2018 World Cup Qualifying: Day 2

Today were the second legs of several home-and-away playoffs between the very lowest ranked teams in the Asian Confederation. The big news is that Bhutan, ranked lowest at 209th according to FIFA, defeated Sri Lanka to advance to Round 2.

India, Timor-Leste, Chinese Taipei, and Cambodia also advanced thus making Mongolia, Nepal, Macau, Brunei, and Sri Lanka the first teams officially eliminated from Russia 2018.

The second leg of the Yemen-Pakistan matchup has been postponed, to be played in a neutral location, following violence in Lahore where the match was to be played today. The first leg was also played in neutral territory due to security concerns in Yemen, who currently lead 3-1.

The six winners will be drawn into 8 groups of 5 teams each for home-and-away group play starting on 11 June.

Next up: CONCACAF begins first round play on 22 March with Barbados at home against U.S. Virgin Islands.

Qualifying for World Cup 2018 Started Today

Over in Asia, the 12 lowest ranked teams (according to the FIFA world rankings) played the first tie in a home-and-away playoff. The second legs will be played on the 17th, thus eliminating the first six teams from WC 2018.

The 12 matchups are:

India - Nepal

Yemen - Pakistan

Timor-Leste - Mongolia

Cambodia - Macau

Chinese Taipei - Brunei

Sri Lanka - Bhutan

Bhutan is the lowest-ranked team in the world at 209 and they defeated Sri Lanka away 1-0 in front of 3,500 stunned fans. 21-year old Tshering Dorji scored in the 84th minute to give his nation their first ever World Cup qualification win.

Macau and Mongolia will have challenging three-goal deficits to overcome in their second legs. The other teams are all still very much alive.

CONCACAF qualifying will begin on 23 March.

Japan Qualifies

I missed it the other day, but Japan became the first team apart from host nation Brazil to qualify for next year's World Cup. That leaves 113 nations vying for 30 spots.

Both Uzbekistan and South Korea (playing each other) can qualify with a win on the 11th.

MLS's Charlie Davies Takes Advantage of Stupid American Law

This story is an interesting bit of serendipity because it was just yesterday that I attended a course for my job that is designed to educate and inform workers in the hospitality industry who are responsible for serving alcohol.

In the course we learn about Dram Shop Laws. This is the law that allows a third party to bring a civil suit against an establishment for serving alcohol to a person who caused injury to said person. If I am hit by a drunk driver, I can sue the restaurant, bar, or party host that served him, regardless of whether I was at the same establishment or venue.

What this does is put the onus on servers, bartenders, and proprietors to responsibly serve alcohol. It does NOT put much responsibility on the person drinking.

This is one of the most absurd aspects of United States laws related to alcohol consumption and points to a larger problem we have in this country - namely, that when someone is injured or does something wrong, the blame is rarely placed on the person himself, but rather on some other individual or company (usually the one with the deepest pockets).

That is what seems to be happening with Charlie Davies. Davies was a hot young soccer prospect two years ago. He was making waves with the US National Team and was poised to be picked for the World Cup squad when a fatal accident the night before the final US qualifying match changed his life. Davies was severely injured and didn't return to soccer for nearly a year. At this point he's playing in MLS, but not at quite the same level he was before the accident.

He was hit by a drunk driver. According to the article linked above, he is suing the restaurant that served the drunk driver as well as Red Bull, the company that hosted the party where the woman drank to the point of intoxication.

It's a difficult balance to strike because I think there is a point at which a person serving an intoxicated customer is pushing things too far and intoxicated people (the ones who've had 12 drinks on the night, not 5 or 6) are incapable of making rational decisions. But I resent that in my job I can be held both criminally and civilly responsible for what one of my guests does when he leaves the restaurant. It puts me in the position of having to be the world's police. You know what? I'm just a waiter.

A Bit More CONCACAF Action

The US Virgin Islands defeated the British Virgin Islands 2-0 in the first leg of their matchup.

8 Down, 164 To Go

That is, 164 more nations will be eliminated in qualifying rounds before the start of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

In addition to East Timor eliminated yesterday, today saw a few interesting second leg match-ups out of the Asian Confederation.

Chinese Taipei almost pulled out an upset over Malaysia, winning the second match 3-2 for a 4-4 aggregate score, but Malaysia won on away goals. They face Singapore later in the month.

Bangladesh knocked out Pakistan and will play Jordan in the second round.

After winning the first leg 4-2, Cambodia looked poised to advance. But Laos opened with two goals in the first half hour, which was all they needed to advance. But then Cambodia answered just before the interval. Then Laos opened the second half with an immediate goal to put them back on top 3-1, then scored an insurance goal less than ten minutes later. But when Cambodia got one back in the 75th minute that put the two teams dead even in aggregate. In extra time Laos tallied another 2 goals to give themselves a 6-2 home leg victory for an 8-6 aggregate win and a trip to China on 23 July.

Sri Lanka were eliminated by the Philippines, who will face Kuwait now.

Afghanistan managed a 1-1 draw against Palestine today, but that wasn't enough to overcome the 2-0 deficit of the first leg. Palestine will face Thailand next.

Vietnam trounced all over Macau again, this time 7-1. They will play Qatar.

Finally, it looked like Myanmar and Mongolia were headed to extra time when Myanmar added one more in the 85th minute to earn a date with Oman in round two.

The Road to Brazil 2014...

...is going to be nearly impossible for Turks and Caicos after their 0-4 loss at home to Bahamas yesterday. 2nd leg to be played on Saturday. Exciting!

Lots of First Round Asian matches today.

East Timor First Team Eliminated from 2014 World Cup

The second leg of the Nepal - Timor-Leste matchup was held today. Nepal won 5-0 making the aggregate 7-1.

Nepal advance to the second round of Asian qualifying where they will face Jordan later this month.

More first round Asian action tomorrow.

The Road to Brazil 2014

World Cup qualification continued in the Asian zone yesterday with the first leg of several home-and-away playoffs taking place between a whole bunch of nations that have virtually no chance of making the finals.

Most of the matches were fairly close with Malaysia and Nepal earning 2-1 victories over Chinese Taipei and Timor-Leste, respectively.

Palestine defeated Afghanistan 2-0 away, giving them an excellent chance to advance to the second round.

The Philippines only managed a 1-1 draw against Sri Lanka, who struck first in the 43rd minute. The equalizer was scored by American Nate Burkey early in the second half.

Vietnam exacted a punishing 6-0 victory over lowly Macau.

Pakistan lost 0-3 to Bangladesh and Cambodia won 4-2 over Laos.

Finally, Mongolia edged Myanmar 1-0.

The second legs will be played on 2 and 3 July with the aggregate winners advancing to play a bunch of other Asian teams that will not make it to the World Cup in 2014.

Belize Status Up in the Air

So after I posted about the big barnstormer Belize vs. Montserrat, I waited with anticipation the follow-up leg. But the Belize National Team has been suspended for governmental interference. The second leg was postponed. No determination has yet been made as to whether the match will be rescheduled. If it is, it must be played before 10 July.

We wait.

Life Is What I Do Between World Cups

Another month-long World Cup tournament is finished and I have to return to a normal schedule that doesn't involve waiting for the next match to start or thinking about who's going to win or worrying if the USA is going to lose to Ghana.

Thankfully at the start of September qualifying begins for the 2012 European Championship. But I'll have to wait nearly 2 years before the USA plays anything related to Brazil 2014.

Time to start saving money for a holiday in Brazil in 4 years.

Some Exciting Soccer Today

Let's forget my knockout round predictions which have been blown to hell by both Brazil and Argentina having spectacular flameouts. Also, I had picked Spain to win the World Cup, but after seeing Germany dismantle Australia, England and now Argentina and seeing the struggles of Spain to defeat Paraguay, I can't say I'm hopeful for La Roja to take down Germany on Wednesday. In the rematch of the Euro 2008 final, I'd say Germany has the upper hand.

First there was Germany tearing apart Argentina. Germany got that early goal and then nothing much happened through the rest of the first half. But in the second half, with Maradona's boys all out of ideas for how to crack through the German midfield and their defense falling to pieces, Miroslav Klose struck twice and Friedrich once to give Germany a smashing 4-0 victory. That's the third match in this tournament in which Germany has scored 4 goals, a feat not accomplished in the World Cup since 1970 when Brazil defeated Czechoslovakia 4-1, Peru 4-2 and Italy 4-1.

If You're Jewish, Who Do You Root For?

The obvious choice was the USA with 3 members of the tribe (Jonathan Bornstein, Benny Feilhaber, Jonathan Spector) on the squad, but now that we've lost out to Ghana where can you turn?

Tablet Magazine has a quick rundown for you. Hint: It isn't Germany (my second favorite in this WC after my birth country), nor is it "The Inquisition (Let's Begin) / The Inquisition (Look out sin) / We've got a mission / To convert the Jews (Jew Jew Jew Jew Jew Jew Jewwwwwws)" Spain (my home country).

Sucks to Go Out on Penalties

Poor, poor Japan.

But Paraguay are through to the quarterfinals. The only loss suffered by a South American side in this World Cup was Chile at the hands of Brazil.

I'm sticking with my prediction of a Brazil-Spain final, but I think Argentina will be a tough opponent for Spain. But first they've got to get through Portugal tonight.

American Acceptance of Soccer

While every four years soccer fans have to endure the kind of childish, unnecessary bullshit of not only soccer-haters, but media companies that actually give a voice to opinions like those of Rick Reilly, writer of the biggest mass of steaming shit ever to disgrace the pages of ESPN's website, we also have to put up with question of whether soccer will "catch on" or "be accepted" by the American public.

When we're not defending the game against absurd conservatives who view soccer as somehow a liberal, socialist threat to American superiority, we're just trying to enjoy it for ourselves. I don't understand why sports writers who love baseball, basketball and football feel like they have to take time out to rail against soccer. If you don't like it, just ignore it, Mr. Reilly. Just as I generally try to ignore the Super Bowl and the World Series (unless the Yankees or the Mets are in it).

Anyway, The New Republic's World Cup blog had a good post today by Aleksandar Hemon on American acceptance of The Beautiful Game. Here's the best bit:

[W]hat exactly would count as acceptance? Should the MLS be like the NFL and end with a tacky superspectacle, with moribund rock acts performing at half-time, while U.S. Air Force flies over their heads, the field is covered with the flag and Budweiser premiers commercials in which, say, a horse farts into a woman's face? Should the game be reshaped so as to allow commercials to be broadcast during each throw in? Should soccer competitions be redesigned so that teams/clubs play 162 games before the first relevant one, rendering most of them entirely, fantastically meaningless as in baseball? Should the offside rule be changed so that soccer games have basketball scores and the American viewer of the thumb-happy remote does not switch the channel too soon? Would it be necessary for the U.S. team to attain the world superiority of the U.S. basketball team, so that Americans can crush, say, Ghana (oh wait!).... Would the U.S. team, every time they played, have to make the world look small and underdeveloped and undemocratic and pitiful if not exposed to the eternal sunlight of American greatness?

USA 2014 World Cup Squad: Never too early to start dreaming

With the USA ousted from the World Cup by Ghana for the second straight cycle, it's time we start making that long slow march toward the next big thing for US Soccer.

Unfortunately for the CONCACAF teams there's not a whole lot to look forward to after a World Cup. Sure, we'll have the Gold Cup next year and the winner of that biannual tournament will then compete in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup (the tournament where, last year, the USA famously defeated the indomitable and mighty Spain to reach the final against Brazil). Apart from our regional championship, we'll have nothing but friendlies to watch until our next WC qualifying cycle begins probably sometime in Spring 2012.

New Knockout Stage Preditcions

I will revise this after I'm sure to get something wrong in the Round of 16, but for now:

Uruguay over South Korea
USA over Ghana
Germany over England (difficult, but England hasn't shown anything that can defeat this German team)
Argentina over Mexico
Netherlands over Slovakia
Brazil over Chile
Paraguay over Japan (a difficult pick)
Spain over Portugal

Quarterfinals:
Uruguay over USA
Brazil over Netherlands
Spain over Paraguay
Argentina over Germany (before seeing Argentina perform I would have picked Germany. If both teams actually make it to this match up it could be the game of the tournament)

Semifinals:
Brazil over Uruguay
Spain over Argentina (another great match up but I have faith in Spain and I'm sticking with my prediction for Spain to go all the way)

Third Place:
Argentina over Uruguay

Final:
Spain over Brazil (we'll see)

Looking back at my Groups G and H Predictions

So in Group G Brazil and Portugal went through just as I had predicted. Unfortunately, my standing in my Yahoo sports group suffered because I picked Brazil to defeat Portugal today and after a very physical, yellow-card-studded first half, the two teams came out to have a damn kickabout for the entirety of the second half.

How Did I Do with Groups E and F?

Four years ago I was working an English Summer Camp in Portsmouth during the tail end of the World Cup. We had a large group of Italian students with us and we all watched the France-Italy final together. Look how happy they were as Italy won. Yesterday I couldn't help thinking about how those kids felt to see their precious Champions fizzle out of the first round of the World Cup.

Looking back at my Group C and D predictions

Well, I didn't quite get Group C right. I had England and USA advancing in first and second places, respectively. The actual result is reversed, which is perfectly fine for me because it means we don't play Germany in the Round of 16. If we defeat Ghana, then it's likely on to Uruguay, who I don't really think we'll defeat, but you never know. Why couldn't Mexico have won that group? I know we can beat them.

I was way off the mark with England getting 9 points from the group. I can't believe they've only scored 2 goals. The US has scored 6, but two of them were insanely called back for non-calls.

In Group D I had Germany in first place with 7 points. I wasn't far off with their 6. I didn't anticipate the loss to Serbia. Who could? But I had Serbia going ahead in second place. Oh they were so close to drawing level with Australia toward the end of the match today, which would have put them through. Instead it will be Ghana, who I had finishing bottom of the group.

So England will have to face Germany on Sunday while the US takes on Ghana (in a rematch of the 2006 World Cup match that put my boys out of the tournament). If we can defeat Ghana then we'll face the winner of Uruguay-South Korea.