Best of the thirds

[RicoS321]

Looking like Scotland are out. The Koreans fucked it for us in their group. There are probably only four groups that realistically could go our way now, and it's likely that at least one will fall in the coming days. It's a shite setup, given they all know what they have to do.

[RicoS321]

Group A - South Korea two goals ahead of us, although important to note that had we shitfested a 0-1 against Brazil, we'd still have been behind on goals scored.

Group B - Bosnia on four and so already through. 

Group D - Australia to beat Paraguay by more than a goal, or Paraguay to pump them by 4. Goal difference really killing us on this one

Group E - Ecuador to lose to Germany and Ivory Coast to beat Curacao. A draw in either game also fine. This should be a certainty for us.

Group F - Japan to beat Sweden by four! 

Group G - just need Egypt to beat Iran. A good chance that happens 

Group H - just need Spain to beat Uruguay. Another good chance

Group I - Iraq to either beat Senegal by less than three, or a draw. 50/50

Group J - Austria to beat Algeria by more than one, or Algeria to beat Austria by four. Probably unlikely.

Group K - Uzbekistan to beat DRC by less than four, or a draw. 50/50

Looks like we'll be going out. I think we could get three to go in our favour from this lot. I think 0-1 would have had us through, although only scoring a single goal in the tournament has killed us really. The Haiti game was our downfall (although had we lost or drawn, we'd have had nothing to go about!).

[RicoS321]

Running out of options now as Ecuador keep us in bottom spot in the third league (for teams who have played all their fixtures).

[RicoS321]

A case of seeing how many more days we can survive. Could potentially go out tonight, but unlikely. 

Spain, Egypt to win and Iraq to shitfest a draw and we're back in the hunt. A good chance that we'll get two of those three tonight, which will keep us clinging on until the final fixtures. I'm sure we'll all be staying up late with the excitement.

 

I realised I forgot group L in my analysis:

Group L: Ghana to beat Croatia by more than two goals. Very unlikely!

[STFU_Donny]

The Algeria vs Austria match is just above evens for the draw. Don’t think I’ve ever seen odds to draw a match so low before.

Edited yesterday at 08:12 by STFU_Donny

[RicoS321]

7 minutes ago, STFU_Donny said:

The Algeria vs Austria match is just above evens for the draw. Don’t think I’ve ever seen odds to draw a match so low before.

Aye, strange that.... 

Wasn't it Austria in 86 or 90 that played out a draw?

Edit: 82 against West Germany, where they played out a 1-0 win for the Germans to both go through 

Edited yesterday at 08:21 by RicoS321

[STFU_Donny]

12 minutes ago, RicoS321 said:

Aye, strange that.... 

Wasn't it Austria in 86 or 90 that played out a draw?

Edit: 82 against West Germany, where they played out a 1-0 win for the Germans to both go through 

Yeah, they have previous and a draw works for both Algeria and Austria. Might have to have a wee flutter…

[dons8321]

3 hours ago, RicoS321 said:

Aye, strange that.... 

Wasn't it Austria in 86 or 90 that played out a draw?

Edit: 82 against West Germany, where they played out a 1-0 win for the Germans to both go through 

Whilst Algeria (who'd beaten WG in the first match) were eliminated.

[Radiored]

The fact that Turkey, bottom of their group, are out .... whilst having equal or better points/goal difference than some 'still in the hunt' illustrates what a shit system the 3rd place scramble is. It's bad enough having to, uncharacteristically, cheer on bigger sides against the diddy teams in the hope of our own diddy team's survival, but holy fuck!

[Panda]

If Uruguay get anything against Spain, then a return to Boston to play Germany can happen. Spain win, and the only possibility if we do reach the last 32 is Mexico.

We need four of six scenarios below to go our way.

Spain beat Uruguay (or draw if you're desperate to go back to Boston), but then you now need four from five below to happen.

Egypt to beat Iran

Iraq to avoid defeat to Senegal 

Ghana to beat Croatia by at least three goals 

Austria to beat Algeria by at least two goals 

Uzbekistan to avoid defeat to DR Congo

[Jupiter]

1 hour ago, Panda said:

 

If Uruguay get anything against Spain, then a return to Boston to play Germany can happen. Spain win, and the only possibility if we do reach the last 32 is Mexico.

We need four of six scenarios below to go our way.

Spain beat Uruguay (or draw if you're desperate to go back to Boston), but then you now need four from five below to happen.

Egypt to beat Iran

Iraq to avoid defeat to Senegal 

Ghana to beat Croatia by at least three goals 

Austria to beat Algeria by at least two goals 

Uzbekistan to avoid defeat to DR Congo

The first two should easily happen, Senegal will beat Iraq, no way Ghana beat Croatia by 3 goals, Austria - Algeria is the most nailed on draw in world cup history and doctor Congo should beat Uzbekistan  So we're out.

[RicoS321]

Senegal five up, and I don't expect the ten men of Iraq to find a way back in, so that's us still bottom of the third place teams that have played all their fixtures. Interesting that the commentary team in the France game had zero interest in that game at all. They didn't bother to tell us that they were ahead of Scotland, and they didn't mention that they were ahead of South Korea and so likely to go through. They appeared to have no clue at all the ramifications of the fixture (for anyone). I'm sure it'd have been the same level of ignorance if it in any way affected England.

[Radiored]

Go Spain! 1-0 up - which will stick Uruguay in 3rd (regardless o' CV v SA) on 2 points. Leaves us still hangin' on by a single frayed fingernail, but hangin' on nanetheless  

Edit .... well, errr ... unless Saudi win .... which could really fuck shit up  

Edited 14 hours ago by Radiored

[Radiored]

Full time ... and a wee glimmer o' hope  

[Radiored]

.... Aye, Ah'm still up ... lang efter screamin ma guts intae a mic and thrashin' ma guitar at a gig ... C'mon Egypt!  

Edit ... Fuck! ... Ah've jinxed it! 1-1 ... pish! 

Edited 12 hours ago by Radiored

[Nellie The Don]

This competition format of a load of shite.

We should just be out, not sitting wondering how many goals Austria might score against Algeria in a completely different group long after we've played our last game.

Even if it weren't for the host nation refusing entry visas for fans, match officials and entire teams, the defacto introduction of 'quarters' in a football match, and the utterly obscene ticket prices, this shitty '8 Best 3rd placed teams' nonsense would be enough to make this the worst world cup ever.

 

 

[Panda]

Just now, Nellie The Don said:

This competition format of a load of shite.

We should just be out, not sitting wondering how many goals Austria might score against Algeria in a completely different group long after we've played our last game.

Even if it weren't for the host nation refusing entry visas for fans, match officials and entire teams, the defacto introduction of 'quarters' in a football match, and the utterly obscene ticket prices, this shitty '8 Best 3rd placed teams' nonsense would be enough to make this the worst world cup ever.

 

 

Aye it's shite, but their solution will be a 64-team World Cup.

They're already talking about New Zealand, Fiji and - my favourite part - the USA all co-hosting in 2038. Because that makes sense.
 

[Nellie The Don]

6 minutes ago, Panda said:

Aye it's shite, but their solution will be a 64-team World Cup.

They're already talking about New Zealand, Fiji and - my favourite part - the USA all co-hosting in 2038. Because that makes sense.
 

With climate change running its course, NZ and Fiji will both be under water by 2038*.  At least that'll remove the need for 'hydration breaks'.

 

*Maybe

Edited 10 hours ago by Nellie The Don

[RicoS321]

1 hour ago, Nellie The Don said:

With climate change running its course, NZ and Fiji will both be under water by 2038*.  At least that'll remove the need for 'hydration breaks'.

 

*Maybe

Aye, it's probably the last world cup. 2030 and 34 will be the same format as the 1942 and 46 world cups. 

[RicoS321]

Anyway, went to the no spoilers page to watch the games, dripping with excitement. They've nae even got the Egypt game? Had to look up the score. Useless Egyptian fucks. The Bungles wid be turning in their graves. 

[RicoS321]

25 minutes ago, RicoS321 said:

Anyway, went to the no spoilers page to watch the games, dripping with excitement. They've nae even got the Egypt game? Had to look up the score. Useless Egyptian fucks. The Bungles wid be turning in their graves. 

It's up now. They had to edit the footage on behalf of the US to include the AI generated depiction of the Iranian goal being offside, along with realistic portrayals of them being gutted at perhaps going out. Inside the ground it finished 2-1 and Iran were going nuts, pishing on a US flag in the centre circle.

[RicoS321]

Right, get the bets on. 

Austria to tank Algeria 3-0

Uzbeks to get a glorious draw against DRC, with Cannavaro playing the last ten

Croatia get a man sent off for denying a goal scoring opportunity, and Ghana scored from the spot. With ten minutes to go, Croatia get another man sent off in controversial fashion. Ghana make it 2-0 in 90+4, and then in 90+10, they bundle the ball over the line to send Scotland through. 

Scotland v Mexico awarded to Mexico, 3-0, as the Scotland squad had already gone home and didn't think it was worth heading back for a spanking.

[BigAl]

1 hour ago, RicoS321 said:

Anyway, went to the no spoilers page to watch the games, dripping with excitement. They've nae even got the Egypt game? Had to look up the score. Useless Egyptian fucks. The Bungles wid be turning in their graves. 

Who are these Bungles of whom you speak 

[RicoS321]

28 minutes ago, BigAl said:

Who are these Bungles of whom you speak 

The Bungles min. Wa'k like an Egyptian 

[swaddon]

If there was a World Cup format where nobody gets knocked out of the group stage and everyone goes through, we would still find a way to get knocked out at the group stage.