The Football.....

[Accy cyclist]

Scary scenes after the Accy V Sheff' Weds match today! I didn't go as I was working in the shop this aft' and I had an inclination there might be trouble. On my way home out of Accrington town centre I was stopped by the police who advised me to take another route to avoid going near the ground as it 'was gridlocked' and they were escorting 'troublesome' fans intent of heading towards the town centre. I took the advised route only to see about 30 of them running around a roundabout, chucking stuff at passing vehicles (including mine!) Luckily the bottle lobbed at my car missed! The police had advised shopkeepers before the game to shut shop early. It was like something from the 1970's and 80's!! A coachload of their fans were in the pub around the corner from me from 10am. They seemed well behaved, but they were being watched by 2 van loads of police, so that's probably why.

 

[T4tomo]

Football was a bit more relaxed back in the day


View: https://twitter.com/sundayshoutsfc/status/1591040794957430785?s=46&t=1JndVmY6vTBNDRISgD60ig

Carlos Valderrama, hell of a player and a very relaxed style.

 

[T4tomo]

Anyone getting excited about the World cup yet? Qatar Ecudaor as an opening game must be least anticpated of any world cup surely?

 

[matticus]

Anyone getting excited about the World cup yet? Qatar Ecudaor as an opening game must be least anticpated of any world cup surely?

ha ha! Who knows, could be an end-to-end zinger, I know nothing about either team!

My excitement is usually a slow burn, as tournaments with round-robins and lots of no-hopers rarely get going until the 3rd match (apart from the infamous Groups of Death !)

And then there's the elephant in the room ... I've half a mind to boycotting it. So my enthusiasm is rather tainted. We'll see ....

 

[Grant Fondo]

Anyone getting excited about the World cup yet? Qatar Ecudaor as an opening game must be least anticpated of any world cup surely?

Don't be fooled! They are both close in FIFA world rankings and it could be a minter
As for monday's games? Now we're talking:

 

[T4tomo]

I know nothing about either team!

that was my point - 4th best qualifier from South America plays hosts with no track record at any major tournament!

Since having the hosts playing the opening game, there have at least been plenty of goals, as they are usually (mis?)matched against a weaker team for opening game

Prior to that there were some cagey and unsuccessful starts for defending champions...France in 2002 probably being the funniest. and of course i that pre expanded era there were less weaker teams so less minnows to play.

 

[T4tomo]

Don't be fooled! They are both close in FIFA world rankings and it could be a minter
As for monday's games? Now we're talking:
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yes the England / Wales group has a lot riding on it. Wales and England should both dispatch the US (and Iran obviously) but the US will be hopeful of springing an upset against either or both. England's form in the nations cup was so poor you wonder what team will turn up and what selection of out of for players Gareth will meld together on the basis they have never let him down!

 

[Grant Fondo]

yes the England / Wales group has a lot riding on it. Wales and England should both dispatch the US (and Iran obviously) but the US will be hopeful of springing an upset against either or both. England's form in the nations cup was so poor you wonder what team will turn up and what selection of out of for players Gareth will meld together on the basis they have never let him down!

That 4-0 drubbing by Hungary was an awful watch ... and they are not even at the WC! Lets hope Southgate gets it right when it counts, I kind of think he will.

 

[Chislenko]

Anyone getting excited about the World cup yet? Qatar Ecudaor as an opening game must be least anticpated of any world cup surely?

yes the England / Wales group has a lot riding on it. Wales and England should both dispatch the US (and Iran obviously) but the US will be hopeful of springing an upset against either or both. England's form in the nations cup was so poor you wonder what team will turn up and what selection of out of for players Gareth will meld together on the basis they have never let him down!

Unfortunately for the occupants of that group there isn't a fourth seed team in it. Due to the delay caused by the play off being late involving Ukraine, Wales who should have been seeded three were made a fourth seed.

So on the basis that this group has two seed three teams, Wales / Iran, one of the group's must have two teams ranked as fourth seeds.

 

[Chislenko]

To answer myself it would appear to be the group containing Australia and Tunisia.

 

[T4tomo]

Unfortunately for the occupants of that group there isn't a fourth seed team in it. Due to the delay caused by the play off being late involving Ukraine, Wales who should have been seeded three were made a fourth seed.

So on the basis that this group has two seed three teams, Wales / Iran, one of the group's must have two teams ranked as fourth seeds.

sort of yes, but the fifa rankings for pot seeding are pretty inconsistent as you can get a good ranking by beating crap teams repeatedly. Hence USA ranked 15 and were in pot 2, but on objective form / ability behind Wales I, and many others, would say. And Iran are arguably in the weaker end of pot 3 despite being 2nd highest ranked team in that pot.

on a fifa ranking seeding, Tunisia (rank 35) and Wales (18) would have swapped over, had Wales qualified in time . So group D has Tunisia (35) & Aussie (42) ( plus France and Denmark) for your two pot 4 teams

but in terms of two lowly ranked team in a group - I give you the previously mentioned opening game between Qatar ranked 51 and Ecuador ranked 46. Netherlands and Senegal must be licking their lips.

 

[Chislenko]

sort of yes, but the fifa rankings for pot seeding are pretty inconsistent as you can get a good ranking by beating crap teams repeatedly. Hence USA ranked 15 and were in pot 2, but on objective form / ability behind Wales I, and many others, would say. And Iran are arguably in the weaker end of pot 3 despite being 2nd highest ranked team in that pot.

on a fifa ranking seeding, Tunisia (rank 35) and Wales (18) would have swapped over, had Wales qualified in time . So group D has Tunisia (35) & Aussie (42) ( plus France and Denmark) for your two pot 4 teams

but in terms of two lowly ranked team in a group - I give you the previously mentioned opening game between Qatar ranked 51 and Ecuador ranked 46. Netherlands and Senegal must be licking their lips.

I think the Netherlands may qualify from that group!

Regardless of their group they have looked good lately.

Just prior to Euro 2016, we Wales played Holland in a friendly at Cardiff and must admit had never seen him live before but it was an absolute pleasure to watch Roben, different class to anyone else on the pitch, including our hero Gareth!

NB. Yes I do appreciate he no longer plays.

 

[The Crofted Crest]

Saw the Netherlands v Wales in the Nations League this summer. Wales were only one step behind the Dutch.

 

[Chislenko]

Saw the Netherlands v Wales in the Nations League this summer. Wales were only one step behind the Dutch.

Yes, the whole of the Nations League was very fine margins for us, could quite easily have come away with a few more points.

Just moving on from the melee against Bangor the other week, due to all the suspensions and a few injuries we had only one substitute at Hawarden on Saturday and that was a goalkeeper! Our center forward went off injured so the sub goalie had to come on and play up front!

Proper footie!!

 

[Brandane]

Wales and England should both dispatch the US (and Iran obviously)

Beware IRAN!
I remember back in 1978 they managed to draw with one of the teams hotly tipped (by themselves!) to win the tournament .