FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifying

[NewYorkExpress]

Open question about whether FIFA can block already qualified teams from competition (Iran)

[Lief 🗽]

Open question about whether FIFA can block already qualified teams from competition (Iran)

Why would they block Iran from the competition?

[Keystone Phil]

Open question about whether FIFA can block already qualified teams from competition (Iran)

Teams have been banned from tournaments before. UEFA banned Yugoslavia from the 1992 Euros. Their qualifying group runners up, Denmark, went in their place and won the tournament. It was one of the greatest upsets in the sport. They were notified they'd be competing just weeks before it began. The Danish players were already on vacation! Anyway, that's a UEFA example but FIFA has done it before. They absolutely won't do it for Iran. Remember, North Korea competed in 2010 and Iran competed in 2006.

[minionofmidas]

On what the hell grounds?

[NewYorkExpress]

Safety of the Irainian players, as no one really wants them in their country...  And it may go against their sanctions anyways...

[Platypus]

Hi there American!

I'm here as a representative of the rest of the world. We make up about 6.8 billion people!

Anyhow, we're just letting you know that we don't all have the same opinions as the average person in the United States. Some of us do share your opinions, and some of us have the direct opposite view!

Now it really isn't so complex, so I'm sure you'll understand that the people of Brazil might have a different view on Iran to the USA.

In fact, their government have A very warm relationship with the people and government of Iran. Now it's true enough to say that the average Brazilian isn't in love with the Islamic Republic, but there's a long gap between that and being actively hostile to the sportspeople representing a country.

Looking forward to the next time you assume your life is everyone's and your news is all the news, your opinions are everyone's and your country is an accurate representation of global thinking!

Sincerely,

the Rest of the World.

[danny]

Hi there American!

I'm here as a representative of the rest of the world. We make up about 6.8 billion people!

Anyhow, we're just letting you know that we don't all have the same opinions as the average person in the United States. Some of us do share your opinions, and some of us have the direct opposite view!

Now it really isn't so complex, so I'm sure you'll understand that the people of Brazil might have a different view on Iran to the USA.

In fact, their government have A very warm relationship with the people and government of Iran.

Looking forward to the next time you assume your life is everyone's and your news is all the news, your opinions are everyone's and your country is an accurate representation of global thinking!

Sincerely,

the Rest of the World.

Even if this tournament was being held in the US, this still wouldn't be a problem.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Really happy for Iran! South Korea is a fine team as well, so I'm happy they'll be in Brasil. Now let's hope Uzbekistan can navigate it's way through two playoffs.

Uzbekistan is assholes.

[Keystone Phil]

Hugh, come on. I think it's fair to say Iran has been an international pariah over the past few years. And before anyone jumls down my throat, I'm not saying they should be banned. Just don't make this into an American problem.

And the "It's the government, not the people of the country that has been the problem" is almost always the case in these situations, right? I don't think the original questioner was trying to suggest Iran might be banned because of the Iranian masses. It was an innocent question that is now being turned into nationalistic rhetoric so people can rail against the "typical ignorant and arrogant Americans." There was no good reason to respond the way you did.

[Tender Branson]

US wins Gold Cup:



As Jürgen Klinsmann watched from a skybox at Soldier Field, his U.S. national soccer team somehow found a way, once, to beat the stubborn Panama defense, and that was enough.

The Americans won the Gold Cup final, 1-0, on Sunday, the first time in six years they have captured this CONCACAF championship. They did this with a so-called “B team,” plus Landon Donovan, that often played like an “A team” throughout the past three weeks. The victory was the Americans’ 11th straight, a record for the U.S side, and the suspended coach was permitted to join his team on the field for the trophy presentation and celebration.

The Panama players had received a pep talk from Mariano Rivera a few days earlier, while they overlapped with the reliever in Texas. But the Americans controlled possession throughout and didn’t permit a single shot on goal. Eventually, in the 68th minute, this dominance translated into a rare, decisive attacking opportunity.

...

Assistant coaches Andreas Herzog and Martin Vasquez took over on the sideline for Klinsmann, who had been suspended after his ejection in the semifinal against Honduras for spiking a ball in protest over a non-call.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/golden-u-s-tops-panama-gold-cup-article-1.1411198

...



Andi Herzog, who coached the US-Team for the win instead of Klinsmann, is an Austrian btw. (yeah, Phil) ...

[Lief 🗽]

The US team has actually legitimately improved a lot under Klinsi. Obviously we're not going to win the World Cup or anything, but at least they're a fun team to watch now.

[Keystone Phil]

Wow! One of the two teams that always wins that tournament finally won again. What a headline!

[Keystone Phil]

Some big Friendly matches on Wednesday. The Papal Derby is, of course, the biggest: Italy vs. Argentina in Rome. 

Prandelli said he'd like to personally invite the Pope to come but he might get too emotional. He hopes he will attend. That would be one of the great sights but I read a few weeks ago that the Pope was planning to watch with delegates of each national team at the Vatican. We should remember though that he loves to surprise people. 

[Tender Branson]

We are playing the Greeks tomorrow here in Salzburg.

Hopefully serves as a good test, so we can go to Munich in a few weeks and destroy the Germans.

Prediction for tomorrow: 2-1 win for AUT.

[Keystone Phil]

Imagine what this conversation was like...




In addition to this brief chat, Balotelli was supposedly the only one to have a private audience with the Pope.

[Tender Branson]

Just noticed that I can watch 6 of the friendly games live right now on my TV:

* Austria vs. Greece (in HD)
* Germany vs. Paraguay (in HD)
* Switzerland vs. Brazil (in HD)
* Italy vs. Argentina (RAI)
* Croatia vs. Liechtenstein (HRT2)
* Portugal vs. Netherlands (SBS6)

...

On a side note: Austria really sucks today, down 0-2 against Greece so far.

Paraguay leads Germany 3-2 right now and Switzerland leads Brazil 1-0.

[Tender Branson]

I'm watching the Switzerland vs. Brazil game now, because the Austria vs. Greece game has become unwatchable.

[Lief 🗽]

USA COME BACK FROM 2-0 DOWN TO LEAD BOSNIA 3-2 IN SARAJEVO

U-S-A

U-S-A

U-S-A

SUCK IT, REST OF THE WORLD

[Lief 🗽]

AND THEY'RE NOT DONE

JOZY ALTIDORE WITH HIS HATTRICK

USA LEADS 4-2

[Lief 🗽]

USA lets Bosnia have a conciliation goal, 4-3.

[Lief 🗽]

FULL TIME USA WINS

AN HISTORIC 12 GAME WINNING STREAK

[Gass3268]

I actually live right next door to the Bosnian Embassy... what should I do?

[Keystone Phil]

Lots of action right now!

Portugal is about to get some huge help from Northern Ireland. The latter is playing Russia in their previously cancelled World Cup qualifier. They haven't won in awhile but they're set to beat Russia 1-0. Russia still has a game in hand but Portugal get to remain atop their group.

Seems like England-Scotland is a thriller. Italy vs. Argentina is in the 87th minute. Argentina is up 2-1: one goal from Napoli's Higuain and Italy's (wonder) goal from Napoli's Insigne.

[Franknburger]

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

O.k., most major seasons have not yet or only just started, which became especially apparent with players like Khedira, Klose, Özil and Mertesacker (Podolski was a positive surprise in this respect). Germany attacked well, shot three goals and had excellent opportunities for a few more (Reus, Klose and Schürrle all failed miserably).
However, Germany also conceded three goals, all in the first half, and all due to disastrous defending and individual mistakes. During the first half, the central defence was a mess, with Hummels and Mertesacker regularly changing positions, but typically leaving one Paraguayan attacker uncovered. Khedira's slopping passing and unforced ball losses did not really help in this respect. It got better in the second half, after Boateng replaced Mertesacker, and L. Bender added a bit of defensive stability to the midfield.

Nevertheless, you have to wonder what drove German coach Löw to put only one Bayern player (Lahm) into the six playing in front of Neuer. O.k., Badstuber is still recovering from injury, and Schweinsteiger was also injured, but Löw could already have put in Boateng from the start, and not only after half-time. Alternatively, he could have considered a Dortmund set-up with Weidenfeller, Hummels, Schmelzer and Sven Bender/ Gündogan. This Bayern - Dortmund- Arsenal - Real mix did definitely not work!

[minionofmidas]

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

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