World Cup 2014 Qualification

Charisteas

So the journey to the 2014 World Cup starts tomorrow (15th June) when the first qualifying match begins, and although these minnows won't make it to Brazil, it's still the beginning of a long and exciting road to the next World Cup.

Did a bit of Wikipedia research on the two teams:

Montserrat Vs Belize

Belize are ranked 172 in the world, Montserrat joint bottom (202nd), so Belize are probably favourite, however Montserrat do have a new player making his debut - Anthony Griffith from English League Two's Port Vale, and another English player from the Conference.

Montserrat's coach is Kenny Dyer and is also captain and still playing for the team - at 46 years of age!

Belize have a few players on the books at Barcelona........... oh it should also be mentioned that it's San Felipe Barcelona from the Belize Premier League!

Belize is in Central America, Montserrat is in the West Indies. Both countries are official English speaking, and both were/are British territory, so both national anthems could be the same; God Save The Queen (Belize have two national anthems, not sure which one they will use.)

I was hoping to stream this, but according to this Fifa article, there won't be any TV cameras there.

Fifa article - http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=1451305/index.html

Sasquatch76

Come on Montserrat!!!

Don't know anything about Belize except that it sounds like a cold sore cream. At least with Montserrat we have the Irish connection.

Oat23

There's a film on youtube called ''The Other Final''. It is about the Montserrat national teams game against Bhutan on the same day as the WC Final in 2002.

I think I might have found it on here a few months ago.

I'm sure there will be twitter updates available somewhere!

Krusader

Hoping for a Montserrat win, they are our cousins after all

Fr Tod Umptious

Sasquatch76 wrote: »

Come on Montserrat!!!

Don't know anything about Belize except that it sounds like a cold sore cream. At least with Montserrat we have the Irish connection.

Thanks for reminding me of the Irish connection

I'm off the the 'Clubs with Irish origins' thread with a few Monserat clubs to add to the list.

losthorizon

Actually in the last few Carribean WC qualifying campaigns there have been a fair few LOI players. Some just barely missed out on getting to play in the WC. (Belize wont use God save the Queen they are independent) The country was actually attacked by a Spainish armada led by a Dublin pirate - a kid you not. And Blackbeards treasure is rumoured to be off the coast on one of its islands. (I was just reading about the country two days ago - wierd)

Zebra3

Seeding for the European zone.
http://cavalerasports.com/qualifying-european-zone-2014-world-cup.html

Charisteas

losthorizon wrote: »

Actually in the last few Carribean WC qualifying campaigns there have been a fair few LOI players. Some just barely missed out on getting to play in the WC.

Is there many this time around that you know of?

---

Montserrat also play in Green so that may stem from Irish roots, but their capital is Plymouth so the green shirts could also be a link to Plymouth Argyle.

Zebra3

Zebra3 wrote: »

Seeding for the European zone.
http://cavalerasports.com/qualifying-european-zone-2014-world-cup.html

1. Pot One:
Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, Britain, Portugal, Italy, Croatia, Norway and Greece
2. Pot Two:
Serbia, Slovenia, Russia, France, Montenegro, Switzerland, Slovakia, Denmark and Sweden
3. Pot Three:
Turkey, Rep. Czech, Israel, Ireland, Ukraine, Belgium, Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Bulgaria
4. Pot Four:
Lithuania, Albania, Hungary, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Poland
5. Pot Fifth:
Austria, Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Macedonia, Moldova, Cyprus, Azerbaijan and Wales
6. Pot Sixth:
Iceland, Luxembourg, Kep.Faroe, Kazakhastan, Liechtenstien, Malta, Andorra and San Marino

Check out pot 1 :pac:

Charisteas

Zebra3 wrote: »

Seeding for the European zone.
http://cavalerasports.com/qualifying-european-zone-2014-world-cup.html

Confused@Norway in Pot One

Lawrence1895

Charisteas wrote: »

Confused@Norway in Pot One

And France dropped into Pot 2? :eek:

Charisteas

rarnes1 wrote: »

Check out pot 1 :pac:

That must be David Beckham's 2012 Olympic team!

The draw for the Euro section is July 30th, and they use the latest Fifa rankings to determine the pots, so is it possible that those aforementioned seedings could change as June and July's rankings could change?

Charisteas

Lars1916 wrote: »

And France dropped into Pot 2? :eek:

I'd say their awful World Cup campaign, plus the fact they lost at home to Belarus and only drew with them away, has seen them drop down the rankings.

Seem to remember they beat England and Brazil in friendlies in the last 6 months, not sure if friendlies could towards rankings points though.

LuckyGent88

How have Montenegro gotten into Pot 2 already? Only played 30 matches with only 1 full qualifying campaign in which they finished below us.

Fr Tod Umptious

Charisteas wrote: »

That must be David Beckham's 2012 Olympic team!

The draw for the Euro section is July 30th, and they use the latest Fifa rankings to determine the pots, so is it possible that those aforementioned seedings could change as June and July's rankings could change?

That's very early.

These draws usually take place in the months between the end of Euro qulaifying (Nov) and the first frednlies of the new year (Feb)

A bit odd having it 14 months prior to the first games in Sept 2012.

Plus there is nothing on the FIfa website about Euro qualifinig

Your source is a load of b***ix Charisteas

LeeroyJones

I'm open to correction, but aren't the seedings based on World Rankings?

I thought that next months rankings will determine the pots for the draw in August. From an Irish perspective I think we're firmly in Pot 3 with little chance of rising or dropping into Pot 2 or 4

Edit: Sorry, Charisteas already confirmed this!!!

citytillidie

Just keep an eye on this

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification

1st round in Asia also starts this month

The worst runner up in Europe will miss out in the play offs

Also a note

In consideration of the delicate political situations of the relationships between Armenia and
Azerbaijan as well as between Russia and Georgia, UEFA have requested that FIFA maintain the
current UEFA policy to not draw these teams into the same qualification groups. The mechanism for
doing so will be confirmed by the FIFA Organising Committee on 29 July 2011 once the FIFA/CocaCola World Ranking for July 2011 has been established and the respective pots for Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Russia and Georgia confirmed

Big Pussy Bonpensiero

How the fcuk are Italy still in pot 1!?

losthorizon

citytillidie wrote: »

Just keep an eye on this

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification

1st round in Asia also starts this month

The worst runner up in Europe will miss out in the play offs

Also a note

In consideration of the delicate political situations of the relationships between Armenia and
Azerbaijan as well as between Russia and Georgia, UEFA have requested that FIFA maintain the
current UEFA policy to not draw these teams into the same qualification groups. The mechanism for
doing so will be confirmed by the FIFA Organising Committee on 29 July 2011 once the FIFA/CocaCola World Ranking for July 2011 has been established and the respective pots for Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Russia and Georgia confirmed

Afghanistan v Palestine - watch out ref!

bonerm

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

That's very early.

These draws usually take place in the months between the end of Euro qulaifying (Nov) and the first frednlies of the new year (Feb)

A bit odd having it 14 months prior to the first games in Sept 2012.

Plus there is nothing on the FIfa website about Euro qualifinig

Your source is a load of b***ix Charisteas

As early as the draw may be, at least the qualifying games themselves (in UEFA) won't begin until Euro 2012 is over.

I remember Ireland playing a WC 1994 qualifier in May 1992 (before the finals of Euro 1992). It felt vaguely wrong.

Zebra3

losthorizon wrote: »

Afghanistan v Palestine - watch out ref!

Why?

Would you post that about Israel v America?

Rojiblancos

All these are playin in the next few days too Anguilla vs the Dominican Republic, US Virgin Islands vs British Virgin Islands, Aruba vs St Lucia, and Bahamas vs Turks and Caicos

tolosenc

Rojiblancos wrote: »

US Virgin Islands vs British Virgin Islands

1. Is this a grudge match?
2. Are both countries sponsored/owned by Richard Branson?

Also,

Euro pots: http://www.football-rankings.info/2011/06/2014-fifa-world-cup-seeding-uefa-pots.html

All qualifying draws take place in Brazil at the end of June. What is happening now is preliminaries, which, IMO, we should have too for the likes of San Marino and Andorra, to get us to a nice number of teams for qualification.

The thought of Spain and France in the same group...

Charisteas

Rojiblancos wrote: »

US Virgin Islands vs British Virgin Islands

tolosenc wrote: »

1. Is this a grudge match?
2. Are both countries sponsored/owned by Richard Branson?

1. Not sure if it's a grudge match, but with two teams of Virgins trying to score, I don't think there will be any clean sheets after 90 minutes :pac:

2. On Bransons wiki page it mentions he owns the British islands but doesn't say anything about the American islands.

Edit: Just read that the Porto manager Andre Villas Boas was the Coach of the British Virgin Islands when he was just 21 years old!

Charisteas

citytillidie wrote: »

In consideration of the delicate political situations of the relationships between Armenia and
Azerbaijan as well as between Russia and Georgia, UEFA have requested that FIFA maintain the
current UEFA policy to not draw these teams into the same qualification groups.

I wonder if they have been implementing a similar policy since 1995 in regards to keeping England and Ireland separated in World Cup and European Championship qualification draws?

Charisteas

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

That's very early.

These draws usually take place in the months between the end of Euro qulaifying (Nov) and the first frednlies of the new year (Feb)

A bit odd having it 14 months prior to the first games in Sept 2012.

Plus there is nothing on the FIfa website about Euro qualifinig

Your source is a load of b***ix Charisteas

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminarydraw/index.html

losthorizon

Rojiblancos wrote: »

US Virgin Islands vs British Virgin Islands,

0-0 draw

losthorizon

Zebra3 wrote: »

Why?

Would you post that about Israel v America?

No for two reasons 1. America is a continent not a country but I understand whay you are trying to say and 2. THe USA backs Israel to the hilt so why would Israel have a bee in a bonnet over the USA?

bonerm

losthorizon wrote: »

0-0 draw

Indeed. No scoring there.

Zebra3

losthorizon wrote: »

No for two reasons 1. America is a continent not a country but I understand whay you are trying to say

America as in the USA is a continent?

losthorizon wrote: »

2. THe USA backs Israel to the hilt so why would Israel have a bee in a bonnet over the USA?

You made a reference about the ref needing to watch out during Afghanistan v Palestine. what have they got against each other?

tolosenc

Zebra3 wrote: »

America as in the USA is a continent?

Nope. America and the USA are not the same thing.

Charisteas

The first qualifier has finished Montserrat 2-5 Belize in front of a huge crowd of 150 people.


http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/nccamerica/matches/round=258091/match=300163072/index.html

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=1453094/index.html

Fr Tod Umptious

Charisteas wrote: »

The first qualifier has finished Montserrat 2-5 Belize in front of a huge crowd of 150 people.


http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/nccamerica/matches/round=258091/match=300163072/index.html

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=1453094/index.html

150 people eh, sounds like the Carling Cup of Nations.

I am sure someone here will find a way to blame the FAI for the small crowd at the 'Ato Boldon Stadium' in Couva

bonerm

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

150 people eh, sounds like the Carling Cup of Nations.

I am sure someone here will find a way to blame the FAI for the small crowd at the 'Ato Boldon Stadium' in Couva

In fairness they did manage to sell a whopping 1.5% of the tickets there, which is more than the FAI managed for Wales v Norn Iron.

JerryHandbag

tolosenc wrote: »

Euro pots: http://www.football-rankings.info/2011/06/2014-fifa-world-cup-seeding-uefa-pots.html

All qualifying draws take place in Brazil at the end of June. What is happening now is preliminaries, which, IMO, we should have too for the likes of San Marino and Andorra, to get us to a nice number of teams for qualification.

The thought of Spain and France in the same group...

Dream group:

Norway, Slovakia, R. of Ireland, N.Ireland, Faeroes, San Marino

Devilman40k

Link Already posted

The Volt

If you can't be in Pot 1, Pot 3 is the place to be. Look at the teams in it compared to Pot 2.

Charisteas

I would like to see Ireland in the same group as England, France, and Northern Ireland, just for the hostile yet cracking atmosphere at all three games in Dublin. And if Ireland could get some positive results in that group, it would really get people buzzing about the national team.

Raskolnikov

Group of death.
Spain
France
Rep. Czech
Poland
Austria
Iceland

Guy:Incognito

tolosenc wrote: »

. What is happening now is preliminaries, which, IMO, we should have too for the likes of San Marino and Andorra, to get us to a nice number of teams for qualification.
.

Annd the Faroes, sure they are **** and havnt a hope of improving enough to win any games........:)

losthorizon

Charisteas wrote: »

The first qualifier has finished Montserrat 2-5 Belize in front of a huge crowd of 150 people.


http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/nccamerica/matches/round=258091/match=300163072/index.html

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=1453094/index.html

In fairness it was in a neutral venue as little Montserrat dont have a proper stadium. There are only about 5000 people living on Montserrat many of whom have had to flee from the volcanic eruptions over the last few years. Even the capital is off limits to a great extent.

Zebra3

tolosenc wrote: »

Nope. America and the USA are not the same thing.

They actually are.

You seem to be confusing "America" with "the Americas".

The former is the USA, the latter is a continent.

losthorizon

Zebra3 wrote: »

They actually are.

You seem to be confusing "America" with "the Americas".

The former is the USA, the latter is a continent.

The Americas Continent I like it. Im going to get on to Club America in Mexico to change their name.

Sasquatch76

Just hearing Belize have been suspended from FIFA due to government interference. The second leg vs Montserrat is now off, so I'm assuming the latter will get a bye into the next qualifying stage??

Edit: Actually it appears that Belize have a couple of weeks to resolve the issue before they're eliminated from WC qualification.

FIFA.com

Charisteas

I really think that FIFA should have let the match take place.

By postponing the match, the punishment has rubbed off on Montserrat as it will affect their preparations mentally and physically, the team has probably spent the last 7-10 days together at their training camp, and they have probably already flown into Belize yesterday or today thus spending a fortune on flights and accommodation, remember this is a poor country.

They should have let the match take place, and if the issue still isn't resolved before June 30th, then and only then they should suspend Belize and give Monsterrat the place into the next round (Assuming Montserrat failed to overturn their 2-5 deficit).

Charisteas

Results from this mornings Asian qualifying preliminary games (Second legs this weekend);

Malaysia - Chinese Taipei 2–1
Bangladesh - Pakistan 3–0
Cambodia - Laos 4–2
Sri Lanka - Philippines 1–1
Afghanistan - Palestine 0–2
Vietnam - Macau 6–0
Nepal - Timor-Leste 2–1
Mongolia - Myanmar 1–0

Sasquatch76

Great result for Nepal!! Is Graham Roberts still in charge there?

Ruu_Old

Sasquatch76 wrote: »

Come on Montserrat!!!

Don't know anything about Belize except that it sounds like a cold sore cream. At least with Montserrat we have the Irish connection.

Where can I buy a Montserrat jersey? >_>

eugeneious

Sasquatch76 wrote: »

Great result for Nepal!! Is Graham Roberts still in charge there?

Yep, fair play to him afaik it's their first home win in WCQ.

Charisteas

Sasquatch76 wrote: »

Great result for Nepal!! Is Graham Roberts still in charge there?

eugeneious wrote: »

Yep, fair play to him afaik it's their first home win in WCQ.

Nepal won the second leg 5-0 today and a comfortable 7-1 aggregate win and will play Jordan in the next round.

flahavaj

Charisteas wrote: »

Results from this mornings Asian qualifying preliminary games (Second legs this weekend);

Malaysia - Chinese Taipei 2–1
Bangladesh - Pakistan 3–0
Cambodia - Laos 4–2
Sri Lanka - Philippines 1–1
Afghanistan - Palestine 0–2
Vietnam - Macau 6–0
Nepal - Timor-Leste 2–1
Mongolia - Myanmar 1–0

We badly need a set of pre qualifiying matches like this for the group stages of European groups as well IMO.