[The Phantom]

Originally Posted by Flash_Back
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 20 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

What I would really like to ask for anyone who knows is about Scotland, they are in a smaller group than anyone else in the European section yet if we finish second it doesn't confirm our playoff spot because its the top 8 losers. Even though we play 2 games less than the rest of the European qualifying so how does it work?

I believe they take away the results of the other 2nd placed teams against the lowest ranking teams in order to even it out.

e.g. In Wales' group, say Azerbaijan are bottom of the group, and Russia come second, Russias' results against Azerbaijian won't count in their points total when calculating the top 8 runners up. Hope that helps.

[Flash_Back]

Yeah thanks that kinda clearly it up
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 20 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
.

I think if he don't beat the Dutch (draw or loss), we need Slovakia to get a result over N.Ireland but I'm not sure.

[Tommy Platinum]

So how likely are Scotland to qualify? If they win tonight are they almost there or no?

[Goldberg]

Originally Posted by Tommy Platinum
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 20 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

So how likely are Scotland to qualify? If they win tonight are they almost there or no?

I Think So

[Crocker]

Originally Posted by Tommy Platinum
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 20 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

So how likely are Scotland to qualify? If they win tonight are they almost there or no?

A draw would have secured them second spot.

[Dmac]

Yeah but as I said in the shoutbox just now, Scotland lost and Norway won, securing their exit from the competition after qualification is over.

[Dmac]

Originally Posted by BBC Sport

World Cup Qualfying round-up: 9/9


To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 20 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


England booked their place at the 2010 World Cup with an outstanding performance in thrashing Croatia.

Frank Lampard scored from the spot after the lively Aaron Lennon had been fouled before Steven Gerrard added to England's lead with a far post header.

Lampard nodded in a Glen Johnson cross and Gerrard also got his second goal when he headed in a Wayne Rooney ball.

Eduardo slotted in to ruin England's copybook but Rooney steered in a fifth after keeper Vedran Runje's error.

Scotland's World Cup dream ended as a late Eljero Elia goal gave Group Nine winners Netherlands victory despite a brave effort from George Burley's side.

Dirk Kuyt struck the Scots' post early on, while Kenny Miller fired against the Dutch crossbar.

A Steven Naismith shot struck a Dutch post and Miller's effort on the rebound was saved by Michel Vorm.

But the Dutch made it eight wins out of eight when Elia pounced on David Weir's mistake to run clear and score.

Russia edged an action-packed World Cup qualifying encounter against a youthful Wales side at the Millennium Stadium.

Igor Semshov gave the visitors the lead in Cardiff late in the first half after being set free by Andrei Arshavin.

Wales were back on level terms thanks to James Collins as the defender turned in Aaron Ramsey's near-post corner.

But a low Sergei Ignashevich free-kick and Roman Pavlyuchenko's injury-time third, from a defensive blunder, ended Wales' last faint qualification hopes.

Northern Ireland's hopes of making the World Cup finals suffered a major blow as defeat by leaders Slovakia left them third in their qualifying group.

Stanislav Sestak tapped in the opener from a Vladimir Weiss cross before David Healy fired a free-kick wide.

The home side pressed after the break but Filip Holosko made it 2-0 on 67 minutes with a powerful strike.

Niall McGinn hit the crossbar while Slovakia's Erik Jendrisek was also denied by the woodwork in injury time.

England have never qualified with 2 games to spare, so this is a real stride forward.

[Mark~]

I've never seen us qualify so emphatically as we have done in this campaign. I know we say it every time, but this time, I believe it's true, we could win it. We've got a manager who gets the best out of his players, whether we're 4-0 down or 4-0 up, and keeps them going to the very end.

[Tommy Platinum]

What a difference a manager makes.

Yes Capello was fortunate to inherit such a fantastic squad of players (I actually think this England squad is noticably stronger than that of the 2006 World Cup despite all the claims that that was "our chance") but other managers have had great squads and failed miserably. Hell, even Sven, although at least qualifying for major tournaments, never looked nearly this impressive. With Capello, we don't just win, we win well, and you never fear embarassing losses to the smaller nations. 4-1 and 5-1 wins over Croatia, away and at Wembley respectively, tell their own story.

I think we have a great chance of winning the World Cup because it just feels like everything is falling into place at the right time. Players like Defoe, Johnson, Lennon are improving greatly and are in great form for their clubs. I actually think Lennon could be a huge player for us next summer, because he's maturing into an outstanding winger. Aside from that we have Rooney playing in his preferred position for United, Walcott getting better, and many of the greats from 2006 still in their prime, such as Lampard and Gerrard. This is a huge chance to win the World Cup, and as well as a great squad, we finally have a manager you feel is capable of lifting the trophy.

[The Phantom]

My summer of 2010 has now been ruined once again. I think I'll go on holiday to a far away land that has no television.