International Weekend

[MDK]

Saturday, 08 October 2005

Belgium v Spain, 19:45

Bosnia-Herzegovina v San Marino, 19:00

Bulgaria v Hungary, 16:00

Croatia v Sweden, 19:15

Cyprus v Rep of Ireland, 18:00

Czech Republic v Holland, 19:30

Denmark v Greece, 19:00

England v Austria, 16:00

Finland v Romania, 15:00

Georgia v Kazakhstan, 17:00

Israel v Faroe Islands, 19:10

Italy v Slovenia, 20:00

Lithuania v Serbia & Montenegro, 18:00

Northern Ireland v Wales, 14:00

Norway v Moldova, 19:15

Portugal v Liechtenstein, 21:15

Russia v Luxembourg, 16:00

Scotland v Belarus, 15:00

Slovakia v Estonia, 16:00

Switzerland v France, 19:45

Ukraine v Albania, 17:15

Yes, international time.

Defeat to Northern Ireland brought the wrath of the nation, but England's team of misfiring stars are well aware that victory against Austria, combined with results from elsewhere, will ensure that they will play in the World Cup next summer.

The reaction to that defeat is understandable, and England's players know that such a performance, coming hot on the heels of a humiliating 4-1 loss to Denmark in a friendly and a lacklustre victory over Wales, will not be tolerated.

A win against the Austria side, combined with a win for Holland over Czech Republic, would see England guaranteed a best runners-up spot, regardless of their result against Poland on Wednesday.

Wayne Rooney was one of the few that emerged from the Northern Ireland game with any credit, but he is suspended leaving manager Sven Goran Eriksson with a tough decision as to who plays alongside Michael Owen.

The chances are that Peter Crouch will be given the nod ahead of Jermain Defoe or Darren Bent, who are both similar in style to Owen.

Much of the talk in the past week has been over the central defensive partnership, and it appears that Eriksson has decided to drop out-of-form Rio Ferdinand in favour of the returning Sol Campbell who will bring a solidity to the backline alongside the ever-reliable John Terry.

A reversion to 4-4-2 is assured after the failings of the much-maligned 4-5-1 and that should precipitate captain David Beckham's move back to the right wing where he has been in devastating form for Real Madrid.

Joe Cole is likely to be given the chance to fill the void on the left, and Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard are under pressure to show that they can work as a team that is more than the sum of their stellar parts in the middle.

Injuries to Gary Neville and Ashley Cole have robbed Eriksson of his full backs, but Luke Young of Charlton and Liverpool's Jamie Carragher will be brought in.

For Austria, Helge Payer is expected to return in goal, with Andreas Schranz dropping to the bench.

Striker Roland Linz looked dangerous in the game against Poland and will be keen to test out the mettle of the new England defensive partnership.

Austria have recently lost coach Hans Krankl over a row with the country's football federation, and Andreas Herzog, in tandem with Under-21 coach Willi Ruttensteiner and Krankl's assistant Slavko Kovacic, is in charge.

Beckham back to the right wing? Sounds good to me, its his best place. Crouch and Owen will work in my opinion, good old little and large partnership.

[The Kraig]

This sucks. Scotland had a shot fumbled at like 30 seconds, but we're a goal down at 30 minutes thanks to a lucky deflection. Annoyed to say the least.

If Scotland don't win this then we can't get into the playoffs. The passing has been shit, and Belarus have been taking shots whenever they want. Hopefully Walter Smith gives them a good thrashing at half-time and we can win this fucker.

And we have to hope Norway fuck up as well.

Which has led me to the conclusion that the UEFA section of the World Cup Qualifiers needs more qualification slots. Just take a few from Africa and Asia or something. Or bundle Oceania in with Asia. Because really, there's a lot of good teams (not actually talking about Scotland) who won't get to a World Cup, despite being better than teams from other continents that DO get into the World Cup. For example Greece, Turkey, Ukraine and Denmark are all in one group, and as stupid as it sounds, the European champions probably won't be at the World Cup. While Saudi Arabia will.

FIFA suck.

I'd love for a worldwide tournament, starting at the lowest level, just having a big draw like an FA Cup, with all the shit teams in the first round, then as you get up you get the better teams, so Brazil don't have to thrash everyone in South America (except Argentina) every World Cup. Or just draw all the world's teams into one big tournament bracket system. THAT would kick ass, and really would be a World Cup.

Edited October 8, 2005 by The Kraig

[Asuka's Gonna Kill You]

Hopefully this England game is good. Beckham is the man I'm watching as usual, I reckon he'll deliver.

[MDK]

I'd love for a worldwide tournament, starting at the lowest level, just having a big draw like an FA Cup, with all the shit teams in the first round, then as you get up you get the better teams, so Brazil don't have to thrash everyone in South America (except Argentina) every World Cup. Or just draw all the world's teams into one big tournament bracket system. THAT would kick ass, and really would be a World Cup.

That would take so long to do, but it would be so much fun to watch.

[Stevie B]

I sence a goal from Crouch!

[lanky316]

The Northern Ireland/Wales game was a cracker, top notch entertainment. Shame we're heading into an England snorefest now

England should win 1/2 - 0 but you can never tell with this lot.

[Stevie B]

YES LAMPARD! 1-0 England.

[Bigal]

Disappointed at the N.Ireland result. Some of the chances we had really should have been in the back of the net, but alas it was not to be. There were at least 2 penalties that we didn't get though. However, as a Rangers fan, I was like this after Hartson took that penalty.

[Turbo Yannis]

Whee, we're shit again.

Why is it that Kenny Miller can look like a world beater one minute then the next a useless shit?

[Malenko]

I'd love for a worldwide tournament, starting at the lowest level, just having a big draw like an FA Cup, with all the shit teams in the first round, then as you get up you get the better teams, so Brazil don't have to thrash everyone in South America (except Argentina) every World Cup. Or just draw all the world's teams into one big tournament bracket system. THAT would kick ass, and really would be a World Cup.

[Dan]

Unlucky on Scotland

Just kidding. :lmao: :lmao:

[public enemy]

Beckham's just been sent off.

England's self-destruct begins in 3...2...1

[Asuka's Gonna Kill You]

Oh my god, what the fuck?

That was pure bullshit towards Beckham. A fucking red card, that is an ultimate piss take right there. Pure skank.

[Rage]

Beckham- I feel sorry for him now for some reason.

[The Kraig]

Scotland can still qualify, arsefucker.

Nice work with your captain by the way. Looks like he's been fucking the ref's wife or something.

[Cortez]

Damn, captain sent off. But all's not lost, well not yet anyway. I can see Owen poping in a goal before the full time whistle is up.

[lanky316]

Two bookable offences in as many minutes? He should've gone and did although I suspected the referee may well bottle it but surprisingly didn't.

We've not been playing well surprisingly (shock-horror) but I reckon we'll stick it out with sticking as many people behind the ball, expecially with Ledley on now.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

Eriksson's made the right substitution for once....No Hargreaves in sight.

King definitely the right man to bring on...

[Turbo Yannis]

Anyone else notice how dramatic the ref was when he was taking the second yellow and the red?

[public enemy]

Richardson for Owen?

King for Joe Cole?

...Does Sven even know what he's doing?

EDIT: Also, how the fuck does Owen get the captain's armband ahead of Gerrard, Lampard, Terry and Ferdinand - all of whom have been captain of they're respective clubs.

Edited October 8, 2005 by public enemy