FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifying

[minionofmidas]

Europe is back to action today. I think Russia vs. Portugal will be the most interesting match.

Almost over, and Russia's 1-0 lead has lived for over 80 minutes.

[minionofmidas]

Germany have never beaten Sweden in Berlin. This was the fifth try.

Also, is it just me or is it finally time to lose that Bavarian second-division-skill-level halfback?

[minionofmidas]

Ugh, I didn't think for a minute they'd actually go through with that. Goodbye, Euro.

[minionofmidas]

I hope future historians will agree not to count the 2020 title.

[minionofmidas]

This way, Australia actually play regular competitive games against worthy opponents, yet are not outmatched. Sound decision. (Kazakhstan, otoh, found themselves in over their heads after switching to Europe from Asia. But of course, the European club competitions and the money brought in for tv rights for the big sides' away games must have influenced that decision as well.)


I'm not sure how serious New Zealand took the OFC cup or if they even played their full first squad. Although their semifinal defeat was a major shock, it was good enough to keep their world cup hopes alive - and indeed after four out of six games in that round-robin tournament, they're on track to win Oceania's halfberth for 2014. And if they stumble, it will be to New Caledonia, not Tahiti.
Tahiti did win the Oceanian qualifier for the 2009 U21 World Cup recently. Though they were completely outclassed there, losing 0-8 to both Spain and Venezuela and 0-5 to Nigeria.

It seems all but three Tahitian players play at home; there's one in the fifth French division and one in the Belgian third. And there's a guy currently playing (with a very minor club) in the Greek first division (on loan from a French first divison side) who was born in Tahiti, raised in France, has played for French internationally as a junior, and doesn't play for Tahiti regularly. Marama Vahirua. I assume he'll be in the Confed Cup, though.

[minionofmidas]

Bulgaria is mauling Malta 6-0 and there is still ten minutes to go. This is typical for any good or excellent team playing a minnow but I'd be shocked if we won even 3-0 against them on Tuesday.

Yeah well, Germany went up 2-0 in Kazakhstan early but right now (15 minutes to go) are far closer a 1-2 (not to mention, to deserving it) than a 3-0.

[minionofmidas]

They're up 0-3 now.

Yeah, typical when you write something like that. Happened a minute or less after I posted, actually.

[minionofmidas]

And in Tender news, Austria demolished the poor Faroes.

Yes, that was expected.

Was it?

[minionofmidas]

Nobody in the world has. I said in the world. That excludes Victoria.

[minionofmidas]

The Faeroes are a nonsovereign nation like Puerto Rico or Montserrat, and like them have a national team. Although not all do - Man doesn't, for instance.

[minionofmidas]

3-0 Armenia.

[minionofmidas]

On what the hell grounds?

[minionofmidas]

Well, Germany-Paraguay was, eh, interesting ...

Right, completely forgot about that game. How'd it end?

[minionofmidas]

Tonight, we are all Austrians ...

Even the Germans?

Oh yes. It's time for another Cordoba. I want to see Jerome Boateng cry all night through like Rolf Rüssmann is reported to have done after that and Philipp Lahm best Berti Vogts and not just joke about hacking off that own-goal-scoring leg but actually doing it.

[minionofmidas]

Important fact:

The last time Austria won against Germany, playing in Germany, was 82 years ago - in 1931.

It was a 6-0 then in Berlin.

That was a friendly though.

(Every German involved in that game is dead at least 24 years; researching which made me find out that Weimar era footballing legend "Hanne" Sobek only barely missed living into my own sports-coverage-following days. Who would'a thought it?)

[minionofmidas]

Won by one goal too many, really.

[minionofmidas]

Sweden up 1-0 in the first minute! Russia and Israel are tied 0-0 at the half.

...Russia up 2-0 by the 52nd though, and now at 3-0. Israel's campaign thus effectively over, Russia and Portugal squabbling for first place.

[minionofmidas]

KAZ vs. SWE ends 0-1.

That doesn't make it any easier for us ...

Did anybody expect any other outcome (except more goals by Sweden maybe)?

[minionofmidas]

It wasn't dramatic enough that Jordan-Uzbekistan went to penalties; it had to end 9-8! Wow!

8-7 on penalties, plus the 1-1 score from 90 and 120 (and indeed 45) minutes, actually.

And apparently Jordan has a player whose surname is "Abu Hashhash". Smokin'.

[minionofmidas]

Turkey go up away to Romania, and suddenly their qualifying hopes are alive and well.

[minionofmidas]

Now that Italy is more or less guaranteed first place, it's in Bulgaria's interest for them to win their remaining matches. So Forza Azzurri (for the rest of the qualifiers, anyway)!

You jinxed it.

[minionofmidas]

Belarus go up against France.

[minionofmidas]

Netherlands can book their flight.

[minionofmidas]

Austria take the lead against Ireland, with just a few minutes left to go. That's curtains for the Irish.

[minionofmidas]

Thanks to Norway's earlier defeat by Switzerland, the winner of Iceland vs Albania (one of two still ongoing games, current score 2-1) will move into second slot in that group.

Of course, in all likelihood the second placed team in that group will end up eliminated as weakest second placer overall...