World Cup 2022 qualifying begins

[LUX]

Now losing.

[LUX]

3-1 down, oh well.

I’m gonna defy the curfew and boo outside Ronaldo’s hotel. It’s not far away.

[Ascotexgunner]

Too close for comfort. TBF going down to 10 men helped us tonight. No way was that a sending off though.
Great goal though. That cross from Bale was just quality and James unbelievably can head a ball.
And Rodon can actually defend. Hell of a block at the end.
Belgian though.....8 nil.....kinell.

[tulip]

3-1 down, oh well.

I’m gonna defy the curfew and boo outside Ronaldo’s hotel. It’s not far away.

Yeah do it! The rest of the Benelux did rather well tonight.

[Sanguine]

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfr ... p-football

Very interesting read on a potential Norway boycott of the Qatar World Cup.

And particularly interesting to read about club ownership in Norway (which is driving some of the momentum on this).

But grassroots campaigns are nothing new. So why has this boycott movement made the FA’s top brass quiver? Because Norwegian football is a democracy. Clubs are by law owned and run by their members who, once a year, vote on the club’s policies, amendments of its statutes and so on. Any paid-up member over the age of 15 is eligible to vote – the law applies to all clubs, from the smallest community-based outfit to former Champions League regulars Rosenborg.

[6ft Kerplunk]

Belgian though.....8 nil.....kinell.

With De Bruyne and Lukaku on the bench too.

[Ascotexgunner]

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/mar/30/norway-boycott-qatar-world-cup-football

Very interesting read on a potential Norway boycott of the Qatar World Cup.

And particularly interesting to read about club ownership in Norway (which is driving some of the momentum on this).

But grassroots campaigns are nothing new. So why has this boycott movement made the FA’s top brass quiver? Because Norwegian football is a democracy. Clubs are by law owned and run by their members who, once a year, vote on the club’s policies, amendments of its statutes and so on. Any paid-up member over the age of 15 is eligible to vote – the law applies to all clubs, from the smallest community-based outfit to former Champions League regulars Rosenborg.

It really needs one of the bigger footballing nations to stand up. The English FA should be leading the way, they see themselves as a leader in helping minorities and promoting equality. Their silence is deafening......and backed by the players also.
They all take the knee yet seem to be happy to play for their country and participate in a competition that will culminate with them playing in a country where women are treated like sh*t, human rights are non existent, human trafficking is well known, slavery still exists, LBGT rights are outlawed and beheading is still apunishment.
And of course a country who bribed officials for their tournament.

[Four Of Clubs]

Straight Red for our 'Georgy Boy' in the early game vs Armenia - from what I saw of the 2nd half up to this dismissal he was fairly peripheral albeit making a nuisance of himself as the central striker.

V.stupid studs up challenge for a ball he didn't need to try and win - looked decidedly embarrassed about it but had to go.

Armenia just levelled on 86' but looked miles offside! (no Var) .... and now 3' later, been given a pen.
...tucked away 3-2 - and game over.

[Ascotexgunner]

Feel a bit sorry for Stones. I'd didn't think that was his fault entirely.
That was a shitty pass by Pope and noone seemed to offer any help as an option.

[Zip]

Feel a bit sorry for Stones. I'd didn't think that was his fault entirely.
That was a shitty pass by Pope and noone seemed to offer any help as an option.

I don’t. Typical Stones. Always an accident waiting to happen. Entirely his fault.

[Simmops]

Germany losing to north Macedonia

San marino still drawing which is a oxf*rd miracle

[Zip]

Too close for comfort. TBF going down to 10 men helped us tonight. No way was that a sending off though.
Great goal though. That cross from Bale was just quality and James unbelievably can head a ball.
And Rodon can actually defend. Hell of a block at the end.
Belgian though.....8 nil.....kinell.

Great result given the number of players missing. If we can just have a strong team available for the return v Belgium we have a chance of winning the group.

[Ascotexgunner]

Feel a bit sorry for Stones. I'd didn't think that was his fault entirely.
That was a shitty pass by Pope and noone seemed to offer any help as an option.

I don’t. Typical Stones. Always an accident waiting to happen. Entirely his fault.

The centrback pairing really looks soft for England. They don't look like they have a great understanding.

[Ascotexgunner]

Too close for comfort. TBF going down to 10 men helped us tonight. No way was that a sending off though.
Great goal though. That cross from Bale was just quality and James unbelievably can head a ball.
And Rodon can actually defend. Hell of a block at the end.
Belgian though.....8 nil.....kinell.

Great result given the number of players missing. If we can just have a strong team available for the return v Belgium we have a chance of winning the group.

Can't see us being top. Czechs still worry me. It's great to have a bit of depth though. Belgium certainly look beatable. Poor mistakes cost us but we had chances. Dan James gets more important to us by game and it's looking like a solid unit we now have.

[Zip]

Feel a bit sorry for Stones. I'd didn't think that was his fault entirely.
That was a shitty pass by Pope and noone seemed to offer any help as an option.

I don’t. Typical Stones. Always an accident waiting to happen. Entirely his fault.

The centrback pairing really looks soft for England. They don't look like they have a great understanding.

It’s the area where England are vulnerable.

[Zip]

Too close for comfort. TBF going down to 10 men helped us tonight. No way was that a sending off though.
Great goal though. That cross from Bale was just quality and James unbelievably can head a ball.
And Rodon can actually defend. Hell of a block at the end.
Belgian though.....8 nil.....kinell.

Great result given the number of players missing. If we can just have a strong team available for the return v Belgium we have a chance of winning the group.

Can't see us being top. Czechs still worry me. It's great to have a bit of depth though. Belgium certainly look beatable. Poor mistakes cost us but we had chances. Dan James gets more important to us by game and it's looking like a solid unit we now have.

I dunno, Belgium were nothing special against us. I was there the last time we played them in Cardiff. We beat them that night. We can do it again.

[Ascotexgunner]

Great result given the number of players missing. If we can just have a strong team available for the return v Belgium we have a chance of winning the group.

Can't see us being top. Czechs still worry me. It's great to have a bit of depth though. Belgium certainly look beatable. Poor mistakes cost us but we had chances. Dan James gets more important to us by game and it's looking like a solid unit we now have.

I dunno, Belgium were nothing special against us. I was there the last time we played them in Cardiff. We beat them that night. We can do it again.

Home advantage is crucial. Again, like England, that Belgian partnership at the back looks soft. We are very much in this for top spot.....but Czech Rep away bothers me.

[Zip]

Good finish by Maguire

[Stranded]

89 mins gone:

Germany 1 North Macedonia 2

[Stranded]

89 mins gone:

Germany 1 North Macedonia 2

And now the final score.

First home WC qualification defeat since that 5-1 defeat to England in 2001.