World Cup 2022

[Zippy]

If things had gone differently for Ireland they could potentially have Rice, Grealish and Bamford in their ranks.

[Shedboy]

WTF is up with Gareth Bale's hair? The man's a fucking twat.

[kevin04]

I think Bale is thinning at the back and he sticks it up in that man bun thing to hide it.

A C plus week for Scotland, decent-ish, but could have been better. 2-2 with Austria at home, followed up by what actually come the end of the group might be a decent point in Israel and a fairly comfortable win last night against the Faroes. The Faroese have improved tenfold in years, for a population of 45k they won their Nations League group and very rarely get humped, so to win 4-0 and quite emphatically was fairly decent. Denmark will probably waltz the group, 4-0 in Vienna last night ; so imagine Austria probably faves for second, but with us and Israel (won 4-1 last night) all in the hunt for second.

Its been an interesting week and most of the groups are wide open. Germany's loss to Macedonia who lost to Romania who lost to Armenia makes that group tight.

Slovenia beat Croatia in a huge win in their first game, but then followed it up with two losses albeit in Moscow and Cyprus too. Turkey as well who beat Holland 4-2 and then hammered Norway 3-0, blow it to a certain extent by being hold 3-3 at home to Latvia. Ukraine who are a very decent side are sitting on 3pts with 3 draws - started the week with a point in Paris and probably flying after that albeit to be undone with two over 1-1s with Finland and Kazakhstan at home.

Didn't watch any of England, but sounds like the same as usual - steamrolling the qualifiers without setting a light, and doing enough to get the win in all three games.

Wales look even sturdier under Page. They had a bit of luck with the red, but the Czechs have been in fine form and to beat them is a huge scalp. They started well in Belgium as well, so this generation of talented Welsh youngsters might well get to their first WC in 60 odd years.

Ireland are really toiling. Luxembourg were the better side, and it does take a bit of the result when you see Champions League striker of Dinamo Kiev beats Rochdale keeper for the winner. Luxembourg have been solidly improving these past ten years, so it is not the same as losing to Andorra, but it doesn't look great for Ireland. Topped up with a really dull draw against Qatar - who probably should won - and Stephen Kenny is 11 games in to his reign without a win!

Northern Ireland are winless as well under Barraclough. They seemed to dominate last night but couldn't score, and were held 0-0 at home to Bulgaria. In a group with Italy and Switzerland, it is going to be incredibly tough to get second, but you are probably needing 6pts against Bulgaria, Lithuania, and then 3/4 from Switzerland/Italy to even be close to second. You wonder who will go for first - Kenny or Barraclough.

Team of the week - ARMENIA! Three wins from three. A solid and fine display against Iceland backed up with a brilliant comeback, 2-1 down to Romania with 6 minutes to go and BANG and BANG again, 3-2 and top of their group for the next 6 months! Well done, and always great to see 'new' nations qualifying or doing well.

[henrycrs]

Great round up Kev.

England will be home and hosed without breaking out of 2nd gear, the proof is always if they have a 3rd or 4th gear when they need it.

Had a laugh at the Dutch getting beat in Turkey, apparently the Turks were battered for most of the game, the Dutch then smash the nightly Gibraltar after only being 1-0 up at half time.

Werners miss for the Krauts changed the shape of that game, they’ll be typically efficient.

Would like to see the likes of Armenia and Macedonia have a real chance of qualification tho.

[AlcoholBrazil]

The 20th anniversary of this incredible match.
Motty's best game as commentator.
Gerrard's arrival as an England regular ,and the start of the "Golden Generation" that never got past a quarter-final.
Owen emulating Hurst, except the winning a trophy part. And Svenmania .

Tomorrow ,Soft lad's kneelers are off to Budapest to shake off the Euro hangover. Summer is over. Kids back to school Get on with it.

[kancutlawns]

Two goals in two minutes for the Danes against Scotland.

[Jonathan]

Scotland currently on their way to a bit of a hammering.

[kancutlawns]

Can the Irish hold on in the Algarve to record a famous victory?

[kancutlawns]

Oh dear, perhaps not. 1-1, Ronnie’s on target.

[kancutlawns]

2-1 now. Ronnie again in the 96th. The leading international scorer now.

[delboy1983]

Ronaldo is finished !
The brazilian one that is !

[kancutlawns]

Ronaldo is finished !
The brazilian one that is !

You looking forward to watching him again in the red top of Man U, del?

[Zippy]

Scotland currently on their way to a bit of a hammering.

Will always have the 0-0 with England at Wembley trophy though.

[Zippy]

2-1 now. Ronnie again in the 96th. The leading international scorer now.

Fuck, Irish football has been in an absolute state these past few years. Stephen Kenny seems on a hiding to nothing.

Thought they were going to hold on and get a huge away win. Not to be.

[kancutlawns]

2-1 now. Ronnie again in the 96th. The leading international scorer now.

Fuck, Irish football has been in an absolute state these past few years. Stephen Kenny seems on a hiding to nothing.

Thought they were going to hold on and get a huge away win. Not to be.

Twenty years ago exactly, they famously beat the Dutch in a World Cup qualifier but couldn’t quite repeat the feat tonight but the difference in the two Irish teams were a millions miles apart.