2018 World Cup Qualification

PTH2009

**** me didn't expect that

Humiliating for Italy

Omackeral

J. Marston wrote: »

One one hand, I want the underdog to go through and on the other, a World Cup without Italy wouldn't be the same.

Think of the Swedish babes in the WC Hotties thread.

AndyBoBandy

That’s 3 of 3 return legs all finished 0-0

smelly sock

Beautiful.

ERG89

Feel bad for Buffon. F*ck Ventura

FCIM

Speechless.

jester77

wow, sad to see Buffon finishing up like that

murpho999

Ulysses Gaze wrote: »

And without the Dutch.

Has happened a few times more.

irishman86

I for one am devastated for Buffon but i welcome Zlatans return to the world cup in a "shock" return to the national team

The Talking Bread

He had a good old innings, that Buffon youngster.

AllGunsBlazing

Where did the Italian FA dig up that fossil of a manager anyway?

smelly sock

Headshot wrote: »

Very sad to see Italy not making but man these play offs just keep getting worse and worse. Got help us tomorrow night

I really enjoyed that. Pure drama.

Rekop dog

Vaffanculo Ventura

Duff

I was on tentherhooks for Italy there. Don't know how I'll get by tomorrow night!

The Talking Bread

Those stats !!!!

Berserker

jester77 wrote: »

wow, sad to see Buffon finishing up like that

Yeah, sport can be very cruel at times.

smelly sock

AllGunsBlazing wrote: »

Where did the Italian FA dig up that fossil of a manager anyway?

He makes trappatoni look like a young progressive manager.

fyfe79

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

That’s 3 of 3 return legs all finished 0-0

Denmark will win 1-0 tomorrow, won't they

GreNoLi

Oh well fair play to Sweden.

Ciao Gigi.

Burial.

Absolute headcase not getting Insigne involved. Shame not seeing Italy at a World Cup, especially with some top young players to go with the wise men at the back.

fyfe79

irishman86 wrote: »

I for one am devastated for Buffon but i welcome Zlatans return to the world cup in a "shock" return to the national team

Especially with Johansson possibly crocking himself for the WC....the stage is set.

Utopia Parkway

AllGunsBlazing wrote: »

Where did the Italian FA dig up that fossil of a manager anyway?

Heard him described as the Italian Neil Warnock today.

Stevecw

Wow a world cup with no Italy, just seems odd. Sad end for Buffon and most of their defence. Massive rebuilding job ahead there now. Not sure when Euro 2020 draw is, but can be sure they'll still be top seeds. They'd be the team to get.

irishman86

You have to think Carlo will finally get a shot at it

AndyBoBandy

Everyone all sad for Italy!

Sorry but I don’t really give 2 fiddlers fûčkš about Italy and their proud history.

Italy not at the World Cup. So.

ittakestwo

Wow the bookies must be loving these play-offs

bucketybuck

Berserker wrote: »

Yeah, sport can be very cruel at times.

He's already a world cup winner, I'm sure he will get over this eventually.

Kermit.de.frog

Let's hope we are enjoying similar celebrations to Sweden tomorrow.

Great job. They deserve it.

smelly sock

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

Everyone all sad for Italy!

Sorry but I don’t really give 2 fiddlers fûčkš about Italy and their proud history.

Italy not at the World Cup. So.

Yeh and thats a poor sweden team also. No better than us or Denmark. If Italy couldnt beat them they have no business being at a world cup.

Laois_Man

Ulysses Gaze wrote: »

And without the Dutch.

Chile are a notable loss nowadays too!

smelly sock

Laois_Man wrote: »

Chile are a notable loss nowadays too!

And the USA of course.

Berserker

Headshot wrote: »

Very sad to see Italy not making but man these play offs just keep getting worse and worse. Got help us tomorrow night

An early Denmark goal tomorrow night is the only thing that will liven that up. If you score early, every neutral watching will probably be asleep by the end of the game.

Chivito550

France failed to qualify for Euro 88 and Italia 90 too, not just USA 94, so it wasn't exactly a once-off for them. They went through a poor period after their glory days of 82-86 (though they did make Euro 92).

AllGunsBlazing

irishman86 wrote: »

You have to think Carlo will finally get a shot at it

Would he want it? Italian football is not in the rudest of health. It's become better at developing foreign talent than domestic.

Berserker

bucketybuck wrote: »

He's already a world cup winner, I'm sure he will get over this eventually.

I know but it's a lousy way to end your career. Would have been nice to see him finish at the WC.

citytillidie

Updated seeding

Pot 1
Russia
Germany
Brazil
Portugal
Argentina
Belgium
Poland
France

Pot 2
Spain
Switzerland
England
Colombia
Mexico
Uruguay
Croatia
Iceland

Pot 3
Costa Rica
Sweden
Tunisia
Egypt
Senegal
Iran
Serbia

Pot 4
Nigeria
Japan
Morocco
Panama
South Korea
Saudi Arabia

Peru 2
Denmark 2 or 3
Ireland 3
Australia 4
Honduras 4
New Zealand 4

smelly sock

Chivito550 wrote: »

France failed to qualify for Euro 88 and Italia 90 too, not just USA 94, so it wasn't exactly a once-off for them. They went through a poor period after their glory days of 82-86 (though they did make Euro 92).

88 was when there were 8 teams though?

Ulysses Gaze

Can't help but think that maybe Giovinco and Insigne would have made some difference tonight.

Both small, quick creative players who could stretch that Swedish defence.

sligeach

I watched the Italy v Sweden game tonight. They can have no complaints, they were poor, sure they dominated possession but they created very little clear-cut.

irishman86

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

Everyone all sad for Italy!

Sorry but I don’t really give 2 fiddlers fûčkš about Italy and their proud history.

Italy not at the World Cup. So.

Stay classy San Francisco

AllGunsBlazing

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

Everyone all sad for Italy!

Sorry but I don’t really give 2 fiddlers fûčkš about Italy and their proud history.

Italy not at the World Cup. So.

:eek: Mamma Mia!!! *crosses self*

smelly sock

Ulysses Gaze wrote: »

Can't help but think that maybe Giovinco and Insigne would have made some difference tonight.

Both small, quick creative players who could stretch that Swedish defence.

Very hard to stretch a back 4 when they camp on the own penalty area

Laois_Man

Stevecw wrote: »

Not sure when Euro 2020 draw is

It's all new now. The draw isn't until near Christmas NEXT year and qualification doesn't start until March 2019 and doesn't end until the end of March 2020 :eek:

FCIM

Buffon just been interviewed pitchside by Rai in floods of tears. Even as an Interista down to my core it was difficult watching him breaking down after all the years and passion he's given to the Italian shirt.

smelly sock

FCIM wrote: »

Buffon just been interviewed pitchside by Rai in floods of tears. Even as an Interista down to my core it was difficult watching him breaking down after all the years and passion he's given to the Italian shirt.

An excellent servant amd seems like a top guy.

Only football though at the end of the day.

TheCitizen

Berserker wrote: »

An early Denmark goal tomorrow night is the only thing that will liven that up. If you score early, every neutral watching will probably be asleep by the end of the game.

An early goal from Ireland will also liven up the tie. It will break the deadlock.

What's your national team?

Rekop dog

These playoffs have been all types of gash though

fyfe79

Laois_Man wrote: »

It's all new now. The draw isn't until near Christmas NEXT year and qualification doesn't start until March 2019 and doesn't end until the end of March 2020 :eek:

Yep, that new 'league' system comes into effect.

I remember Northern Ireland playing a WC qualifier against Malta in the June before that years Euro finals! About 20 years ago? Times have changed for sure.

Ulysses Gaze

smelly sock wrote: »

Very hard to stretch a back 4 when they camp on the own penalty area

Should have been used in Sweden as well.

Giovinco has been in the form of his life at Toronto.

Yes it is MLS, but he has more natural ability than Immobile and Gabbiadini. And is more likely to conjure something out of nothing.

FCIM

Ventura has refused to be interviewed by Rai... spineless.