World Cup Qualifying - 2018 Russia

Keith Putnam said:
"They won't win 8-0. What a stupid question that is."

[For those unaware, Sweden then went ahead and beat Luxembourg by exactly 8-0, essentially eliminating the Netherlands from qualification unless NED beats SWE 7-0.]
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Chanot is hurt. Waston isn't.

Everyone on the pitch for Costa Rica is fighting for a spot in the World Cup. Big difference from an 11 with nothing to play for. Its not going to happen. I am proud to say "Panama won't win 8-0. What a stupid question that is".

But that's why you always want to control your own destiny. I want to see 2 goals and 3 points tonight.
 
Sabo said:
Chanot is hurt. Waston isn't.

Everyone on the pitch for Costa Rica is fighting for a spot in the World Cup. Big difference from an 11 with nothing to play for. Its not going to happen. I am proud to say "Panama won't win 8-0. What a stupid question that is".

But that's why you always want to control your own destiny. I want to see 2 goals and 3 points tonight.
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Costa Rica already qualified.

Or maybe I'm missing something.
 
Sabo said:
Chanot is hurt. Waston isn't.

Everyone on the pitch for Costa Rica is fighting for a spot in the World Cup. Big difference from an 11 with nothing to play for. Its not going to happen. I am proud to say "Panama won't win 8-0. What a stupid question that is".

But that's why you always want to control your own destiny. I want to see 2 goals and 3 points tonight.
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As LionNYC pointed out, CR already clinched a spot in the final.

But I do think its fair to point out a difference between a team currently ranked 23 beating a team ranked 101 8-0 is a bit different than looking for a team ranked 60 to beat a team ranked 21 7-0.
 
LionNYC said:
Costa Rica already qualified.

Or maybe I'm missing something.
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Costa Rica is playing in the World Cup in 2018 and everyone on the pitch tonight is going to want to be in that squad.

Luxembourg will be playing friendlies against Malta in 2018. Big difference in motivation.
 
Big win for Ireland over Wales in Cardiff to qualify for the playoff. Also, thank you Slovenia / Scotland / Slovakia for sucking enough to be the worst 2nd place team.

Should be an interesting playoff schedule, potential for some big match ups. Hoping for Ireland to go through, but for good (re: close) playoff matches as well.
 
Gotham Gator said:
Good stuff. So happy to see Iceland advance.

I see that the UEFA Playoff draw will be seeded by FIFA ranking, with the Top 4 facing off against the bottom 4 in random order. The following assumes that France wins Group A over Sweden and Greece beats Gibralter, keeping out Slovakia.

Pot 1
Portugal or Switzerland
Italy
Croatia
Northern Ireland

Pot 2
Sweden
Denmark
Ireland
Greece

Under the above, the most likely outcome, there is a 25% chance of an Ireland vs. Northern Ireland matchup.

If France falls to 2nd place below Sweden, then they would be in Pot 1, and Northern Ireland would move down to Pot 2.
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So, Kangaroo Jack kindly pointed out a source to me that takes into account the change in raking that will occur after this week's games. Apparently, Northern Ireland and Denmark will more or less change places in the order, so this will be the draw.

Pot 1
Portugal or Switzerland
Italy
Croatia
Denmark (or France if they drop into play-offs)

Pot 2
Sweden (or Denmark if France drop into play-offs, or Netherlands if they beat Sweden by at least 7)
Northern Ireland
Ireland
Greece (unless they don't beat Gibraltar and Bosnia and Herzegovina win, then it will be Slovakia)
 
As we approach the half in the key matches.

France up 2-1 on Belarus - first place is looking safe.
Netherlands up 2-0 on Sweden - only 5 more goals to go.
Portugal up 1-0 on Switzerland - will finish first with a win.
Greece 1-0 on Gibraltar - will make the playoffs with a win.
Bosnia tied 0-0 with Estonia - need a win and a Greece loss or tie.
 
Pretty much the entire team needs to be retired. No fight in them save for Pulisic. And Arena is shit
 
Really not sure how people have defended arena and this squad all this time. If anything comes out of this disastrous result, maybe it’s finally a wake up call.
 
Play the kids man. Get the kids in there. Let's hope Gulati loses reelection and we get someone who can turn this ship around.

Another thing is the MLS connection. They need to get MLS, NASL, USL and US Soccer together in a room and get their shit together.
 
Kangaroo Jack said:
Really not sure how people have defended arena and this squad all this time. If anything comes out of this disastrous result, maybe it’s finally a wake up call.
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Yeah, I’m not sure how Arena can hold his head up after the shit he talked about Klinnsman. Klinnsman lost to Mexico and Costa Rica, the top two teams, but Arena lost to CR and T&T - the worst team - when he only needed a tie to advance.

So basically Arena made his name in 2002 with the absolute golden generation, then bombed out in 2006 and imploded in 2017.
 
Sabo said:
Chanot is hurt. Waston isn't.

Everyone on the pitch for Costa Rica is fighting for a spot in the World Cup. Big difference from an 11 with nothing to play for. Its not going to happen. I am proud to say "Panama won't win 8-0. What a stupid question that is".

But that's why you always want to control your own destiny. I want to see 2 goals and 3 points tonight.
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Yes, God, I should have clarified I want 2 goals that both count FOR the USA,
 
Picks;
Switzerland take this one easily
Croatia, gotta have the checkered kits in the WC
Ireland bare knuckle brawl it through
Italy find a way to pull their head out of their asses (recent form) and go through
 
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