World Cup 2022 Qualifiers

[craigkillie]

1 hour ago, Paco said:

Group B2. Scotland win the group by winning in Israel, or by matching the Czechs result at home to Slovakia. Simple.

The Czechs need to win. If they draw and we lose we'd finish ahead of them.

[charger29]

Things to look out for tonight then, in the battle for a NL play-off spot for World Cup 2022:
Group B1. Austria are top with 12 points, and host Norway who are in second with nine. Norway will leapfrog Austria with a win, as long as it isn’t 1-0. Norway however will have a complete second string team playing. Still no decision on the cancelled Romania game at the weekend but the presumption has to be it’s given to Romania. A draw would win the group for Austria regardless of happens with that game, and I think that’s our optimal result as it confirms Austria as the group winners, they’re in Pot 2 for the qualifiers and it gives Scotland a chance to leapfrog them in play-off hunt via the Nations League (would require a two goal victory).
Group B2. Scotland win the group by winning in Israel, or by matching the Czechs result at home to Slovakia. Simple.
Group B3. Russia on top with eight points, Hungary second also on eight points, Turkey on six. On balance, we’re probably rooting for Russia as they may sneak Pot 2, or Turkey as they’re confirmed Pot 2. Hungary are Pot 3, so the ones we definitely want to avoid. However, if we win in Israel it’s irrelevant as we finish above the group winners.
Group B4. We can’t finish above the group winner here, and it’ll be decided in Wales-Finland. Wales are Pot 2, Finland Pot 3 so we’re looking for a home win or draw to seal the group.
This is only relevant if we win the group, we won’t have any hope of a WC play-off via the Nations League route if we don’t. If we do win the game, we’ll almost definitely be behind Wales/Finland and Austria/Norway in the queue (as well as the League A winners), so it’ll be worth keeping an eye on their draws. If we draw or lose but win the group, then Russia/Hungary/Turkey might be added to that list.
 

It's unlikely but I'd hope Poland or Denmark don't win their groups either. Neither of them are of a high enough tier to have them as guaranteed top 2 in the quali groups.

[Paco]

25 minutes ago, charger29 said:

It's unlikely but I'd hope Poland or Denmark don't win their groups either. Neither of them are of a high enough tier to have them as guaranteed top 2 in the quali groups.

 

Very much so. They’re probably good enough regardless but with a tough draw you never know.

France and Spain have already won their groups from League A. Italy and Belgium most likely to follow, but a Poland win in the Netherlands combined with Bosnia beating Italy gives the group to Poland. Pretty unlikely but possible.

Belgium-Denmark the decider in the other group. Home win or draw does the job for Belgium.

If it goes as expected we shouldn’t need to worry too much about League A.

Edited November 18, 2020 by Paco

[Insert Amusing Pseudonym]

I thinlk even with a win Russia are toiling to stay above Romania in pot 2, assuming they get the 3 points from Norway game

[Pie Of The Month]

Romania get awarded the win v Norway which confirms Norway as being in pot 3 with us.

For Pot 2

Ireland need to win and hope Russia and Romania lose

Romania need to win and hope Russia draw or lose or if Romania draw Russia lose

Russia any results other than those above

Edited November 18, 2020 by Pie Of The Month

[Pie Of The Month]

Final pot standings

 

[G51]

Denmark, Serbia, Luxembourg, Andorra, San Marino.

Job done.

[charger29]

Denmark
Slovakia
Belaurus/Georgia/Luxembourg
Latvia/Andorra
San Marino

Don't know much about Romania but you wouldn't complain getting them from pot 2. Switzerland, Sweden, Turkey, Austria, Ukraine & Poland are probably too good for us.
Worst draw is probably all the top seeds.

[DAFC.]

Why on Earth would people want Georgia?! They have absolutely bodied us over in Tbilisi and would probably do it again. I'd much rather have Albania. No idea how they are in Pot 4 as they are God-awful. 

No matter who we get, we'll find some stupid way of making an arse of it. 

[HuttonDressedAsLahm]

26 minutes ago, DAFC. said:

Why on Earth would people want Georgia?! They have absolutely bodied us over in Tbilisi and would probably do it again. I'd much rather have Albania. No idea how they are in Pot 4 as they are God-awful. 

No matter who we get, we'll find some stupid way of making an arse of it. 

We absolutely do not want Georgia or Israel.  I'd also like to avoid Cyprus.

[Insert Amusing Pseudonym]

Preference would be.

1.Croatia - probably the worst of the top seeds at this point and we seem to do far better against them than is logical.  Denmark 2nd choice even if they always beat us.

2. Romania - sneaked into pot 2 after Russia collapsed and a very average outfit.  Would fancy us strongly against them at home.

3.Scotland

4. Luxembourg.  Not complete mugs and have had some decent results lately but they're still a team we should beat home and away.

5. Andorra.  By a mile the weakest team in pot 5 and given we almost routinely drop points to a pot 5 squad, the easiest game possible is good.

6. San Marino.

Diddy cannon fodder and if travel is back on a great place to go.

[DAFC.]

Group of death for me would look something like this:

Belgium
Poland
Scotland
Israel
Kazakhstan
Moldova

[Marshmallo]

Kosovo in Pot 5 is scary.

Any of the bottom 4 sides in Pot 2 would be phenomenal.

Pot 4 is a proper mixed bag. A world of difference between Bosnia and Luxembourg in terms of quality. 

[Jim McLean's Ghost]

4 hours ago, DAFC. said:

Group of death for me would look something like this:

Belgium
Poland
Scotland
Israel
Kazakhstan
Moldova

That group is not possible as Belgium will be in a group of 5. Along with the other Nations League Group A winners Italy, France and Spain.

There are a few other restrictions on what teams can be drawn together.

https://resources.fifa.com/image/upload/draw-procedures-for-fifa-world-cup-qatar-2022tm-preliminary-draw-uefa.pdf?cloudid=ijoruwm3ly5kgz9wbu6j

The usual these countries are at war with each other clause, travel clauses for kazahkstan and iceland plus a winter weather clause to ensure  games get played in the condensed schedule

 

 

 

[Tartan Tammy 1297]

21 hours ago, Pie Of The Month said:

Final pot standings

 

Denmark

Slovackia

Luxembourg

Faroe islands 

San Marino

Scotland

[DAFC.]

1 hour ago, Jim McLean's Ghost said:

That group is not possible as Belgium will be in a group of 5. Along with the other Nations League Group A winners Italy, France and Spain

 

 

 

Take away Moldova then. Sorted.

[rainbowrising]

Germany
Wales
Scotland
Georgia
Lithuania
Gibraltar

[charger29]

Why on Earth would people want Georgia?! They have absolutely bodied us over in Tbilisi and would probably do it again. I'd much rather have Albania. No idea how they are in Pot 4 as they are God-awful. 
No matter who we get, we'll find some stupid way of making an arse of it. 

There's no specific hoodoo around Georgia.
We've been shite for ages and have dropped points left, right and centre to a bunch of teams, one of which was Georgia.

[Bully Wee Villa]

Fancy us to draw Israel, Israel, Israel, Israel and Israel. Be nice to have a bit of variety.

[paddymcp]

If you get Denmark or Croatia from Pot 1 then the whole group is wide open. Not sure there's really that much between a Croatia and a Bosnia from Pot 4 for example. 

Preferably Denmark, Slovakia, Luxembourg, Andorra & San Marino. Not sure if there's mechanisms in place to avoid probably the weakest group known to man like that but would be ideal.

England, Wales, Bulgaria, Cyprus & Gibraltar would be a laugh for away days.