NorthernLights Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 It might not feel that long ago since Germany lifted the trophy in Brazil but the road to Russia 2018 starts tomorrow (12th March). The AFC gets things under way. Bhutan, the lowest ranked nation in the FIFA world rankings are taking part in their first ever qualifying campaign.I'm sure this map will get more interesting in the weeks, months and even years ahead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elixir Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 Apparently Nepal have high hopes of qualifying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dee4Life1893 Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 How can a country of a billion people be so bad at football? Why didn't they embrace the beautiful game over cricket? If Blatter really cared about expanding the game in Asia surely the 2022 tournament should have been in India or China. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albino Rover Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 How can a country of a billion people be so bad at football? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForzaDundee Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 World Cup Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nsr Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 Apparently Nepal have high hopes of qualifying. Bit of a mountain to climb, IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigkillie Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 How can a country of a billion people be so bad at football? Why didn't they embrace the beautiful game over cricket? If Blatter really cared about expanding the game in Asia surely the 2022 tournament should have been in India or China. Pretty hard for them to award the World Cup to countries which didn't apply to host it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoda Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 How can a country of a billion people be so bad at football? Why didn't they embrace the beautiful game over cricket? If Blatter really cared about expanding the game in Asia surely the 2022 tournament should have been in India or China. Chinese football is corrupt and there doesn't appear to be anything resembling a "grassroots" football set-up. Chinese football doesn't get much in the way of state sponsorship compared to other sports (it doesn't fit into their "cultural" approach to sport). That said, the government is apparently trying to reform the approach to football due to "embarrassment". India seems to lack anything resembling half-decent "football infrastructure". The embracing "the beautiful game [sic] over cricket" part is presumably (and I'm speculating here) due to the ridiculous class/caste system in India. Cricket was introduced by the elites and initially stayed as a sport for the upper and middle classes, whereas football was traditionally working class. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swarley Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 Mon the Bhutan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7-2 Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 Every time I watch a Chinese game I feel like watching another about an hour later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherrif John Bunnell Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 I see Qatar have got an early opportunity to prove their 2022 credentials by hosting the Yemen vs Pakistan 1st leg. Will gay Yemeni and Pakistani fans be allowed to have a beer at the game? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papad Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 East Timor v Mongolia - certainly an unexpected match up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Bairn Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 I see Qatar have got an early opportunity to prove their 2022 credentials by hosting the Yemen vs Pakistan 1st leg. Will gay Yemeni and Pakistani fans be allowed to have a beer at the game? Only the gay ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7-2 Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 India's trying to get it's act together. I think they copied the original US model of importing bog standard players from traditional football countries and merging them with well past it names eg Darryl Duffy meets Robert Pires, so a long way to go even if some clubs are getting 60k crowds. I'm sure the world's corporate sector will speed them on when they realise the potential market and that not all owners are like the Venky's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HibeeJibee Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 We did a WC2014 "Last Man Standing". Anyone want a re-run? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FuzzyAffro Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 How can a country of a billion people be so bad at football? Why didn't they embrace the beautiful game over cricket? If Blatter really cared about expanding the game in Asia surely the 2022 tournament should have been in India or China. That's a great point, India and China would have been great candidates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FuzzyAffro Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 Pretty hard for them to award the World Cup to countries which didn't apply to host it. If they had been encouraged to so so I'm sure they would have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HibeeJibee Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 That's a great point, India and China would have been great candidates. India could barely organise a Commonwealth Games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FuzzyAffro Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 Given 8 years I'm sure they could put on a decent world cup. And compared to Qatar virtually anywhere would be an improvement. The only issue I can think of is the same as Qatar, how hot is it in India in the summer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albino Rover Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 India could barely organise a Commonwealth Games. Scotland have done three with their eyes closed- all the more reason for us to get a WC some time soon IMO. WC2018 LMS sounds good BTW, I'd be in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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