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World Cup 2018: Russia


VILLAMARV

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Argentina on the brink.

If they only draw in the altitude of Ecuador they are out.

Baffled by Sampaoli so far. They need to score and Icardi and Dybala are un-used subs as he brings on midfielders. Such a mess. :lol:

Maybe he's saving them for Quito but they really are dicing with death.

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26 minutes ago, Mat Kendrick's Dentist said:

Make that 5 sitters. He's just provided another for Benedetto, who is really justifying his selection ahead of Higuain, Aguero, Dybala, Icardi and Tevez.

No idea who he is but looked like a pub player. Terrible control and kept on hitting it straight at the keeper. Just like Icardi and Higuain (in finals) in an Argentina shirt.

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1 minute ago, Mat Kendrick's Dentist said:

2 late Paraguay goals throw the cat amongst the pigeons. Going into the last matchday, 5 teams still fighting for 2 automatic places and one playoff spot.

Paraguay have Venezuela at home which is the easiest game on paper.

Don't see Chile getting anything in Brazil but they have better GD than Argentina so they just need not to get hammered.

Winner of Colombia-Peru game will finish above Argentina.

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Just now, VillaChris said:

Paraguay have Venezuela at home which is the easiest game on paper.

Don't see Chile getting anything in Brazil but they have better GD than Argentina so they just need not to get hammered.

Winner of Colombia-Peru game will finish above Argentina.

Think Chile's late winner has saved them. Fancy they will get something off of Brazil, who seemed to have their feet up today. Argentina have to win in the altitude of Quito, and if they do that they'll be guaranteed at least a playoff place.

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Sampaoli has definetly had a brain transplant or the pressure has majorly got to him.

He apparently had Leandro Paredes starting tonight and then changed his mind two hours before kick off and put in Biglia which was a very defensive move.

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Just now, Mat Kendrick's Dentist said:

Think Chile's late winner has saved them. Fancy they will get something off of Brazil, who seemed to have their feet up today. Argentina have to win in the altitude of Quito, and if they do that they'll be guaranteed at least a playoff place.

Playing in altitude is really tough. Argentina lost to Bolivia 2-0 recently who play at a slightly higher altitude.

If Ecuador can be drawing 1-1 away to Chile with 10 minutes left they can certainly get a draw at home to Argentina who can barely even score a goal in internationals.

Unless money changes hands of course....:ph34r:

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2 minutes ago, Mat Kendrick's Dentist said:

In Argentina's last 4 qualifiers, none of their players have scored (one own goal). Despite their outrageous attacking talent, only Bolivia have scored fewer over the 17 games.

Their finishing is abysmal. So many times they get passed the defence and hit the keeper/post/Maradona in the stand. Four times tonight they were through and hit straight at the Peru keeper.

Messi keeps setting them up but he probably needs to be on the end of the chances. Maybe for final game they play him as central striker and Dybala as number 10.

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5 minutes ago, VillaChris said:

Their finishing is abysmal. So many times they get passed the defence and hit the keeper/post/Maradona in the stand. Four times tonight they were through and hit straight at the Peru keeper.

Messi keeps setting them up but he probably needs to be on the end of the chances. Maybe for final game they play him as central striker and Dybala as number 10.

The lack of top midfielders for Argentina has always meant that Messi has to come ludicrously deep to start attacks. I thought Sampaoli's pressing style would stop this as they should be winning the ball high up the pitch, but they're just so listless. At Chile/Sevilla, Sampaoli loved mobile attackers who never gave defenders a second's rest, but now he's picking lumps who can neither run nor score!

Anyhow, Ecuador have lost their last 5 and have nothing to play for, so hopefully the Albiceleste can get over the line.

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England and Germany qualified yesterday then. On to Sunday for them.

In group E, Poland need a point to qualify. Denmark could finish top if Poland lose to Montenegro and Denmark beat Romania. Montenegro need to beat Poland and hope Denmark lose with a 3 goal swing in goal difference to finish second. A 1-0 win for Montenegro and a 1-0 loss for Denmark would mean it's down to the fair play ratings for both teams. IF that is level, it's FIFA drawing lots.
In group F, Scotland need to win to finish second. Slovakia need to beat Malta and hope Scotland lose or draw in Slovenia. Slovenia still have a mathematical chance but need to beat Scotland and hope Malta take points off Slovakia.
Northern Ireland are guaranteed second in Group C.

08/10/2017 UK Time Sunday

UEFA GROUPS E/F
17:00 - Slovenia v Scotland (Snodgrass)
17:00 - Slovakia v Malta
17:00 - Lithuania v England
17:00 - Poland v Montenegro
17:00 - Kazakhstan v Armenia
17:00 - Denmark v Romania

CAF
18:00 - Egypt v Congo (Elmohamady)

UEFA GROUP C

19:45 - Germany v Azerbaijan
19:45 - Norway v Northern Ireland
19:45 - Czech Republic v San Marino

09/10/2017 UK Time Monday

UEFA GROUPS D/G/I

19:45 - Moldova v Austria
19:45 - Serbia v Georgia
19:45 - Wales v Republic of Ireland (Chester, Taylor, Whelan, Hourihane, Hogan)
19:45 - Albania v Italy
19:45 - Israel v Spain
19:45 - FYR Macedonia v Liechtenstein
19:45 - Finland v Turkey
19:45 - Iceland v Kosovo (Bjarnason)
19:45 - Ukraine v Croatia

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Tuesday is Syria's big day and the last round of UEFA group games. Tuesday night/Wednesday morning is the end of CONCACAF and CONMEBOL group games.

10/10/2017 UK Time Tuesday

AFC PLAY OFF SECOND LEG
10:00 - Australia v Syria (1-1)

UEFA GROUPS A/B/H

19:45 - France v Belarus
19:45 - Luxembourg v Bulgaria
19:45 - Netherlands v Sweden
19:45 - Hungary v Faroe Islands
19:45 - Latvia v Andorra
19:45 - Portugal v Switzerland
19:45 - Belgium v Cyprus
19:45 - Estonia v Bosnia-Herzegovina
19:45 - Greece v Gibraltar

11/10/2017 UK Time Wednesday

CONMEBOL

00:30 - Brazil v Chile
00:30 - Ecuador v Argentina
00:30 - Paraguay v Venezuela
00:30 - Peru v Colombia
00:30 - Uruguay v Bolivia

CONCACAF

01:00 - Honduras v Mexico
01:00 - Panama v Costa Rica
01:00 - Trinidad and Tobago v USA

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7 hours ago, VillaChris said:

Their finishing is abysmal. So many times they get passed the defence and hit the keeper/post/Maradona in the stand. Four times tonight they were through and hit straight at the Peru keeper.

Messi keeps setting them up but he probably needs to be on the end of the chances. Maybe for final game they play him as central striker and Dybala as number 10.

I didn't see it. Guess Aguero didn't play but is he available for Ecuador. Don't want to see Argentina go out The world cup without Messi is like a world cup without Pele or Maradona in their day. it would lessen the competition. whilst we all like the underdogs to do well. The world cup needs the greats in it!

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13 hours ago, Mat Kendrick's Dentist said:

In Argentina's last 4 qualifiers, none of their players have scored (one own goal). Despite their outrageous attacking talent, only Bolivia have scored fewer over the 17 games.

Bolivia had 2 goals (and 4 points) chalked off when they fielded that ineligible player against Peru and Chile, so I think technically they are the joint lowest scorers in qualifying so far :)

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24 minutes ago, VILLAMARV said:

Bolivia had 2 goals (and 4 points) chalked off when they fielded that ineligible player against Peru and Chile, so I think technically they are the joint lowest scorers in qualifying so far :)

Yep, and those games could be crucial, as they added 3 points to Chile/Peru's tallies that hadn't been earned on the pitch.

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6 hours ago, PaulC said:

I didn't see it. Guess Aguero didn't play but is he available for Ecuador. Don't want to see Argentina go out The world cup without Messi is like a world cup without Pele or Maradona in their day. it would lessen the competition. whilst we all like the underdogs to do well. The world cup needs the greats in it!

Aguero is out for 6 weeks and in any case way down the pecking order.

Icardi and Dybala will surely start on Tuesday, they need to score some goals as Ecuador will likely to nick one on the counter attack.

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