More football in Canada than Malta

Day -226 WorldCup2018

Day 2 back home and already watched way more football then in 11 days in Malta. I was spoilt for choice today with 4 Champions League matches to choose from. Spoilt for choice but also not too excited about any of them. PSG-Anderlecht: no contest, PSG were going to stroll to a win. Man United-Benfica: boring, just boring. United would score a goal in each half and the Old Trafford crowd would be watching in bored silence. Celtic-Bayern Munich: the crowd would be loud, Celtic would huff and puff and get the fans excited about some won tackles, but in the end Bayern would win without doing too much. Sporting-Juventus: Juventus have a way of taking the fun out of any football match. This was the one I settled on, expecting the passionate home crowd to help their team spring an upset. It almost happened. But after Sporting scored first it still seemed like a pretty flat atmosphere.

Maybe I really do need to excitement of World Cup playoffs. Honduras-Australia: now that will be not to be missed match. Coming soon.

Football on a plane

Day -227 WorldCup2018

I was in Malta for 10 days, watched about 5 minutes of football. We were flying back and through the wonder of a technology that I can't figure out in my head, I watched an hour of Burnley-Newcastle, live on the plane. I get home and saw Toronto FC win the first leg of their first round playoff in New York. Another bit of Giovinco free kick magic sealed the 2-1 win.

Malta sucking football out of me

Day -228 WorldCup2018

Last night in Malta. Still no time for this. Unbelievable but true: I did not find out the result of the Aston Villa-Birmingham match until about 5 hours after it finished. That's what being in Malta has done to me. Maybe I need the distance from a football country to be really into it. Or I just need more time.

Another non-football day in Malta

Day -229 WorldCup2018

It is a good thing, I realize, that I don't have the time while I'm in Malta to delve into any profound World Cup thoughts every night. I must be too busy doing the things that matter.

I did think of the possible irony tonight, though, that after all the football I haven't watched while here that tomorrow I come across a TV showing Aston Villa beat Birmingham at 1pm. That would be a pretty good last day spent in Malta. But again, there are other more important things that would make it a good last day.

No football on holiday

Day -230 WorldCup2018

Time....time! Isn't one supposed to have more of it when on holiday. I can't find the times to waste on this. At home I seem to have more time to waste in between a full day's work and everything else. Tomorrow I probably won't even have time to watch football.

But I tell you what: all this having no time is all worth it.

Eder will help you chill

Day -231 WorldCup2018

I confess I'm too tired now, but if I wasn't I would be looking up a happy World Cup moment to share. That's what the world, my immediate world, needs right now. We all need (in the words of my girls) to be chillin'. My prescription: look up Eder goals at the 1982 World Cup. And with those memories the world will be a happier place.

The mother of all injustices

Day -232. WorldCup2018

There is a feeling of frustration when you feel like you are the battling the tide of public opinion, when you don't want to concede that that opinion is correct, that it is not right that that opinion is shared by the majority: that frustration turns to anger. And that anger doesn't allow you to let go of your convictions.

All of that leads to two thoughts. One is that it wouldn't be time spent in Malta without a good argument. It takes a good friend to have a decent argument with. And, two, it reminds me that even though I am told time and time again to get over it I cannot forget South Korea in 2002: the wins in the World Cup against Italy and, even worse, against Spain. I can't get over them because the bad guys got away with winning through a lie. The majority thought it was fantastic that the underdogs got so far, but the realists are still waiting for somebody to pay for the blatantly outrageous decisions that led to the underdogs having their day.

Maybe this story hasn't gone away....

Trastevere

Day -233 WorldCup2018

The day that wasn't and was for me. Football stories I had planned about Venice had to be re-thought about Rome. More than just Totti. At the Olimpico for Lazio-Inter, 2000. Toto Schillaci, World Cup 1990. Bruce Grobelar. But too frustrating of a day to celebrate my personal Rome football memories.

The silver lining is that I enjoyed my love of buying obscure football shirts through my girls. They are now proud owners of Trastevere Calcio sweatshirts, bought from the official Trastevere Calcio shop. "Daddy, what does Calcio mean?" Ha! You will be hooked not only on the Calcio soon but also asking me about the team in Trastevere.

Bilic, Koeman...who's next?

Day -234 WorldCup2018

I was playing the "who's next to be fired" game and didn't score the points for today's news. My choices were Bilic, Koeman, Klopp and Conte, in that order. Ronald Koeman went today. Bilic is said to have been given more time by West Ham. Liverpool will have a very hard time admitting that they need to get rid of Klopp. It's always such a big emotional ordeal for them. The manager is one of them, and the culture and all that. Conte will go just as soon as Abramovich gets fed up of hearing about unhappy players and Conte starts preaching a little too much for the big boss' liking.

In other news back home (with thanks to my old friend Richard Kory for pointing it out to me) Toronto FC are now the highest point earning team in MLS history after a draw at Atlanta in their final regular season game. The match was played in front of close to 72,000 spectators, an MLS record. TFD's 84th minute equaliser was another piece of magic from the genius, Seba Giovinco. Signore Ventura, are you watching? He could come in pretty handy against those Swedes. Don't say nobody gave you any sound advice when you are watching Zlatan Ibrahimovich at the World Cup on TV next year.

There's another story I cant get into now. Ibra comes back from career threatening injury and retirement to star at the World Cup for Sweden. Because, you know, forget a World Cup without Messi or Neymar, what, in the words of the great modest Swede himself, is a World Cup without Ibra?

Klopp, next to go?

Day -235 WorldCup2018

Technical difficulties prevented me from posting last night. But, in my defence, if I was at home and had had a late night I would still have done yesterday's post now. The time difference working in my favour.

The incredible lack of football watched in my time in Malta continued. I did not see Spurs demolish that mid-table team, Liverpool. But I will keep my eye out over the next few days for the headline: "Liverpool fire Klopp. Owners admit they were conned like many other people and finally noticed that the hipster beard and glasses didn't actually make him a very good manager ".

Malta, no football

Day -236 WorldCup2018

I just can't get this right here. I should have lots to write about in Malta but I haven't watched any football or talked about football. Maybe tomorrow.

I can laugh at myself

Day -237 WorldCup2018

The life of a 1000 day World Cup countdown-er in a different time zone :"Oh shit, I didn't write my post today". The life of a 1000 day World Cup countdown-er with a blackberry keyboard that doesn't light up anymore: "I can't see anything but I really just have to write something". And there's the something. Good Night.

Who changed the time of the football?

Day -238 WorldCup2018

This time difference is messing with my head. Can't think when the time is not the time my subconscious thinks it is. Europa League was on this evening. Evening? I'm used to afternoon football that I can't watch because it's on in the afternoon.

One thing didn't change. Ronald Koeman still can't inspire Everton to win a match.

Back to where it all began

Day -239. WorldCup2018

About to get on a plane to the where the football dreams (ahem...dreaming) started. Malta, see you soon. You almost made me forget about day -239.

It's a long way to Honduras, and Australia

Day -240 WorldCup2018

"There is no easy opponent"...or "Tasty!". That was my reaction to the playoff draws for the final European spots at the World Cup.

Italy-Sweden
Denmark-Republic of Ireland
Switzerland-Northern Ireland
Croatia-Greece

Ask me to pick the favourites? No don't. The obvious would be Italy, Denmark, Switzerland and Croatia but I can give you a good argument for each of the other 4.

In other playoff news, the coach of Honduras said the schedule for the matches between his team and Australia was "inhumane". They play home and away with 5 days in between the matches. he complained that they will take about 24 hours to get to Australia. But, credit to him, he did point out that it's worse for their opponents. The first match is in Honduras. So the Australians have to get to make the long trip to Honduras, play the first leg and then make the long trip back before the second leg. Body clocks are going to be all over the place. Oh, the fun of Intercontinental playoffs.

Daphne

Day -241 WorldCup2018

I mark every big event in this countdown. And today was the day that Malta felt like it had become exactly like the country that it's government has been happily befriending for a number of years: Azerbaijan. Maybe it's even worse. A murdered journalist. A shocked country. This doesn't happen in Malta. There was one word for today: Daphne.

She covered a lot in her thoroughly investigative journalism but she did not like football, was not at all interested. I even tried to get an argument go that way a few times, but, no, there was no engagement. I understand football like she understood many other things, so hence my connection below.

But she believed in justice. It was the search for justice that may have been the cause for today's tragic event. And now the whole (maybe most) of Malta hope that there is justice for what happened today.

And my mind wandered to one of the most passionate fights for justice that I lived through. It's possibly a spurious comparison, but it's the passion of the campaign for justice for the memory of the 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster that stuck in my mind. This video may seem irrelevant now because since then the Justice For the 96 did happen, but the moment that signified how much it meant to the relatives, friends and survivors was a recurring memory today.

Signore Ventura, if I may

Day -242 WorldCup2018

Signore Ventura, may I make a suggestion. As your team limps towards the World Cup (oh hold on...the playoffs to get to the World Cup) why not have Seba Giovinco play for Italy again? Get off your high horse about your reservations about the MLS and how you cannot take it seriously. Have you watched Giovinco recently? He has fun every week. Yes, he may be enjoying himself because he loves being a star in a big pond with many fish that aren't quite sure which way they are swimming. 

And he may get away with his tricks and spectacular goals because he plays against teams that haven't yet learned the finer details of defending. But he almost seems to play with a smile on his face.You need somebody so happy in your team. A bit of unpredictability. Go on. Take a chance.

Thanks to Seba's brilliance, Toronto FC are now one point away from being the highest points earners in the history of the MLS.

This was not his most spectacular goal but it was significant as it was against Chicago Fire and they are going to be a force at the World Cup, right? Seba will have a psychological edge when Italy face them.

You can thank me from Russia.

The fans, they make it

Day -243 WorldCup2018

Nothing much to report from the Liverpool-Man United match today. So I'll have to keep looking forward to next summer.

When it looked like Argentina might not qualify all the talk was about a World Cup without Lionel Messi. I would miss the fans more than him. This was them in Brazil in 2014 and their "Brazil are you listening, Maradona is greater than Pele" song.

Sack the manager!

Day -244 WorldCup2018

The end of an unsuccessful World Cup qualifying campaign often comes with the parting of ways of national teams and coaches. "We thank _____ for all his efforts but we feel it is a time for a change and a new manager to take our country's football to the next level.....bla bla..."

Some countries, the minnows, may be hoping for a miracle or easily use the excuse of yet another disappointing campaign to justify getting rid of their managers. Scotland and Malta come to mind. Chris Coleman at Wales may still follow, but he's the manager of a team that was expected to possibly over-acheive, again. Dick Advocat may not be employed by the Dutch FA for much longer. Bruce Arena took the blame for the USA's embarrassing exit and jumped ship.

In a different twist, Australia's Ange Postecoglou is strongly rumoured to have submitted his resignation to take effect after the Socceroos playoff in November. Pre-emptive resignation, maybe? Or is it true that he can't tale the abuse aimed at him after Australia did not qualify automatically.

But the best, or harshest, rumours of a manager being relived of his duties are those surrounding Egypt's Hector Cuper. Apparently, many Egyptian fans are not happy with his style of play. This man figured out the perfect formula to get your country back to the World Cup after 28 years and you don't like his "style of play". Is that the style that gets your team winning multiple matches in an extremely competitive qualifying zone. Or do you prefer the style that saw your team beaten 5-0 by Ghana in the 2014 playoff? Let's see Egypt appoint a new manager and completely fall apart in Russia.

And on that note I close the book, temporarily on World Cup qualifying, and look forward to the blockbuster of a match between Liverpool and Man. United tomorrow morning. It's going to have to be outstanding to come anywhere near the excitement of last week's international matches.

Bring on the playoffs!

Day -245 WorldCup2018

I'm still looking back forlornly at the excitement of all the recent qualifiers, rather than looking forward to the weekend Premier League football on TV. That's how good it was. And I can't say anymore, except that I can't wait for the playoffs all over the world (really) in November.

Malta get themselves a new manager of sorts

Day -246 WorldCup2018

After yesterday's dramatic elimination, could the USA get back into the World Cup? Senegal lodged a protest after their defeat to South Africa over an nonexistent penalty. The referee was banned for life and the match ordered replayed. Panama's first goal last night in their historic win over Costa Rica was clearly not a goal. Will Costa Rica ask for the result to be declared void? Can the Americans protest, claiming that the referee was guilty of "unlawfully influencing match results" in breach of Fifa rules? Did I read this online today anywhere? No. But all day I waited for a story like this to come out.

Malta appointed a new national team coach today, Tom Saintfiet from Belgium. He's CV that he sent to the MFA must have been the longest one they've ever received: twenty coaching positions in twenty years. The MFA thought he was an outstanding candidate with a welath of international experience. You move around that much, how can you not be experienced? Mercenary, is the word that came to me. Give him a chance, right? Well, good luck to him and the MFA.

I read a lot of whining from football fans about the international breaks and how they miss watching their club team play. After the incredibly exciting few days we've just had of World Cup qualifiers, I find the prospect of watching the Premier League again quite boring.

Not the only crazy one

Day -275 WorldCup2018

I sometimes (often) wonder about the tripe I write about every night in order to keep this going. Then I read the "Official Tourist Portal" for Russia 2018, the Welcome 2018 website. One of the latest stories is about a Russian journalist (and if I understand correctly a stand-up comedian) who decided to travel around the world in search of a "kilo of date plum". He apparently loves the "exotic fruit" and was disappointed that he couldn't find any in St. Petersburg.

I loosely relate my ramblings for 1000 days to the World Cup. He records his trip around the world in search of date plum. We're both crazy, maybe.

The excitemnt, the despair of final round of qualifying

Day -247 WorldCup2018

What a day. What a night! So many opening lines in my head. All the opening lines can tell the story of the day.

Tim Cahill has done it again: 37 years old and still rescuing Australia.

The unlikely, in many way unwelcome , Syria dream is over. But there is still sympathy for the players, the ones on the pitch, who came so close, to whom at the time, as they pushed Australia so close, politics cannot be attributed.

Three screens. That's how I was following all the action across South, Central and North America today. This is why I love the World Cup: excitement all round, changes possible every minute.
Messi. He did it. And because he came determined to play Argentina are in the World Cup.
Chile, gone. USA, out.

Peru in the play-off against New Zealand. Both teams are probably optimistic of their chances.
Colombia sneaked in. Uruguay made it comfortably.

Honduras play Australia in the other play-off. Again, both teams are probably happy. It was so close to it being USA vs Australia. That would have been huge.

France didn't mess up against Belarus. They're in.

Greece didn't slip up against Gibraltar. They are in the playoffs. Slovakia are out.

The Netherlands beat Sweden but were five goals short of the miracle they needed. Sweden may have let them score twice on purpose just to show the Dutch they weren't worried. Sweden are in the playoffs.

Switzerland, oh dear. Play nine, win nine. Lose number 10, the last one. And now it's the playoffs for the Swiss. It's pretty hard when match number 10 is away to Portugal, the team who had won 8 out of 9, the one defeat being the opening match against Switzerland.

Portugal looked like unlikely Euro winners in 2016. But they now look like a pretty good team, beyond Ronaldo.

Finally, the big event today is Panama. This rivals Iceland from yesterday for the best feel good story of this World Cup qualifying. Four years ago, I remember the heartache clearly. Needing a win against the USA, Panama were winning 2-1 and the 90 minutes were up. The Americans had already qualified and didn't need a result. But, unbelievably, almost cruelly, they scored two injury time goals to knock Panama out. That night I was waiting to meet people who were flying through Panama and who's flights were severely delayed. Not a good night to be in Panama, I thought.

Today would have probably been the best night in the history of the country to be in Panama City. With two minutes to go, Honduras were beating Mexico and in the automatic qualification spot; the Americans were having a terrible time in Trinidad and despite losing 2-1 to T&T were still in the playoff spot. And then it all changed. Cue the madness in Panama. Roman Torres scored to put Panama up 2-1 against Costa Rica.

Incredible scenes. They love their fireworks in Panama. My American broadcast showed the contrasting scenes in split screens. The USA battled T&T time wasting in a desperate attempt to find a late saving equaliser, while the Panamanian celebrations had already started.

There was one last hope for the Americans. Split screen number three showed Mexico had a free-kick just outside the Honduran penalty area. If Mexico scored, to make it 3-3, USA-Australia would be back on. He shoots. No. Terrible. Ball hits the wall. It's cleared. Ref whistles. USA definitely out.
What. A. Night.

Panama may be my second team next summer. After all Algeria won't be there.

Roman Torres. He's a defender.

Iceland and Egypt!

Day -248 WorldCup2018

Iceland, oh Iceland. What a story they were at the Euros in 2016. And now they have proved the cynic in many of us, including me, very wrong.

Iceland are off to the World Cup in Russia. Iceland. At the World Cup. It is even more beautiful than Leicester winning the Premier League. It is a wonderful, happy football story.

After their success at the Euros it crossed my mind that they wouldn't be able to repeat the feat. It was a one-off. They got a lucky run of results. Their opponents weren't quite sure how to deal with them but would soon figure them out. Hell, even Latvia once qualified for the Euros. And look at them since, last or second last in most of the qualifying rounds.

Iceland started this campaign with a 1-1 draw in Ukraine and I thought, ok, hard to tell yet if that was a good or bad result. In the 90th minute of their next match at home to Finland they were losing 2-1 and I was convinced that the bubble had truly burst. I was really following live updates of that match and remember wishing I was watching it when they scored two injury time goals to win 3-2. Maybe the momentum is still alive and well, and growing. They didn't blow away the opposition in their group. They lost away to Finland and Croatia. But they hung in there, they kept getting results and here they are, celebrating their achievement as the smallest country ever to reach the World Cup.

Their coach, Heimir Hallgrimsson, said he was worried about how the players were going to get themselves motivated again after the excitement at the Euros.

"The first beer after a party is not the best," he said. "The hardest thing was to get going again after our massive party in France."

The Latvians must still not be enjoying their beer after the summer of 2004, but Iceland must have loved the first, the second and many more after that.

The big match on paper today was the Wales-Republic of Ireland clash, which Ireland needed to win and Wales wanted to win. The commentators tried to cover up the pretty dire quality on offer by talking about intensity and nervous excitement and the such. The best part of it was the incredible signing of the Welsh Anthem by the home crowd. The second bit of action of note was the Irish goal in the second half, from when on it seemed pretty obvious that the Welsh would huff and puff, but not break down the Irish defence.

So the Republic make the playoffs behind group winners Serbia. I still feel more sorry for the Ryan Giggs inspired Welsh team of 1993 that was so close to qualifying for USA 1994.

Croatia also secured a playoff spot today. For all of Slovakia's celebrations after their win over Malta yesterday they will most likely be the worst second placed team amongst the nine and out of the playoffs, unless Greece don't beat Gibraltar.

The Iceland adventure is the feel good story of the day. However, for the best, most passionate, 95th minute celebration of a goal that sends your team to a World Cup, nothing can beat this from Egypt. Actually, back track a minute or so. For the best celebration after being awarded a penalty that could potentially send your country to the World Cup after an absence of 28 years, watch this. You will never see celebrations like this for a goal that hasn't been scored yet.

(Just be patient, or fast forward through the 20 replays of the first goal from every angle imaginable, to about minute 2.10)

Scotland, oh so close

Day -249 WorldCup2018

What a wonderful surprise today to be able to watch Malta play on TV today. That was about it for excitement, though, just knowing that I could watch them play Slovakia from far, far away. Despite all my searches for reasons, and blaming the coach, it was obvious to see that the reason Malta are where they are is that they are nowhere near the technical level needed to compete with bigger teams.

The tactics are there. They tried to play today but when you don't have the technique to string a few passes together what's the use of playing with an out an out striker and another forward just behind him. If you can't get the ball to them quickly you might as well play with 5 defenders and 5 midfielders and hope to move forward in numbers. Also, playing the ball out of defence, rather than the old fashioned boot it upfield, is an admirable intention. But, again, you have to have the skill to do that.

That's it for Pietro Ghedin, Malta's coach. Let's see what a new guy can do. It'll be quite the wait for the next competitive match in September of 2018. At least, that's when I think Euro 2020 qualifying will start but I'm still waiting for the instruction manual to come out, explaining Michel Platini's new format.

Scotland were oh so close to a playoff spot today, but with Slovakia's win and their 2-2 draw with Slovenia their fans will have to happy with supporting any team that plays England next summer. Those same fans should also remember that they are not going into the playoffs because they couldn't find a late winner in Slovenia but because they could not beat Lithuania at home.

Thanks to Scotland's draw, Northern Ireland were guaranteed a playoff spot before their 1-0 loss in Norway. The battle for the 8, out of 9, runner-up spots is a bit mathematical, enough so that I rely on somebody else doing the counting. I do know that Slovakia's win today, and them finishing second in the group, could mean nothing because results against the bottom placed teams in the group are not counted.

Two more teams qualified today: Poland and Egypt. And I missed adding Costa Rica to the list yesterday. Egypt are back for the first time since 1990. They're one country who I always thought too good not to qualify more often. But that's how tough the competition is in Africa.

Tomorrow Iceland will be in with a win against Kosovo and Croatia could be out with a loss in Ukraine. That clash in Ukraine will be rivalled for intensity by the match in Wales between the Welsh and the Republic of Ireland. Both of them could still qualify outright if Serbia don't beat Georgia. Otherwise it's a battle for a playoff spot, which they may or may not get depending on what Croatia do. If I have this figured out correctly, what Slovakia want is for either Croatia to lose or Wales and the Republic to draw. But if one of the latter wins and Croatia win, then Slovakia are out. If Serbia lose and finish second then I may need to just wait for somebody else to figure it out.

Nigeria!

Day -250 WorldCup2018

Last month: France vs Luxembourg 0-0

Today: Sweden vs Luxembourg 8-0

So going by my old school-mates standards, Sweden should beat France 8-0. Right?

But what it really means is that there will be no Orange invasion of Russia next summer. Too bad. A World Cup with the Dutch is always more fun. Holland have to beat Sweden 7-0 on Tuesday to make the playoffs. Sweden could still end up snatching first place from France if they beat Holland and the ghost of David Ginola returns to haunt France when they play Belarus.

It wasn't quite the Portuguese pummeling Andorra while Hungary did Portugal a favour against Switzerland. The Swiss made it nine wins out of nine as they thumped Hungary 5-2, while Portugal beat Andorra 2-0. Portugal need to beat Switzerland on Tuesday to qualify without needing to go through the playoffs.

It's all over for Zambia. The fairy tale I hoped for is over after they lost to Nigeria who became the first African team to qualify. Tunisia and Senegal are pretty close. Morocco's win set up a winner takes all final round clash against second placed Ivory Coast. Egypt can qualify tomorrow with a win against Congo. Ghana are almost out after drawing 0-0 in Uganda. But the Ghanaian FA have lodged a protest with Fifa, asking for the match to be replayed after a last minute goal was ruled out for offside.

Tomorrow it's the last match in qualifying for some European teams. England will play Lithuania in what will probably be a real bore-fest. Turn your TV's off if you happen to come across it. At the same time Slovakia play Malta and Slovenia play Scotland. Both Slovenia and Scotland, and me, will be hoping the Maltese give their coach a good send off in his final match. Slovenia need to win and hope for a Malta win to make the playoffs. If Slovakia don't beat Malta then Scotland only need a draw.

This excitement never ends. More tomorrow night.

Great football all over the world

Day -251 WorldCup2018

What a fantastic few days of football. Last minute winners, teams going from seemingly comfortable qualification to "are we going to make it?" in a heartbeat, favourites on the brink of elimination. Have I not said already how I think the final round, or two rounds, of qualifiers are as exciting as the World Cup itself?

Today's result of the day has to be Iceland's 3-0 win in Turkey. Iceland were pretty good in not only qualifying for Euro 2016 but also for making it to the quarterfinals. So this may not seem like an extraordinary result for one of the top eight teams in Europe. But put your hand up if you thought Iceland would not be able to pull it off again. Exactly. They haven't been exactly brilliant and it looked like they would struggle to even make second place in their group and the playoffs. Today's result was even bigger when coupled with Croatia's draw with Finland. Iceland are now top, two points ahead of Croatia and Ukraine.

These are Monday's matches, the final day of qualifying:
Ukraine vs Croatia
Iceland vs Kosovo

Again, Iceland have 19 points, Ukraine and Croatia are on 17. Kosovo have 1 point. Who are the favourites to qualify now?

If you watch the highlights of Iceland's win I wonder if you'll agree with me about the comedic and shambolic Turkish defending. For the third goal it looks like the whole of the Turkish team decided to have a team meeting in their penalty area while Iceland took a corner. "Please, please..Don't disturb us. Yes, yes. Go ahead, Score a goal. Oh no. Try again. There you go. Have fun in Russia!"

Tomorrow is another big day. I need 10 TV screens. There are a whole bunch of permutation-challenging matches in Africa. In Europe, while Ronaldo and Portugal. are pummelling Andorra they will be hoping that Hungary do them a favour against leaders Switzerland. The incredible run of the Swiss has been largely ignored. Their record in qualifying: played 8, won 8. Portugal? Played 8. Won 7, lost 1. On Tuesday: Portugal vs Switzerland. Tasty.

Elsewhere tomorrow, Sweden are at home to Luxembourg, the Netherlands are in Belarus. If the Dutch don't match the Swedes' result they are out.

Right now the USA are 2-0 up against Panama in a crucial match for third place, the final qualifying spot in CONCACAF. The Americans, a point behind Panama before today, need the win. Fourth place means a playoff against Australia or Syria to qualify.

Finally, back to yesterday. Argentina are on the brink. After their 0-0 against Peru they will now probably need a win in Ecuador. If Colombia and Peru draw their final match and Argentina don't win they are out. It is a very real possibility that they won't be in Russia. However, I will still stick with my prediction from around a year ago that they will finish fifth and play New Zealand in the Intercontinental playoff.

England!

Day -252 WorldCup2018

You did it England. Well done! With a last minute, Harry Kane winner against Slovenia in a performance that the BBC described as "lifeless, uninspired and mediocre," England are Russia bound. Germany also made it after a 3-1 win in Northern Ireland. They are one of those teams who, as the BBC report mentioned, "will certainly have no fears should they be confronted by this England side," in Russia. I quote the BBC again because I could not watch England today: "And this was a dreadful, lifeless slog...."

The English fans were amusing themselves in the second half by throwing paper airplanes. Is that a step up or down in complete fan boredom from the Mexican wave?

Meanwhile the Maltese press were praising "gallant" Malta. A 1-1 draw against Lithuania secured Malta's first point in this campaign. Gallant, indeed. The Times of Malta reporter might have been at the earlier ceremony, attended by Prince Charles, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the awarding of the George Cross to the Maltese people. The word "gallant" must have stuck in his head. Well done boys. A result to be proud of, against the only team we had a hope of beating, and a great send off on Coach Ghedin's last home match. It would be very interesting if the Maltese journalist and the BBC reporter switched roles and wrote about each other team’s performance. Malta, gallant, really? And England, terrible, after they just comfortably qualified for the World Cup? Maltese sports reporters need a dose of that British honesty.

From the other side of the world, I wish Syria didn't have to be in the football news anymore as a distraction from the real problems in that country. Unfortunately, they drew 1-1 with Australia in the first leg of the playoff. Here's hoping that the Caltex Socceroos (can I stop laughing now?) can turn on the style in the second leg.

Argentina have just kicked off against Peru. It's huge. I'll be keeping a close eye on that one. Colombia can qualify with a win against Paraguay. Paraguay have to win. Uruguay drew 0-0 against Venezuela earlier. They are almost there, especially with a home match against Bolivia to come.
Chile just scored against Ecuador. In the "as it stands" table they are now in 4th place above Argentina and Peru. It's going to be a good night, with lots of back and forths.

Tomorrow, the match that stands out is Turkey vs Iceland. Iceland are level on points with Croatia, but second on goal difference. Turkey are two points behind and level with Ukriane who play Croatia. With a certain combination of results, Iceland could be in first place tomorrow, with Ukraine in the playoff spot and Croatia desperately clinging on in third place.

Allow me to go back to journalists and honesty. And as I do, please be aware that this comes with a bad joke warning. I just came across a story on Fifa's website about Holland's Davy Propper. I was watching his club team, Brighton, last weekend. The commentator mentioned a good cross that Propper had just hit into the Arsenal penalty area. And as I sat there on my lazy Sunday morning, in the need of some entertainment that neither Arsenal or Brighton were providing, I thought, "Mr Commentator, just say it. I'm sure you want to: that was a Propper cross." I would have laughed and I'm sure his co-commentator would have too.

Half-time in South America. Chile are still winning and Argentina are still currently out of the World Cup.

Syria, please not

Day -253 WorldCup2018

In a few hours one of the most unexpected, and divisive, football matches in World Cup history will be played. The romantics, the searchers for a good old fashioned story of the team making it against all the odds will be hoping for an unlikely win for Syria in their playoff against Australia. This time I do not fall into that group. I am hoping that Syria get no closer to the World Cup. This is not a team that represents all of Syria, the people who's lives have been completely destroyed. This is a team that is used a as propaganda tool by the person who has destroyed so many innocent Syrian lives: President Bashar al-Assad.

The sad irony is that they are playing for a spot in Russia next year, a country that has contributed to the death, torture and disappearance of so many Syrian footballers.

From the Syrian Network for Human Rights:
-38 top-flight footballers killed in the civil war
-478 cases of athletes arrested by the Syrian government

From the Sydney Morning Herald (October 1st 2017):

"The list of dead footballers includes Ahmad Hesham Swedan, a 26-year-old with Syrian Premier League teams al-Karama and al-Wahda who was killed by shelling in Homs in 2012 and Jihad Qassab, a former captain of the national team who died inside Saidnaya military prison in Damascus in late 2016. Qassab, aged 41 when he died, led his club al-Karama to the 2006 Asian Champions League final. He was accused by authorities of making car bombs, an allegation he denied.
"At least 13 footballers are missing after being arrested, including Jamal al-Refaie, a player for Premier League club Jableh, who was detained near the Syria-Lebanon border in 2015 and has not been heard from since."

In 2015 the Syrian coach turned up at press conference wearing a t-shirt with a picture of Assad on it.
Staff with the team have compared football wins with the military victories by the Syrian army.
Ayman Kasheet , a former member of Syria's Olympic football team: "How can we consider that this team carries the same flag as the one on planes that killed children and civilians?"

Fifa has acknowledged that there are claims by several sides of violence in the country but has not taken any action against the team because "these alleged actions go far beyond the domain of sporting matters in a situation where the whole country is mired in civil war" Meaning, it's not really any of our business to interfere because we cannot take a side, or we cannot take a side against Vladimir Putin.

Tomorrow morning, at 10.30 am, Toronto time, I hope the Syrian dream of a first World Cup appearance is all but over. As unfathomable as it is for me to even come close to imagining, I hope that all those people who have absolutely nothing will one day be able to dream again.

A TFC mention

Day -254 WorldCup2018

Just before the craziness of the World Cup qualifiers start, I thought this would be a good time for a Toronto FC mention. At this time last year I was updating their progress towards the MLS Cup final constantly. In case you, the non-MLS followers, thought that the silence meant that this year was a let down after the near miss of last season, well, how about this? Last Saturday, TFC beat New York Red Bulls and, with two games to go, clinched the Supporters' Shield. It's a North American thing, bear with me. What they have won is top overall spot in the league. At the end of the regular season they will be the best team amongst the Eastern and Western Conferences.

In European speak they would be League Champions. But this is a North American League and it means nothing until the playoffs are complete. The real season starts now. What it does mean is that if TFC make it all the way to the end they will play the Final at home on December 9th. It could very well be redemption for last year's heartbreak. And another cold, cold football night.

I'll stick to the football

Day -255 WorldCup2018

Catalonia seems like such an embarrassing thing to get emotional about after what happened today in Las Vegas. I said yesterday I don't fully understand, can't understand, the desire for independence for many people in Catalonia. There's a good argument for it, but it's not my business to offer my fully unqualified opinion. But guns? Why? Why have them? Why make them so readily available? To defend yourself? If the other person didn't have a gun, would you really need one?

So I'll defer to what I really do have an opinion about and what is a good escape. This Thursday, October 5th, is a great day in football. It's the start of the penultimate round of qualifiers for Russia 2018. Between Thursday and next Tuesday almost all the spots will be filled.

Australia play Syria in what is undoubtedly a very historic affair. The winners of the two-legged playoff will play the fourth placed team in the CONCACAF region for a place in Russia. Syria are that close. This needs a post of it's own.

There's so much else happening on Thursday. Every match in South America feels like a cup final. Argentina, on the brink of elimination, play the late surging Peru, on the brink of qualifying for the first time since 1982. Uruguay play in Venezuela, looking for a win to keep them ahead of the madness that might unfold beneath them. Likewise, Colombian fans will be expecting a win against Paraguay to avoid last day nerves. Paraguay will be looking for the upset and a win to really complicate matters, possibly, for Argentina and Chile. Chile haev to beat Ecuador to stay in serious contention and prevent Ecuador joining in the last day fun. Oh what a day and night all across South America.

England will expects a win against Slovenia to secure qualification. Scotland will be battling for a win of their own over Slovakia and an English vctory to give the Scots sole possession of second place and a potential playoff spot.

Northern Ireland, already punching way, way above their weight are probably anything is now possible as they entertain Germany. A win for the Irish would get them within 2 points of the group leaders with one match left. A place in the playoffs is already an incredible achievement for Northern Ireland.

Poland can be pretty much home ane dry with a win in Armenia. The two joint second placed teams in that group, Montenegro and Denmark play each other. They are three points behind Poland and will hope for an Armenian upset.

And, on the same day as all this excitement, Malta host Lithuania in what will be coach Pietro Ghedin's penultimate match in charge. The nice guy, the gentleman, they say; the coach of a team that has fallen further behind Luxembourg, Cyprus and Andorra. But still of course, amongst the bonanza in Buenos Aires, the urgency of the Uruguayans, the excitement of the English (not!) and the madness in Montenegro, I will be looking out for the result from Malta. Once a fan, forever a fan.

Catalonia

Day -256 WorldCup2018

Catalonia in the World Cup 2022 qualifiers? Today was the day I was planning to start looking forward to the final week of Russia 2018 qualifiers (bar the playoffs in November). But I had to mark the incredible events in Catalonia. As one online commentator pointed out, in response to a video of Spanish police kicking, throwing and dragging people out of polling stations: it is unbelievable that this can happen in the 21st century in a democratic country.

I have no opinion about whether Catlonia should become independent or not, or whether there should even have been a referendum. I will not jump on any emotional bandwagon without having sufficient political knowledge of the situation, beyond what I have read in books and online. But no matter what the best option for Spain and Catalonia might be, I can easily distinguish the difference between right and wrong, a correct approach or reaction and inappropriate one. And today was definitely a most inexcusably terrible reaction to the right that the people of Catalonia felt they had to exercise.

With apologies, on a less serious note, I am waiting for the first person to say how good Barcelona are and they would surely be favourites to win the 2022 World Cup.