Day -576. WorldCup2018
Ho hum. Malta played today. Malta lost today. Malta didn't score, again, today. Me, negative? I am a big supporter of Malta. I am just reporting facts. It was only a friendly, they say. But amongst the meaningless of most friendlies, occasionally one can find a purpose. For Malta this was the one to prove that Iceland are not that far ahead, that Malta can find inspiration from what Iceland have achieved. Iceland's reserves won 2-0, comfortably, I understand from the reports although Malta were more enterprising then of late in the first half. But the report I read painted a picture of Malta pretty much giving up after Iceland scored early in the second half . That says to me, "we can't be bothered to fight back here."
There was some World Cup qualifying today. Thailand got their first point in this round after a 2-2 draw with Australia. That's a pretty poor result for the Socceroos, who now drop to third place in their group. That would mean a playoff against the third placed team in the other group to qualify for Russia. But there's still 5 matches to go. Syria may be running out of matches to achieve that miraculous World Cup spot. They drew with Iran, which is a decent result, but they are 4 points out of third. It's tough with Syria to know whether this is a fairy-tale or not. It's pretty incredible that they made it this far, but with allegations that the team are all President Assad sympathisers and are part of his propaganda machine you feel that you don't want them to get the exposure in the home of their allies, Russia.
In Oceania New Caledonia and New Zealand drew 0-0 in what sounded like a match the Kiwis could have won but the Caledonians put up some tough, determined opposition. The New Caledonia captain was sent off towards the end for a violent head butt. Watching the video of it I thought what an interesting stand that is on the far side of the pitch. Assuming the Kiwis win their two matches, or even draw one, against Fiji in March they will win their three team group and move on to the next round.
With no matches in Africa today, the real excitement is in South America. Argentina beat Colombia 3-0. That's a great win and a very necessary one. The bad news for Argentina was that Ecuador and Chile also won, moving the Argentinians into 5th place but no higher. It is very tight though with only 1 point between 5th and 3rd place. Whoever works The Times of Malta's Facebook page gleefully stated on Friday that it looked unlikely that Argentina would make it to Russia after their loss to Brazil. A bit premature, methinks.
Right now it is 0-0 between Brazil and Peru in the first half. Also in CONCACAF, the big match between Costa Rica and the US is scoreless as the first half is about to end.
That is the end, almost, of what I planned to be a short post today. But I get carried away in my need to make sure that you all well informed. Where else would you get a one-stop report on what happened on the road to Russia from Kone, New Caledonia to San Jose, Costa Rica. Oh, funny I should say that. Costa Rica just scored. Two defeats in a row for the Americans? This could get very interesting. I did say they would qualify for sure.
After today qualifying matches in all confederations is back in March. Back to league football it is then and Toronto FC coming up next week.
(Late update because I couldn't resist: Costa Rica-USA 4-0. The most goals the US have conceded in a World Cup qualifying match since 1968. It puts them in a very tough spot in an extremely competitive final round).
Ho hum. Malta played today. Malta lost today. Malta didn't score, again, today. Me, negative? I am a big supporter of Malta. I am just reporting facts. It was only a friendly, they say. But amongst the meaningless of most friendlies, occasionally one can find a purpose. For Malta this was the one to prove that Iceland are not that far ahead, that Malta can find inspiration from what Iceland have achieved. Iceland's reserves won 2-0, comfortably, I understand from the reports although Malta were more enterprising then of late in the first half. But the report I read painted a picture of Malta pretty much giving up after Iceland scored early in the second half . That says to me, "we can't be bothered to fight back here."
There was some World Cup qualifying today. Thailand got their first point in this round after a 2-2 draw with Australia. That's a pretty poor result for the Socceroos, who now drop to third place in their group. That would mean a playoff against the third placed team in the other group to qualify for Russia. But there's still 5 matches to go. Syria may be running out of matches to achieve that miraculous World Cup spot. They drew with Iran, which is a decent result, but they are 4 points out of third. It's tough with Syria to know whether this is a fairy-tale or not. It's pretty incredible that they made it this far, but with allegations that the team are all President Assad sympathisers and are part of his propaganda machine you feel that you don't want them to get the exposure in the home of their allies, Russia.
In Oceania New Caledonia and New Zealand drew 0-0 in what sounded like a match the Kiwis could have won but the Caledonians put up some tough, determined opposition. The New Caledonia captain was sent off towards the end for a violent head butt. Watching the video of it I thought what an interesting stand that is on the far side of the pitch. Assuming the Kiwis win their two matches, or even draw one, against Fiji in March they will win their three team group and move on to the next round.
With no matches in Africa today, the real excitement is in South America. Argentina beat Colombia 3-0. That's a great win and a very necessary one. The bad news for Argentina was that Ecuador and Chile also won, moving the Argentinians into 5th place but no higher. It is very tight though with only 1 point between 5th and 3rd place. Whoever works The Times of Malta's Facebook page gleefully stated on Friday that it looked unlikely that Argentina would make it to Russia after their loss to Brazil. A bit premature, methinks.
Right now it is 0-0 between Brazil and Peru in the first half. Also in CONCACAF, the big match between Costa Rica and the US is scoreless as the first half is about to end.
That is the end, almost, of what I planned to be a short post today. But I get carried away in my need to make sure that you all well informed. Where else would you get a one-stop report on what happened on the road to Russia from Kone, New Caledonia to San Jose, Costa Rica. Oh, funny I should say that. Costa Rica just scored. Two defeats in a row for the Americans? This could get very interesting. I did say they would qualify for sure.
After today qualifying matches in all confederations is back in March. Back to league football it is then and Toronto FC coming up next week.
(Late update because I couldn't resist: Costa Rica-USA 4-0. The most goals the US have conceded in a World Cup qualifying match since 1968. It puts them in a very tough spot in an extremely competitive final round).
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