This Gives New Meaning To The Term Walk On
It's well known folk legend (and as far as I know, truth - though I didn't hear it personally) that at the United States/England match at Soldier Field a week ago, the England fans shouted, "are you Scotland in disguise?"
Every time this is brought up on the various message boards, I, being always on the bright side say, "it could be worse, they could have called us Wales or Northern Ireland."
Oh, poor, poor NI (FIFA Ranking: #114). They're never going to make another World Cup until they merge with the Republic of Ireland. It's not unheard of (or politically impossible) since the two administrative areas (on a country and one a "country") already play Rugby together. But the gulf in footcer is so great that Northern Ireland had a truly embarrassing moment occur earlier this week.
Chris Brunt of Sheffield Wednesday was walking his dog by the Northern Ireland training field and got called up to the team when the manager saw him!
To be fair, he is basically playing at the same level as the majority of Northern Ireland's team, the Coca Cola Championship, so he's not just some schmoe off the street. And since Northern Ireland stand 12 points behind 2nd place Poland with four matches to go (thus, all but mathematically eliminated from World Cup competition) it couldn't hurt.
Northern Ireland doesn't play a full match on June 4 (today or tomorrow depending where you're reading this) - they have a friendly against Germany. But there are quite a few intriguing matchups around the world:
- Cape Verde Islands at South Africa: before they come to the United States next month as an out-of-region invite to the CONCACAF Gold Cup, South Africa has a very important match. The Cape Verde Islands sit in second place in African Group 2 only one point behind RSA. Only the top team from each CAF group qualify for the World Cup.
- Mexico at Guatemala: with the United States and Mexico cruising along, the big battle in CONCACAF (as is usually the case) is the third and final automatic qualification slot. Guatemala (missing Carlos Ruiz due to suspension) look to take this away from favorites Costa Rica (who play in Salt Lake City tomorrow against the USMNT). Gaining any home points against El Tri could be crucial down the line. Mexico has proven vulnerable on the road.
- Greece at Turkey: the most hyped match of tomorrow's schedule. More likely to start an actual war than any match in recent history. These two sides don't like each other in anything. Both look to gain ground on Ukraine (who play bottom dwellers Kazakhstan at home in Kiev so it's not likely). But a Greek win keeps them three points behind the Ukrainians for UEFA Group 2 automatic qualification - with a match between the two sides in Greece on Wednesday!
- Romania at Netherlands: every match in UEFA Group 1 is crucial. Netherlands, Czech Republic, Romania, and Finland make up a murderer's row of a group and when they play each other, it's automatically going to be Match-Of-The-Day material. Just like in Group 2, the Czechs have an easy draw at home to Andorra. If Holland is upset by the Romanians (buoyed by the return of star and, um, coke-head, Adrian Mutu) the Dutch suddenly find themselves out of the driver's seat.
- Slovakia at Portugal: battle of the two top teams in UEFA Group 3. Portugal actually leads the group on goal differential 17 to 13. The Portugese have been criticized recently for a run of bad form. But Luis Figo, still technically of Real Madrid until someone else picks up his contract, is returning for the Iberian side, coming out of internation retirement to play in this crucial match.
- Israel at Ireland: no need to rehash this one again...it's WAR!
- Italy at Norway: another group leader, Italy in UEFA Group 5, also recently criticized for not living up to potential meets the team looking to usurp its status. The difference being this one's in Oslo giving Norway a more than fighting chance (though Italy's lead is four points so a Norway win will still have Italy in first, though clinging for dear life).
- Any match in the South American region. The whole thing is just a huge round robin where besides Brazil and Argentina, any other team is fighting for spots with 7 points separating third and last with five to go. Take your pick. :)
Someone please tell me why we're being subjected to Scotland/Moldova as the UEFA match being broadcast in the United States again!
Every time this is brought up on the various message boards, I, being always on the bright side say, "it could be worse, they could have called us Wales or Northern Ireland."
Oh, poor, poor NI (FIFA Ranking: #114). They're never going to make another World Cup until they merge with the Republic of Ireland. It's not unheard of (or politically impossible) since the two administrative areas (on a country and one a "country") already play Rugby together. But the gulf in footcer is so great that Northern Ireland had a truly embarrassing moment occur earlier this week.
Chris Brunt of Sheffield Wednesday was walking his dog by the Northern Ireland training field and got called up to the team when the manager saw him!
To be fair, he is basically playing at the same level as the majority of Northern Ireland's team, the Coca Cola Championship, so he's not just some schmoe off the street. And since Northern Ireland stand 12 points behind 2nd place Poland with four matches to go (thus, all but mathematically eliminated from World Cup competition) it couldn't hurt.
Northern Ireland doesn't play a full match on June 4 (today or tomorrow depending where you're reading this) - they have a friendly against Germany. But there are quite a few intriguing matchups around the world:
- Cape Verde Islands at South Africa: before they come to the United States next month as an out-of-region invite to the CONCACAF Gold Cup, South Africa has a very important match. The Cape Verde Islands sit in second place in African Group 2 only one point behind RSA. Only the top team from each CAF group qualify for the World Cup.
- Mexico at Guatemala: with the United States and Mexico cruising along, the big battle in CONCACAF (as is usually the case) is the third and final automatic qualification slot. Guatemala (missing Carlos Ruiz due to suspension) look to take this away from favorites Costa Rica (who play in Salt Lake City tomorrow against the USMNT). Gaining any home points against El Tri could be crucial down the line. Mexico has proven vulnerable on the road.
- Greece at Turkey: the most hyped match of tomorrow's schedule. More likely to start an actual war than any match in recent history. These two sides don't like each other in anything. Both look to gain ground on Ukraine (who play bottom dwellers Kazakhstan at home in Kiev so it's not likely). But a Greek win keeps them three points behind the Ukrainians for UEFA Group 2 automatic qualification - with a match between the two sides in Greece on Wednesday!
- Romania at Netherlands: every match in UEFA Group 1 is crucial. Netherlands, Czech Republic, Romania, and Finland make up a murderer's row of a group and when they play each other, it's automatically going to be Match-Of-The-Day material. Just like in Group 2, the Czechs have an easy draw at home to Andorra. If Holland is upset by the Romanians (buoyed by the return of star and, um, coke-head, Adrian Mutu) the Dutch suddenly find themselves out of the driver's seat.
- Slovakia at Portugal: battle of the two top teams in UEFA Group 3. Portugal actually leads the group on goal differential 17 to 13. The Portugese have been criticized recently for a run of bad form. But Luis Figo, still technically of Real Madrid until someone else picks up his contract, is returning for the Iberian side, coming out of internation retirement to play in this crucial match.
- Israel at Ireland: no need to rehash this one again...it's WAR!
- Italy at Norway: another group leader, Italy in UEFA Group 5, also recently criticized for not living up to potential meets the team looking to usurp its status. The difference being this one's in Oslo giving Norway a more than fighting chance (though Italy's lead is four points so a Norway win will still have Italy in first, though clinging for dear life).
- Any match in the South American region. The whole thing is just a huge round robin where besides Brazil and Argentina, any other team is fighting for spots with 7 points separating third and last with five to go. Take your pick. :)
Someone please tell me why we're being subjected to Scotland/Moldova as the UEFA match being broadcast in the United States again!
posted by incendiarymind at 9:32 PM
4 Comments:
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