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World Cup 2018
- Thread starter 22nd Man
- Start date
MD Jazz said:
cant argue with that.
I cant wait to see Cahill at the next World Cup. He will still be Australia's greatest goal scorer, therefor will have to come on when we need a goal.
With 48 teams in next WC surely qualifying is a given for us? But the level of opposition we encounter in qualifying is no real preparation for finals. Japan perennial best team in Asia only one to get out if the group stage as is Mexico Central America no 1 team. The World game is Euro v South America at the business end.
And the great hope (and prediction from some) for the past 20 years has been that Africa’s best will begin to challenge the status quo. This is yet to come to fruition. Sure African nations produce many individual champion players. But haven’t got the ‘champion team’ mantra down pat yet. And it doesn’t look imminently like this is going to change anytime soon.22nd Man said:
Yes, the biggest increase in places (in percentage terms) comes from Asia and North-Central America, as well as Oceania having one guaranteed place. Hence why the European Confederation made no secret of their lack of appetite for the expansion idea. It means of course, there are going to be some pretty rubbish teams qualifying.Ian4 said:
Well the other problem (or some might see it as an opportunity) with the expanded format, is there are very few countries capable of hosting the tournament in their own right. Means it needs to be spread over 2, 3 or even 4 countries most of the time. At least with 2 divisions, you could then host each division in a different country.Baloo said:
Panthera Tigris said:
Personally I hate the idea of a 48 team world cup and believe its only being brought in due to extra $'s. The World Cup is supposed to be for the best of the best to compete hence qualifying being used to ensure only the best qualifying teams over the 2 years qualification period get to play. Having 8 teams from Asia and 1 from Oceania makes a mockery of the competition IMO. The same goes from adding teams from North / Central America.
Take North / Central America - I have no problem with the likes of Mexico / USA etc qualifying most years, they have proven they can compete. Costa Rica / Panama not so, add in countries like Honduras, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and even worse Canada and some of the smaller Caribbean islands and geez you are bringing some real tripe to the World Cup.
Similar within Asia and Oceania really. I mean people build up to the world cup for 4 years, do tv stations really think they will get big audiences for games such as New Zealand against Canada?
Whilst I tipped Spain before the tournament I'm glad they went out. Far too defensive and they played with very little endeavour or drive to create anything, very much a shell of the team they've been in the past. They seem to be a team completely devoid of a striker. So different to the world cup in 2010 when David Villa was at his brilliant best.
