World Cup Play-Offs

[Thaumagurist*]

i'd like to get in the french first lady's box


spacey do you think the referees will favour the french as it would be "unthinkable" (says Platini, Blatter, Cruyff and various ex pros, legends of the game, FIFA bigwigs) not to have them at the World cup

Do they? If they did say that, then they are mistaken. I would love it, love it, if they were to miss out. I certainly hope they are not influencing the referees.

[No Fixed Abode]

VIVE LA FRANCE!

You realise that the French h8 the Americans?

Vive La France!!

[Thaumagurist*]

VIVE LA FRANCE!

You realise that the French h8 the Americans?

Vive La France!!

I bhfad beo Éire!

[soggy biscuit]

VIVE LA FRANCE!

You realise that the French h8 the Americans?

France > England

[Thaumagurist*]

VIVE LA FRANCE!

You realise that the French h8 the Americans?

France > England

England qualified, France haven't yet. So stick that and some bacon in your pipe and smoke it!

[soggy biscuit]

France > England

England qualified, France haven't yet. So stick that and some bacon in your pipe and smoke it!

[The whole year inn]

NZ leading bahrain 1-0

[OzBiscuit2004]

NZ leading bahrain 1-0

Well done Kiwis!

Is it possible for England, Australia and New Zealand to be drawn in the same group I wonder?

[1871 Royal]

NZ leading bahrain 1-0

Well done Kiwis!

Is it possible for England, Australia and New Zealand to be drawn in the same group I wonder?

Nah, 2 teams from the same qualifying section can't be drawn together I don't think.

[OzBiscuit2004]

NZ leading bahrain 1-0

Well done Kiwis!

Is it possible for England, Australia and New Zealand to be drawn in the same group I wonder?

Nah, 2 teams from the same qualifying section can't be drawn together I don't think.

yeah i thought that but Australia qualified through Asia and NZ through Oceania.

[1871 Royal]

Oh I didn't know that. Thought they would have qualified through the same area Maybe they could be drawn together then.

[AF1]

saw New Zealand qualify this morning against Bahrain

was quite shocked by:


How big and entusiastic the NZ crowd were

How utterly shit both sides were

How biased the officials were in NZs favour, fair enuff Bahrain did get a pen(which they missed) but everything else the whole game went against them

[cmonurz]

Oh I didn't know that. Thought they would have qualified through the same area Maybe they could be drawn together then.

I would guess both teams will be in the 4th pot, so its unlikely.

[1871 Royal]

Oh I didn't know that. Thought they would have qualified through the same area Maybe they could be drawn together then.

I would guess both teams will be in the 4th pot, so its unlikely.

Ah yes, thats true, forgot about that.

[FORSTERS_RIGHT_FOOT]

NZ leading bahrain 1-0

Well done Kiwis!

Is it possible for England, Australia and New Zealand to be drawn in the same group I wonder?

Nah, 2 teams from the same qualifying section can't be drawn together I don't think.

Yes they can, usually you will find two european teams in the same group.

[papereyes]

Given that there will be 14 odd European teams and 8 groups, I'd be expecting most groups to have 2 European teams.

Is it possible for England, Australia and New Zealand to be drawn in the same group I wonder?

One UEFA, one AFC, one OFC

Nah, 2 teams from the same qualifying section can't be drawn together I don't think.

That said, it all depends on how FIFA sort it.

[LUX]

Nigeria through, Tunisia out.

I was listening on BBC World Service, quite exciting. Nigeria came from behind with 2 Obafemi Martins goals to win in Kenya 3 2.

[Pseud O'Nym]

Cameroon through. Found a decent stream and it was a quite enjoyable if rather one sided affair against Morocco.

[Gus the teenage cow]

bahain v new zealand in a play-off and Ireland go unbeaten in a group with the world champions and get France in a play-off, what an absolute effing joke fifa have made of the qualification process

[cmonurz]

bahain v new zealand in a play-off and Ireland go unbeaten in a group with the world champions and get France in a play-off, what an absolute effing joke fifa have made of the qualification process

The joke is the seeding of teams in the European playoffs. But it is a world cup, and Ireland are unfortunate (if you see it that way) that a fair chunk of the world's best sides come from Europe.

I think FIFA have got the continental split about right - I'd sooner have teams from across the globe in the competition than some of the lesser European nations. And it's not like Oceania even have a guaranteed spot.

The questionable decision really was letting Australia play in the Asia qualifying tournament, although I'd argue that doesn't really change the quality of teams qualifying from the East.

Edit: All of this leaves aside the noticeable improvement in football in the middle-east, notably Bahrain and Iraq, and New Zealand should be congratulated for their win, over two legs.