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Post by pclaude on Nov 22, 2024 19:00:35 GMT
I think one thing’s for certain, if we want to qualify automatically we will need to be better. We averaged 2 points per game in the NL campaign. Looking at the 5 team groups for the last WC qualifiers, the minimum needed to finish top was 18pts. So that’s 6 wins or 5 wins and 3 draws to be in with a chance. That will be very tough Totally different though- by definition the NL will have sides at a similar level to us. In a 5 team group we should be handily dealing with pot 4 & 5 teams. Let’s face it. With about 50% of the Pot 1 teams, if we get them, we aren’t topping the group. Croatia, Austria or Switzerland would be great. But you never really know until the group starts |
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Post by felinessex on Nov 23, 2024 1:25:30 GMT
Not England or Israel please. Anyone else is fine.
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Post by jbt95 on Nov 23, 2024 8:42:06 GMT
Let’s face it. With about 50% of the Pot 1 teams, if we get them, we aren’t topping the group. Croatia, Austria or Switzerland would be great. But you never really know until the group starts The added difficulty in WCQ is that it’s GD before head to head. So it is likely we would need to take at least 4 points off the top side, particularly in a five team group because they will likely thrash the bottom side twice and we just won’t match their GD if we finish level on points. Austria, Switzerland and Croatia are for sure the ones we would like to have. I’d say after those Portugal, Denmark, Belgium and Netherlands, then maybe Italy? France drew 0-0 with Israel but could have been a bad day. Definitely want to avoid Germany, England and Spain. |
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Post by hooky on Nov 23, 2024 13:10:57 GMT
The added difficulty in WCQ is that it’s GD before head to head. So it is likely we would need to take at least 4 points off the top side, particularly in a five team group because they will likely thrash the bottom side twice and we just won’t match their GD if we finish level on points. Austria, Switzerland and Croatia are for sure the ones we would like to have. I’d say after those Portugal, Denmark, Belgium and Netherlands, then maybe Italy? France drew 0-0 with Israel but could have been a bad day. Definitely want to avoid Germany, England and Spain. Austria and the Belgium would give us the best chance. Austria and not much better than us and Belgium are well off their best. Reality is we'll probably draw a stronger side though! Important we secure at least second spot with a good record to secure a home draw though. So if we came second would we again have to go through two play off matches again? |
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Post by hooky on Nov 23, 2024 13:16:03 GMT
In terms of draws - he got a lot of credit foe Euro 2016, but ultimately Coleman blew our big chance in the 2018 WC qualifiers as we faced a weak Serbia and a weak Ireland, who both were there for the taking. He was limited but got lucky by having a Ramsey (and Allen) and defence / defensive midfield at their peak and a Bale who was still close enough to his peak for the 2016 Euros.
We have been extremely lucky since 2015 with draws and in general for the qualifiers, the WC finals draw and the playoffs! We surely cannot keep getting favourable draws can we?
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Post by dragonsoccer on Nov 23, 2024 13:16:05 GMT
16 nations in the Second Round play offs
4 pathaways
Path A,B,C,D
4 nations per path
1 semi final
1 final
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Post by pclaude on Nov 24, 2024 9:38:34 GMT
Austria and the Belgium would give us the best chance. Austria and not much better than us and Belgium are well off their best. Reality is we'll probably draw a stronger side though! Important we secure at least second spot with a good record to secure a home draw though. So if we came second would we again have to go through two play off matches again? Getting one of the qf losing sides is a little advantageous as they will be playing 4 double headers. We’d possibly play them in a single qualifier window for us. there is always a danger of over thinking these things though! |
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