General Soccer Discussion

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#733      
U.S. has effectively clinched their spot in the World Cup. They would have to lose to Costa Rica by at least 10 goals on Wednesday to be forced to go through the interconfederation playoff against New Zealand or the Solomon Islands. A more realistic goal for Costa Rica to avoid that playoff would be to defeat the U.S and have Mexico lose at home to El Salvador and make up a 4 goal differential they have with El Tri.
 
#734      
U.S. has effectively clinched their spot in the World Cup. They would have to lose to Costa Rica by at least 10 goals on Wednesday to be forced to go through the interconfederation playoff against New Zealand or the Solomon Islands. A more realistic goal for Costa Rica to avoid that playoff would be to defeat the U.S and have Mexico lose at home to El Salvador and make up a 4 goal differential they have with El Tri.

So I just realized I was wrong on this. With the 10 goal differential, U.S. would have to lose by at least 6 on Wednesday to be forced into the playoff, not 10. If it's a 5 goal difference, then the U.S. likely would still go through automatically on goals scored.
 
#735      
U.S. has effectively clinched their spot in the World Cup. They would have to lose to Costa Rica by at least 10 goals on Wednesday to be forced to go through the interconfederation playoff against New Zealand or the Solomon Islands. A more realistic goal for Costa Rica to avoid that playoff would be to defeat the U.S and have Mexico lose at home to El Salvador and make up a 4 goal differential they have with El Tri.
It is 6 goals because every goal is 2 two goal swing. Not likely but do remember that the last time the teams met in Costa Rica for qualifying it was a 4-0 win for the Ticos. Very unlikely to happen but no one thought the series of events that occurred on the last game day 4 years ago would happen.
 
#736      
It is 6 goals because every goal is 2 two goal swing. Not likely but do remember that the last time the teams met in Costa Rica for qualifying it was a 4-0 win for the Ticos. Very unlikely to happen but no one thought the series of events that occurred on the last game day 4 years ago would happen.

True. But the difference between last year and 4 years ago is that the U.S. is guaranteed, at worst, a spot in the intercontinental playoff. And that Costa Rica team 4 years ago was a lot more talented than this one (Ticos in 2018 were ranked 23rd going into World Cup; current squad was ranked 42nd in most recent FIFA rankings last month).
 
#737      

KBLEE

Montgomery, IL
The US hasn't given up more than 2 goals in any of the first 13 matches. There's no reason to believe it will happen on Wednesday.
 
#738      
True. But the difference between last year and 4 years ago is that the U.S. is guaranteed, at worst, a spot in the intercontinental playoff. And that Costa Rica team 4 years ago was a lot more talented than this one (Ticos in 2018 were ranked 23rd going into World Cup; current squad was ranked 42nd in most recent FIFA rankings last month).
All excellent points. Yes extremely unlikely but holding up that “Qualified” banner just seems like it could comeback to haunt them. If a team could find a way to manufacture an epic collapse it would be one I support.
 
#739      
All excellent points. Yes extremely unlikely but holding up that “Qualified” banner just seems like it could comeback to haunt them. If a team could find a way to manufacture an epic collapse it would be one I support.

And Berhalter admitted as much after the game. He knows they're not officially in despite what the banner said.
 
#741      
Today's qualifier results of note:

UEFA

Poland 2:0 Sweden
Portugal 2:0 North Macedonia

Still have to wait until June to see if Ukraine can fulfill its match against Scotland with the winner traveling to Wales.

CONMEBOL

Peru 2:0 Paraguay
Venezuela 0:1 Colombia
Chile 0:2 Uruguay

Based on these results, Peru goes through to the inter-confederation playoff and Colombia and Chile are eliminated from World Cup contention. Colombia, ranked #19 in the most recent FIFA rankings, is the highest ranking CONMEBOL member to not make it.

CAF

Algeria 1:2 (aet) Cameroon (2-2 on aggregate; Cameroon advances on away goals tiebreaker)
Nigeria 1:1 Ghana (1-1 on aggregate; Ghana advances on away goals tiebreaker)
Morocco 4:1 DR Congo (Morocco advances on aggregate 5-2)
Tunisia 0:0 Mali (Tunisia advances on aggregate 1-0)

For Nigeria, it is only the 2nd time they have missed the World Cup (the other being in 2006) since they made their first World Cup appearance in 1994.

AFC

Iran 2:0 Lebanon
United Arab Emirates 1:0 South Korea
Syria 1:1 Iraq

As a result, the UAE goes to a one-game playoff with Australia that will be played on June 7 in Qatar. The winner of that match would then face Peru on June 13 or 14.

The highest rated teams, to this point, in the FIFA rankings that will not play in the World Cup are Italy (#8), Sweden (#17), and Colombia (#19). The lowest rated teams, to this point, that have qualified are Qatar (#52), Saudi Arabia (#53), and Ghana (#61). The two remaining OFC sides are even lower ranked. New Zealand is currently #111 and the Solomon Islands are #142.
 
#742      
Just to give everyone a quick heads up, it looks like tonight's match is airing on CBS Sports Network. Original listings I read only mentioned Paramount+ but it is airing on over-the-air TV.

It's also worth pointing out that many of Costa Rica's regulars are not playing as 9 of their players are on yellow cards and would not play in the play-off if they got another yellow card tonight.
 
#748      
And it's official...

weareback-wereback.gif
 
#749      
A lot can happen between now and the World Cup but I'd have to think Turner would be the frontrunner to start in goal in Qatar.
Agreed but Horvath has been playing well for Forest. If they get promoted and he is starting for them while Steffen and Turner are backups it could make for an interesting decision in November .
 
#750      
Agreed but Horvath has been playing well for Forest. If they get promoted and he is starting for them while Steffen and Turner are backups it could make for an interesting decision in November .

There's actually a chance Steffen may not even be the backup at City after this summer. They have a young keeper on loan to Portsmouth who, if he isn't sold this summer when he comes back to City, will be the backup to Ederson.
 
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