Aussies there. Final place to be decided by Peru and NZ this afternoon.

I was there last night. Honduras was awful - time wasting from the first minute. Then when they were forced to play they had nothing. Aussies had to rely on 3 set pieces but the last one was as clear a red card for a DOGSO as you'll see (denying obvious goal scoring opportunity). Robbie Kruse was bringing his shooting leg towards the ball when his legs were unceremoniously taken out from under him from 10 yards out. Captain Bushranger did the honours. Great atmosphere at the ground with 77,000 fans in yellow screaming their heads off.

Go New Zealand!!

Peru cruising at 2-0 up with a few minutes left to play. NZ need a miracle.

None forthcoming

Bold Tone wrote:

Qwiss! wrote:

Cheers Tony. They really fucking bottled it last night though. Especially Martin O'Niell, his subs would make Wenger blush.

TBF theres very little talent in the Ireland squad at the moment so its no real surprise we wont be at the World Cup, valiant effort until the last hurdle.

I liked the 90s Jackie Charlton ROI (England B) side but have no idea who plays for them now.
Maybe they should look into how Iceland have addressed their lack of talent situation.

All our players play for bottom half Prem teams and Championship teams. Loads at Burnley.

The pots are now confirmed for the World Cup draw, which will take place on Dec 1st (early hours of Dec 2nd in Aus / NZ).

POT 1: Russia (hosts), Germany, Brazil, Portugal, Argentina, Belgium, Poland, France

POT 2: Spain, Switzerland, England, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay, Croatia, Peru

POT 3: Denmark, Iceland, Costa Rica, Sweden, Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal, Iran

POT 4: Serbia, Nigeria, Australia, Japan, Morocco, Panama, South Korea, Saudi Arabia

For us Aussies the best draw would be something like: Russia, Peru, Tunisia, Australia.

Worst case would involve Brazil and Spain.

Secretly I want England though. Heh.

As much as playing Australia would be amazing I really don't want it. The thought of potentially losing to them at the football World Cup is sickening. As much as it hurts in cricket or rugby it's easier to take as they are traditionally usually better at those.

Don't know what draw I'd like. Not sure if it's better to just go out early from a tough group like the last one and then enjoy the rest of the tournament without caring about who is playing who or get through to get embarrassed by an Iceland or just lose on penalties to one of the big sides again.

Haha. This is why I'd love England. The Aussies would be so up for it and the English players wouldn't really understand how much it would mean to us. Chances are England would win because you have superior players across the pitch, but in terms of mentality we would be so much in your face.

If we beat you I'd go all Seinfeld and retire and "choose not to run" again. Haha.

This random draw machine is fun. It keeps picking the Aussies with Poland for me, which I'd take as well. Another serial under-performer at the World Cup.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/nov/16/world-cup-finals-create-your-own-draw-for-russia-2018-interactive

Stumbled across this article today: https://www.football-italia.net/112873/%E2%80%98football-i-prefer-beer-and-bbq%E2%80%A6%E2%80%99?mobile=off

Ever wondered what happened with Osvaldo?

‘Football? I prefer beer and BBQ…’
By Football Italia staff

Dani Osvaldo reveals he left football because “I prefer beer and barbecue to money”.

The former Juventus, Roma and Southampton striker retired from football to pursue a career in rock & roll, and he insists he has no regrets.

“I decided to quit at Boca, there was too much gossip,” Osvaldo recalled, speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport.

“I couldn’t go out, I was afraid of people. I couldn’t do it anymore. I had offers from China and clubs in the Champions League, but I was detached.

“I was beginning to hate what I had always loved. Football deserves respect, and I prefer asado [Argentinian barbecue] and beer to money.

“Do you want a laugh? In December 2016 [Jorge] Sampaoli contacted me, he was at Sevilla at the time.

“He said to me: ‘Dani, I’m not asking anything of you, you can do what you want on the pitch and off, but I need a striker’.

“I told him ‘but boss, there’s the Cosquín Rock festival!’. He said ‘I forgot! Go, of course, you can’t miss it’. Two crazy people!

“Do I miss Italy? I’ll be back after the winter, I don’t remember the Bergamo snow fondly.

“And football? I’ve played in important shirts and with great champions. At the time you don’t realise it, you take it for granted.

“Today I understand that fortune, but I don’t miss it. Believe me.”

Osvaldo famously left Inter after a clash with Roberto Mancini, and that is something he regrets.

“I threw a punch at him after that famous Juve-Inter game - ‘Do you want a fight?’. He said: ‘Don’t tell me that in front of everyone’.

“If he hadn’t expelled me he’d have lost authority. Then I went to his office crying, I was ashamed. He’s a great Coach with a good character.”

Lost for words

WTF?

Blimey. That's abysmal.

legit lol'd at that

Asterix wrote:

The pots are now confirmed for the World Cup draw, which will take place on Dec 1st (early hours of Dec 2nd in Aus / NZ).

POT 1: Russia (hosts), Germany, Brazil, Portugal, Argentina, Belgium, Poland, France

POT 2: Spain, Switzerland, England, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay, Croatia, Peru

POT 3: Denmark, Iceland, Costa Rica, Sweden, Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal, Iran

POT 4: Serbia, Nigeria, Australia, Japan, Morocco, Panama, South Korea, Saudi Arabia

For us Aussies the best draw would be something like: Russia, Peru, Tunisia, Australia.

Worst case would involve Brazil and Spain.

Secretly I want England though. Heh.

Boycott this shit. It's like the 1978 World Cup in Argentina. Or the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.

Keystone football right there.

Looks like the end of near for Peter Bosz. No idea why Dortmund hired him in the first place, been so awful. 4-0 up in their biggest match of the season at home, to 4-4.