2018 FIFA World Cup

[jstar]

The football (I just refuse to use the word soccer) tournament in 2018 will take place in Russia.

Qualifications have started, there are 210 member associations that (can) participate. In six different confederations. Of course Russia is automatically qualified. For Indonesia it looks rather grim. As you can see, there are two countries disqualified (black color). The countries in red have failed to qualify.

More updates later...

 

[jstar]

Indonesia was suspended from international football by the FIFA because of government's interference. But the suspension has been lifted in the FIFA's last congress. It was too late to participate in the qualifiers.

The six confederations correspond more or less with the continents. So in Europe there is the UEFA, Asia has the ACF and the CONCACAF covers north and central America. Every confederation organizes qualification rounds.

So for instance, the CONCACAF is in the 5th round now; there are six teams remaining, USA, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Honduras and T&T. The countries in the top three automatically qualifies and the 4th team has to play against another confederation's team (in this case Asia).

Something that deserves some additional background info: Australia is not part of the Oceania confederation (OFC) but of Asia (ACF). The last 50 years that has been a back and forth game (no pun intended) and currently they are part of the ACF again. The problem was that the participants of the OFC have a very small chance to qualify; the poule winner needs to play against team 4 of South America to qualify. Also, the Australians were interested to be able to participate in the Asian Champions League (for teams).

 

[jstar]

This is the status of the qualifying round per confederation (green dot):

As you can see, especially in Europe and South America there is still some progress to make. That's mainly because these continents have a huge amount of teams, but also their chance to qualify is rather high.

In Europe, there are nine groups (A through I) already, with 6 teams per group. So 54 teams in total. The nine group winners automatically qualify. And four of the the eight best runner-ups go the next round.

You see it becomes rather complicated since every confederation has very different qualifying rounds.

 

[jstar]

Some specifics per continent/country:

The USA is not doing so well. Mexico beat them and currently they are on fourth place. But it is all very premature and everything is still possible, there is only one game played and there are still nine to go. Of course you get three points per game that you won and one point for a draw. The top three of round 5 will automatically qualify and number four will have to go through an intercontinental play-off.

In Europe, the favorites are more or less confirming their status. The surprises are Switzerland (positive) and The Netherlands and Turkey (negative). For Wales and Austria the expectations were also higher. The top two per group after having played three or four games:

A. France, Sweden
B. Switzerland, Portugal
C. Germany, Northern Ireland
D. Ireland, Serbia
E. Poland, Montenegro
F. England, Slovenia
G. Spain, Italy
H. Belgium, Greece
I. Croatia, Ukraine

In South America, it gets very tough. There simply are no real weak teams over there. Brazil is doing very well, but Argentina is dropping the ball somewhat. If they don't improve they will not even make it through the qualifiers since they currently are not even in the top five. (After playing eleven of the eighteen games.)

In Asia, Australia is doing quite well, they are second in their group behind Saudi Arabia.. But Japan is close. In the other group Iran is leading. The top two in every group will qualify, with a round four for the two teams that end in the third position.

There are five groups in Africa. Esp. Tunisia, Ivory Coast and Nigeria are doing very well, they lead their groups. Egypt and Cameroon are also playing great. Morocco is somewhat disappointing, as well as Ghana. I do foresee two African teams getting rather far in Russia...

 

[fastpitch17]

In the USA, it is and always will be soccer.

This is football and always will be.

 

[jstar]

Hmm. Not so sure. The "soccer is for girls and male teenagers switch to serious sports in high school" days seem to vanish somewhat. But your new president could change all that of course. (Esp. if he feels personally insulted by the Mexicans beating his team.)

Countries as the US and China have a huge potential. And I wouldn't be surprised if the US will be playing the finale in four world cups from now (so in approx. 14 years).

Other countries that are on the rise, are the African teams of course.

The Netherlands is a bit in the same boat as Belgium / France / England used to be in some years ago; there was no good generation switch. The oldtimers with 100+ caps are not so motivated anymore and the youngsters don't have the experience yet (and still play for third rate teams).

Of course it is too early to tell and depending on many factors, but I'm currently thinking a 2018 final of Brazil or Germany against Belgium or France.

 

[fastpitch17]

Won't matter how good they do in the world, in the US it will always be called soccer or should I say it will never be called Football. Probably why all the soccer associations in the US have soccer in their name. I'll get out of your soccer thread now and stop preaching.

 

[jstar]

.
Thanks.

I will try to keep/get you interested, FP. On this sport which is played with one's feet. (Football.) By reporting regularly on the US team. And hey, perhaps Trump gets a personal invite from Putin to watch some (US) games? That would be cool and stimulating for the sport in the domestic US.

The coach of the USA is the German former superstar Jurgen Klinsmann. He is very (and far too) ambitious by aiming at the semi-finals in Russia in two years.

Some players of the US team:

 

[jstar]

Talking about team USA, it is rather significant that seven of the seventeen selected players, play for German teams. So in the Bundesliga. Of course the German competition is very strong (and well paid), but the fact the coach is German, will also play a role. (Knowledge of the teams and also local contacts.)

The everlasting issue with these tournaments is obviously the possible interference with the national leagues of the teams for which they play. Not only is there a possible overlap in important games, the chances are the player will return very tired or even with injuries. So it is an honor but also a burden.

The three American players who are playing on the 'highest level' in international football, are Yedlin, Johnson and Green.

 

[jstar]

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Quite a lot of goals in yesterday's games. But besides that, no big surprises.

Japan against group leader Saudi Arabia will be interesting*.

Any Kiwis or Kagou here?

 

[waarmstrong]

As I read this thread I am watching a Sunday evening football game -- Seattle Seahawks leading the New England Patriots 22 to 21. Sound is off so its not too much of a distraction.

 

[jstar]

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Some news about Australia. They played a draw against Thailand. And in fact they can consider themselves lucky with the one point since they could only catch up at the end.

The bad news for them is that Japan beat Saudi Arabia. And the UAE is also still in the running. (With 6 points after 4 games)

So this is the new overview of their Asian group B:

 

[jstar]

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Something probably not so surprising: Look where the Syrian 'home stadium' is.....

.....in Malaysia.

 

[brian@bekasi]

I watched the second half of Australia's performance last night and it was one of the most disorganised games that I have seen from them in years. They were lucky to get a draw as Thailand were on top the whole time I was watching.

I might say the pitch look like a cow paddock and not up to international standard. But not an excuse for a bad performance.

What is happening in my home country? The Socceroos cant win the easy games and more importantly my beloved cricket team are becoming the easybeats of world cricket. 2 Zip down against South Africa in a home series. It is enough to drive a cricket tragic like me to drink.

 

[jstar]

Yeah, I think it was their third draw in a row. So Japan’s win over leader Saudi Arabia means that Australia drops to third position in Group B. But another danger is that when the UAE defeats Iraq, there is one more dog to steal the bone. No, it doesn't look good.

 

[brian@bekasi]

Undefeated in the group but too many draws

 

[jstar]

Oops.

As we expected, the United Arab Emirates beat Iraq, so now they have the same amount of points as Australia.

2xOops.

The United States was humiliated by Costa Rica. And now the USA is last in the group with zero points. (Together with Trinidad & Tobago.)

 

[onepolar]

did anyone know when will the world cup ticket available? i want to attend there, because it said that anyone who have the world cup ticket, doesnt require any visa to go to russia. I really like that idea.

 

[Vanhelsing]

.. i want to attend there, because it said that anyone who have the world cup ticket, doesnt require any visa to go to russia. I really like that idea.

Do you have plans of returning?

 

[onepolar]

of course i do. why wouldnt i go back?

Do you have plans of returning?

of course i do. why wouldnt i go back?