Well done ICELAND

[turienzo's lovechild]

i bet all the Iceland players and fans are really HANDSOME

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

In true Kevin Keegan style, I would LOVE IT if both Portugal and France missed out.

Portugal because of Ronaldo.

France because they're French.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

France because they're French.

I see what you mean, but the Ukraine are a monumentally dull side to watch.

Prefer France myself purely because I suppose it might improve the aesthetics of the tournament (in a footballing sense, not in a Frank Ribery sense).

 

[Mowgli37]

i bet all the Iceland players and fans are really HANDSOME

They certainly are

 

[turienzo's lovechild]

France are always good value at a tournament. If they're good they tend to play quite attractive football, and they have some real quality in there. If they're shit they're monumentally shit in the funniest way possible and crash out in REAL style. Their performance at the last World Cup was an absolute treat. There's rarely any middle ground with them...a bit like Italy or Netherlands.

 

[Simster]

The final playoffs are nearly upon us (next week)

13/11/13 14:30 Mexico City Mexico - New Zealand
13/11/13 18:00 Amman Jordan - Uruguay
15/11/13 19:00 Reykjavik Iceland - Croatia
15/11/13 19:45 Lisbon Portugal - Sweden
15/11/13 21:45 Kyiv Ukraine - France
15/11/13 21:45 Piraeus Greece - Romania
16/11/13 16:00 Calabar Nigeria - Ethiopia
16/11/13 19:00 Casablanca Senegal - Ivory Coast
17/11/13 15:30 Yaounde Cameroon - Tunisia
19/11/13 18:00 Cairo Egypt - Ghana
19/11/13 19:15 Blida Algeria - Burkina Faso
19/11/13 20:15 Zagreb Croatia - Iceland
19/11/13 20:45 Solna Sweden - Portugal
19/11/13 21:00 Saint-Denis France - Ukraine
19/11/13 21:00 Bucharest Romania - Greece
20/11/13 19:00 Wellington New Zealand - Mexico
20/11/13 21:00 Montevideo Uruguay - Jordan


I'm feeling a bit bad for New Zealand. One of their key players, Winston Reid, injured himself in training at West Ham yesterday so looks likely to miss out at the 105,000 sold out Azteca. Although their potent front 3 are all fit, some of their players are playing for their clubs on the day they are supposed to be released by their clubs to the NZ FA. You can't help but expect they'll have more injury worries 3 days before they play their game.
Their squad (prior to Reid's injury) is here: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/soccer-football/news/article.cfm?c_id=86&objectid=11151764

Meanwhile, Iceland v Croatia is sold out, Iceland have no injury worries and Croatia have boldly called up a couple of uncapped players. Come on ICELAND!

 

[Nigella's Cream Pie]

If Iceland win the ground will erupt - but who would notice?

 

[Westdene Seagull]

All up for Iceland but surely we should be supporting Burkina Faso as well ?

 

[turienzo's lovechild]

i'm definitely up for a burkina faso win. for some reason i'm just not into north african countries. The west african lot always produce at least one team who provides special moments....i can't remember anything entertaining from any north african country in a world cup for AGES...plus a new country is always good value

 

[Badger]

I'm feeling a bit bad for New Zealand. One of their key players, Winston Reid, injured himself in training at West Ham yesterday so looks likely to miss out at the 105,000 sold out Azteca. Although their potent front 3 are all fit, some of their players are playing for their clubs on the day they are supposed to be released by their clubs to the NZ FA. You can't help but expect they'll have more injury worries 3 days before they play their game.
Their squad (prior to Reid's injury) is here: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/soccer-football/news/article.cfm?c_id=86&objectid=11151764

Meanwhile, Iceland v Croatia is sold out, Iceland have no injury worries and Croatia have boldly called up a couple of uncapped players. Come on ICELAND!

I love the fact that the equivalent of a third of the ENTIRE population of Iceland are going to the Mexico v New Zealand match.

 

[Simster]

i'm definitely up for a burkina faso win. for some reason i'm just not into north african countries. The west african lot always produce at least one team who provides special moments....i can't remember anything entertaining from any north african country in a world cup for AGES...plus a new country is always good value

Algeria in 1982 when they beat West Germany 1-0, lost to Austria 1-0 and the two German speaking countries then conspired to see themselves both through after Germany scored in the 8th minute and the ball barely moved from the centre circle. Wouldn't happen nowadays as the two last games are played concurrently. Or maybe Morocco in 1986 when they topped England's group after thrashing Portugal. All a long time ago now though.

I love the fact that the equivalent of a third of the ENTIRE population of Iceland are going to the Mexico v New Zealand match.

Quality factoid. As indeed is the fact that the entire population of Rekjavik nearly squeezes into the Azteca!

 

[Mellotron]

13/11/13 14:30 Mexico City Mexico - New Zealand
13/11/13 18:00 Amman Jordan - Uruguay
15/11/13 19:00 Reykjavik Iceland - Croatia
15/11/13 19:45 Lisbon Portugal - Sweden
15/11/13 21:45 Kyiv Ukraine - France
15/11/13 21:45 Piraeus Greece - Romania
16/11/13 16:00 Calabar Nigeria - Ethiopia
16/11/13 19:00 Casablanca Senegal - Ivory Coast
17/11/13 15:30 Yaounde Cameroon - Tunisia
19/11/13 18:00 Cairo Egypt - Ghana
19/11/13 19:15 Blida Algeria - Burkina Faso
19/11/13 20:15 Zagreb Croatia - Iceland
19/11/13 20:45 Solna Sweden - Portugal
19/11/13 21:00 Saint-Denis France - Ukraine
19/11/13 21:00 Bucharest Romania - Greece
20/11/13 19:00 Wellington New Zealand - Mexico
20/11/13 21:00 Montevideo Uruguay - Jordan

Are most/all of these televised? Who has rights in UK to show non-UK qualifiers? Sky?

 

[turienzo's lovechild]

can't be bothered to look it up so only really answer if you want to...but why are senegal and ivory coast playing in casablanca?

 

[Lady Whistledown]

can't be bothered to look it up so only really answer if you want to...but why are senegal and ivory coast playing in casablanca?

Because of all the stadiums, in all the towns, in all the world, they had to walk into that one.

 

[Mellotron]

can't be bothered to look it up so only really answer if you want to...but why are senegal and ivory coast playing in casablanca?

Because of all the stadiums, in all the towns, in all the world, they had to walk into that one.

That's TOO good. Like you guys messaged each other and planned and set up the joke. Nice work.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

That's TOO good. Like you guys messaged each other and planned and set up the joke. Nice work.

One for the kids, there

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Having looked it up, it appears that there was trouble last time the two met on Senegal's turf, with the result that Senegal now have to play the game at a neutral venue.

 

[maltaseagull]

If Iceland win the ground will erupt - but who would notice?

Will that affect all the airlines again?

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Will that affect all the airlines again?

Depends. It has to be the wrong type of ash.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Because of all the stadiums, in all the towns, in all the world, they had to walk into that one.

#doffscap