in Europe.”

[Lineker]

The Socceroos hammered 'Arry's Jordan  

[Moses Julep]

2 hours ago, Lineker said:

The Socceroos hammered 'Arry's Jordan  

 

Quote

Speaking to the press after the match, Redknapp said: “I’ve enjoyed it apart from today. No one enjoys standing on the touchline getting well beat.”

He added: “The players did their best. We all did our best but what can you do? I’ve been here five or six days, what can you do?

“The players are the players, I can’t suddenly bring in Ronaldo. It is what it is. They tried their best but they were beaten by a better team.”

Wonderful.

[Lineker]

Meanwhile, war-torn Syria booked a spot in the final stage of 2018 World Cup qualifying and a berth at the 2019 Asian Cup despite suffering a 5-0 loss to already qualified Japan in their final group match on Tuesday. The Syrians finished second in the pool behind Japan and were assured of one of the four best runners-up spots across the eight Asian groups after Jordan were beaten 5-1 by continental champions Australia earlier on Tuesday. Syria, who have never qualified for a World Cup, are one of 12 teams who will be drawn into two groups for the third round stage with the top two from each pool qualifying for Russia 2018. 

[MDK]

It'll be Assad day if Syria don't qualify. 

[Adam]

That's massive for them, obviously it's highly unlikely they'll get any further vut good on them. I take it all the usual suspects (Japan, South Korea, Australia, Iran) got through?

[MDK]

A sad day.

*taps mic*

Is this thing on?

[DFF]

On ‎29‎/‎03‎/‎2016 at 16:47, Adam said:

That's massive for them, obviously it's highly unlikely they'll get any further vut good on them. I take it all the usual suspects (Japan, South Korea, Australia, Iran) got through?

The draw for the final stage is tomorrow. It's two groups of six, with the top two from each qualifying directly (business as usual really).

The seedings for the twelve teams are as follows:

Seed 1: Iran, Australia
Seed 2: South Korea, Japan
Seed 3: Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan
Seed 4: UAE, China
Seed 5: Qatar, Iraq
Seed 6: Syria, Thailand.
 

So yeah, you're probably correct. Still, a massive achievement.

[Lineker]

23 hours ago, DFF said:

The draw for the final stage is tomorrow. It's two groups of six, with the top two from each qualifying directly (business as usual really).

The seedings for the twelve teams are as follows:

Seed 1: Iran, Australia
Seed 2: South Korea, Japan
Seed 3: Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan
Seed 4: UAE, China
Seed 5: Qatar, Iraq
Seed 6: Syria, Thailand.
 

So yeah, you're probably correct. Still, a massive achievement.

Australia face arch-rivals Japan in a gruelling test to qualify for a fourth straight Fifa World Cup. The Blue Samurai have been drawn as the Socceroos’ headline opponent in a group including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Thailand.

While three trips to the Middle East won’t please national team coach Ange Postecoglou, the Asian Cup-winning coach is confident of finishing in the top two of the group and progressing to the 2018 tournament in Russia.

Australia avoid Asian Cup finalists South Korea in the draw, who will play off in Group B with Iran, Uzbekistan, China, Qatar and Syria.

Since memorably beating Japan at the 2006 World Cup, the two sides have faced each other in two World Cup qualifying campaigns. But it’s been seven years since the Socceroos last triumphed over them – a 2-1 win at the MCG.

Japan scorched through their second-round group, scoring 27 goals without conceding but Postecoglou says he isn’t daunted by the draw.

“As champions of Asia we will show due respect to all countries but stay focused on continuing our journey that has aspirations greater than simply qualifying for the World Cup,” he said from Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday night.

“Over the last two years we have built up a very strong portfolio of information on most Asian nations and its players by having scouts at matches and tournaments all over Asia so the players go into every match well prepared.”

Socceroos striker Tim Cahill, who plies his trade in the Chinese Super League, said the draw would be a slog. “The only good thing is I won’t be responsible for knocking China out,” he told Fox Sports.

“Japan: a country we know, we’ve had a lot of good times against and some hard times. We’ve had some good battles. But to make it to such a prestigious tournament you have to beat the best.”

Japan, the world No57, and Saudi Arabia, the world No60, have qualified for four World Cups, like Australia. United Arab Emirates and Iraq have made just one tournament each, while Thailand have never reached world football’s major event.

But the three Middle Eastern sides will pose logistical challenges for the Socceroos, largely based in Europe, East Asia and the A-League. Australia play each side home and away in a qualifying schedule that begins on 1 September with a home tie against Iraq.

They are highly unlikely to play in Iraq, with the war-torn country playing their matches on neutral soil. A third-place finish in the group would send Australia to a repechage round. A lower finish would end their hopes.

[DFF]

A few small updates:

 

UEFA

Gibraltar have been added to Group H, so will play: Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Greece, Estonia, and Cyprus.
Kosovo have been added to Group I, so will play: Croatia, Iceland, Ukraine, Turkey and Finland.

 

CAF

The 3rd round draw takes place on Friday.

 

 

[Lineker]

Fifa has revealed the ticket prices for the 2018 World Cup, with the cost of the cheapest tickets available for foreign fans increasing more than 16% since 2014.

[Benji]

Shit, but no sane person is going to go to Russia during that tournament anyway.

[Lineker]

@DFF is owed an apology.