2010 World Cup Qualifying

[TFoA]

Well, WCQ for 2010 is WELL underway. Yesterday had a full tilt of games, (with the Oranje thumping Scotland 3-0 [and it should've been 3-1 since Scotland scored a goal that was disallowed for some strange reason. Regardless, Oranje is on track to easily make it to South Africa.) including the U.S. playing El Salvador in San Salvador. If anybody was watching that game, then please answer this: How in the HELL did the USMNT manage to get a draw out of that game? I basically switched it to the NCAA's when they were down 2-0 and the El Salvador crowd had taken over the game entirely. It's a miracle that they even got a point out of the affair.

Well, I guess this would be as good a place as any to discuss international competition up until WC2010.

[-kj]

Combination of finally stepping up and El Salvador's backup keeper being a mess.

That was not a good performance by the US.

[NJTank]

wow it will be a disaster if the US does not qualify for the World Cup

[NEW.ERA]

I kinda wish the Dutch were in a more tougher group, no disrespect to Iceland who is currently tied for 2nd with Scotland but this team is good enough to challenge with Spain, Germany, England and so on but to more discussion I can't get over about what France has done since Zidane left and they lost the last WC in 06 on penalties a poor showing at Euro 08 is following up with a bad showing in qualifying granted Serbia is no pushover same with Romania but losing to Austria and only beating Lithuania 1-0 something has to change maybe Domenech needs to get the boot.

[TalktoChuck]

I kinda wish the Dutch were in a more tougher group, no disrespect to Iceland who is currently tied for 2nd with Scotland but this team is good enough to challenge with Spain, Germany, England and so on but to more discussion I can't get over about what France has done since Zidane left and they lost the last WC in 06 on penalties a poor showing at Euro 08 is following up with a bad showing in qualifying granted Serbia is no pushover same with Romania but losing to Austria and only beating Lithuania 1-0 something has to change maybe Domenech needs to get the boot.

I am interested to see what Frances does to rebound in the 2010 World Cup as well. Ever since they lost on penalties in '06 they haven't been near the same. I'm hoping they step it up for 2010. As for the US, I was shocked that they came back against El Salvador. But El Salvador's back up keeper was absolutely awful. He blew the game for El Salvador.

[TFoA]

So I saw the highlights...wow, the El Salvador goalie damn near won the game for the US near the end. Wow.

Definitely dodged a bullet there. As long as the U.S. continues to win at home, and get a couple wins here and there in the rest of CONCACAF, they'll be in South Africa.

[-kj]

wow it will be a disaster if the US does not qualify for the World Cup

This would be where, once again, Tank stumbles into a topic on which he has no knowledge, spews a one-liner, and leaves. Nice going, Tank.

The US lead the CONCACAF qualifying group after two games, though only by a point. This is, despite the poor performance in San Salvador, an advantageous position. There are still trips to Saprissa and Azteca to come, mind you. (If you don't already know, the top three in the group qualify directly to South Africa, while the fourth-place finisher has the opportunity to qualify via a playoff with a CONMEBOL opponent.)

[WJMorris3]

I kinda wish the Dutch were in a more tougher group, no disrespect to Iceland who is currently tied for 2nd with Scotland but this team is good enough to challenge with Spain, Germany, England and so on but to more discussion I can't get over about what France has done since Zidane left and they lost the last WC in 06 on penalties a poor showing at Euro 08 is following up with a bad showing in qualifying granted Serbia is no pushover same with Romania but losing to Austria and only beating Lithuania 1-0 something has to change maybe Domenech needs to get the boot.

I am interested to see what Frances does to rebound in the 2010 World Cup as well. Ever since they lost on penalties in '06 they haven't been near the same. I'm hoping they step it up for 2010. As for the US, I was shocked that they came back against El Salvador. But El Salvador's back up keeper was absolutely awful. He blew the game for El Salvador.

I'm curious to see what France does. They've got to win Wednesday though - they lose to Lithuania, they run a serious danger of not qualifying for the World Cup.

As it is, Portugal is in danger of not making it, they're four points out of 2nd right now, and they're halfway done.

[heernumurr]

Anyone seen the state the South African team is in? Obviously they don't have to qualify, but if I recall the African federation also use WC qualifying to determine the Cup of Nations entrants. Well they didn't even make it to the final round. Regardless of the actual country's suitability to host the World Cup, to me its just unacceptable to have a team there that otherwise failed miserably in qualification. I know FIFA (Blatter especially) wanted a finals in Africa, and that given the amount of time between announcing the tournament and kick-off there is no way of knowing if the hosts will have a decent side, but I think it just detracts even more from an already shambolic run up to 2010.

[WJMorris3]

Anyone seen the state the South African team is in? Obviously they don't have to qualify, but if I recall the African federation also use WC qualifying to determine the Cup of Nations entrants. Well they didn't even make it to the final round. Regardless of the actual country's suitability to host the World Cup, to me its just unacceptable to have a team there that otherwise failed miserably in qualification. I know FIFA (Blatter especially) wanted a finals in Africa, and that given the amount of time between announcing the tournament and kick-off there is no way of knowing if the hosts will have a decent side, but I think it just detracts even more from an already shambolic run up to 2010.

In fairness, they finished 2nd in their first round group - they just weren't one of the 8 best second-place teams.

[heernumurr]

That is true, and Senegal are a team who I'd expect to challenge but didn't make it that far either. But considering that by this measurement South Africa aren't even in the top 20 teams in Africa, never mind one of the best 32 worldwide, its still not great for the tournament.

[WJMorris3]

That is true, and Senegal are a team who I'd expect to challenge but didn't make it that far either. But considering that by this measurement South Africa aren't even in the top 20 teams in Africa, never mind one of the best 32 worldwide, its still not great for the tournament.

We know that the best 32 won't make it anyways - someone has to sit home among England, Croatia, and Ukraine. All were Cup teams last time, IIRC, and now they're all in the top 15 of the rankings.

[NEW.ERA]

That is true, and Senegal are a team who I'd expect to challenge but didn't make it that far either. But considering that by this measurement South Africa aren't even in the top 20 teams in Africa, never mind one of the best 32 worldwide, its still not great for the tournament.

We know that the best 32 won't make it anyways - someone has to sit home among England, Croatia, and Ukraine. All were Cup teams last time, IIRC, and now they're all in the top 15 of the rankings.

And that is what makes the World Cup the best tournament on the planet there is always that one surprising country that goes far and takes the best country to very end and like you said there will always be a country who is one of the best and doesn't always makes it maybe not 06' but 02' in Korea/Japan when the Netherlands failed to make it.

[WJMorris3]

That is true, and Senegal are a team who I'd expect to challenge but didn't make it that far either. But considering that by this measurement South Africa aren't even in the top 20 teams in Africa, never mind one of the best 32 worldwide, its still not great for the tournament.

We know that the best 32 won't make it anyways - someone has to sit home among England, Croatia, and Ukraine. All were Cup teams last time, IIRC, and now they're all in the top 15 of the rankings.

And that is what makes the World Cup the best tournament on the planet there is always that one surprising country that goes far and takes the best country to very end and like you said there will always be a country who is one of the best and doesn't always makes it maybe not 06' but 02' in Korea/Japan when the Netherlands failed to make it.

Argue whichever way you want with this, but Turkey did not make '06 after bronzing in '02, nor did defending Euro champs Greece.

[NEW.ERA]

That is true, and Senegal are a team who I'd expect to challenge but didn't make it that far either. But considering that by this measurement South Africa aren't even in the top 20 teams in Africa, never mind one of the best 32 worldwide, its still not great for the tournament.

We know that the best 32 won't make it anyways - someone has to sit home among England, Croatia, and Ukraine. All were Cup teams last time, IIRC, and now they're all in the top 15 of the rankings.

And that is what makes the World Cup the best tournament on the planet there is always that one surprising country that goes far and takes the best country to very end and like you said there will always be a country who is one of the best and doesn't always makes it maybe not 06' but 02' in Korea/Japan when the Netherlands failed to make it.

Argue whichever way you want with this, but Turkey did not make '06 after bronzing in '02, nor did defending Euro champs Greece.

I was thinking about Greece but after how keen they were on them for Euro 08 they didn't even make it through the group stage and I totally forgot about Turkey they can be considered an Emerging power.

And on a sadder note 19 spectators were killed and 130 were injured during a stampede at an Ivory Coast vs. Malawi World Cup Qualifier

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast -- Fans who survived a deadly stadium stampede in the Ivory Coast blamed police Monday for the tragedy, saying security forces provoked the panic by tear gassing people who had nowhere to run.

World soccer body FIFA called for a prompt investigation into the stampede Sunday at Abidjan's Felix Houphouet-Boigny arena, which killed 19 people and injured more than 130.

Tens of thousands of fans turned out to see Chelsea striker Didier Drogba -- a native of Ivory Coast -- as the home team squared off against Malawi at a World Cup qualifying match.

Interior Minister Desire Tagro said on state TV that fans outside the stadium before the game began pushing and shoving, setting off the panic. But witnesses said as fans tried to get into the stadium, police fired tear gas into the crowd, causing the stampede.

The weight of the fans pushing forward caused a wall to come crashing down, according to an AP photographer and other witnesses. An Abidjan morgue listed 19 dead, and Tagro gave the number of injured as 132.

"We saw people falling from the top bleachers," said Diarassouba Adama, who was inside the stadium. "The stampede was provoked by the security forces who threw tear gas canisters at us. I don't know why they fired on us."

Relatives of the dead outside one of the capital's morgues agreed.

"My brother left to go to the stadium with his friends. At the entrance, they were attacked by security forces. That's what set off the stampede," Momodou Kamara said after identifying the body of his brother.

Women fainted with grief outside the morgue Monday and others sobbed as they held each other. Fathers and brothers stood, their eyes red with sorrow.

Morgue officials released the names of the 19 dead -- including two children, one of whom was age 10. There was no immediate word Monday on the condition of the injured.

State TV announced that Prime Minister Guillaume Soro was holding an emergency cabinet meeting Monday to deal with the national tragedy.

The game took place Sunday despite the deaths and Ivory Coast won 5-0. It was the first match in the final stage of African qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.

"We are all so sad about what happened and can only send our condolences to the family and friends of all those who died," said Drogba, who scored two goals for the Ivory Coast in the match.

The organizer of the next World Cup, meanwhile, pledged Monday there will be no stadium stampedes during Africa's first World Cup in 2010 or during the 2009 Confederations Cup, both being held in South Africa.

Danny Jordaan told reporters in Johannesburg that many African fans buy their tickets only when they reach the stadium, and delays often create impatient crowds outside.

"It triggers a stampede that leads to disaster," Jordaan said. "Those things will not occur in the Confederations Cup or the World Cup. It is impossible."

Jordaan said World Cup and Confederations Cup tickets will have to be purchased well in advance and those without tickets will be stopped far away from the stadiums.

He said stadium gates will open early, three hours before kickoff, and public transportation to stadiums will be improved -- all to reduce anxious crowds.

Both he and FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter offered their condolences to the families.

If tear gas was to blame in Abidjan, it would be the fourth time since 2001 that police firing tear gas have set off deadly stadium stampedes in Africa.

In 2000, 13 fans died at a match in Zimbabwe after police fired tear gas into the crowd. A year later, at least 123 people died in Accra, Ghana, after security forces fired tear gas and seven other fans were crushed to death in a stampede in Lubumbashi, Congo, after police fired tear gas.

The worst stadium disaster in Africa was the Ghana stampede in 2001. The deadliest stadium disaster worldwide took place in Moscow in 1982, when 340 people were reportedly killed in fan stampede at a European Cup match.

[TalktoChuck]

Wow. That is a tragic story. The Ivory Coast has an absolutely beautiful scenery (I went there for a month last summer to help out my neighbors organization that builds schools in Africa) and also has one of the most depressing and tragic histories I've ever heard. And the country is still in turmoil.

[WJMorris3]

*sigh* I do not know how the stadia are in Côte D'Ivoire, but I suspect they are similar to what I saw in El Salvador (when watching the game), with a chain-link fence surrounding the pitch. Now might begin the call to remove said fences for all FIFA competition.

[TalktoChuck]

*sigh* I do not know how the stadia are in Côte D'Ivoire, but I suspect they are similar to what I saw in El Salvador (when watching the game), with a chain-link fence surrounding the pitch. Now might begin the call to remove said fences for all FIFA competition.

I believe most of them have chain link fencing. I don't know if this particular one did or not though.

[chestnutz]

USA showed how good they CAN be in the later stages of the El Salvador match. They simply dominated play after they stopped acting like p***ys. Sure they got helped out by the goalie, but they had many chances they could've scored on before that. Defense just fell apart in the beginning. I'm not worried about them not qualifying at all.

On another note, I love seeing Lithuania 2nd in their group. If they make the world cup, it'll be the happiest day for my family in a while.

[TalktoChuck]

USA showed how good they CAN be in the later stages of the El Salvador match. They simply dominated play after they stopped acting like p***ys. Sure they got helped out by the goalie, but they had many chances they could've scored on before that. Defense just fell apart in the beginning. I'm not worried about them not qualifying at all.

The US will qualify (If they don't it would be a major shock), but sadly thats about all they will do.