Portugal's WC Qualifying
Portugal's WC Qualifying
Is in the sh*t. Jammy Iberian c**ts got lucky against Albania to stay alive. Here's the standings at this present time:
Their last four fixtures are:
Denmark (a)
Hungary (a)
Hungary (h)
Malta (h)
The best they can hope for is probably 2nd which would still only earn them a playoff berth.
No Ronaldo at the World Cup = Bliss.
Buffon II2009-06-08 11:53:25
Denmark and Hungary x2. Not an easy task to dig themselves out of. Might need more than one player in the team to lift their game... 
I don't think hungary will get more than a couple of pints from their remaining matches, catching Denmark looks close to impossible though. Hoping they don'thave to face sides like Croatia, France or Russia in the playoffs though. 
The play-off draw will be seeded, so Portugal will avoid the sides you mention if they all find themselves in the draw.
Still think that they can get the 2nd spot, but will have to beat Hungary away to have a realistic chance. And probably not lose in Denmark.
Still think that they can get the 2nd spot, but will have to beat Hungary away to have a realistic chance. And probably not lose in Denmark.
Yup. They'll get there, play NZ in the group stages and go on to thump Argentine in the final, you heard it here first.
Yup. They'll get there, play NZ in the group stages and go on to thump Argentine in the final, you heard it here first.
Hardly surprising. You wouldn't hear that down the local mental institute.
Buffon II2009-06-08 21:38:08
Just you wait...
Maradona vs. Revolutionary new coach Eusebio in epic managerial battle of the legends.
Looking at that pool, Zlatan could be holidaying at WC time too.
Well, it'll be either Zlatan or CR. No way both of them can go.
would the WC miss either? I doupt it. Without CR there the press/media would have to talk about the football instead of him.
would the WC miss either? I doupt it. Without CR there the press/media would have to talk about the football instead of him.
Well, it'll be either Zlatan or CR. No way both of them can go.
So Sweden and Portugal tied on points and goal difference, I think it will be Ronaldo sitting it out if its one of them
Swedens games remaining
Hungary (a)
Malta (a)
Denmark (a)
Albania (h)
3/4 away, Malta and Albania are games you have to bank on winning
cam-bwfc2009-06-22 21:08:37
Swedens games remaining
Hungary (a)
Malta (a)
Denmark (a)
Albania (h)
3/4 away, Malta and Albania are games you have to bank on winning
cam-bwfc2009-06-22 21:08:37
would the WC miss either? I doupt it. Without CR there the press/media would have to talk about the football instead of him.
I won't miss Zlatan there, my bet last time where he was meant to win the golden boot went tits up when he forgot how to score goals.
Don't forget, they could still come 2nd and not even get a playoff game... (worst 2nd place is knocked out).
Technically true, but it seems highly likely that the worst second-place team will come from group 9.
Not sure. That spot is very open. Although Group 9 have low points, the calculation gets adjusted because they have less teams in their group.
So I think the other groups lose the points from the game against the bottom team. So you do that to Portugal now, and they are on one point less than Scotland after the same amount of games played.
Not sure. That spot is very open. Although Group 9 have low points, the calculation gets adjusted because they have less teams in their group.
So I think the other groups lose the points from the game against the bottom team. So you do that to Portugal now, and they are on one point less than Scotland after the same amount of games played.
I'm aware of how it works - the point being that 'bottom' 4 in group 9 are all of similar quality, and they end up cannibalising each other and reducing their chances of being among the best 8 second placed teams. You mark my words. Group 9. That's where the worst 2nd placed team will come from.
Well I can see Portugal losing points to Denmark and Hungary also... There's no reason why Scotland can't do the business in their last few games. Well - except that they tend to miss out on things in tragically close circumstances.
I reckon Group 3 are looking likely for bottom spot.
Well, if Portugal make it I can wear my Portugal shirt proudly again when they shut up those Poms again!
Portugal may lose points to both Denmark and Hungary - but I still think that whoever finishes 2nd in that group will be in among the 8 playoff teams. Group 3 is possible, but less likely than group 9 imo. Scotland has to get 6 points from their two games this month if they want to be in the playoff 8.
I think Scotland will be looking at it that way too. Though their last game against Holland will be at home, and it won't matter to Holland that much, so they'll have a chance to do what they did to France... Or say Macedonia (who are quite nifty) beat Scotland - I would put money on them then beating Norway. So they'd be in the mix too.
I can see N/Ireland, Slovenia, Czech, Poland all still taking points off each other in the remaining games. Wish we didn't have to wait for so long for it to play out. I get a sore head thinking of all the possibilities.As far as being in the playoff goes, I feel sorry for whoever gets Russia or Germany!