Official 2010 World Cup Qualifying Thread

[ADG]

Just HOW did Kenny Miller miss?!?!?!

[METALMAN]

Seems like a really good game so far. I wish I went. I was so close to going.

[Darloboy]

Same with England beating Germany during a successful period but yet losing to Macedonia too and even the defeat by Croatia that England had the lead in twice IIRC that led to them not making Euro 2008 tends to get brushed aside as "oh, Steve McClaren was manager then.".

At no stage did England lead in that game.

We didn't lose to Macedonia either.

Good point though.

[The Quasi Juice]

Second match for Elia and he's doing amazing again, what a goal.

[METALMAN]

oh fuck

[Scott McFly]

Same with England beating Germany during a successful period but yet losing to Macedonia too and even the defeat by Croatia that England had the lead in twice IIRC that led to them not making Euro 2008 tends to get brushed aside as "oh, Steve McClaren was manager then.".

At no stage did England lead in that game.

We didn't lose to Macedonia either.

Good point though.

I apologise, upon checking I think I'm getting confused with England fighting back from 2-0 down to be drawing and therefore qualifying for the tournament only to throw it away.

And it was a draw at home with Macedonia in 2002, not a loss, so close again there.

Either way, they seem to be going great now so I wouldn't expect the same hiccups for a while.

And Scotland have given it a good shot (and should've scored) but in the end nobody can expect us to beat the Netherlands when we can't even beat Norway at home and lose to Macedonia away. It was all hope and clutching at straws. Heck, Netherlands are one of the best teams in the world right now after all.

So the upshot is we can only hope George Burley gets the boot and Gordon Strachan actually wants the damn job. Got a feeling he wouldn't touch it though.

[Darloboy]

Unlucky for Scotland, I like to see the home nations do well so was disappointed when the Holland goal went in.

I know this result will have the media saying we've got the World Cup in the bag which is annoying, but I think it's fair to say that Capello is the man to get the most out of the England team. Whether that's enough to win the WC remains to be seen (I suspect not), but it's good to know that we are capable of performing to somewhere near our best.

[TCO]

Italy are beating Bulgaria 2-0, which basically ends our chances of winning the group, but on the other hand makes 2nd spot and a play-off spot almost guaranteed. I'm just so glad we're actually still in it and may have to pinch myself if we qualify, only done so once in my lifetime, than I can actually remember. I think I may kill myself if we get 2nd and get nothing though.

I'm going to the Italy game on October 10th at Croker, only missed the Georgia game thus far. This is a huge game still, I really think we have a chance.

Edited September 9, 2009 by The Cool One

[METALMAN]

Are we out for definite then?

Looks like I'll be supporting France for the sixth tournament in a row.

[therockbox]

Heskey misses a decent chance - get him out of the team for Defoe

Defoe comes on, does absolutely fuck all, then fluffs his one decent chance when clean through - ooh unlucky Jermaine!

I despise the double standards that exist around the England set up.

[TCO]

When your starting Aston Villa's 3rd choice striker who has the canny ability to not score over the most in-form striker in the Premier League, that's allowed.

[therockbox]

Rubbish. I'm not particularly enamored with the idea of starting Heskey at the World Cup (although I can certainly see why we probably will), but Defoe isn't the answer; not by a long way.

edit: ahaha, the interviewer on ITV asking Capello if we'd seen "English qualities" tonight, then citing pressing as an example. As if pressing is an English trait.

Edited September 9, 2009 by therockbox

[The Quasi Juice]

Are we out for definite then?

Looks like I'll be supporting France for the sixth tournament in a row.

Yes you're out because Norway beat Macedonia and finished second. Why support France though? Can't stand them.

[METALMAN]

I support France because I like France and French people. No other reason really. >_>

[BillionDollarChamp]

That was England's best performance in such a long time since we beat Germany 5-1, i'm so glad we have qualified this early, it gives Capello chance to use fringe players against Belarus and Ukraine

[ONO]

England will not win the World Cup with Emile Heskey starting.

[Darloboy]

This anti-Heskey stuff is tiresome. Yeah he doesn't score goals, but the team is winning consistently. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[DFF]

For those who missed it, Argentina lost again and have now slipped to the play-off spot in the South American qualifying. They only have a 1 point lead on Uruguay and Venezuela and only 2 points on Colombia. There are two games to go. Argentina have the worst side in the group (Peru) at home - then Uruguay away on the last day.

EDIT: But don't write off the Peru game - Argentina could only draw 1-1 in the first meeting.

[stokeriño]

Are we out for definite then?

Looks like I'll be supporting France for the sixth tournament in a row.

Yes you're out because Norway beat Macedonia and finished second. Why support France though? Can't stand them.

I wonder.

[TheArsenal]

Looks like Georgie Boy might be on his way out soon. Never thought he'd amount to much. We never should have let McLeish go to Birmingham. Hopefully someone awesome will take the job. Strachan would be a good choice.