Inspired by this quote:
Aint that the truth. Costa Rica, USA and Mexico are ALL better than a middling European team like England. I think we are getting to the point where CONCACAF can be relied upon to regularly produce 2 strong teams every world cup, from their 4.5 spaces.
There was some bloke on here moaning that the Africans take too many WC spaces too, but to be honest with the exception of the shambolic Cameroon side, they've all look excellent too. Algeria ripped South Korea a new hole in the first half yesterday and were desperately unlucky/naiive to lose to Belgium beforehand. Ghana should have drawn with a strong USA team at the very least, but showed their class against Germany. The Ivory Coast have looked excellent in both games and should qualify and probably beat Italy next round too. And Nigeria started terribly, but I now fancy them to go through after beating Bosnia.
Asia - a mixed bag from them. Australia have acquitted themselves well in a tough group and probably been the best AFC team, so they've been unlucky to go out so early. South Korea, Japan and Iran are still clinging on and could all yet qualify.
Conmebol were always expected to be strong in Brazil, and so it's proving. Most are almost certainly through, with Uruguay and Ecuador both about 40/60 to do so.
That leaves Europe - On the face of it, Europe seems to have underperformed with Spain (and England) out after two games and Russia and Portugal surely about to join them. But France look good, and the Dutch found a way to beat Australia who were inspired, which augers well for them. Don't rule out Germany or Italy either.
It would be nice to see Asia produce at least one team in the last 16 because the most populous confederation needs to justify a claim to more World Cup places. Same goes for Concacaf, but they are doing more than enough to justify an extra space.
One other thought, I know it's in Brazil but the South American support has been amazing. Chile, for example, is a country of 10 million and although it borders Brazil, Santiago is nevertheless 1,800 miles from Rio. I suppose I could see a team like Sweden taking 40,000 to, say, Portugal (they took that many to Germany in 2006), but Chile is not a wealthy country like Sweden.
Aint that the truth. Costa Rica, USA and Mexico are ALL better than a middling European team like England. I think we are getting to the point where CONCACAF can be relied upon to regularly produce 2 strong teams every world cup, from their 4.5 spaces.
There was some bloke on here moaning that the Africans take too many WC spaces too, but to be honest with the exception of the shambolic Cameroon side, they've all look excellent too. Algeria ripped South Korea a new hole in the first half yesterday and were desperately unlucky/naiive to lose to Belgium beforehand. Ghana should have drawn with a strong USA team at the very least, but showed their class against Germany. The Ivory Coast have looked excellent in both games and should qualify and probably beat Italy next round too. And Nigeria started terribly, but I now fancy them to go through after beating Bosnia.
Asia - a mixed bag from them. Australia have acquitted themselves well in a tough group and probably been the best AFC team, so they've been unlucky to go out so early. South Korea, Japan and Iran are still clinging on and could all yet qualify.
Conmebol were always expected to be strong in Brazil, and so it's proving. Most are almost certainly through, with Uruguay and Ecuador both about 40/60 to do so.
That leaves Europe - On the face of it, Europe seems to have underperformed with Spain (and England) out after two games and Russia and Portugal surely about to join them. But France look good, and the Dutch found a way to beat Australia who were inspired, which augers well for them. Don't rule out Germany or Italy either.
It would be nice to see Asia produce at least one team in the last 16 because the most populous confederation needs to justify a claim to more World Cup places. Same goes for Concacaf, but they are doing more than enough to justify an extra space.
One other thought, I know it's in Brazil but the South American support has been amazing. Chile, for example, is a country of 10 million and although it borders Brazil, Santiago is nevertheless 1,800 miles from Rio. I suppose I could see a team like Sweden taking 40,000 to, say, Portugal (they took that many to Germany in 2006), but Chile is not a wealthy country like Sweden.
I rather hope Nigeria don't go through as they've been extremely dull to watch.