Oso planning to go pro
Gotta admire New Zealand. Ever since Australia left for Asia, they have been the easy Oceania qualifier. This year for the fourth straight time. They still have to win a playoff, which would be likely against Costa Rica, but this year it is just one game and not two legs. (They are 1-2 in those playoffs previously.)But reducing your chances for qualification to a playoff, when there is no way they would get in through the Asian qualification, is best option available.Australia OTOH probably thought going to Asia would be easier but they now have to win two playoffs - the first v. UAE and the second v. Peru.
Questions left to still answer:- who's taking the corners/free kicks?- who's the #9?- who's the #1?- what's the strategy against teams that bunker?
That European playoff spot is such a wildcard. One of those "Wales, oh no..." vs "Ukraine, okay..." vs "Scotland, oh yeah..." situations. But best case is probably to get one of the Pot 3 Euros.Though while Qatar is clearly the seeded team everyone is hoping for, who's next? I have to think Portugal is the next best case. Definitely want nothing to do with Belgium, France, Brazil, or Argentina, and landing a Euro team in pot 1 would lessen the likelihood of getting Serbia/Poland/Wales out of pots 3/4.
Gotta love Qatar touting this as the first “carbon neutral” World Cup. 🙄🙄🙄
Would have preferred Ghana or Cameroon to the EUR playoff winner, but that could have gone far worse.
Ukraine and Yarmolenko are a tough side. So are Wales.People around the office today were saying they like the US chances against England and I’m sure you could see the visible eye roll I gave off.
The US has a ton of question marks, but unquestionably more talent that anyone other than England in the group, so just gotta get results. Too bad we didn't get the Dutch group.
I feel like there's no one to really be afraid of in this group