World Cup 2022 qualifying begins

[Simmops]

Tanzania get a penalty after 5 seconds in their qualifying game today

[Sutekh]

Tanzania get a penalty after 5 seconds in their qualifying game today

Game highlights embedded at the link below. Possibly the fastest ever penalty award.

https://footy-ghana.com/2021/09/2022-wc ... nds-video/

[Silver Fox]

Great performance in Vienna last night, looking good for second place in the group so will definitely lose to the Faroes

[Sanguine]

There's really little interesting happening in European qualifying groups at all.

In Group D, Ukraine have managed to draw all five of their games so far, four of them 1-1. This keeps Finland interested, but Ukraine will probably ultimately have enough.

Wales should beat Estonia tonight and move clear of Czech Republic into second in Group E, with a game in hand.

Austria always under-perform, for me. Arnautovic's late forearm on Gilmour last night was nasty, and I'm surprised it wasn't punished. Scotland should have enough for a play-off place.

Group G - Erling Haaland is firing again for Norway. If they avoid defeat in Turkey in October then they should have one of the top two spots sewn up with Netherlands.

Some 'excitement' in our group, I guess. Albania have Poland, Andorra and San Marino to play at home. If they win all three, they might squeeze Poland out of the play-off place.

Group J - Armenia have a genuine chance of making the play-offs, they've had two terrific home wins against Romania and Iceland.

[BraisingsteakRoyal]

Have i missed any mention of this:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58486811

"Premier League: Eight Brazil players stopped from playing for their clubs this weekend"

It's gonna be interesting to see the reaction to that. Older players announcing their (forced?) retirement?

At what point does the threat of losing 300k a week override the sense of pride in playing for your country? Or will we see some players having it written into their contract that they are allowed to travel for certain international fixtures?

Have clubs stopped pulling the old Alex Ferguson "He's got a tight hamstring" thing?

[fartdad]

Strange English racist fans don’t get punished by FIFA but Hungary do. I think it’s only fair if no fans are allowed at FIFA sanctioned games as long as racism exists in the world.

[Sanguine]

This is cool.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58820062

El Salvadorian football fan fed up with his side being useless spent years trawling the internet and social media for players eligible to play for them. He has been rewarded with a job as El Salvador's full-time scout, and there are currently eight players in their squad that he personally found.

[bcubed]

Cool indeed

[bcubed]

Germany 1 down to Romania at half time

Puscas playing well said the commentator. Not watching it myself.

[Four Of Clubs]

Germany 1 down to Romania at half time

Puscas playing well said the commentator. Not watching it myself.

...in his own 'limited' way, I thought he really put a shift in, up against some quality defenders, who restricted space in behind.
- wasn't thrown by Rudiger trying to flatten him and kept going up against Kehrer, who is quick and looked class.
- he didn't really impact the game all that much though (that I saw of the 2nd half) as the Romanians chances coming forward were few, from only about 20% possession ... but he did get a 'have ago and it might fly in' type of chance from distance late on - which went about a foot wide ..... before being withdrawn in the last 10 mins.

Up front on his own, was always an option in and around the box, making himself available when they had the ball and a nuisance when he didn't. Solid 6.5 out of 10 I'd say.

[South Coast Royal]

Quite an entertaining game Scotland v Israel and a happy ending for the home fans.
We know what will happen-they will heroically get to the play-offs and then some dire mistake ( like Wales last night) will lead to them just missing out on final qualification.

I hope they, Wales and Northern Ireland all qualify but I guess it is unlikely.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Expected at least 8 (eight) versus Andorra

Hey-ho....steady as we go.

Fair do’s Andorra, that’s a minus 3 win

[URZZZZ]

Didn’t quite know what thread to put it in as I still don’t really understand the Nations league but I thought Spain were unlucky tonight, certainly the better side over the 90

Problem with Spain and the way they play though is that I feel they have to be in a period of domination to score whereas teams like France can score at any point with the threat of Mbappe, Pogba, Benzema and co

Think Spain are in real need of a ST, and perhaps someone like Adama to be utilised off the bench as their squad is littered with players who do similar things which doesn’t always change a game

[URZZZZ]

Just caught up with the Lewis red card too. Very harsh but you can see the ref forget about the original booking, once he’s brandished the second yellow, was little he could do

Effectively ended any chance of NI qualifying too although Lewis was still pretty naive given he was already on a yellow

[Silver Fox]

Made hard work of things in Torshavn last night but for the time being Clarke IN

[Sanguine]

Interesting read on Hungarian fan violence, and why links between Hungary's government and its football ultras make it difficult to see an end to it.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... y-violence

[LUX]

a new force in World Football.

Check out the quality of Luxembourg's three goals in their win in Azerbaijan last night .

They are now third in their Group, out of 5. Cannot qualify of course.

I am going to see them on Sunday at home to Ireland.

[Donny Ironside]

One of the most brutal tackles I've ever seen on Goretzka yesterday
More of a karate kick to the face

[Stranded]

Andorra have a man sent off after 19 seconds against Poland tonight. First ariel challenge and he swings an elbow right in the Polish defender's face.

[Libertine]

Dos a cero again...bitches.