The official WC 2022 qualifying thread....

[YayNJ]

I'm Sorry. USA will score more nets and win it all.

[gomiamigo]

Originally Posted by fadster

Reasonably good draw for England with USA and Iran in the group, could have been much worse looking at the alternatives for the 2 and 3 spot, the big problem in the fourth team.

I think you meant the 1 and 3 spot but we understood what you meant. Yeah, being in with France/Brazil instead of England would have been much worse.

Peru, Wales, Ukraine, Canada [if they can handle the pressure] -- I mean none of these teams is going to be a typical 'weak' pot 4 team.

Of course teams like Wales, england, Ukraine, Canada, Holland, et al might really really suffer in the Qatari heat. At least many of the US players grew up/played in hot weather climes like Florida, Texas, Spain, Cali, et al. And certainly the USMNT does its share of training in hot weather every year and will do a lot more this summer.

Their youth could end up being a big advantage for them, relatively speaking.

[YayNJ]

Germany won in Brazil and Holland came third. It's not likely to be that different with the air conditioned stadiums in the evening during winter in Qatar. I think games are kicking off at 4pm 7pm and 10pm GMT. Not sure that the heat is going to play as big a part of the WC as some think.

[k13]

Odds are really low in some of these group stage games.

England -250 vs Iran
Equador +125 vs Qatar
Netherlands -150 vs Senagal
Croatia -110 vs Moracco
Brazil -200 vs Serbia
Portugal -175 vs Ghana
Poland favored over Mexico...Mexico +180...

[k13]

To win Groups

England -300
Netherlands -250
Argentina -250
France -250
Brazil -225

Seems too easy and low

[YayNJ]

I'm going to go for a Brazil vs. England final.

[k13]

Originally Posted by pregra

And Argentina are #@#@#@#@ (according to you at least). Which in turn mean your boy Lewa should be feasting in the group stages. Which he probably won't anyway, seing as he is meh when not getting fed with tapins.

Last 12 World Cup only two players have scored more than 6 goals so no one is feasting on anything.

There's no tap ins playing for Poland. They are terrible.

[fadster]

Originally Posted by gomiamigo

I think you meant the 1 and 3 spot but we understood what you meant. Yeah, being in with France/Brazil instead of England would have been much worse.

Peru, Wales, Ukraine, Canada [if they can handle the pressure] -- I mean none of these teams is going to be a typical 'weak' pot 4 team.

Of course teams like Wales, england, Ukraine, Canada, Holland, et al might really really suffer in the Qatari heat. At least many of the US players grew up/played in hot weather climes like Florida, Texas, Spain, Cali, et al. And certainly the USMNT does its share of training in hot weather every year and will do a lot more this summer.

Their youth could end up being a big advantage for them, relatively speaking.

As an England fan I did mean 2 & 3 seed spots
I would much rather have the US than experienced battle hardened teams like Germany, Netherland, Denmark, Uruguay, Croatia. It's no disrespect to the US they just happen to be one of the weakest teams in the pot, their ranking is a tad inflated by the opposition they regularly play.

[Giroux]

Sorry lads it won't be coming home this year

[mikee1186]

That group B really is tough. If the group of death is based on FIFA ranking, and Wales (18) gets in, you've also got Iran (21), USA (15), England (5). So all 4 in the top 21.

Also look at how Iran did in the last WC. Far from pushovers.

[k13]

Originally Posted by mikee1186

That group B really is tough. If the group of death is based on FIFA ranking, and Wales (18) gets in, you've also got Iran (21), USA (15), England (5). So all 4 in the top 21.

Also look at how Iran did in the last WC. Far from pushovers.

All teams that have never done anything worthwhile at World Cups.
Rankings mean crap.

Mexico is 9th and underdog to a 26th ranked team.

There's no group of death this year.

[k13]

England has 4 wins 6 losses at the last 3 World Cups.
Hardly a super power.

Have not beat a good team in 20 years.

[Mitch]

The only negative for England in drawing USA is that its given them their WC final. If Wales or Scotland qualify that's another game we should be winning but the rivalry makes it more than that, particularly if it's Wales with a genuine x-factor in Bale. Bright note is that Pulsiic and Reyna are bound to be injured anyway.

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[YayNJ]

Originally Posted by mikee1186

That group B really is tough. If the group of death is based on FIFA ranking, and Wales (18) gets in, you've also got Iran (21), USA (15), England (5). So all 4 in the top 21.

Also look at how Iran did in the last WC. Far from pushovers.

FIFA Rankings are almost pointless.

If you truly think the United States are the 15th best team in the world, and even Iran are the 21st, then more power to you I guess

[fadster]

Odds yesterday on the left, just now on the right. Brazil, England, Netherlands come in a bit whilst Spain, Germany, Portugal have gone out a bit.



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[mfw13]

Originally Posted by k13

Odds are really low in some of these group stage games.

England -250 vs Iran
Equador +125 vs Qatar
Netherlands -150 vs Senagal
Croatia -110 vs Moracco
Brazil -200 vs Serbia
Portugal -175 vs Ghana
Poland favored over Mexico...Mexico +180...

You have to remember that betting odds are designed to attract equal amounts of money to both sides of a bet....they're NOT measurements of relative team strength.

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by fadster

Odds yesterday on the left, just now on the right. Brazil, England, Netherlands come in a bit whilst Spain, Germany, Portugal have gone out a bit.



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Futures bets are going to be VERY dangerous this year due to the impact of injuries and the fact that there's only a one week gap between the end of club play and the opening match.

There are quite a few teams that could see their World Cup campaign derailed before it even gets off the ground should their key player get hurt during September/October/November.

Everyone remembers what happened to France in 2002 when Zidane got hurt ten days before the World Cup started.

Now imagine if Lewandowski, Modric, Son, Mitrovic, Hakimi, Messi, or Bale get hurt during the fall.....

[k13]

Originally Posted by mfw13

You have to remember that betting odds are designed to attract equal amounts of money to both sides of a bet....they're NOT measurements of relative team strength.

You'll never get equal amount of money with those odds.
That's just a myth. Books take positions and hardly ever get equal money on each side.

[k13]

Could have juicy match ups in the first knock out round already.

[Eckstein197]

Very unfortunate to draw the last European qualifier. By far the best team in pot 4 (well Wales and Ukraine, Scotland still a good pot 4 team but not as good as Senegal)

Wales is a dangerous team, I’m really hoping they lose. But honestly I’d be more petrified of having to face Ukraine. If Ukraine is able to play/the war ends in time, the emotions would be insanely high. Best case for usa is Scotland goes crazy and pulls off both upsets

Usa should hopefully be fully healthy, it is crazy how much younger usa truly is versus other WC teams. I saw a Twitter thread that broke down the average age of every team in the tournament and USA’s average age is something like 24.3, which is nearly 3 years younger than every other team in the tournament

[Eckstein197]

Finally got a chance to fully look through everything and here are my initial thoughts

Group A:
Was obviously going to be the weakest group with Qatar in pot A.
Netherlands should sweep fairly easily. Senegal going to come in second, Qatar and Ecuador draw to tie for third. Qatar struggles as expected against high level competition

Group B:
In my opinion probably the toughest group due to the sheer fact of they don’t get a traditional pot 4 team, they’re getting more of a fringe Pot 2/for sure pot 3 team with whoever advances from the European trio
Interesting group for the USA. England is obviously extremely talented but the rivalry and emotions of this certainly gives the usa a quality chance. Iran is fine, nothing too interesting there. Awaiting the final European qualifier should add a ton of storylines to this group. Ukraine obviously as everyone knows. And then either Wales or Scotland provides a ton of intrigue with England. By far the best narrative group by far. I think usa pulls off the upset, wins the group with Wales shocking England to knock them out and finish second. Probably won’t happen but let’s get chaotic.
Also sneaky good advantage for whoever wins this group as whoever finishes second in group A will likely be the worst knockout team in the tourney

Group C:
Argentina with a cakewalk it feels like. Mexico isn’t the usual dangerous team as they’ve aged and didn’t look as sharp as usual in qualifying. Poland is their usual hyped up self but I wouldn’t consider them dangerous/go on a deep run caliber. Saudi Arabia by far finishes with 0 points. Argentina cruises and Poland takes second as they take out Mexico

Group D:
Super fun group, enjoy watching Denmark for sure. Reigning WC champs looking to defend their title. I believe IC playoff 1 is Peru or Aus/UAE which I think Peru will win. Tunisia comes in last as they don’t have the firepower to keep up with anyone. France wins the group, Denmark finishes in second

Group E:
Spain vs Germany is incredible. Probably the best group play game by far, and both of these teams will absolutely move on. IC playoff number 2 is I believe New Zealand versus Costa Rica, but I mean let’s be real, whoever wins that is just gonna get fed to the sharks here. Japan could perhaps steal a draw versus perhaps Spain if Spain struggles to score but I would doubt it.
I think Spain and Germany end up drawing and Germany wins the group based on goal differential

Group F:
This might be my favorite non USA group to watch. These matchups look super fun. Belgium is obviously known, talented but aging. Croatia can make deep runs in big tourneys out of nowhere. Canada is drastically improving and is a serious threat to make the knockout stage. And I don’t know much about Morocco but I know they bid for the 2026 WC so they’ve gotta be happy with their current soccer development to try for the bid I think? I think Belgium stays the course, wins the group but Canada knocks out Croatia to make the knockout stage for the first time in Canadian history

Group G:
If USA’s group isn’t considered the toughest group, it’s probably this one. Brazil is Brazil, a powerhouse. Especially with Vini seemingly breaking out. Switzerland is calm, cool, collected and always performs well as the sum of their parts are worth more than the individual pieces. Cameroon usually isn’t a slouch in group play. And Serbia proved they can compete against the big dogs winning the group over Portugal
Brazil wins this group; Swiss in second

Group H:
This group would have been awesome in like 2010-2014. Portugal should cruise, as Uruguay and Ghana have certainly aged out of their best teams it seems like. South Korea is interesting, I really like Hwang Hee-Chan from wolves. If he can bring some legit striking capabilities to South Korea, they could pull off an upset or 2.
I’ll say Portugal wins the group, Uruguay in second, South Korea third and loses on GD to Uruguay for second

[YayNJ]

Just noticed that the USA has called up approaching 100 different players in the National Team in the past 12 months

[Gin&Juice]

US-England is a very intriguing match. No matter how much US wants to play on the front foot, they are still better as a counterattacking team. Costa Rica game is a perfect example of how they still haven’t figured out how to convert opportunitiesf into goals. Against England they will play to their strength with Adams, McKennie and Acosta serving as disruptors in the middle and Robinson/Zimmerman (or whoever) bracketing Kane. Given Southgate’s pension for playing conservatively, it will be interesting to see how England tries to break down the US.

[YayNJ]

England scored more goals than any other team in their qualifiers.

26 more than Italy, 24 more than Spain, 22 more than Portugal, 21 more than France, 14 more than Belgium, 7 more than Germany and 6 more than Holland.

But yeah, conservative England, lads.

[Gin&Juice]

Come on— they scored 33 goals against San Marino, Albania and Andorra.

The combined population of those three countries is roughly the same as the city of Chicago.