Final countdown 2010
Binder Dundat
I was looking at the Live soccer website for what will be shown in N
America but did not see any listings for the France v Ireland games or
any of the African games?
A lot of interesting friendlies as well, but who really cares when
these sudden death games will be on instead.
Home and away winner goes to the world cup.
14/11/09 20:00 Wellington New Zealand Bahrain
Bahrain and N Zealand drew 0-0 in the first game, so the edge goes to
New Zealand at home.
14/11/09 20:00 San Jose Costa Rica Uruguay
This is the first game of the Costa rica v Uruguay qualifier. You have
to assume that Uruguay will advance somehow but it will not be easy.
14/11/09 19:00 Moscow Russia Slovenia
Of the euro qualifiers this is the one easiest to predict. Russia
should advance comfortably. Slovenia came in 2nd in an easy group. It
will be a huge upset if Russia fail to advance.
14/11/09 20:00 Dublin Republic of Ireland France
I am not sure why France is so heavily favoured? Austria beat France
in qualifying, Ireland did not lose a game in the group stage. OK on
paper they may have the better players but playing against Ireland is
never easy. You would also assume a team as deep as the French
national team could afford to miss a player, but without Ribery the
odds are even closer. I assume the French will advance but I think it
will be close and may even go to a penalty shoot out?
14/11/09 20:00 Athens Greece Ukraine
Another close one to call, the Greeks came 2nd to Switzerland and
Ukraine beat England in the final game of the group stage ( granted
the English had already qualified). Rehagel seems to have re-invented
the greek style which is more about attacking now, but in a qualifier
like this it should be a close defensive battle. I also think Rehagel
will have a plan on how to beat the Ukranians that if he can use it
should put them through. Then again I also believe a coach can only do
so much and it is up to the players to perform. I still have to pick
the Greeks to advance.
14/11/09 20:30 Lisbon Portugal Bosnia-Herzegovina
i am not convinced about Portugal, they still have some good defenders
but without Ronaldo they are thin on the attack in my opinion. I am a
Bremen fan but I never thought much of Hugo Almeda, though I assume
Nani and Simao will play up front? there is also talk of Ronaldo
playing? Bosnia have some big strikers that are good in the air but
they are also good at holding up the play with decent ball skills,
half the team play for Wolfsburg or Hoffenehim which also gives them
an advantage in that they play more together. It is hard to imagine
Portugal not qualifying but i am going to pick Bosnia.
Only the top team from each group qualifies for the world cup
From my understanding the top three teams from the Africa groups
qualify for the African nations cup?
Group A Team MP W D L GF GA Pts
Cameroon 5 3 1 1 7 2 10
Gabon 5 3 0 2 9 6 9
Togo 5 1 2 2 2 7 5
Morocco 5 0 3 2 3 6 3
14/11/09 15:30 Lome Togo Gabon
14/11/09 15:30 Fes Morocco Cameroon
This group has everything to play for. Gabon and Cameroon want to
qualify for the World cup, everyone wants to qualify for the Afican
nations cup. If Cameroon win that means Morocco will not qualify for
the African cup. Morocco have not won a game so I assume they must be
terrible? Even if they do win they are not guaranteed a place in
January? I really have no idea so I will predict two draws?
Group B Team MP W D L GF GA Pts
Tunisia 5 3 2 0 7 3 11
Nigeria 5 2 3 0 6 2 9
Mozambique 5 1 1 3 2 5 4
Kenya 5 1 0 4 3 8 3
14/11/09 15:00 Maputo Mozambique Tunisia
14/11/09 16:00 Nairobi Kenya Nigeria
Same as above .
Group C Team MP W D L GF GA Pts
Algeria 5 4 1 0 9 2 13
Egypt 5 3 1 1 7 4 10
Zambia 5 1 1 3 2 5 4
Rwanda 5 0 1 4 1 8 1
14/11/09 15:30 Kigali Rwanda Zambia
14/11/09 19:30 Cairo Egypt Algeria
I assume if Egypt win by two goals they are qualified for the world
cup? Not sure what the tie breakers are? Seems like a lot to do even
at home?
Group D Team MP W D L GF GA Pts
Ghana * 5 4 0 1 7 1 12
Mali 5 2 2 1 6 5 8
Benin 5 2 1 2 4 5 7
Sudan 5 0 1 4 1 7 1
14/11/09 20:00 Omdurman Sudan Benin
Group E Team MP W D L GF GA Pts
Côte d'Iv * 5 4 1 0 16 4 13
Burkina Fas 5 3 0 2 9 11 9
Malawi 5 1 1 3 4 10 4
Guinea 5 1 0 4 7 11 3
14/11/09 16:00 Ouagadougou Burkina Faso Malawi
14/11/09 16:00 Abidjan Côte d'Ivoire Guinea
Playing for the African cup spots
* Qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™
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Alkamista
>
> 14/11/09 20:00 Dublin Republic of Ireland France
I predict a goalless stalemate in Ireland followed by a 1-1 tie in
France thanks to Robbie Keane nicking one on the counter. Ireland
through on AGR.
>
> 14/11/09 20:30 Lisbon Portugal Bosnia-Herzegovina
>
The Portuguese golden generation is gone and has been replaced by
Cristiano Ronaldo and the Portuguese copper generation. Plus CR is
injured. I pick Bosnia with Dzecko leading the way.
Insane Ranter
> 14/11/09 20:00 Wellington New Zealand Bahrain
New Zealand 1-0
> 14/11/09 20:00 San Jose Costa Rica Uruguay
Uruguay
> 14/11/09 19:00 Moscow Russia Slovenia
Russia
> 14/11/09 20:00 Dublin Republic of Ireland France
I'm betting tied 1-1 France on PKs. Or France wins via controvesry.
> 14/11/09 20:00 Athens Greece Ukraine
Greece
> 14/11/09 20:30 Lisbon Portugal Bosnia-Herzegovina
Bosnia
> Group A Team MP W D L GF GA Pts
> Cameroon 5 3 1 1 7 2 10
> Gabon 5 3 0 2 9 6 9
> Togo 5 1 2 2 2 7 5
> Morocco 5 0 3 2 3 6 3
>
> 14/11/09 15:30 Lome Togo Gabon
> 14/11/09 15:30 Fes Morocco Cameroon
Gabon beat Togo and Morocco and Cameroon tie. Gabon advances.
> Group B Team MP W D L GF GA Pts
> Tunisia 5 3 2 0 7 3 11
> Nigeria 5 2 3 0 6 2 9
> Mozambique 5 1 1 3 2 5 4
> Kenya 5 1 0 4 3 8 3
>
> 14/11/09 15:00 Maputo Mozambique Tunisia
> 14/11/09 16:00 Nairobi Kenya Nigeria
Tunsia wins and Nigeria win. Tunisia advances
>
> Group C Team MP W D L GF GA Pts
> Algeria 5 4 1 0 9 2 13
> Egypt 5 3 1 1 7 4 10
> Zambia 5 1 1 3 2 5 4
> Rwanda 5 0 1 4 1 8 1
>
> 14/11/09 15:30 Kigali Rwanda Zambia
> 14/11/09 19:30 Cairo Egypt Algeria
Algeria and Egypt tie. Algeria advances.
Real Mardin
>
> 14/11/09 19:00 Moscow Russia Slovenia
> Of the euro qualifiers this is the one easiest to predict. Russia
> should advance comfortably. Slovenia came in 2nd in an easy group. It
> will be a huge upset if Russia fail to advance.
I'd like to see Russia go through. Absolutely nothing against Slovenia
but I think Russia has the potential to be quite an exciting team next
Summer -so long as they don't underachieve as usual.
> 14/11/09 20:00 Dublin Republic of Ireland France
> I am not sure why France is so heavily favoured? Austria beat France
I agree, this could be close, especially with Trapa in charge of ROI.
> 14/11/09 20:00 Athens Greece Ukraine
> Another close one to call, the Greeks came 2nd to Switzerland and
> Ukraine beat England in the final game of the group stage ( granted
> the English had already qualified). Rehagel seems to have re-invented
> the greek style which is more about attacking now..........
Against Switzerland, Israel and Latvia, maybe. Against the big teams
they'll likely shut up shop which is why we need Ukraine to make it
through. Ukraine are counter attacking team too of course, but at
least they counter attack with style. Should be very tight. Might only
be decided by one goal.
>
> 14/11/09 20:30 Lisbon Portugal Bosnia-Herzegovina
A few months ago you'd have put money on Bosnia, now the tides have
turned, Portugal have re-found their form and Bosnia collapsed at home
to Spain. I think Bosnia's quality is a little exaggerated though,
despite beating Turkey to second place they actually had the poorer
head to head record and it was really only their two wins over Belgium
(coupled with absolutely rotten luck for Turkey in the two games vs
Spain) that saw them take second place. I''ll tell you one thing, if
Bosnia don't at least put up a decent fight I'll be pissed off - if
they denied Turkey (who on recent tournament performances would have
made an entertaining team for neutrals) a space in the playoffs just
to collapse 4-0 or something it really will have all been one big
waste of time.
If they get through, however, they could go on to become the story of
South Africa 2010. An ethnically united Bosnia playing in a racially
united South Africa? It's got a good vibe to it.
RM
Yo Merito
> 14/11/09 20:00 San Jose Costa Rica Uruguay
> This is the first game of the Costa rica v Uruguay qualifier. You have
> to assume that Uruguay will advance somehow but it will not be easy.
I do not have to assume that. If