Saturday, September 6, 2008

Saturday Open Thread


It's World Cup qualifying time. I know, it seems like it's too soon. Anyway, pop in and out during the day to weigh in on today's matches.

Schedule highlights (all times EDT; may be wrong)
Andorra-England (2pm)
Cuba-USA (7.10pm)
Macedonia-Scotland (9am)
Wales-Azerbaijan (10am)
Georgia-Ireland (noon)
Austria-France (2.30pm)
Argentina-Paraguay (3pm)
Mexico-Jamaica (6pm)
New Caledonia-New Zealand (2 am) (for Precious Roy)

I hope I can find that Scotland match online myself.

88 comments:

The NY Kid said...

What about:

Saudi Arabia - Iran

Japan - Bahrain

which are the matches that FSC has decided to show. No, I wouldn't want to watch France-Austria or anything. Douchebags.

Kopper said...

More like who will suffer the 1st injury keeping them out of club games. These games can be scary....

phil said...

Here's hoping today I get to see all this magic Trappatoni is purported to have worked on this Irish squad. At least, for one day, I get to cheer for Keano again.

Jacob said...

HT 1-0 Macedonia.

Setanta is reporting the temps above 100. Scotland once again shows that it only performs well at home, or in France.

@NY Kid-FSC's international matches are always horrible. I remember them showing San Marino-Germany in Euro qualifying. Finished 0-13.

Jacob said...

Wales-Azerbaijan kicking off.
Millennium Stadium is mostly empty. Whoops

Kopper said...

Macedonia plaing the old reliable 5-2-3 fomation vs. Scotland. Something you don't see everyday....

Jacob said...

20 minutes left. Still 1-0

Scotland attacked heavily for the forst 15 minutes of the second half only to have Darren Fletcher muff the best chance from 5 yards out. Macedonia in control otherwise. This looks a lot like the Georgia match that Scotland blew to fall out of Euro contention.

Jacob said...

*first*

Jim Hendry said...

I might try and liveblog the England game, although it's not on until 2pm...

Jim Hendry said...

Phil: ireland will get it done, fret not.

England won't

Jim Hendry said...

Kopper: it's definitely a valid concern for domestic teams, but I don't think Norwich will need to worry about their lads getting wounded in internationals :)

Jim Hendry said...

u75: what did Fletcher do now? Besides being ManU scum

Jacob said...

He sprayed a five yard pass three yards behind his man to kill an attack.

Jacob said...

4 minutes of stoppage time.

Kopper said...

Well, we do have Scotland's backup keeper (Marshall) and a South African bench player (Pattison). On The Ball City! But I was actually being a bit selfless and compassionate for the bigger clubs (even Chelsea) as it is a pity when the players get crocked because some frusturated Andorran defender goes high with the spikes....

Jacob said...

Huh. Fabianski in net over Boruc for Poland.

Jim Hendry said...

Kopper: I am rooting for Frank Lampard to feel the wrath of a late challenge.

u75: that sucks man. Go and walk it off, although the damn hurricanes and storms are kinda ruining that too.

Jacob said...

No hurricane here. Sven, though, is probably getting good and wet.

Wales miss a penalty. Still 0-0

Jacob said...

Azerbaijan just got a weak red, and the ref let a Welsh face stomp two seconds later go unpenalized.

The Home Nations are the ACC of WC qualifying this week.

Jim Hendry said...

Which nation is worse at this point:

- Scotland
- Wales
- England

Jim Hendry said...

Wales up 1-0!

They are now removed from the "which is the worst nation" discussion. Just between Scotland and England now.

Jacob said...

England squad gripped by fear of failure, admits Terry

Scotland lead the race for now, but the Guardian would like England to fail to fulfill its article.

Kopper said...

If England lose or draw, people are going to lose a whole lot of money. It was around 1/33, but apparently bookies were saying a ton of money was still coming in for England.

Anonymous said...

*claps hands together*

Alright, the sun is shining, it's almost dry outside, we only saw rain and some light wind.... so I'm ready to watch England underwhelm!

Oh, two more hours?

Jim Hendry said...

And Keane sets up a goal for the Republic.

Rumours that Capello is resting a ton of players to save them for Croatia on Wednesday?

Who gives a toss... he should trot out the indentured, comfortable vets and let the young 'uns get some real competition

EbullientFatalist said...

Someone please liveblog N. Ireland-Slovakia?

Kopper said...

watching Georgia/Ireland. Ireland looking good... bodies flying around.

Jacob said...

Poland-Slovenia 1-1 77'
Georgia-Ireland 0-1 35'
Slovakia-Northern Ireland 1-0 50'

Jacob said...

@Andrew-Can't find it with my limited online options. Too much other stuff going on for a liveblog today, anyway.

Kopper said...

Slovakia 1- N Ireland 0

Jim Hendry said...

Skrtel scored for Slovakia! Where are all these goals for LFC?

Jim Hendry said...

ENGLAND TEAM FOR TONIGHT
----
James
-
Johnson
Lescott
Terry
A Cole
-
Walcott
Lampard
Barry
Downing
-
Rooney
Defoe

Jacob said...

You ever going to sign in as LB today?

Jim Hendry said...

eh, maybe. It fucks with my gmail, so we shall see. Plus it gives the illusion that we have one more visitor!

Jacob said...

Since it's up there

New Caledonia-New Zealand 1-3

NZ, the class of Oceania now that Australia is gone. How do these guys even get the 0.5 place for a World Cup?

Jim Hendry said...

Other exciting scores:

Albania 0, Sweden 0
Armenia 0, Turkey 1 (Tuncay 61)
Moldova 0, Latvia 2
Norway 0, Iceland 0
Ukraine 0, Belarus 0

Full-Time
Poland 1, Slovenia 1
Macedonia 1, Scotland 0
Slovakia 2, N. Ireland 1
Wales 1, Azerbaijan 0

BackBergtt said...

capello blaming things on club managers, this is fucking awesome.

Jim Hendry said...

England will win 3-1, but it won't be pretty.

I have to assume the USMNT has theirs wrapped up, right? No shocker there, surely...

Anonymous said...

On Setanta: "Rooney's been around for donkey's years!"

Unless I mishead that, I'm completely alien to that saying.

BackBergtt said...

COME ON ANDY MURRAY!

Jacob said...

lol on 40th minute 0-0

Jacob said...

Setanta must be so thrilled. The station that broadcasts UK sports to the world had to put up with Scotland and now England's performance.

What will Terry do in the tunnel this time? Asshole.

BackBergtt said...

never in a million years would i dream a team with defoe up front could struggle to score goals

michael owen has to be on this team if he is healthy

BackBergtt said...

halftime subs, as a liverpool fan i have no fucking idea what those are

Jacob said...

Joe Cole does something useful. Was that Walcott's pass? I'm not paying close enough attention.

Jacob said...

First shot on target as well. Sheesh.

Jim Hendry said...

Austria beating France 1-0...

other scores:
Belgium 0, Estonia 0
Cyprus 0, Italy 1
Hungary 0, Denmark 0
Israel 0, Switzerland 1
Liechtenstein 0, Germany 1
Luxembourg 0, Greece 2 (I think that's more goals than they scored when winning the Euros in '04)
Malta 0, Portugal 1
Montenegro 0, Bulgaria 1

Netherlands 1, Australia 0

BackBergtt said...

" Johnson has his shirt tugged by Pujol who then trips him just top ensure he concedes the free-kick. Johnson almost makes him pay the ultimate price - well, not THE ultimate price. He doesn't try to kill him"

lolz

Jim Hendry said...

France down 2-0!

Jim Hendry said...

Half-time in the France-Austria game.

Norway 2, Iceland 2 full-time. Norwich City target Iversen scored both Norwegian goals.

Jim Hendry said...

Holland 1, Australia 1 in the 2nd half... Kewell scored a PK right before half-time in an incident that saw the Dutch keeper sent off.

Anyone know what the heck happened, or will I have to wait until 101GreatGoals has footage?

Jim Hendry said...

Austria 3, France 1.... only 10 mins left. We need a suicide watch on NY Kid

The NY Kid said...

just kill me now. Gallas with an OG, Mexes gives away a PK, and Raymond takes off Nasri who was the only player who looked dangerous.

Jim Hendry said...

When will you guys learn? Should have fired him when you had the chance.

Let's focus on what's important here. England won. The rest is immaterial.

The NY Kid said...

I wanted to take up a collection for the $2 million buyout of his contract, but Houillier cock-blocked me

jjf3 said...

And Cuba comes out in the 5-4-1 to counter our 4-2-3-1 with Landycakes in the CAM role.

Jacob said...

USA looks typically out of sorts to start.

Canada up 1-0 early on Honduras.

Mexico wins 3-0.

jjf3 said...

you're right. Typical US start. Our lineup seems like a good one, but Ching as a Dynamo always seems to play better with someone fast to partner him - not sure if he's really a good lone target (though his "style" of game would seem to fit that role). Also, Cuba looks better as a whole than I had expected - granted, only 15 minutes in. And, hey, tickets for 4 cents - sounds good to me...

Kopper said...

I know its pouring, but doesn't it look like they haven't mowed the lawn or something? You can barely see the players boots. And the US team for set pieces are executing about as well as '07-'08 Norwich City.

jjf3 said...

kopper:
there was talk about this yesterday - they thought the grass was too long yesterday, but were told it "might" get mowed earlier today...I'm guessing they saw the rain coming and left it alone...

Jacob said...

The way this is going, the US had better hope for another blackout.

Kopper said...

I don't speak Spanish, but there's something soothing about watching this awful display with commentary I can't understand.

jjf3 said...

looks like the US is starting to settle in...and get a corner. Hopefully it won't be shit like every other one in this game so far...no such luck...

Jacob said...

I have JP Dellacamara and (I assume) John Harkes.

GOAL!

Kopper said...

Gooooooooool!

Jacob said...

Deuce! Shows that he can still find the net.

jjf3 said...

GOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!! Dempsey, playing off of Ching's pass...poaching, but nice anyways...

Kopper said...

What channel in English? My Fox Sports has MLS, and both ESPNs have College Football...

Jacob said...

JP and co. are meh, to finish my thought.

Jacob said...

ESPN Classic--the theorized-to-be-ESPN3.

Jacob said...

We do get Pedro Gomez at halftime, though, with a feature on the streets of Havana.

Considering what I've seen from sideline college football reporters today, it should be OK.

Kopper said...

You are correct!

Jacob said...

Nevermind. That blew.

Kopper said...

You are correct again! What was that? Was that the best they could come up about Havana?

jjf3 said...

rule of thumb re: ESPN - if it involves Pedro Gomez, go do chores. I did...

jjf3 said...

Man, Hejduk nearly fucked that up royally...followed by a yellow moments later...

Kopper said...

Beasley! Great recovery and misses the open net! I could have turned this off if that went in!

jjf3 said...

My G-d, Beasley wasted that!

Oh, and Grant Wahl at SI had the story on the US fans at least a day ago...

Jacob said...

Get this over with. And use some subs for chrissakes.

Thanks, Timmy. Nice save on Onyewu.

jjf3 said...

I'll put $100 down that the Cuban government has something to do with this "semi" blackout (unlike the one pre-match)...and, damn, if it didn't nearly work...nice job by Howard...

Jacob said...

Why does Edu look so disinterested in being out there tonight? Is he a hard-line Republican who doesn't want to spend energy on Cuban soil?

Jacob said...

By the way, 1-0 at Cuba>>>2-0 at Andorra, according to world rankings. I'll take solace however I can.

jjf3 said...

3 points is all that matters

Kopper said...

This US team doesn't look like it can win a game vs. a legit World Cup opponent. We're a squad that will rack up the draws, but I wasn't particularly impressed tonight. Given, conditions were horrible, but I just wasn't seeing all the great things about Ching they were blabbing about all night.

jjf3 said...

agree that edu was in and out, but i didn't think he was totally uninvolved. he had his moments, but this entire team has no idea of the concept of "killing" a lead - i don't blame him personally...

jjf3 said...

kopper: THIS team cannot. The team that SHOULD show up in 2010 for the WC should be capable of more...(and this is where we discover if Bradley should have a job in 3 months...)

jjf3 said...

kopper:
as a Dynamo fan, I like Brian Ching a lot. But if he's even in consideration for the final 2010 team, then he's either a) elevated his game amazingly, or b) has pictures of Bradley and sheep...

He is an MLS talent, no question, but he's already too old for 2010, and not on an upward trend...

Precious Roy said...

Woot. The Kiwis are thru... Sort of. They've got a home and home with I think the 5th place Asian qualifier, which they will probably not win.

But God it would be awesome if the Aussies finished 6th in Aisa and didn't even make the two game play off after leaving Oceania because they didn't have an automatic qualifying spot. Enjoy those matches in Tashket, Socceroos.

Oh, and enjoy life without Guus.