Watching this in the US and with their flag waving only USA slant, that catweazle guy who used to play center back of sorts for US about 30 years ago has answered the presenters question about a “path to the World Cup” saying he is very pleased with the draw and, with references to ‘98, states that every match in the group is easily winnable. I never feel that way about the England team, and this is the claptrap we have to listen to over here, remembering that they secured qualification behind Mexico and Canada by avoiding a 6 goal defeat to Costa Rica…..the hung on for a 2-0 loss……
Watching this in the US and with their flag waving only USA slant, that catweazle guy who used to play center back of sorts for US about 30 years ago has answered the presenters question about a “path to the World Cup” saying he is very pleased with the draw and, with references to ‘98, states that every match in the group is easily winnable. I never feel that way about the England team, and this is the claptrap we have to listen to over here, remembering that they secured qualification behind Mexico and Canada by avoiding a 6 goal defeat to Costa Rica…..the hung on for a 2-0 loss……
I hope we absolutely stuff them
Will be an interesting game, wonder if it will be decided by a penalty shot in the fourth quarter...?
Going to be quite a different WC experience, rather than an endless build up and hype over a month where players have to get match fit again, the players will have a week between playing for their clubs and the WC
Wonder if there will be any warm up games.
Scotland will probably have a vigorous warm up against Andorra u15’s and nick a 0-0 win.
Scotland and USA fans are already incredibly excited.
Scotland will be hoping to make it through their play-off for a chance at another 0-0 win while the US will be wanting the 1-1 win they achieved in 2010.
Going to be quite a different WC experience, rather than an endless build up and hype over a month where players have to get match fit again, the players will have a week between playing for their clubs and the WC
Wonder if there will be any warm up games.
Hopefully, wins against Iran And Euro plus at least 6 against the USA are our warm ups!
Going to be quite a different WC experience, rather than an endless build up and hype over a month where players have to get match fit again, the players will have a week between playing for their clubs and the WC
Wonder if there will be any warm up games.
Hardly any time. Premier league ends on 13 November, our first game is 21st.
The last international break before the World Cup is 19-27th September. Is any Nations League scheduled for that window or can it be used for WC warm up?
Edit: just checked, it’s being used for Nations League matchday five and six after matchdays 1-4 are played in June.
Going to be quite a different WC experience, rather than an endless build up and hype over a month where players have to get match fit again, the players will have a week between playing for their clubs and the WC
Wonder if there will be any warm up games.
Hardly any time. Premier league ends on 13 November, our first game is 21st.
The final round of club matches across Europe will be a joke, with players desperately trying to avoid getting injured
Because of the short turnaround time, any injured players are likely to be replaced before it starts, unless they're essential.
Going to be quite a different WC experience, rather than an endless build up and hype over a month where players have to get match fit again, the players will have a week between playing for their clubs and the WC
Wonder if there will be any warm up games.
Hardly any time. Premier league ends on 13 November, our first game is 21st.
The final round of club matches across Europe will be a joke, with players desperately trying to avoid getting injured
Because of the short turnaround time, any injured players are likely to be replaced before it starts, unless they're essential.
Chris Gunter started doing that about two years ago.
Going to be quite a different WC experience, rather than an endless build up and hype over a month where players have to get match fit again, the players will have a week between playing for their clubs and the WC
Wonder if there will be any warm up games.
Hardly any time. Premier league ends on 13 November, our first game is 21st.
The one thing I notice from the England fixtures is the fact there are no fixtures currently scheduled for October - Maybe thats because of the placement of the World Cup, but also wonder if we'll play two games in that month
The Nations League after all takes place in June and September
Edit: Nope, forget that idea of friendlies being in October - There isnt an International Break
Has anybody seen a guide to the second round (onwards) match ups?
I.e. If we win the group, which 2nd place tram do we play? Group A?
I assume there is now a clear 2 sides to the draw to see who we can't meet until the final?
Group B winner v Group A runner up in round of 16.
The winner would play Group D winner or Group C runner up in a quarter final.
Any potential semi final would be against Group F winner, Group H winner or Group E runner-up, Group G runner-up.
If England finish runners up, flip everything above into reverse. - Group A winner in round of 16, Group C winner or Group D runner-up in quarter-final. Semi final against Group E winner, Group G winner or Group F runner-up, Group H runner-up.
In terms of Pot 1 teams, you have England, France, Belgium and Portugal on one "side" of the knockout. Then Qatar, Argentina, Spain and Brazil on the other.
Assume all Pot 1 teams win groups and make it to the QF, you would have the following games:
I like the way that there is no complete division between 2 halves of the draw at this stage. I.e. we can potentially play any other team in the semi and final (if we get there!)
We know we have team from A-D in QF (if we get there)
I more so warm to the idea that whoever wins the competition....will host the next one.
If that country wins it again, then they host it again.
Sounds a bit unfair on poorer countries etc, but it is a simple solution to a resolvable money grabbing boring problem
I only earlier this evening said something similar (again) to my son. I would limit it to one every 20/24 years for any one country however. If the winners by this rule can't host it then it goes to the country with the best coefficient of progress in the tournament over the last 20 years (5 or 6 competitions). I simply don't like countries getting the tournament who haven't earnt the right. Imagine if the last five World Cups had been held by Brazil, Italy, Spain, Germany and now this year in France. For organisation purposes an 8 year rather than 4 year wait may be needed but in any case bollocks to South Africa, Russia and Qatar.
Couldn’t care who we play. Care more about the timings than the opposition. Personally would hope we get Germany or Scotland to make the build up to a game more exciting.
Four games daily through the knockout rounds with kick off times: 10am, 1pm, 4pm, 7pm
Going to be quite a different WC experience, rather than an endless build up and hype over a month where players have to get match fit again, the players will have a week between playing for their clubs and the WC
Or not playing for their clubs. Wonder how many players that are at teams that have nothing to play for will conveniently have a twinge or two!
Couldn’t care who we play. Care more about the timings than the opposition. Personally would hope we get Germany or Scotland to make the build up to a game more exciting.
Four games daily through the knockout rounds with kick off times: 10am, 1pm, 4pm, 7pm
Comments
Scotland will be hoping to make it through their play-off for a chance at another 0-0 win while the US will be wanting the 1-1 win they achieved in 2010.
23 teams from CONCACAF, Africa and Asia (up from the current 12) means there's going to be some really shit teams there.
The final will be at 3pm on a Sunday. Would imagine the semi finals will also be 3pm but could be 7pm…
Edit: just checked, it’s being used for Nations League matchday five and six after matchdays 1-4 are played in June.
England schedule for September:
Italy (A) 23rd
Germany (H) 26th
Because of the short turnaround time, any injured players are likely to be replaced before it starts, unless they're essential.
The Nations League after all takes place in June and September
Edit: Nope, forget that idea of friendlies being in October - There isnt an International Break
https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/15b0e15fd2271292/original/FIFA-International-Match-Calendar-2020-2024.pdf
Getting it right in the Nations League will be very important then
I.e. If we win the group, which 2nd place tram do we play? Group A?
I assume there is now a clear 2 sides to the draw to see who we can't meet until the final?
The winner would play Group D winner or Group C runner up in a quarter final.
Any potential semi final would be against Group F winner, Group H winner or Group E runner-up, Group G runner-up.
If England finish runners up, flip everything above into reverse.
- Group A winner in round of 16, Group C winner or Group D runner-up in quarter-final. Semi final against Group E winner, Group G winner or Group F runner-up, Group H runner-up.
In terms of Pot 1 teams, you have England, France, Belgium and Portugal on one "side" of the knockout. Then Qatar, Argentina, Spain and Brazil on the other.
Assume all Pot 1 teams win groups and make it to the QF, you would have the following games:
Qatar v Argentina
Spain v Brazil
England v France
Belgium v Portugal
I like the way that there is no complete division between 2 halves of the draw at this stage. I.e. we can potentially play any other team in the semi and final (if we get there!)
We know we have team from A-D in QF (if we get there)
If the winners by this rule can't host it then it goes to the country with the best coefficient of progress in the tournament over the last 20 years (5 or 6 competitions).
I simply don't like countries getting the tournament who haven't earnt the right. Imagine if the last five World Cups had been held by Brazil, Italy, Spain, Germany and now this year in France. For organisation purposes an 8 year rather than 4 year wait may be needed but in any case bollocks to South Africa, Russia and Qatar.