FIFA World Cup 2010

[Moondance]

Why doesn't Belgium apply for Asian qualification? It would improve their chances and makes the same amount of sense as Australia doing it.

Judging by their election today soon enough it'll be Flanders and Wallonia who will be trying to move to Asia.

 

[ak-zaaf]

Judging by their election today soon enough it'll be Flanders and Wallonia who will be trying to move to Asia.

I thought NVA wanted to make Di Rupio prime-minister? Should I buy het Nieuwsblad tomorrow?

 

[uphillstruggle]

They're playing some great combinations. Obviously they'll be harder to pull off against better teams; but it does show that the German players are in form and can play together... Something we haven't really seen yet from England, Argentina, or France.

I thought Argentina were good- could easily have scored four. Good goal keeping/poor finishing meant they ended up scraping a win. Early games don't mean much look how well spain and argentine played in the group games in Germany.

 

[Anonymous]

well that was fun in places..

 

[Moondance]

I thought NVA wanted to make Di Rupio prime-minister? Should I buy het Nieuwsblad tomorrow?

I don't see why the N-VA should... They're going to be the biggest.

Maybe the PS and the SP.a are going to try to make a power move and stand together and insist on Di Rupo, but I doubt that. That would be a surefire move to torpedo any coalition. And its obvious the N-VA and both Socialists are going to be in the next government.

 

[ak-zaaf]

I don't see why the N-VA should... They're going to be the biggest.

Maybe the PS and the SP.a are going to try to make a power move and stand together and insist on Di Rupo, but I doubt that. That would be a surefire move to torpedo any coalition. And its obvious the N-VA and both Socialists are going to be in the next government.

I understood they were afraid of being isolated and so said they wanted Di Rupio as prime-minister if they would get a firm hand in the next government.
I'm not up to date, so please enlighten me, although this isn;t really the place

So to stay on topic: Germany isn't going to get far. They will crumble as soon as they face serious competition.

 

[icefire]

Why doesn't Belgium apply for Asian qualification? It would improve their chances and makes the same amount of sense as Australia doing it.

The Asian group is more difficult than the Oceania one. Australia applied to qualify for WC in the Asian group with the intention of improving their level -not their chances- by playing against better teams.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Aussie Aussie Aussie OI! OI! OI!
keep going boys even though he expectations of us supposedly going to win were way to high. Is it true that germany have not lost a group match since 1986?
Is Ghana any good? I am starting to enjoy this game called Soccer.

 

[ak-zaaf]

The Asian group is more difficult than the Oceania one. Australia applied to qualify for WC in the Asian group with the intention of improving their level -not their chances- by playing against better teams.

After the insanely easy Oceania group (Andorra would be 3rd best there) they faced the #5 of South America and they usually lost.
Teams like Uruguay or Ecuador would be among the best in Asia.
So yes, they did it to improve their chances.

The point is that these regional qualifiers make no sense if a team can compete in another region. There are some strange examples elsewhere also, like Israel competing the European qualifiers.

 

[issoisso]

like Israel competing the European qualifiers.

That's simply because the Israeli fans used to assault arab fans every time Israel played home qualifying games. Eventually FIFA got tired of it.

 

[ak-zaaf]

Aussie Aussie Aussie OI! OI! OI!
keep going boys even though he expectations of us supposedly going to win were way to high. Is it true that germany have not lost a group match since 1986?
Is Ghana any good? I am starting to enjoy this game called Soccer.

Ghana lost Essien before the tournament and that's a big blow.
I think both Serbia and Ghana will be too much for the Aussies. I wouldn't even be surprised if Serbia managed to sneak into the second round someway.

 

[Moondance]

I understood they were afraid of being isolated and so said they wanted Di Rupio as prime-minister if they would get a firm hand in the next government.
I'm not up to date, so please enlighten me, although this isn;t really the place

Well I not an expert or onything... But it seems to me weird that after a major victory for the Flemish separatists that they'd put forward a Walloon to become PM. Given that he's going to probably get as many as 800k voorkeurstemmen I doubt he'd turn down a chance tro become PM, would be a quite a blow to his supporters if he turned down the initiative. All those votes he drained from Vlaams Belang would shoot right back if he did that. The PS have already said through their mouthpieces that "the initiative lies with de Wever." I don't know what he gains by letting Di Rupo take the reins, but thats just me.

 

[icefire]

After the insanely easy Oceania group (Andorra would be 3rd best there) they faced the #5 of South America and they usually lost.
Teams like Uruguay or Ecuador would be among the best in Asia.
So yes, they did it to improve their chances.

The point is that these regional qualifiers make no sense if a team can compete in another region. There are some strange examples elsewhere also, like Israel competing the European qualifiers.

We may both be right. They face more difficult teams in the Asia group but they skip the play-off against a South American or European.

Israel is a UEFA member just for security reasons that should be obvious to everyone. I can't explain Kazakhstan's case, as none of its neighbour countries (excluding the Russian Federation) is a UEFA member.

 

[roundabout]

I can't explain Kazakhstan's case, as none of its neighbour countries (excluding the Russian Federation) is a UEFA member.

There is a small part of Kazakhstan which is geographically Europe. A bit like Turkey only on a slightly larger scale

 

[auscyclefan94]

Ghana lost Essien before the tournament and that's a big blow.
I think both Serbia and Ghana will be too much for the Aussies. I wouldn't even be surprised if Serbia managed to sneak into the second round someway.

would you know when the game is? hopefully same tinme so i can get up at 4am.

 

[icefire]

Aussie Aussie Aussie OI! OI! OI!
keep going boys even though he expectations of us supposedly going to win were way to high. Is it true that germany have not lost a group match since 1986?
Is Ghana any good? I am starting to enjoy this game called Soccer.

Yes. They lost to Denmark then. They also lost to Algeria in 1982. And in both cases they ended as the runner-up.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Australia is already getting cut up in the media...
It seems to be the:
-Coaches Fault
-Our Defensive game plan
-Our old players as we have developed no young blood for this world cup

Bastian Schweinestieger even said Cahill should not of been sent off.

Is there any possibility we can beat serbia and ghana to get theough?





I am starting to get into this World Cup.

 

[workingclasshero]

Australia is already getting cut up in the media...
It seems to be the:
-Coaches Fault
-Our Defensive game plan
-Our old players as we have developed no young blood for this world cup

Bastian Schweinestieger even said Cahill should not of been sent off.

Is there any possibility we can beat serbia and ghana to get theough?





I am starting to get into this World Cup.

i guess anything's possible. but it's highly unlikely. team now low on confidence, best player (only goal threat?) suspended, no momentum going into next game ...

 

[craig1985]

Is it me or is Mario Gomez crap?

WRT to Mesut Özil, what were Schalke smoking to let him and go for a small amount?

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

^ he really didn't get much time for bayern this year. Thomas muller regelated both him and klose to the bench (good young player, Though I noticed in the CL he struggles under pressure). Özil is an awesome player.

anyway that was hard to watch at times. Australia literally made Germany look good.

-craig moore is the biggest old hack. (the whole def. was terrible though)
- Australia gave germany wayyy to much space.

it was a hard red card to give. But what was cahill thinking, coming from behind like that.

We may both be right. They face more difficult teams in the Asia group but they skip the play-off against a South American or European.

Israel is a UEFA member just for security reasons that should be obvious to everyone. I can't explain Kazakhstan's case, as none of its neighbour countries (excluding the Russian Federation) is a UEFA member.

Asia is just about the weakest confederation imo. Australia should qualify from there always. Asian teams also seem to struggle with the physical side of Australia, they are some what fragile.

 

[delbified]

how harsh was that red card on Cahill? australia always seems to get a raw deal with WC reffing - Grossi's dive in 2006 should have been punished. would be funny to have Cadel commentating the games

 

[craig1985]

I would have given Cahill a yellow, but going in like that left him wide open and he only has himself to blame.

 

[Colm.Murphy]

^ he really didn't get much time for bayern this year. Thomas muller regelated both him and klose to the bench (good young player, Though I noticed in the CL he struggles under pressure). Özil is an awesome player.

anyway that was hard to watch at times. Australia literally made Germany look good.

-craig moore is the biggest old hack. (the whole def. was terrible though)
- Australia gave germany wayyy to much space.

it was a hard red card to give. But what was cahill thinking, coming from behind like that.

Asia is just about the weakest confederation imo. Australia should qualify from there always. Asian teams also seem to struggle with the physical side of Australia, they are some what fragile.

Australia looked like they were running in sand at times. Slow to react, no snap. First match nerves? I don't see Aussie soccer much, and none of the WC Qualifying, so I've got nothing to go by.

Özil flashes but also goes dormant for long stretches. A bit mousy but also sneaky fast.

 

[uphillstruggle]

I'm looking forward to Holland vs Denmark today. The Dutch tend to perform in the group phase. Who's expected to start up front? is Robben still out for the first game?

 

[trompe le monde]

I'm looking forward to Holland vs Denmark today. The Dutch tend to perform in the group phase. Who's expected to start up front? is Robben still out for the first game?

I think Robben is still out for the match. There's no point in him re-injuring his hamstring injury for a group stage match that isn't at all decisive for advancing.

I'm looking forward to the match as well as I've always liked Holland on the international stage.