They are edging their way back into it. Doak is actually getting some decent crosses in but he does seem to miss the obvious passes.
Isak on for Sweden.
Greece 3 Scotland 2.
A very entertaining example of atrocious defending. Doak got one, which was nice.
Well he will get a full pre season and summer off ![]()
Personally, I think Italy absolutelly would have been Top 6 in the CONMEBOL group, so I donât agree with you at all.
I also think you base the âbreezing through the groupâ with obsolete data tbh, basing it on perceptions of how strong a given team is from yester-year.
So here we do not agree, since I think the Italians have a point.
Because in the European groups, there is absolutely no margin for errror, unlike in the South American one, where an entire 6 team directly progress and the 7th can go through Play Offs. Objectively, that is kind of harder.
Then again, FIFAâs objective is a WC (cup), not a competition for only the best teams (which would be boring), so I understand why they do it this way. I have no real issue with it. But itâs hard for European teams if they are capable of qualifying but end up in a group with another strong team.
The big UEFA teams think they are entitled to a World Cup, and every damn time one of them misses out because they lost two moderately difficult games in a soft group, somehow the system that UEFA chooses is a problem.
CONMEBOL qualifying is a league format, so perhaps Italy might have found their feet and finished Top 6. But UEFA has chosen a format that is meant to give the big names an easy walk into the WC, Norway just had other ideas. Brazil has a brutal route by comparison, both in terms of average opponent strength, the length of it, and the sheer brutality of some of those matches.
Italy faced a group that last won a World Cup match 28 years ago, and I believe the entire group barring Italy has only ever won 2 World Cup matches. That is kind of like one of those pre-season tournaments Arsenal holds. By contrast, Brazilâs qualifying opponents won 8 matches in the last World Cup, and included the defending champions. 2022 is not exactly yesteryear.
Italy was supposed to beat Norway. They didnât, now they are in trouble. Six other wins that include four against teams which include at best semi-professional players is just not impressive.
Jesus wept, UEFA gets 16 spots and has perhaps 20 competitive sides. If UEFA wanted a league format, they could do so. The four team group format was deliberately chosen to give the powers an easy road and make sure they never faced each other until the World Cup.
Switzerland almost through, after a 4-1 win against Sweden at Geneva. Sweden is usually one of our bogey countries. To do the double over them is very satisfying. ![]()
Similarly to Norway and Italy, Kosovo will need a high win in Pristina for the final game, 6-0. They have done incredibly well in this group, but I expect the Swiss to ride the storm out there. Well done, really well done in what could be expected to be a tight group. But in the end, Kosovo and Switzerland were far above Slovenia and Sweden. Especially Kosovo have been the surprise package in this group.
Isak came on for the last twenty minutes, but it was already 2-1, and the Swiss were on the rise at that moment. He looked dangerous, but couldnât invert the flux of the game.
But looking at this much improved Sweden side after Graham Potter coming in (despite the score), I expect them to be competitive again for their double confrontation next spring. They could still easily qualify for the world cup. Isak will then hopefully be on fire, for us and for Sweden. ![]()
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The Hungarians are out of the world cup now!
Whoâd have thought only 3 days agođ
Another two players who can have a rest
Which they will hate.
Besides, we donât have players that needs a rest. If anything, we have players that needs to get in form and play more games to do so (in my opinion anyway).
Well done England and mighty Ireland.
Despite a series of ponderous games against challenging opposition Latvia Andorra Albania, you still have to win them and its not Englands fault the system presents mainly rubbish games.
England now need a series of friendlies v world top 10âs to test properly.
But the Irish match wasnât rubbish. Thatâs real qualifying mania. More please.
Now onto Portugal - the whole country cerebrating thrashing another powerhouse - except poor Ronny!! Should he start? Mmmmm
The play offs - this will be legit and look forward to it. Seems wrong Sweden get another chance. I wonder if Italy v Sweden is possible. That would be juicy.
Nations League. But yes, itâs odd given how they have done in the actual group here, but it is what it is and the carrot with the Nations League.
I of course would love to see Sweden humilated in a Play Off.
Dom is the one lad in form.
Busting a gut in atrocious heat will benefit no player.
Getting to play in a WC almost always benefits any player.
Anyway, the Italians are being quite dramatic, rolling around in pain a lot.
1-1 currently and very feisty. Norway were were poor in the first half though, then it was all Italy. But the second half, quite different indeed.
What a team we have these days. Being able to swap Sørloth with Oscar Bobb in the 76th minute, that feels like quite the privilege.
Otherwise, Antonia Nusa has been amazing.
ERLING !!!
DREAM GOAL !!!
There is no one fucking close to him in the world, hahaha !!!