Nope. New Zealand get the dubious honour of playing a South American team instead. Syria/Australia will play a North American team.
Didn't all of the Argies best players quit internationals after the last Copa America? I know Messi did, but they convinced him to come back recently.
It is in the interest of one of the biggest world cup sponsors, Adidas, for the Argies to qualify, they need their poster boy Messi there as do a number of other huge sponsors, so they'll definitely qualify, expect some interesting refereeing in the Ecuador match and / or NZ match if it comes to that.
Would be nice if Argentina didn't make it wouldn't it Hopefully Scotland mess it up in the last game too!!
I want Scotland to qualify. For me, having the home nations there, makes it better. The only conditional is that they go out before we do, with Scots though, I want them out in the Group Stages to keep their run going.
Not bothered about the home nations doing well, **** 'em. I don't want leeds to win just because they're from Yorkshire like us!
I'm with Leon, I want the home nations there. I don't even begrudge Scotland having a bit of success. I know they hate us, and I get the historic rivalry, but they're just not a threat at all. It's like Scunthorpe. Grew up hating them when we were in League 2. Now there's nothing dislikable about them really.
Same. It’s hard to understand I guess if you’ve only lived in one area, but when the Scotch say anyone but England they really mean it. Them not qualifying just reminds them that no matter how crap we will be, at least we qualified.
Nah, it's nothing like the Leeds analogy at all. Club football rivalry is like another dimension to this thought. It just makes watching the World Cup better on TV. Things like Scotland v Uruguay in '86 or Scotland v Costa Rica in '90 - both intriguing. Why? Because we know their players more and there's more of an all round vested interest. Plus, we've supplied a good few of their plays - inc. McG now.
[QUOTE Same. It’s hard to understand I guess if you’ve only lived in one area, but when the Scotch say anyone but England they really mean it. Them not qualifying just reminds them that no matter how crap we will be, at least we qualified. [/QUOTE] But, by 'supporting' them we parade our moral superiority. I know exactly what you mean about the hatred, but on the other side of the coin, I've had plenty of Jock mates who have been class.
I sorta get you, but having lived there for 3 years, and experienced full on bigotry, and knowing they would literally support anyone who is playing against us, I don't feel any need to take the moral high ground, I'd rather just take the piss and offer pity, which is obviously more annoying to them. I also have some good Scottish mates tbh, both in England and in Scotland. Tis give and take from both sides, so it's all good.
It’s a shame really because I think they obsess about it to such a degree, it practically defines their indentity and inhibits them as a country.
I'd like to see Syria qualify, I don't think they will, but I'd enjoy seeing them at a major tournament. Would be something positive for the people to celebrate after enduring so much.
Like many people, I'd assumed Fifa would stick with their draw procedures from the previous couple of World Cups, just having one seeded pot and using geography to decide the others. But on 14 September they finally announced their plans, and they're meddling again. Thankfully, the change makes a lot of sense: four pots based on the rankings, with Russia joining the top 7 in pot 1. Apart from the Uefa teams (max two per group), no nations from the same confederation can be in the same group. Based on the September rankings and likely qualifiers, the top two pots might look a bit like this... Pot 1: Russia, Germany, Brazil, Portugal, Argentina, Belgium, Poland, Switzerland Pot 2: France, Chile, Colombia, Spain, Mexico, England, Uruguay, Italy Of course, some of those may fail to qualify (Argentina in particular) and some may qualify but move up or down between the pots before the draw. And Peru and Wales will probably get into pot 2 if they qualify (I'm just betting that they won't). If France and Spain end up in pot 2 with us, that will be a result. Of that top 8, only Brazil or Germany look genuinely impressive (though I'd probably want to avoid Belgium too).
