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FIFA World Cup 2018 Qualifying Thread

heelspurs

Le filet mignon est un bastion de rosbif
Jul 25, 2012
4,270
5,105
Jesus mate, you want to try being Scottish, we've gone from teaching the the best dutch footballing generation a lesson to being pleased if we beat Malta at home in 4 decades. It's pitiful.

Why are Italy playing in Turin ?
Like old archaeological finds, that back 4 has to be handled with care and can't be moved without risk.

EDIT: And as I post that Buffon drops a howler :D
 

Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
39,837
50,713
Like old archaeological finds, that back 4 has to be handled with care and can't be moved without risk.

EDIT: And as I post that Buffon drops a howler :D

Townsend keeps calling it s howler but in fact the bell just takes a really subtle bobble.
 

Syn_13

Fly On, Little Wing
Jul 17, 2008
14,851
20,659
Jesus mate, you want to try being Scottish, we've gone from teaching the the best dutch footballing generation a lesson to being pleased if we beat Malta at home in 4 decades. It's pitiful.

Why are Italy playing in Turin ?

Really didn't know you're a Scotsman. Explains a lot actually. ;)

No idea why we were in Turin, but I've known Italy to play the odd game outside of Rome. Was happy to get a point, to be fair, Spain were the better side. Not too keen on the new coach's selection, very much playing it safe. He's using Conte's 3-5-2 and practically selecting the players Conte would've as well. Only difference is that he hasn't got the passion or discipline that Conte has. Granted, it's the biggest qualifier so I guess he doesn't want to rock the boat, but he's got to change things up soon. Not got an issue with 3-5-2, it certainly suits Italy, especially when the foundation is the Juve back 4. We miss Marchisio though, such a hard worker and a very smart player. Juve are lucky enough to have midfielders like Khedira and Pjanic who can cover for that, but Italy not so much. But yeah, he needs to blood some of the younger players, or at least play the form players. Belotti has been fantastic for the last couple of years now and looked good when he came on, really deserves to play more.

I don't follow French football, but I know you do. How is Verratti getting on? I know he was injured during the Euros, but he always seems to get overlooked. Conte didn't seem to be a fan and Ventura didn't feature him tonight. This is the boy they hyped to be the next Pirlo.
 

Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
39,837
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Really didn't know you're a Scotsman. Explains a lot actually. ;)

No idea why we were in Turin, but I've known Italy to play the odd game outside of Rome. Was happy to get a point, to be fair, Spain were the better side. Not too keen on the new coach's selection, very much playing it safe. He's using Conte's 3-5-2 and practically selecting the players Conte would've as well. Only difference is that he hasn't got the passion or discipline that Conte has. Granted, it's the biggest qualifier so I guess he doesn't want to rock the boat, but he's got to change things up soon. Not got an issue with 3-5-2, it certainly suits Italy, especially when the foundation is the Juve back 4. We miss Marchisio though, such a hard worker and a very smart player. Juve are lucky enough to have midfielders like Khedira and Pjanic who can cover for that, but Italy not so much. But yeah, he needs to blood some of the younger players, or at least play the form players. Belotti has been fantastic for the last couple of years now and looked good when he came on, really deserves to play more.

I don't follow French football, but I know you do. How is Verratti getting on? I know he was injured during the Euros, but he always seems to get overlooked. Conte didn't seem to be a fan and Ventura didn't feature him tonight. This is the boy they hyped to be the next Pirlo.


I like really like Verrati, PSG right now are going through a post Blanc/Ibra-Emery transition and the side has been really unsettled, I don't think he's played the same midfield two games running and he's struggling to figure out what his best combination is I think. I find it hard to believe he can't make that Italian side with three CM's, he's a proper footballing busy ****, who I think would definitely bring a bit of youthful vim in place of the likes of Rossi or Parolo - both decent but Rossi way past his best and Italy need to start building for the future.
 

yankspurs

Enic Out
Aug 22, 2013
41,883
71,188
Funes Mori is so beyond shit. He scored for Argentina but even since its like he's trying to lose the game for them. Just awful.
 

worcestersauce

"I'm no optimist I'm just a prisoner of hope
Jan 23, 2006
26,894
45,042
Toby and Jan centre backs for Belgium, common sense at last but then Jordan Lukaku goes off injured so they went three at the back, Ciman came on into the middle and Jan & Toby went wide.
It wasn't a great test for them but they seemed very comfortable with it, maybe an option for us in the future.
 

Hoops

Well-Known Member
Mar 15, 2015
3,650
6,363
Ive figured out why Roonet never gets dropped. He is obviously paying the managers to play him. Theres no other logical reason.
 

Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
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Just switched on the Poland v Denmark game, I didn't think the penalty taker was allowed to do the fake stutter thing any more ?
 

Syn_13

Fly On, Little Wing
Jul 17, 2008
14,851
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Just switched on the Poland v Denmark game, I didn't think the penalty taker was allowed to do the fake stutter thing any more ?

You can do it up right until you go to strike the ball. The only thing you can't do is stop just before hit the ball. Players were doing it to make the keepers dive first and then they'd just slot it into the empty space.
 

Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
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You can do it up right until you go to strike the ball. The only thing you can't do is stop just before hit the ball. Players were doing it to make the keepers dive first and then they'd just slot it into the empty space.

That's pretty much what Lewandowski did, just a yard before the ball, you can see him watching Schmeichel as he does fake stop then just pats the ball the other way.
 

Syn_13

Fly On, Little Wing
Jul 17, 2008
14,851
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That's pretty much what Lewandowski did, just a yard before the ball, you can see him watching Schmeichel as he does fake stop then just pats the ball the other way.

Just watched the replay. Schmeichel definitely thought that too. I think Lewandowski just about gets away with it because after his stutter with his right foot planted he takes one tiny step onto his left foot before hitting with his right again. Had he planeted his left foot, then stuttered in running motion before hitting with his right, he'd have been pulled up on it.

It's a bit of a weird one as to where you draw the line on it. You can see what he did was enough to put Schmeichel off, although I can't work out whether the Dane did himself there and moved a bit too early. Hard to say. I guess they allow the stuttering during the run up as keepers get away with trying to put off the takers.
 

Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
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Just watched the replay. Schmeichel definitely thought that too. I think Lewandowski just about gets away with it because after his stutter with his right foot planted he takes one tiny step onto his left foot before hitting with his right again. Had he planeted his left foot, then stuttered in running motion before hitting with his right, he'd have been pulled up on it.

It's a bit of a weird one as to where you draw the line on it. You can see what he did was enough to put Schmeichel off, although I can't work out whether the Dane did himself there and moved a bit too early. Hard to say. I guess they allow the stuttering during the run up as keepers get away with trying to put off the takers.

Lewandowski reminded me of Berbatov, that guy was so cool from the spot. Used to constantly watch the keeper.
 

spurs mental

Well-Known Member
Mar 10, 2007
25,075
49,234
Another win for Boys in Green last night. 7 points from the first 3 games, Serbia out of the way away from home which I think is the toughest, Wales aside

Think we can get something in Austria who haven't looked great so far. That will be 3 away games in our first 4 out of the way, and we'll be in the driving seat if we get something from that game

COYBIG
 

Syn_13

Fly On, Little Wing
Jul 17, 2008
14,851
20,659
I like really like Verrati, PSG right now are going through a post Blanc/Ibra-Emery transition and the side has been really unsettled, I don't think he's played the same midfield two games running and he's struggling to figure out what his best combination is I think. I find it hard to believe he can't make that Italian side with three CM's, he's a proper footballing busy ****, who I think would definitely bring a bit of youthful vim in place of the likes of Rossi or Parolo - both decent but Rossi way past his best and Italy need to start building for the future.

Although our midfield was wasn't great last night Verratti was a revelation. As you said, he's a busy ****, and his passing was fantastic. He has great vision and could spot runners from that deeper position. I remember seeing him at U21 level for Italy and it was hard to compare him to Pirlo because at the same age Pirlo was a very different type of player than he is now (or more a couple of seasons back). He certainly has similar qualities though - touch, awareness, vision and the technical chops to pull it off.

Despite almost losing we actually looked a bit better, certainly out wide and up top. Certainly starting to see who is and isn't part of the future for the Azzurri.
 

hughy

I'm SUPER cereal.
Nov 18, 2007
31,842
56,935
Oh fuck off Pogba with your egotistical non-celebration.


I fucking hate him.
 

hughy

I'm SUPER cereal.
Nov 18, 2007
31,842
56,935
"Keep it tight for the first 6 seconds lads..." - The Gibraltar Manager, probably.
 

nuttynoah

Arbiter elegantiae
Jul 21, 2004
8,175
7,432
The Dutch miss Sneijder so badly.
I can't see anyone on the bench who could turn this game around for them, the 11 on the pitch are easily 2nd best today.
Let's see what the manager's half time talk can acheive
 

DIEHARD

Well-Known Member
May 17, 2004
4,659
5,443
Ok two things... firstly i fucking despise International breaks.... sooooooooooo ****ing boring.

Secondly, is it me or do teams play the same teams kver and over again ewch qualifying phase. I am sure we have played Slovenia before on a number of occasions etc

Also there are some seriously shit teams and no contests... we really should adopt another way of qualification. Im all for giving teams a fair chance but surely faroe islands for example have absolutely no chance of beating Portugal let alone going through the group.

Should we iust lump all the shit teams together and let them have their own qualification. Atleast that way we can have one or two qualify.
 
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