FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifying

[Tender Branson]

Austria plays against the Faroer Islands tomorrow.

Should be an easy win, but ... they managed to defeat us already once in the early 90s ...

But here's my prediction:

3-0 for us.

[Keystone Phil]

Italy come out guns blazing in the second half: two goals within two minutes. All tied up now.

[Keystone Phil]

Portugal went up in the second minute but conceded three straight goals. They battled back and got the equalizer in the 93rd. Very lucky.

[Keystone Phil]

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.

[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.

[Lief 🗽]

They're up 0-3 now.

[minionofmidas]

They're up 0-3 now.

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

[Keystone Phil]

Denmark will get their first win of the campaign as they're up 2-0 in the Czech Republic with little time left. Spain are only up by a goal at home against Finland. France will jump to the top of the group based on goals scored if France can find another goal. That would make the France-Spain match next week even more awesome.

[Keystone Phil]

Finland tie it up! Bwahahaha!

[Goodwin]

Finland tie it up! Bwahahaha!

Excellent

England win 8-0 over San Marino (pub team), our biggest result since beating Turkey 8-0 in 1987. Also, Wales defeat Scotland in Glasgow!

[Keystone Phil]

Wow. Wales must have battled back late. Not that it matters since the battle for that group is between Belgium and Croatia. Whoever doesn't top it essentially has a lock on second already.

In other news:

Bosnia took a big step in winning their group. They beat Greece today. Group E got interesting: the Swiss are in first with a game in hand but Iceland - yes, Iceland - moved into second and Albania is up to third. Slovenia (remember them? The supposed promising, young side being talked up a few years ago?) are finished with only three points. Norway still has a chance.

And in Tender news, Austria demolished the poor Faroes.

[Keystone Phil]

Very interesting U.S.-Costa Rica game right now. Not because of the two joke teams playing but because they're playing in a snow storm!

[Keystone Phil]

Match seemed like it was going to be suspended. Idiot commentators are stunned that the match can be paused now then continue at a later date at the exact point in the match (55 minutes in). Play has resumed though.

[7,052,770]

I don't know what would be more miserable: going to a sporting event in a snowstorm, or going to a soccer game.  Poor fans.

[Lief 🗽]

Soccer is probably the most entertaining sport to see live. Certainly better than football or baseball.

Also this snow storm match is awesome.

[Keystone Phil]

You have to love this joke American commentator for being so pathetic it is almost cute. Between crying the entire match (or at least the bit I've seen) about the U.S. not getting calls in their favor to the idea that this snow game will go down in American sport folklore, you have to applaud him for an incredible effort.

[Tender Branson]

And in Tender news, Austria demolished the poor Faroes.

Yes, that was expected. Maybe not the high result, but we were 1 or 2 classes better in this game.

Austria could have won 10 or 15 to zero, because many good chances were missed in front of the goal, while the Faroe players managed to come in front of the Austrian goal only once or twice in 90 minutes ...

Ireland and Sweden will be much tougher nuts to crack ...

[minionofmidas]

And in Tender news, Austria demolished the poor Faroes.

Yes, that was expected.

Was it?

[Knives]

Soccer is probably the most entertaining sport to see live. Certainly better than football or baseball.

Also this snow storm match is awesome.

Never been to AFL?

[Platypus]

Soccer is probably the most entertaining sport to see live. Certainly better than football or baseball.

Also this snow storm match is awesome.

Never been to AFL?

This.

[minionofmidas]

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

[Keystone Phil]

And in Tender news, Austria demolished the poor Faroes.

Yes, that was expected. Maybe not the high result, but we were 1 or 2 classes better in this game.

Austria could have won 10 or 15 to zero, because many good chances were missed in front of the goal, while the Faroe players managed to come in front of the Austrian goal only once or twice in 90 minutes ...

Ireland and Sweden will be much tougher nuts to crack ...

I don't think the margin was expected. That's my point.

[7,052,770]

Why does the Faroe Islands even have its own team?  Greenland doesn't, right?  Hawaii, Alaska, Prince Edward Island, etc., don't.

If the Faroes had a really good player would he play for Denmark instead rather than getting stomped every international game he ever played?

[Keystone Phil]

Why does the Faroe Islands even have its own team?  Greenland doesn't, right?  Hawaii, Alaska, Prince Edward Island, etc., don't.

I've wondered the same though I've seen it referred to as a country in several places. I've always thought of it as an autonomous region but it seems like it's more than that. They have had a "national" team since 1930 but weren't been recognized by FIFA until 1988 and UEFA until 1990. Still no idea why they're recognized at all.

As for the question about a "really good player" going to Denmark, I guess it depends on his stance on independence: apparently, the Faroese are pretty evenly split on the issue. If it was a player that didn't care or favored staying under the Danish crown, I'd think they'd definitely go play for at least a mediocre team. Then again, regional pride can be a big deal.

[Bacon King]

Why does the Faroe Islands even have its own team?  Greenland doesn't, right?  Hawaii, Alaska, Prince Edward Island, etc., don't.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenland_national_football_team