Well, hopes alive. This is Hudson's chance to write himself into the history books. If we win against Peru, he will be forever remembered as the first coach to beat a South American team, and just the third to get NZ to the World Cup. Come on NZ, Come on Hudson, let's book our tickets to Russia.
That was an interesting equalizer for Peru v Colombia.
It was an indirect free kick which the player shot at goal & only the attempted save by the keeper to touch it in made it valid.
Pretty sure it took a touch of James Rodriguez' head in the wall - so the keeper had to scramble over to attempt to save it. Would have been easier to save if it was a direct free kick because the keeper would have been expecting to need to make a save.
So the Intercontinental Playoff draw for June 2022 is yet to be made. But drawing CONEMBOL will obviously be the worst outcome for OFC winners (hopefully AWs).
The traditional long 18 game home & away series for the 10 teams in CONEMBOL. At the half way point, except for Brazil & Argentina (8 games each) who had their game called off in farcial scenes last month. Members of the Argentine group not obeying Covid rules in Brazil or something. Like that nutcase Bolsonaro does the right thing re Covid!!
Colombia currently in 5th (playoff) spot, but if it's like 2017 will excitedly go down to the last round. Won't be Brazil with 8 wins from 8. Nor likely Messi & Co (5W & 3D). Our good friends Peru (where I'll be in a few weeks) 7th.
I have been following closely as an Argentinian this qualifiers, like all qualifiers. Argentina and Brazil should wrap qualification if they win next couple of games and look a class above everyone else. Ecuador look strong and almost impossible to beat them in the Quito altitude. Uruguay should make 4th. In terms of 5th place, it will come down to Paraguay or Colombia I think. Chile look weak in all aspects, Peru in poor form and Venezuela and Bolivia make up the numbers.
coochiee
So the Intercontinental Playoff draw for June 2022 is yet to be made. But drawing CONEMBOL will obviously be the worst outcome for OFC winners (hopefully AWs).
The traditional long 18 game home & away series for the 10 teams in CONEMBOL. At the half way point, except for Brazil & Argentina (8 games each) who had their game called off in farcial scenes last month. Members of the Argentine group not obeying Covid rules in Brazil or something. Like that nutcase Bolsonaro does the right thing re Covid!!
Colombia currently in 5th (playoff) spot, but if it's like 2017 will excitedly go down to the last round. Won't be Brazil with 8 wins from 8. Nor likely Messi & Co (5W & 3D). Our good friends Peru (where I'll be in a few weeks) 7th.
Results this morning. 10 of 18 rounds completed. Brazil & Argy with that game in hand, and they are both virtually through already. Certainly the Brazilians are (9W from 9).
Ecuador (3rd - 16 pts), Uruguay (4th), Colombia (5th), Paraguay (6th) & Peru (7th - 11 pts) with a 5 pt spread are basically fighting over the other 3 spots.
I think Ecuador will join Argentina and Brazil also, Uruguay are stumbling along also but should make it.. i think it will come down now to Paraguay, Colombia or Peru for 4th or 5th
Results today. 11 of 18 rounds completed. Brazil (1st) & Argy (2nd) with that game in hand, still both unbeaten. Brazilians (9W & 1D) spoil their perfect record with a draw in Colombia.
Messi (a goal) & Co too good for their little Rio Grande brothers Suarez & Co. Old mate Cavanni a HT sub on for Uruguay.
Ecuador (3rd - 16 pts), Uruguay (4th), Colombia (5th), Paraguay (6th) & Peru (7th - 11 pts) still with a 5 pt spread are basically fighting over the other 3 spots. 4 of these 5 teams lost today (Colombia with the draw).
A desperate Chile (8th - 10 pts) with a win today, can't be ruled as well with 7 rounds left. Sth American qualifying really is knife edge brutality each round.
12 of 18 rounds completed. Brazil (1st, 31 pts) & Argy (2nd, 25 pts) with that game in hand, still both unbeaten. Both basically through to Qatar. Mathematically now Chile (6th, 13 pts) need to win all their remaining 6 games, and Brazil lose all their 7 games they have left, to deny the Brazilians!!
I see Brazil, hosted their Uruguay game in Manaus in the Amazon. These Sth American teams love to create a home advantage!!
More realistically for Chile to catch are Ecuador (3rd, 17 pts), Colombia (4th, 16 pts) & Uruguay (5th, 16 pts).
Bolivia (7th - 12 pts), Paraguay (8th - 12 pts) & Peru (9th - 11 pts) almost out of it now.
The most important is Paraguay against Chile, with loser you would imagine struggle to make 5th place play off spot. Paraguay have a new coach in Argentinian Guillermo Barros Schelotto who had great success with Boca Juniors as a player and coach.
Brazil can wrap up qualifiers if they beat Colombia at home.
Ecuador should wrap up qualifiers also in altitude against lowly Venezuela.
Argentina play an increasingly under pressure Uruguay in Montevideo, knowing Uruguay they will fight to the death and will do whatever they can to win, and REALLY need a win.
Peru should beat Bolivia in Lima and keep in touch with teams above them.
Can now rule out Paraguay out of Qatar, with Venezuela and Bolivia.
Chile look in solid form, and Ecuador and one foot in Qatar you imagine. I think it will now be Uruguay, Chile and Colombia fighting out for spots 4 & 5.
Can now rule out Paraguay out of Qatar, with Venezuela and Bolivia.
Chile look in solid form, and Ecuador and one foot in Qatar you imagine. I think it will now be Uruguay, Chile and Colombia fighting out for spots 4 & 5.
Ecuador have Chile (A), Brazil (H) Peru (A), Paraguay (A) and Argentina (H) as their last 5 games. They are far from being on the plane to Qatar yet.
Chile hitting form at right time. I’ll predict they’ll make it with Uruguay and Colombia.
Goes without saying all would be very very tough as a playoff opponent.
They have shown incredible resilience this World Cup qualifiers.. but yeah, have a tendency to choke haha
coochiee
alon222
Can now rule out Paraguay out of Qatar, with Venezuela and Bolivia.
Chile look in solid form, and Ecuador and one foot in Qatar you imagine. I think it will now be Uruguay, Chile and Colombia fighting out for spots 4 & 5.
Ecuador have Chile (A), Brazil (H) and Peru (A) as their next 3 games. They are far from being on the plane to Qatar yet. Chile hitting form at right time. I’ll predict they’ll make it with Uruguay and Colombia.
Goes without saying all would be very very tough as a playoff opponent.
Today's games. Peru, Colombia, Ecuador & Chile would have been cheering that Bolivia win, in the heights of La Paz.
Huge win for Peru (4th, 17 pts) in improverished Caracas. Some big drama in 2nd half with keeper Gallese (in goal against AWs in 2017) saving a pen. They go 4th for the moment, and will hope the hosts drop points in Colombia (6th, 16 pts) & Chile (5th, 16 pts).
Great day for Peru (5th, 17 pts). Our old friends from 2017, now sit 5th in the playoff spot. Wouldn't have predicted that start of this Nov window.
Ecuador (3rd, 23 pts) now looking very good for Qatar, with 4 rounds left, and 6 pts clear of Colombia (4th, 17 pts). Winning away against an in form Chile (6th, 16 pts) an impressive result for Ecuadorians.
Uruguay (7th, 16 pts) & Bolivia (8th, 15 pts) make up rest of the 5 teams seemingly fighting for 2 spots (4th & 5th).
Ecuador (3rd, 24 pts) virtually have joined Brazil & Argentina in Qatar now. Uruguay up to 4th (19 pts).
Colombia (17 pts, 5th) v Peru (17 pts, 6th) huge game tomorrow.
I imagine the Aussies, Japanese (or UAE) will hope Peru ends up in that 5th spot. Or even better Bolivia (15 pts, 8th) who are an outside chance of 5th. They are winning everything in high altitude La Paz, but losing everything away. But they do have a winnable game away tomorrow in Caracas.
Peru scored (85th min) completely against run of play in steamy Barranquilla. Watched game in a Peru shirt (my 3rd team) with a Colombian. Apparently his team just can't score, and yes they haven't in their last 6 Sth American WC qualifiers! James Rodríguez these days plies his trade in Qatar, so he's fallen away for sure.
And Bolivia continue their atrocious road form away from La Paz, getting thrashed by bottom team Venezuela.
If Peru (4th, 20 pts) beat Ecuador (3rd, 24 pts) in Lima in a few days, they will have one foot in Qatar. Colombia (6th, 17 pts) in trouble as they travel to Argentina (2nd, 32 pts) next, and Uruguay (5th, 19 pts) should beat Venezuela at home.
Chile (17th, 16 pts) still a chance, but they have a tough away game at altitude in La Paz.
Uruguay (4th, 22 pts) & Ecuador (3rd, 25 pts) almost confirmed for Qatar.
Great result for Chile (6th, 19 pts). Bolivia have been hard to beat at home. Peru now sit in the playoff spot (5th, 21 pts). Who knows they may play the Socceroos for a place in at WC. Our Trans Tasman neighbours may come to the AWs for some 2017 intel. Peru still have their same coach from then. Chileans seem the biggest threat to them.
Colombia (7th, 17 pts) now need some luck. Though they have Paraguay (H) and neighbours Venezuela (A) in March
Brazil (1st) & Argentina (2nd) - even though both have a game in hand - are booked for the World Cup. Uruguay (4th, 22 pts) & Ecuador (3rd, 25 pts) almost confirmed for Qatar.
Peru sit in the playoff spot (5th, 21 pts). Chileans (6th, 19 pts) seem the biggest threat to them. Chile (6th, 19 pts). Peru draw today in Uruguay & Chile lose in Brazil - Peru are almost locked in for 5th (they host Paraguay in their last game). Arriba Peru!
Uruguay away in Santiago in a few days, could be a huge game in the last round.
Colombia (7th, 17 pts) now need some luck. Though they have 2 easier games, being Paraguay (H) and neighbours Venezuela (A) in this last window.
Going into the last round Peru (5th, 21 pts), Colombia (6th, 20 pts) & Chille (7th, 19 pts) all in with a shot of 5th and the Playoff spot.
Peru in the box seat hosting Paraguay (8th). Colombia with a trip to easy beats Venezuela (10th & last) and Chile host Uruguay (4th).
Socceroos if they finish 5th in AFC, will be a reasonable chance in neutral Qatar against 5th CONMEBOL side, over 90 mins.
Peru are well coached, and still with a core of their team from Russia 2018, but no stars. Colombia have been in terrible form, not scoring in 7 consecutive qualifiers until yesterday's win, (and Bolivia are poor away from La Paz). Chile a somewhat aging side, in transition.
But Socceroos will need to be at close to full strength. They were very depleted for the Japan game. I'd still rather be playing 4th from CONCACAF than 5th from CONMEBOL.
For those like me who were in Lima 2017. Crowd warming before they play Paraguay.
Peru win and they are through to another IC Playoff (against Socceroos or UAE) as 5th team from Sth America. They can't finish higher than 5th. I fly to Lima this weekend, so locals will either be grumpy or happy.
FYI - South America will have 6 teams at the bloated 48 team WC 2026 (up from current 4.5 spots), so 4 teams will still miss out, so they won't totally lose the qualifying dramas.
It's probably another seismic recorded, crowd reaction in Lima. Peru 1-0 up after 5 mins.
6 of their starters today, started 2nd game against NZ in 2017. Another 2 starters today were on the bench in 2017. Experienced side with a good Argentinian coach (also there in 2017), who is a bit of a god in Peru. Even more so if he can get them to consecutive World Cups, after a 36 yr drought before Russia.
