Group G: Sweden | South Africa | Italy | Argentina

Group G chat in here

My predictions
Sweden 4-0 South Africa - Swedes a much better side and will start the WC strong, South Africa had some off-field issues
Italy 1-2 Argentina - Going for a real shock here, actually think Italy are a better side but just feels like one where Argentina may sh*thouse a win, they've been clinical in 2023.
Argentina 2-1 South Africa - Argentina back up the Italy win, just, against an improved South Africa, not a lot between the teams in truth. 
Sweden 1-1 Italy - Italy know they need to win and give Sweden a real test, but it's not enough with just a competitive draw.
Argentina 0-2 Sweden - Sweden with more quality cruise past Argentina, needing to win and securing top spot.
South Africa 0-5 Italy - Needing a miracle result elsewhere, Italy pile five goals on a defeated and potentially divided South Africa squad, but it still doesn't take them through.

Another surprise maybe - both Sweden and Argentina out in the RO16. 

FIFA Preview Show for this group here on Sky Go:
https://www.skygo.co.nz/watch/mac_sh_144332/mac_11644579?playbackOrigin=Content%20Highlights%2C%20Replays%20%26%20Shows&playerReferrer=Content%20Details

Chucked my $10 bonus bet on SA to pull of a draw.

Come on South Africa.  Learn from the Ferns and don't park the bus.

Amped to get along to the stadium again tonight! Fired up!

Monto

Amped to get along to the stadium again tonight! Fired up!

Is it possible to get walk up tickets?

Walsall Boy

Monto

Amped to get along to the stadium again tonight! Fired up!

Is it possible to get walk up tickets?

No, tickets must be brought before hand https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/tickets

Bit late notice but got 2 free tickets for Sweden-South Africa today up for grabs if anyone wants. Just flick me a message with your email and I can send them to you - you'll need to download the FIFA ticketing app and register with the same email to use them if you haven't got an account already. 

Poor turnout from the football capital

pickledmyself

Poor turnout from the football capital

smaller than the last couple of games in Auckland but it doesnt look that small.

Bloody hell this is an exciting game.  SA playing really well.  Game could go any of 3 ways!

pickledmyself

Poor turnout from the football capital

18,317 on a wet Sunday night isn't too bad.

42,137 - NZL v NOR (Akl)
13,711 - PHI v SWI (Dud)
22,966 - SPA v CRC (Wlg)
41,107 - USA v VIE (Akl)
16,111 - ZAM v JPN (Ham)
18,317 - SWE v RSA (Wlg)

154,349 total across six games now for an average 25,724.

though SA were a frustrating watch. No patience on the ball even when simple pass was on they tried to get it forward quickly.

If that's the average after the last game here we'd have to be pretty happy about that. 

Cracker of a game.  South Africa wasn't the better team but it didn't stop them trying.  The smaller crowd didn't feel small with the goals!

Cracker of a game.

pickledmyself

Poor turnout from the football capital

You reckon? 
18k on a cold wet night to watch 2 teams they know nothing about?
Also, I have to say tonight the trains appeared to be inadequate. Not enough trains and not enough capacity on the Hutt Line going in. No doubt that some people couldnt get on trains, and probably went home instead. Im not going to go into detail , but it aint good enough in my opinion.

God knows what Tuesday will be like with a full house!

Fenix

pickledmyself

Poor turnout from the football capital

You reckon? 
18k on a cold wet night to watch 2 teams they know nothing about?
Also, I have to say tonight the trains appeared to be inadequate. Not enough trains and not enough capacity on the Hutt Line going in. No doubt that some people couldnt get on trains, and probably went home instead. Im not going to go into detail , but it aint good enough in my opinion.

God knows what Tuesday will be like with a full house!

I’m hoping that as it’ll be a working day, trains in for most folk should be fine. I do worry about getting home though if it’s anything like I read online. Thank fudge I’m in town with work so getting to the game shouldn’t be an issue.

Fenix

pickledmyself

Poor turnout from the football capital

You reckon? 
18k on a cold wet night to watch 2 teams they know nothing about?
Also, I have to say tonight the trains appeared to be inadequate. Not enough trains and not enough capacity on the Hutt Line going in. No doubt that some people couldnt get on trains, and probably went home instead. Im not going to go into detail , but it aint good enough in my opinion.

God knows what Tuesday will be like with a full house!

I was at Ava train station at 3:50pm to catch the train at 4:01. It turned up at 4:12 and was so full the 50 or so people on the platform couldn't get on. I think it had 4 carriages. I ended up driving in with my mate and filled the car with a few people that were waiting for the train too.
I hate to think how they are going to deal with a full house on Tuesday and Thursday.

bun1

Fenix

pickledmyself

Poor turnout from the football capital

You reckon? 
18k on a cold wet night to watch 2 teams they know nothing about?
Also, I have to say tonight the trains appeared to be inadequate. Not enough trains and not enough capacity on the Hutt Line going in. No doubt that some people couldnt get on trains, and probably went home instead. Im not going to go into detail , but it aint good enough in my opinion.

God knows what Tuesday will be like with a full house!

I was at Ava train station at 3:50pm to catch the train at 4:01. It turned up at 4:12 and was so full the 50 or so people on the platform couldn't get on. I think it had 4 carriages. I ended up driving in with my mate and filled the car with a few people that were waiting for the train too.
I hate to think how they are going to deal with a full house on Tuesday and Thursday.

Yep, I was on that train! There was no train in the half hour before it either,cos I was waiting up the line. I left home aiming to be at the stadium with an hour to spare. I barely made the kick off.

Yakcall

pickledmyself

Poor turnout from the football capital

18,317 on a wet Sunday night isn't too bad.

42,137 - NZL v NOR (Akl)
13,711 - PHI v SWI (Dud)
22,966 - SPA v CRC (Wlg)
41,107 - USA v VIE (Akl)
16,111 - ZAM v JPN (Ham)
18,317 - SWE v RSA (Wlg)

154,349 total across six games now for an average 25,724.

39,000 at Sydney football stadium out of over a million population to watch France vs Jamaica in a physical battle with moments of highly technical play. Great build up play on the whole when their defence get time on the ball to play out from the back. I’m sure in the men’s World Cup not every game is a sell out. I think we are doing very well in our support of the games.

Unused sub

Yakcall

pickledmyself

Poor turnout from the football capital

18,317 on a wet Sunday night isn't too bad.

42,137 - NZL v NOR (Akl)
13,711 - PHI v SWI (Dud)
22,966 - SPA v CRC (Wlg)
41,107 - USA v VIE (Akl)
16,111 - ZAM v JPN (Ham)
18,317 - SWE v RSA (Wlg)

154,349 total across six games now for an average 25,724.

39,000 at Sydney football stadium out of over a million population to watch France vs Jamaica in a physical battle with moments of highly technical play. Great build up play on the whole when their defence get time on the ball to play out from the back. I’m sure in the men’s World Cup not every game is a sell out. I think we are doing very well in our support of the games.

Over 5mil in Sydney FYI if your ‘over a million’ was in reference to Sydney.

Yakcall

pickledmyself

Poor turnout from the football capital

18,317 on a wet Sunday night isn't too bad.

42,137 - NZL v NOR (Akl)
13,711 - PHI v SWI (Dud)
22,966 - SPA v CRC (Wlg)
41,107 - USA v VIE (Akl)
16,111 - ZAM v JPN (Ham)
18,317 - SWE v RSA (Wlg)

154,349 total across six games now for an average 25,724.

Like the way you labelled the PHI SUI crowd as a dud :-)

Yakcall

Walsall Boy

Monto

Amped to get along to the stadium again tonight! Fired up!

Is it possible to get walk up tickets?

No, tickets must be brought before hand https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/tickets

Not sure how it works in NZ, but we bought a walk up ticket last night at Suncorp, Brisbane. When one of our group at the 11th hour decided she wanted to suddenly join us. The kind match steward even let her sit with us (group of 6) even though the ticket machine spat out a seat many aisles away. Got lucky I guess

Got to speak to 2 bilingual (probably quarto lingual!) European FIFA officials in the ticket office. Very eleganted dressed and beautiful looking. One of each gender. FIFA HR has a preferred type 

Being a Sunday in the rain I didn't bother attempting the train (Melling is my closest station) and just drove and paid $8 to park in the Stout Street carpark. Not surprised to hear the trains were the usual shambles. You'd think they could organise an extra one when they've made a big thing of making it free and encouraging you to use it. 

Got Thursday off for the USA-Netherlands game and not going to attempt to park in town at that time so fingers crossed it's not too much of a nightmare getting the train. Hopefully being a work day they will be running a bit more regular and Melling is the beginning of the route so should at least be able to get on the one going in.

Metlink couldn't run booze up in a brewery. So much for all the talk about useing public transport and not your car. Climate change my arse

If only there were several years to plan for it...

Would never even consider the train for a weekend event at the stadium. Always just go to the Stout Street carpark as above which is virtually across the road from the station so not that much further to walk than catching a train. Parking is not really an option in the middle of the day in the week though so will have to brave it on Thursday. Will probably just get one in the morning to allow plenty of time. Expect getting home after to be a nightmare but no time pressure then. 

Gonna try a train tomorrow.  Wish me luck haha.  

I get on at Uppers so I'll be able to get a seat going in, coming home though....

Tomorrow there will probably be lots of people already in town working during the day and going after work so hopefully train in should be ok. Train out after will likely be hell.

Italy beat Argentina!
huge!

Physical tough game; a draw would have been fair but the veteran Italian striker coming on late in second half made all the difference. 

The Argentinian midfielder, I think her name was Benitez? She looks like Malia Steinmetz and she bossed the midfield like Malia Steinmetz. But apart from that Italy had an edge in quality. Great effort from ARG but fair result.

South Africa leading Argentine 1-0, another upset on the cards?

2-0 after 70 mins, SA bossing the game,

fight back coming 2-1, brilliant strike from the Argentinian #13.

2-2

1 min to go before Sweden and Italy are confirmed through

theprof

2-2

1 min to go before Sweden and Italy are confirmed through

That doesn't make sense....

Brilliant game to be at, really swung every which way. Kgatlana was superb for South Africa, while Yamilla Rodriguez had a real impact off bench for Argentina. Draw disappointing for both but leaves them with a chance if they win on third matchday. Goal for 2-1 was a screamer. And the Argentina fans were great! What a game!

theprof

2-2

1 min to go before Sweden and Italy are confirmed through

?
If they draw tomorrow, and both lose their final games by 2 goals, both Sweden and Italy are out! And if one of Sweden and Italy loses both games, they are out!

Fenix

theprof

2-2

1 min to go before Sweden and Italy are confirmed through

?
If they draw tomorrow, and both lose their final games by 2 goals, both Sweden and Italy are out! And if one of Sweden and Italy loses both games, they are out!

I dont see thast happening but possible so fair.

Probably not, but if tomorrow is not a draw the one that loses would still need a result in their third game. 

oh how did RSA throw that away?!? they had taken their chances well to put themselves in the lead. But well done for fighting back by the Argies.