FIFA 2022 World Cup (Qualification)

dr.kenneth noisewater

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118710259#Comment_118710259

Wasn't there talk of Finland getting their place?

ebbsy

Could we be the 33rd team ?????

Weepsie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118710072#Comment_118710072

Well there very much is, and you can disagree with both (as I do) or at least the manner of both, but saying the way you say is basically a 13 year olds grasp or someone trying hard to be an edgelord and failing.

The footballers were gifted a chance to play in a world cup when they didn't deserve to be hosting it. There's quite a few who are supportive of Putin too, though one has called it out at least. He'll probably be imprisoned now

Also, they are ratcheting up sanctions. FIFA would have had no option but to do so, or likely have to give up pretty much every sponsor they have.

Again, FIFA don't care about footballers or even football.

Fattybojangles

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118710455#Comment_118710455

What is the difference between both illegal invasions of sovereign states? The Ukrainians are European and therefore look like us and the Iraqis don't?

The fact is Russian footballers and football teams are completely innocent in all of this and they are being cruelly denied their right to play games they have earned the right to play since when have we held innocent footballers responsible for the actions of their government? A very dangerous precedent has been set surely Israel must be banned the next time they invade Gaza? Saudi the next time they bomb Yemen? The USA the next time they bomb Somalia? etc etc

Weepsie

One invaded country was lead by a despot with a history of war crimes.

The other invaded country was lead by a democratically elected leader and invaded by a despot.

That's being very simplistic. Both were wrong.

But again, you're being so bloody simplistic yourself and ignoring a whole swathe of complex geopolitics. This isn't Russia's first rodeo either. Invaded Georgia, Afghanistan, supported the America's own invasion. Russia actively supports Chechnya, Belarus.

The precedent was already set. Colombia lost a world cup. Yugoslavia barred from competition. South Africa. Fifa bans countries for the actions of their governments all the time. There'd be plenty of support if Israel were banned.

Russia themselves nearly got a ban for refusing to go to Chile (and rightly, though highly hypocritical) in the 70s. Kuwait, Guatemala banned in the last 10 years. 4 Countries banned in the last 2 years alone mentioned above. Bosnia briefly banned for a week a decade ago. Nigeria days from being banned in 2010.

This is not new. PArticular as UN sactions have passed against Russia. FIFA if they want to trade with them, can then go ahead and give up every single other dime they get from other states.

There's absolutely nothing cruel about denying them a chance to play in a world cup. Cop the f on.

Fattybojangles

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118713057#Comment_118713057

There's a lot of nonsense here to unpack firstly Russia is actually a democracy albeit one corrupted by a powerful and corrupt oligarchy much like the sainted Ukraine who have banned opposition TV stations and jailed opposition leaders.

Colombia renounced its own host status for economic reasons completely irrelevant to what we are discussing Yugoslavia was tearing itself apart and really no longer existed by Euro 92 so again not really relevant and South Africa were banned for insisting on all white teams to play against them.

Innocent footballers are being punished for something that is not their making and IMO that's wrong you're obviously fine with it we won't agree but I think it's excessive and surely a more decent solution could be found neutral venues etc. I look forward to the USA's ban for the next country it invades but I won't hold my breath.

Agent Coulson

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cajp1UXD-wG/

McFly85

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118713192#Comment_118713192

I think it needs to be noted that FIFA obviously didn’t want to do it but when basically every federation said they won’t play them they were ultimately left with no choice, not wanting the farce of continually awarding 3-0 victories to whatever new name they were given.

Another difference I think which makes this more suitable in this case is that Russia have been involved heavily in sportswashing over the last 20 years. They have used various sports to portray a false image of life in Russia and it has been incredibly successful. To allow this to continue given what they’re actively involved in would be incredibly misguided. Sport, especially football is business for Russia and so should not be exempt from sanctions.

Have the sportspeople of Russia done anything wrong? No. But they have been tools of their government since they became professionals. If they should be angry with anyone, it’s Putin.

ShamoBuc

Mod Note

Couple of posts deleted.

Politics Forum is elsewhere.

Keep the content on Soccer only from now on, thank you.

citytillidie

Scotland V Ukraine and Final V (Wales/Austria) games in March have been postponed

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/60650445

PTH2009

Jesus Portugal, Italy and Turkey must be raging

PTH2009

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118758153#Comment_118758153

Luck of the draw I guess and FIFA are secretly raging about Italy and Portugal been on the same side of the draw and great chance of both of them missing out on the finals. Winners for me

Italy

Wales

Poland (they will be fresher going into the final)

citytillidie

Oceania starts qualification on St Paddy's Day. It was to start yesterday with a game between Tonga and Cook Islands but Tonga pulled out after the volcano.

Match Day 1

March 17th

Group A

Cook Islands V Solomon Islands

Tahiti V Vanuatu

March 18th

Group B

Papua New Guinea V New Zealand

New Caledonia V Fiji

Match Day 2

March 20th

Group A

Cook Islands V Tahiti

Solomon Islands V Vanuatu

March 21st

Group B

New Zealand V Fiji

Papua New Guinea V New Caledonia

Match Day 3

March 24th

Group A

Vanuatu V Cook Islands

Solomon Islands V Tahiti

Group B

New Zealand V New Caledonia

Fiji V Papua New Guinea

citytillidie

AFC

Third Round

Match Day 9

24th March 2022

Group A

South Korea V Iran

Iraq V United Arab Emirates

Lebanon V Syria

Group B

Australia V Japan

China V Saudi Arabia

Vietnam V Oman

Match Day 10

29th March 2022

Group A

Iran V Lebanon

United Arab Emirates V South Korea

Syria V Iraq

Group B

Japan V Vietnam

Saudi Arabia V Australia

Oman V China

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

CAF - Third Round 1st Legs

25th March 2022

Egypt V Senegal

Cameroon V Algeria

Ghana V Nigeria

DR Congo V Morocco

Mali V Tunisia

citytillidie

CONCACAF

Third Round

Match Day 12

March 24th

Costa Rica V Canada

Panama V Honduras

Jamaica V El Salvador

Mexico V United States of America

Match Day 13

March 27th

Canada V Jamaica

Honduras V Mexico

El Salvador V Costa Rica

United States of America V Panama

Match Day 14

March 30th

Panama V Canada

Jamaica V Honduras

Mexico V El Salvador

Costa Rica V United States of America

---------------------------------------------------------------------

CONMEBOL

Match Day 17

March 24th

Brazil V Chile - (23:30) - Live on Premier Sports 1

Colombia V Bolivia - (23:30) - Live on Freesports

Uruguay V Peru - (23:30) - Live on Premier Sports 2

Paraguay V Ecuador

25th March

Argentina V Venezuela - (23:30) - Live on Premier Sports 2

Match Day 18

March 29th

Peru V Paraguay

Venezuela V Colombia

March 30th

Bolivia V Brazil - (00:30) - Live on Premier Sports 1

Chile V Uruguay - (00:30) - Live on Freesports

Ecuador V Argentina - (00:30) - Live on Premier Sports 2

citytillidie

UEFA

Play-offs

Thursday March 24th

Path A

Semi-Final

Wales V Austria - (19:45) - Live on Sky Sports Main Event / S4C

Path B

Semi-Final

Sweden V Czech Republic - (19:45) - Live on Sky Sports

Path C

Semi-Finals

Italy V North Macedonia - (19:45) - Live on Sky Sports Arena

Portugal V Turkey - (19:45) - Live on Sky Sports Premier League

ArmaniJeanss

Japan won 2-0 in Sydney this morning which confirms both them and Saudi Arabia as direct qualifiers to Qatar.

Australia still alive via the play-off route, will have to beat third place in the other group (probably UAE) in a one-off tie in June with the winners facing 5th in Conmebol a week later. Current 5th place there is Peru, though Chile or Colombia are also potential opponents.

citytillidie

Group Stage Results

Group A

Cook Islands 0 V 2 Solomon Islands - Voided Cook Islands with drew

Tahiti V Vanuatu - Cancelled - Vanuatu with drew

Cook Islands V Tahiti - Cancelled

Solomon Islands V Vanuatu - Cancelled

Vanuatu V Cook Islands - Cancelled

Solomon Islands 3 V 1 Tahiti

Group B

Papua New Guinea 0 V 1 New Zealand

New Caledonia 1 V 2 Fiji

New Zealand 4 V 0 Fiji

Papua New Guinea 1 V 0 New Caledonia

New Zealand 7 V 1 New Caledonia

Fiji 1 V 2 Papua New Guinea

Semi-Finals

March 27th

Solomon Islands V Papua New Guinea

New Zealand V Tahiti

Mr.Nice Guy

Great free-kick from Bale to give Wales the lead.

Agent Coulson

Bale deserves to play in a world cup I really hope Wales win this.

Bleating Lamb

Nothing between these two sides....Welsh defence a bit shakey.

Mr.Nice Guy

Bale again. He always steps up for his country.

Sugarlumps

Devastating by Bale.

castletownman

Bale must be one of the greatest international players of all-time in terms of impact and leadership.

A pure talisman.

Mr.Nice Guy

Sabitzer gets Austria back in it.

Yilmaz pulls one back for Turkey as well. Italians still haven't broken down the Macedonians yet with 20 to go.

citytillidie

Boris putting his foot in it with Wales and Scotland saying Ukraine should be given a bye to the World Cup not knowing that they have a play-off against 2 nations he is Prime Minister of.

Cake Man

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118828577#Comment_118828577

Was at the Socceroos v Japan game last night, Australia are an extremely poor team and Japan full value for the win (handy side, Minamino the best player on the field). I would even say we (Ireland) would beat them easily enough despite our limitations. They have no player of any note and at best, one or two playing in a top European league (not even sure how much of a game they get there tbh) and only one squad player based in England with Blackpool. The rest are A-League players and scattered around other random leagues.

They finished behind the Saudis in their group and as you say, looks like UAE in that play off. They might overcome them but not a hope against the South American 5th place.

How do the qualifiers work I haven't been paying attention is it groups or 2 rounds or what

sligeach

What a howler of a penalty by Turkey. That was their one chance you feel for them to take Portugal to extra-time.

Mr.Nice Guy

Wow, Yilmaz missed a pen to draw level with Portugal.

trashcan

Wales will be kicking themselves if they don’t hold on here. James has had three great chances to finish it. Really should have scored one.

Mr.Nice Guy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118831503#Comment_118831503

The winners tonight advance to a final on Tuesday.

Mr.Nice Guy

NORTH MACEDONIA HAVE SCORED!

3 minutes for Italy to save themselves.

y0ssar1an22

poor italy

Dr. Bre

Miss Italy at a finals

Mr.Nice Guy

Italy are out. What a shocker that is. Sad that the Italians won't be there. Portugal will be delighted.

Might be the end of Mancini's reign. How quickly things can change.

trashcan

Well, that’s a shock. Didn’t see Italy losing that.

sligeach

Portugal and Turkey should be going to extra-time, Turkey miss a penalty to equalize, and instead Portugal win 3-1 with a goal in injury time.

And Italy have conceded deep into injury time against North Macedonia.

Portugal must be huge favourites against North Macedonia on Tuesday.

Francie Barrett

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118831560#Comment_118831560

It's ok, Italy are always slow starters in a tournament, right :D

Liam O

That Macedonia goal is one of the great sporting moments.

Perseverance The Second

To miss out on two consecutive World Cup's whilst bagging a European Championship in between is quite impressive.

I wonder how many Italian's would rather trade that title to go to a World Cup at this point.

citytillidie

UEFA Play-offs

Semi-Final Results

Path A

Wales 2 V 1 Austria

Path B

Sweden 1 V 0 Czech Republic - AET

Path C

Italy 0 V 1 North Macedonia

Portugal 3 V 1 Turkey

Finals

March 29th

Path B

Poland V Sweden - (19:45) - Live on Sky Sports Football

Path C

Portugal V North Macedonia - (19:45) - Live on Sky Sports

Did you smash it

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118831780#Comment_118831780

none I would think

ittakestwo

Italy's motto must be go big or go home. Win euro 2020 between two failed qualifications for the WC. Amazing that it was 9 months ago since they won euro2020.

Who is that profile on here who keeps saying " this Italian side are going to be one of the all time greats" lol

Dillonb3

I seen a mental stat about Italy. They haven't played a knockout tie of a world cup since the 2006 final, it'll be 20 years before they could theoretically do it again

ArmaniJeanss

Ecuador & Uruguay took the final two automatic places in Conmebol last night, joining Brazil and Argentina.

One set of group games left next Tuesday, and just the playoff place left.

A win for Peru at home to Paraguay will be enough.

Anything less and Columbia will take it with a win @ Venezuela

Chile are pretty snookered, will need to beat Uruguay at home and hope both Colombia and Peru fail to win.

2022 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL) - Wikipedia

y0ssar1an22

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118832776#Comment_118832776

when suarez chomped on chiellini, klose was top scorer, zidane got sent off and retired. i was on a j1 in NY that summer. long time ago.

i'm getting mixed up here between 2006 and 2014 world cups. classic friday morning.

Mr.Nice Guy

The Fifa YouTube channel is showing the African qualifiers. These ones are over two legs with the first legs today. Giving Cameroon vs Algeria a look which kicked off at 5pm. Aboubakar, Choupo-Moting and Toko Ekambi featuring for Cameroon, Mahrez and Slimani in the Algeria side.

Egypt vs Senegal is at 7:30pm in a rematch of the AFCON final. Presumably Salah and Mane will be in action.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118831607#Comment_118831607

No surprise that it was a 1-0. Italy have barely scored a goal since Wembley.

Crazy stat:

Since lifting the World Cup in 2006, Italy have not played a knockout game in the tournament and have won one group stage match, beating England in 2014.

Mr.Nice Guy

Mali's Moussa Sissako has had a mare today.

https://twitter.com/HfutbolW/status/1507421472960167950

Slimani's goal gives Algeria a 1-0 lead for the second leg.

Salah and Trezeguet starting in attack for Egypt, with Mane and Ismaila Sarr up top for Senegal.