Well done ICELAND

[Simster]

My. Mexico where lucky last night with the US getting them out of a pickle.

Yes. They will now qualify by beating NZ. Probably the LEAST deserving qualifier we will ever see.

I do dislike the Mexican national team.

 

[Bevendean Hillbilly]

So who are in the play-offs?

France
Croatia
Sweden
Portugal
Ukraine
Iceland
Romania
Greece

I'm guessing the top four will be the seeds. I think that lot are relatively evenly matched though, so I wouldn't bet on them all getting through.

Also, well done to BOSNIA who are going to their first tournament.

And Herzogovnia! I would fancy Ukraine against any of the top 4 except maybe Portugal

 

[Eggman]

Yes. They will now qualify by beating NZ. Probably the LEAST deserving qualifier we will ever see.

I do dislike the Mexican national team.

Yes. TWO wins total in that group of tosh and they can still qualify.

 

[turienzo's lovechild]

I really want Iceland to make it. By all accounts they have a fairly young, exciting team alongside nordic LEGENDS like big Eidur. Sweden also MUST make it....a tournament without ZLATAN isn't worth playing....Portugal also need to be there for Ronaldo (it's always better when there's as many of the top players as possible), although is it me or do Portugal seem to be fairly shit despite having some decent players alongside one of the best attackers EVER? Not fussed about the likes of Ukraine and Greece (especially the eternal Greek snooze fest), and it's always funny watching the French go mental at each other....they do it with such STYLE

 

[turienzo's lovechild]

Yes. They will now qualify by beating NZ. Probably the LEAST deserving qualifier we will ever see.

I do dislike the Mexican national team.

north american qualifying is ridiculous isn't it? The fact that a team like Costa Rica can absolutely stroll into the World Cup speaks volumes

 

[Austrian Gull]

Yes. They will now qualify by beating NZ. Probably the LEAST deserving qualifier we will ever see.

I do dislike the Mexican national team.

Seems a tad unfair on OCEANIA that they have no automatic qualifier - surely Mexico deserve to be mercy-killed after being so poor throughout qualification. I'm going large on the Kiwis making it.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

..And according to the news yesterday one in ten of the population have had a book published. Probably because there is bu**er all else to do there.

Clearly you've never been to Iceland. It's a fantastic country, one of my favourites out of all the places I've visited. There's loads to do. It has a population roughly the same as Bristol (though happily, Icelanders don't have such stupid accents), which rather emphasises the scale of what they've just done.

I have a feeling they'll probably fall just short, as my gut instinct tells me that the bent old *******s at FIFA will be rather too keen to ensure Ronaldo's presence at the World Cup, and will thus pair them with Portugal. But nonetheless: finishing second in their group is still the greatest achievement in their footballing history and bodes well for the future.

 

[Hamilton]

Clearly you've never been to Iceland. It's a fantastic country, one of my favourites out of all the places I've visited. There's loads to do. It has a population roughly the same as Bristol (though happily, Icelanders don't have such stupid accents), which rather emphasises the scale of what they've just done.

I have a feeling they'll probably fall just short, as my gut instinct tells me that the bent old *******s at FIFA will be rather too keen to ensure Ronaldo's presence at the World Cup, and will thus pair them with Portugal. But nonetheless: finishing second in their group is still the greatest achievement in their footballing history and bodes well for the future.

Mum's been to Iceland.

 

[Hamilton]

How are Chile above us in the rankings? Someone explain.

 

[gjh1971]

How are Chile above us in the rankings? Someone explain.

Because they are a lot better than England

 

[jackcgull]

I saw the thread title and assumed they'd dropped the Katona bint, dropped the "Posh Nosh" range and closed their hell hole on Boundary Road. Disappointed.

is that still open?!? worked there when it was still bejam

 

[Hamilton]

They've hardly set their group alight! Chile. Maybe they're red hot.

 

[brakespear]

Ecuador have qualified as well - have they been to the finals before?

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Ecuador have qualified as well - have they been to the finals before?

Yes. I have a feeling they were in England's group?

 

[brakespear]

Yes. I have a feeling they were in England's group?

Just checked it and you are partly right They have qualified in 2002 & 2006 but weren't in England's group in either. We did beat them in the Round of 16 in 2006 though

 

[gjh1971]

They've hardly set their group alight! Chile. Maybe they're red hot.

Chile have won ten and drawn two in 2013

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

France are making an official complaint to FIFA about their seeding or lack of. I've no idea how it works, but their argument is that as they were in a group of 5 rather than 6, they've played less 'proper' matches than other countries and their ranking has suffered as a consequence. I really do hope they get Portugal.

France can do one. I would love them not to qualify.

 

[Brixtaan]

3,000 Icelanders were in Oslo last night for that one - that's 1% of the population.

Have we ever taken 450,000 away?

Not sure but are we the most populous travellers in the world game? And were the 18,000 Poles at Wembley the biggest away crowd we've ever seen?

 

[Simster]

Seems a tad unfair on OCEANIA that they have no automatic qualifier - surely Mexico deserve to be mercy-killed after being so poor throughout qualification. I'm going large on the Kiwis making it.

Oceania is a STUPID federation. It should be part of Asia, an extra WC place given to them, and that half place removed from CONCACAF.

 

[brakespear]

Oceania is a STUPID federation. It should be part of Asia, an extra WC place given to them, and that half place removed from CONCACAF.

Australia is part of the Asian group nowadays isn't it? I guess FIFA don't think the potential crowd draw would be that much. To be fair, I think I agree with you on this one