WC qualifying draw (Europe)

Clrnc

Qualifying for 2014 follows exactly the same format as 2010. There will be eight groups of six teams and one group of five.

Each group winner qualifies automatically, with the eight best runners-up facing a play-off to qualify. The record of the team finishing in sixth place in groups 1-8 will be discounted to determine the best runners-up.

The qualifiers begin in September 2012 and run through to October 2013.

Group A: Croatia, Serbia, Belgium, Scotland, Macedonia, Wales
Group B: Italy, Denmark, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Armenia, Malta.
Group C: Germany, Sweden, Republic of Ireland, Austria, Faroe Islands, Kazakhstan.
Group D: Netherlands, Turkey, Hungary, Romania, Estonia, Andorra.
Group E: Norway, Slovenia, Switzerland, Albania, Cyprus, Iceland.
Group F: Portugal, Russia, Israel, Northern Ireland, Azerbaijan, Luxembourg
Group G: Greece, Slovakia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Lithuania, Latvia, Lichtenstein
Group H: England, Montenegro, Ukraine, Poland, Moldova, San Marino
Group I: Spain, France, Belarus, Georgia, Finland

I would predict these teams to go through (in bold). However I am quite amazed how they always don't seed properly to end up with piss poor groups like group E and G where there are more shit teams together letting them a chance to get to the WC and groups ABC have at least 3 strong teams fighting for 2 spots with one definitely missing out. Belgium, Czech, Ireland would definitely give it a good fight though.

Biggus

England given a bye as usual........
😆 @ Croatia & Serbia.

Klaus

I think Wales will surprise a lot of people. They might even top the group. They've got a very good generation coming through at the moment. As a neutral I enjoy watching them play.

naz

Belgium can make it out of that group i think.

Claudius

Belgium's golden generation have a big task ahead of them. I fancy Serbia to win. 2nd can go to 2, maybe 3,teams

lorddulaarsenal

Do two teams qualify from spains group?

Biggus

Why? are you worried your beloved Belarus won't make it....

lorddulaarsenal

When it comes to Belarus I never worry

Claudius

I think when Klaus complains about international football, he's concerned about the prospect of Malta vs Armenia amongst other things. Asia, Africa and North America play preliminary rounds. Why doesn't Europe have teams like Andorra and Wales knock each other out. Those countries also do not have powerful leagues, so they could probably absorb small tournaments designed for them

Klaus

Caligula wrote:
I think when Klaus complains about international football, he's concerned about the prospect of Malta vs Armenia amongst other things.

I'm concerned about Arsenal players getting injured. The rest of the games I've got no stake in. I watch it since it's on the telly but I'd much rather watch the league football that gets interrupted because of it.

Tam

Clrnc wrote:
However I am quite amazed how they always don't seed properly to end up with piss poor groups like group E and G where there are more shit teams together letting them a chance to get to the WC and groups ABC have at least 3 strong teams fighting for 2 spots with one definitely missing out. Belgium, Czech, Ireland would definitely give it a good fight though.

I actually quite like that. I'm all in favour of smaller teams being given a fair crack at making it to the world cup, and if that comes at the expense of one or two more established teams who may take it for granted then too bad. World Cups are important to the fans and I'm all for smaller nations being able to experience that.

Burnwinter

I wouldn't mind if it were completely random. The seeding in modern knockout competitions gives me the shits on an average day. I realise it's to preserve the interest and competitiveness of the finals - never mind the TV rights! - but still.

I'd actually like to see a small sample of countries randomly reassigned to a different region's federation's qualifying groups each Cup 😃 mix things up, why not?

Biggus

Klaus wrote:
Caligula wrote:
I think when Klaus complains about international football, he's concerned about the prospect of Malta vs Armenia amongst other things.

I'm concerned about Arsenal players getting injured. The rest of the games I've got no stake in. I watch it since it's on the telly but I'd much rather watch the league football that gets interrupted because of it.

I agree with you Klaus, but thankfully the days when we had 15 players on international duty are long gone.

Captain

Quite right, we have 21 internationals now.

Ricky1985

😆

Ricky1985

And it's actually 22, with two more who have been called up but not played. With 4 international captains in the squad!

Burnwinter

The whole thing where our squad is filled with international captains but we have a supposed Arsenal captaincy and leadership problem is bizarre. Vermaelen may step up I suppose.

Mirth

Vermaelen, Arshavin, Rosicky captain their country. Who is the fourth?

Claudius

Ramsey captained last Wales game

Burnwinter

Van Persie, Nasri and I think Bendtner have all acted as alternates for their national sides, I think. That's pretty marginal though.