Marten

I hope The Netherlands won't follow this tomorrow... Latest polls show that the "Freedom Party" from far-right lunatic Geert Wilders is on course to become the biggest party in tomorrow's election.

Being Dutch I don't exactly have great memories of many encounters with the Czechs so I'd rather not face them. Especially as one of my best friends over here is Czech and I can do without her rubbing it in after they knock us out again...

Yeah, you'd expect Czech Republic to make it now. They haven't been particularly impressive this qualification but they are likely to keep their run of qualifying for every single Euros since their independence in 1993. That's some feat to be fair!

Yes, approx. 3% of their territory is in Europe. As long as you have any territory in Europe, you will be accepted if you apply. Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Russia also all have a portion of their territory in Europe even though the Asian part of those countries is (significantly) larger. And other than Israel, purely geographically Armenia & Cyprus are both 100% in Asia too, so for those 3 exceptions have been made. With Israel that reason is clear, Cyprus generally gets seen as Europe due to their connections to Greece but they are technically in the Asian part of the Mediterranean, Armenia I suppose get included as it would be odd for them to be forced into Asia while they border 3 UEFA nations and they would then be the only country in the Caucasus region not in UEFA.

Estonia will be in Path A, unless both Italy and Czech Republic mess up tonight in which case Estonia miss out. Estonia come from League D and they will only come into the play-offs if there is a League that has fewer than 4 teams not qualifying directly and then they join that path, which will have to be League A. Should Italy and Czech Republic both mess up, the PO for Path A will be: Italy v Wales & Poland v Czech Republic Should Kazakhstan win tonight, they will be replaced in the PO for Path C by Azerbaijan, the second best runners-up in League C behind Luxembourg. In that case the Path C PO will be: Georgia v Azerbaijan & Greece v Luxembourg.

From what I've seen of Poland, I'd say they at least would have had enough about them not to f*ck things up against Armenia. Yes, they also got only 1 point against Moldova, but Moldova seem better than Armenia looking at their other results. Not like Poland are impressive, but I'd still make them the favourites if they face Wales, especially if the Poles are at home as that's never an easy place to go to.

Fair point, but I still think Wales are worse. And if Poland are at home that will make a big difference too.

Hibs Women 2-1 Hearts Women Yesterday I went to Easter Road for the women's Edinburgh Derby. As I went with a Hearts-fan I know, I went with her to the away end. That only my second "random" match in Scotland I've been in an away end, after being in the Ibrox away end with Motherwell when doing the 42 (and the only other times I've been in any Scottish away end was at Hampden for Scotland v The Netherlands). There was a great turnout of nearly 5,400. The main stand was pretty full, a very decent Hearts following around me, and the East stand had a fair few people as well. The game was decent. The first half there were a few chances, but no goals. Hibs scored early in the second half, not much later they scored a second and it looked like the game was over. However, Hearts didn't give up and scored with 15 minutes left. They put up a good fight to try to equalise but Hibs held out to claim what was ultimately a deserved derby win. This also makes Easter Road the first stadium in Scotland with stands on all 4 sides where I've actually attended a game in each stand. Nice nerdy stat for a geek like me.

They might get through the semis, but Poland in the final would likely be too much for them, especially if they're drawn away. And if Italy lose to Ukraine, and/or Czech Republic lose to Moldova the path for the Welsh will become much harder as they'd first have to go away to Poland or Czech Republic before they can even think of any final.

Wales are guaranteed a play-off spot as there aren't going to be more than 4 League A teams who fail to qualify automatically, currently them and Poland are the only ones, guaranteeing both not only a PO spot, but also a home game against a team from a lower division. That can all change though should Italy mess up and lose away to Ukraine, then they will drop into the PO, meaning Wales lose their home advantage and will instead face an away PO semi-final to Poland. As it stands, the PO will be as follows: League A: Poland v Estonia, Wales v Finland / Ukraine / Iceland (one of those will be drawn out to go to path A) League B: Israel & Bosnia at home against the 2 of Finland / Ukraine / Iceland who aren't drawn into path A (Israel will face Iceland if they aren't drawn out for Path A, otherwise Ukraine, with Bosnia facing the other one) League C : Georgia v Luxembourg & Greece v Kazakhstan

I had a friend over from The Netherlands last week who also likes to go to different football grounds. We've gone to: Scotland Women 0-1 Netherlands Women Hearts 1-0 Livingston Culter 0-2 Lochee United Dundee 1-0 Livingston As only the games at Tynecastle and Dens can be classed as "random" for me, I'll focus on those. Both games were remarkably similar. Livingston created little and seemed to come for a 0-0. The hosts eventually scored in the second half. Hearts didn't give anything away after that and carried the deserved 1-0 over the line. Dundee were under more pressure after their goal, but they also managed to hold on and got a deserved win.

I can't quite believe what I just watched. Wow, just wow. Take a bow Glenn Maxwell, that was exceptional.

This World Cup is used as qualification for the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan, 8 teams will take part which is the top 8 of this tournament (or top 7 + Pakistan as hosts if they fail to finish in the top 8). Hopefully we can stay ahead of England and qualify at their expense.

Oh, I agree the problems go deeper, but the Hundred definitely made it significantly worse. It's a tournament that adds nothing yet relegates domestic 50 over cricket to some kind of second string tournament.

Absolutely embarrassing

Ajax were 1-2 up away at PSV at HT. But in the second half PSV seem to be making amends, 5-2 now with around 15 minutes to go. Excelsior are losing 3-1 against Volendam, we're having a shite second half but at least slightly amusing that our shiteness is sending Ajax to the bottom of the table. Feyenoord lost 2-1 against Twente in a top of the table clash, AZ are at home to NEC later on.

Yep, the bowlers did well today, but their batting is awful. It doesn't help though that the ECB have relegated the domestic 50 over game to a glorified reserve league whilst the stars play an unnecessary tournament in a format that nobody else plays...

India keep getting dot balls and Stokes has just been bowled, 33/3 after 8 overs. You'd fancy India now, especially with Stokes gone.

Absolutely delighted with this. After the hammering by Australia, they picked themselves up and then had this performance, especially the bowlers did great. And that direct hit by Van Beek was a great one. The Dutch media seem to finally take notice of the cricket team too, that media attention has been really lacking so here is hoping it will pick up, this team deserve that.

Meanwhile in de Eerste Divisie, Ajax B dropped to the bottom place in the table.

Ajax just sacked their manager Maurice Steijn. I never saw that coming!

Ajax dropped into the auto relegation places and she made such a statement?

Today was the perfect chance for Ajax to climb out of the bottom places as they played bottom side FC Utrecht. Instead, Utrecht won 4-3, they overtook Ajax who are now in the automatic relegation places.

No, the highest Path A team will be at home to Estonia if there are 3 or 2 Path A teams in the play-offs. Wales can at best be the second highest as one of Poland or Czech Republic will definitely be in the play-offs and both are above Wales. If they are second highest, they'll play a Path B team at home. If they are third highest, they will play Poland or Czech Republic away.

Agreed with all of that. Regarding Path A there is a decent chance Croatia will still make it. They are level in points with Wales but behind them in H2H. Croatia's remaining games are Armenia at home & Latvia away, you'd expect them to get the full 6 points from that. If they do, they will qualify if Wales drop points either at home to Turkey or away to Armenia. If that happens, the semi finals would become Italy v Estonia & Poland v Wales. Even with Italy's recent record of messing up qualification chances, you'd expect them to beat Estonia and then either Poland or Wales. And if Italy beat North Macedonia at home and then Ukraine away, they will qualify automatically. That would pass a Path A play-off spot down to a team from Division B. Ukraine would then be in the PO with one of them, Finland & Iceland being drawn in the Path A PO.