3-3
2-2
1-1?
Andre Lim
Thursday, 25 January 2018
Saturday, 30 December 2017
Saturday, 2 December 2017
Group C - FIFA World Cup 2018 draw
Who I want to go through marked in bold.
Who will likely go through marked in asterisk *.
Group A
Russia*
Saudi Arabia
Egypt
Uruguay*
Group B
Portugal*
Spain*
Morocco
Iran
Group C
France*
Australia
Peru
Denmark*
Group D
Argentina*
Iceland
Croatia
Nigeria*
Group E
Brazil*
Switzerland*
Costa Rica
Serbia
Group F
Germany*
Mexico*
Sweden
South Korea
Group G
Belgium*
Panama
Tunisia
England*
Group H
Poland*
Senegal
Colombia*
Japan
Iceland and Croatia
Iceland draw Croatia again. It was Croatia that knocked out Iceland in the 2014 World Cup Playoffs; 4 years later Iceland topped their 2018 World Cup Qualifying Group, relegating Croatia to the play-offs.
After noting that the two countries "seem to be a married couple", Iceland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said Iceland would demand a divorce from Croatia after next year's World Cup.
Familiar pairings
Nigeria draw Argentina again for the 5th time! (1994, 2002, 2010, 2014 and 2018).
Colombia draw Japan again as per 2014, while Brazil get Costa Rica again from 2002.
Open groups
Groups A and H look completely open; while group G should in theory be very easy for England and Belgium..
It also means that the teams that progress to the Round of 16 from Groups G and H will avoid heavyweights in that section of the draw (at least until the quarterfinals where Germany and Brazil will likely await).
Win the group and get Brazil; come second and get Germany in the QF if all goes to plan (see projected knockout draw below - countries noted in order of likelihood).
If I had it my way with the knockout draw....
This is what might happen.
Group A
Saudi Arabia tops Group A; Egypt comes runner-up.
Group B
Morrocco tops Group B; Iran comes runner-up.
Group C
France tops Group C; Aussies come runner-up.
Group D
Nigeria tops Group D; Iceland comes runner-up.
Group E
Brazil tops Group E; Switzerland/Serbia come runner-up.
Group F
South Korea top Group F; Germany come runner-up.
Group G
Tunisia/Panama top Group G; England are runner-up.
Group H
Japan top Group H; Senegal come runner-up.
R16 Match #1:
Saudi Arabia v Iran
Regional rivalry.
R16 Match #2:
France v Iceland.
Euro 2016 re-match.
R16 Match #3:
Brazil v Germany
Premature grand final.
R16 Match #4:
Tunisia v Senegal
African derby.
R16 Match #5:
Morrocco v Egypt
North African derby.
R16 Match #6:
Nigeria v Australia.
R16 Match #7:
South Korea v Switzerland.
R16 Match #8:
Japan v England.
France proceeds to semi.
Brazil beat Senegal and proceed to top semi.
Australia beat Nigeria on penalties and then beat Egypt on penalties.
Japan beat England on penalties; South Korea beat Switzerland on penalties.
Asia derby between Japan and South Korea. Japan wins 2-1.
SF#1: France v Brazil
1998 re-match
SF#2: Australia v Japan
Asia derby part 2.
Andre Lim
Who will likely go through marked in asterisk *.
Group A
Russia*
Saudi Arabia
Egypt
Uruguay*
Group B
Portugal*
Spain*
Morocco
Iran
Group C
France*
Australia
Peru
Denmark*
Group D
Argentina*
Iceland
Croatia
Nigeria*
Group E
Brazil*
Switzerland*
Costa Rica
Serbia
Group F
Germany*
Mexico*
Sweden
South Korea
Group G
Belgium*
Panama
Tunisia
England*
Group H
Poland*
Senegal
Colombia*
Japan
Iceland and Croatia
Iceland draw Croatia again. It was Croatia that knocked out Iceland in the 2014 World Cup Playoffs; 4 years later Iceland topped their 2018 World Cup Qualifying Group, relegating Croatia to the play-offs.
After noting that the two countries "seem to be a married couple", Iceland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said Iceland would demand a divorce from Croatia after next year's World Cup.
Familiar pairings
Nigeria draw Argentina again for the 5th time! (1994, 2002, 2010, 2014 and 2018).
Colombia draw Japan again as per 2014, while Brazil get Costa Rica again from 2002.
Open groups
Groups A and H look completely open; while group G should in theory be very easy for England and Belgium..
It also means that the teams that progress to the Round of 16 from Groups G and H will avoid heavyweights in that section of the draw (at least until the quarterfinals where Germany and Brazil will likely await).
Win the group and get Brazil; come second and get Germany in the QF if all goes to plan (see projected knockout draw below - countries noted in order of likelihood).
This is what might happen.
Group A
Saudi Arabia tops Group A; Egypt comes runner-up.
Group B
Morrocco tops Group B; Iran comes runner-up.
Group C
France tops Group C; Aussies come runner-up.
Group D
Nigeria tops Group D; Iceland comes runner-up.
Group E
Brazil tops Group E; Switzerland/Serbia come runner-up.
Group F
South Korea top Group F; Germany come runner-up.
Group G
Tunisia/Panama top Group G; England are runner-up.
Group H
Japan top Group H; Senegal come runner-up.
R16 Match #1:
Saudi Arabia v Iran
Regional rivalry.
R16 Match #2:
France v Iceland.
Euro 2016 re-match.
R16 Match #3:
Brazil v Germany
Premature grand final.
R16 Match #4:
Tunisia v Senegal
African derby.
R16 Match #5:
Morrocco v Egypt
North African derby.
R16 Match #6:
Nigeria v Australia.
R16 Match #7:
South Korea v Switzerland.
R16 Match #8:
Japan v England.
France proceeds to semi.
Brazil beat Senegal and proceed to top semi.
Australia beat Nigeria on penalties and then beat Egypt on penalties.
Japan beat England on penalties; South Korea beat Switzerland on penalties.
Asia derby between Japan and South Korea. Japan wins 2-1.
SF#1: France v Brazil
1998 re-match
SF#2: Australia v Japan
Asia derby part 2.
Andre Lim
Thursday, 16 November 2017
We made it to Russia!
Yes! I'll be honest. I had no idea that Jedinak would be such a massive influence over the two legs.
I knew we needed his grit and roughness, but I didn't know we would be so utterly dependent on him.
(Courtesy ESPN Soccernet)
So what's the worst possible draw for us at the 2018 FIFA World Cup?
Brazil/Germany
Spain/Uruguay
Denmark/Sweden/Egypt? (depending on how many UEFAs are in our group)
Australia
What would be a kind draw for us?
Russia/Poland?
Switzerland/Peru(?)/Mexico
Tunisia/Costa Rica
Australia
What would be a memorable/interesting draw?
Argentina/Germany
England/Croatia/Uruguay
Iceland/Senegal
Australia
Germany
England
Sweden
Saudi Arabia
Argentina
England
Iran/Iceland
Nigeria
Which teams from Pot 4 are the most likely to get out of their Group, in theory?
Nigeria, Serbia and Japan
Which teams from Pot 4 will everyone want to draw?
Panama, Saudi Arabia and Morocco; possibly Australia or South Korea
Which teams from Pot 3 will everyone want to draw?
Tunisia and Costa Rica
Which teams from Pot 2 will everyone want to draw?
Switzerland and Peru; possibly Mexico and Colombia at a stretch
Group of Death?
Brazil/Germany
Spain/England/Uruguay
Denmark/Sweden with Ibrahimovic
Nigeria/Japan
Andre Lim
I knew we needed his grit and roughness, but I didn't know we would be so utterly dependent on him.
So what's the worst possible draw for us at the 2018 FIFA World Cup?
Brazil/Germany
Spain/Uruguay
Denmark/Sweden/Egypt? (depending on how many UEFAs are in our group)
Australia
What would be a kind draw for us?
Russia/Poland?
Switzerland/Peru(?)/Mexico
Tunisia/Costa Rica
Australia
What would be a memorable/interesting draw?
Argentina/Germany
England/Croatia/Uruguay
Iceland/Senegal
Australia
Germany
England
Sweden
Saudi Arabia
Argentina
England
Iran/Iceland
Nigeria
Which teams from Pot 4 are the most likely to get out of their Group, in theory?
Nigeria, Serbia and Japan
Which teams from Pot 4 will everyone want to draw?
Panama, Saudi Arabia and Morocco; possibly Australia or South Korea
Which teams from Pot 3 will everyone want to draw?
Tunisia and Costa Rica
Which teams from Pot 2 will everyone want to draw?
Switzerland and Peru; possibly Mexico and Colombia at a stretch
Group of Death?
Brazil/Germany
Spain/England/Uruguay
Denmark/Sweden with Ibrahimovic
Nigeria/Japan
Andre Lim
Wednesday, 15 November 2017
Nice formation
Defensive double DM to prevent the away goal.
But will Rogic and Mooy partner well?
Can Cahill tahan?
Andre Lim
But will Rogic and Mooy partner well?
Can Cahill tahan?
Andre Lim
Tuesday, 14 November 2017
Prediction
A tight and nervy 1 goal margin victory.
Say, Australia 1 - 0 Honduras
I think Luongo and Leckie need to start.
Andre Lim
Say, Australia 1 - 0 Honduras
I think Luongo and Leckie need to start.
Andre Lim
Sunday, 12 November 2017
Arab football powers
After varying periods of absence, the traditional Arab footballing nations in the form of Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt have all returned to the World Cup.
NB: Iran may be classified as Arab, depending on the definition that you employ. But they were there in 2014.
Andre Lim
NB: Iran may be classified as Arab, depending on the definition that you employ. But they were there in 2014.
Andre Lim
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