World Cup Play-Offs (European)/International Friendlies Friday and Tuesday Thread

[Duty281]

European Play-Offs First Leg:

Iceland v Croatia (19:00)
Greece v Romania (19:45)
Portugal v Sweden (19:45)
Ukraine v France (19:45)

International Friendlies:

England v Chile (20:00)
Ireland v Latvia (19:45)
Scotland v USA (20:05)
Turkey v Northern Ireland (19:00)

Obviously the stand-out tie for the play-offs tonight is Portugal v Sweden, or Zlatan v Ronaldo if you prefer. That tie looks to be the most balanced of the four, with just one spot in the World Cup Finals up for grabs. Ukraine will remain hopeful of catching France off their guard, but France will start as strong favourites. Greece should seal their place over a potentially dangerous Romanian side. Lastly, Iceland will be aiming to spring one of the biggest surprises in World Football - by defeating Croatia. I imagine that, should Iceland get there, they will be the smallest nation to ever make the World Cup.

On the friendlies side, Ireland (under new management), Scotland, and Northern Ireland will start their building process to next autumn's Euro 2016 qualifiers.

For England, this is the first of five friendlies in preparation for the 2014 World Cup. Chile will provide a test, one that England should overcome, against an injury-hit and virus-hit home team. During qualification, Chile averaged the most possession amongst the South American teams - surpassing the likes of Argentina, Colombia and Uruguay - and an average of 3.4 goals per game were scored in matches involving Chile. High tempo, high pressure - that's the Chile way. England are suffering with the absences of Gerrard, Wilshere, Lambert and Walker. Nevertheless, I expect England to triumph 2-0.

Expected England team (the Times): Ruddy, Johnson, Jones, Smalling, Cole, Lampard (C), Cleverley, Milner, Lallana, Rodriguez, and Rooney.

[Guest]

Vidal missing for Chile? Disappointing, if true. I wouldn't say England are suffering with the absences of Lambert & Walker, both wouldn't get anywhere near my England squads. Be interesting to see what happens, still think the game is meaningless & even if someone impresses, Roy will still resort back to his favoured line-up.

Hoping France can do the business, something England couldn't do against Ukraine. I'd expect a draw in the Portugal/Sweden game - tight tie written all over it.

[mystiroakey]

Cheers for posting this up duty.

[Duty281]

Actual England team for tonight:

Forster, Johnson, Milner, Cahill, Baines, Jones, Wilshere, Lampard, Lallana, Rooney, and Rodriguez.

Surprised Wilshere's fit to start. Don't what shape England are playing - Milner is wearing 4 and Jones 6.

[mystiroakey]

That is a sexy team!

[Duty281]

Lallana wearing 9 as well.

Is it 4-3-3 with Milner in the middle? Defence or midfield? Surely the latter. How confusing - I think Wilshere's wearing 7. Does that mean he's on the wing, like at Arsenal?

[Nachos Jones]

I really hope that Sweden win through. I have no idea why I have such a dislike of the Portugal team but I do.

[mystiroakey]

Going to have to watch both games at the same time..

[mystiroakey]

Portugal v Sweden is kicking off allready,

1 good chance for each and we are only 5 mins in

[Guest]

That man has just scored for Portugal late on.

[Guest]

France is a real mess. 2-0 down.

[mystiroakey]

very frustrating friendly this- BUt good signs from Rooney and lanala linking up

[mystiroakey]

Yep not really surprised about Ukraine beating France.. There were pretty decent in our group

[Guest]

Do away goals count in these play-offs?

[mystiroakey]

Not sure, but either way if Ukraine score in France I think its game over

[Fernando]

Do away goals count in these play-offs?

Unless it's changed since 2010 then yes, Slovenia beat Russia on away goals  

[mystiroakey]

well done chile-

that defense was pretty weak though

[Guest]

Misery complete. Thoroughly deserved really. Technically on another level to England. Like about 20 other teams.

[Champagne_Socialist]

Sweden are favourites to qualify after today. Only lost 1-0 away so I am sure they can turn that around in Sweden.

Greece should qualify against Romania.

Everyone is insulting ENgland for only drawing away to Ukraine but they showed tonight what a great team they are beating France 2-0. England's draw in Ukraine seems like a great result now.

[Steffan]

Where is Duty when you need him to put some positive spin on the England v Chile game

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Just back from work. Where's Big John?

[Guest]

Give him time Steffan.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

And before we get too worked up about England losing to Chile it really isn't a shock at all. They're ranked 12th in the world for a reason

[Guest]

Sweden are favourites to qualify after today. Only lost 1-0 away so I am sure they can turn that around in Sweden.

I'd fancy Portugal to see the job through now. Can see them scoring in Sweden.

It's gonna be a cracking return leg nevertheless.

[mystiroakey]

Freek- not sure I would say on another level.

I would say they are better on the ball, however they capitalised on us going at them.

AT least we played in a decent vein.

Yes they are more assured on the ball. But i would say we are actually closing that gap.

We do look more assured on the ball than years gone by

[mystiroakey]

And before we get too worked up about England losing to Chile it really isn't a shock at all. They're ranked 12th in the world for a reason

Not getting worked up over it ..

BUt what is the reason England are ranked 10th?

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Last time I checked we were like 19th I thought mysti?

Anyways they're pointless friendlies, or at least that's what people said after the Spain and brazil games

[mystiroakey]

nah 10th now- we will probably switch with them after this result though

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Not sure you'd say Sweden are favourites, as such.

Danny Dyer game tonight, weakened all over and Sanchez is class.

[Guest]

For England, this is the first of five friendlies in preparation for the 2014 World Cup. Chile will provide a test, one that England should overcome

How'd that work out?

No, in all seriousness, your probably expecting a negative post from me but it's not going to be really. This was a cohesive unit from Chile who knew each others game inside out from their qualifiers & what their individual roles were. England were a patched up mess in all honesty. Technically we were completely outplayed but that was expected. Sanchez proving now how good a player he is at club international level. As for England, many of the big hitters should come back for Germany - can't come soon enough. Lampard was dire, Southampton boys out of their depth really. Baines proving he's no match for Cole defensively come Brazil & even Cahill once again proving he can't be trusted really to go through a game without making mistakes.

End of the day, I'd rather lose 2-0 against Chile in a friendly than be 2-0 down in a playoff for the WC. France  

[Duty281]

England tonight: As urgent as an A&E department, and as flat as Kate Middleton's chest whilst only being half as interesting.

Easily the worst performance of Roy Hodgson's England tenure. No urgency, half-hearted pressing, passing without conviction, and defensively a shambles. Centre of midfield was woeful. Milner was Championship standard. Wilshere wasn't fit. Cleverley and Henderson watched the game pass us by. The two Saints debutants, Lallana and Rodriguez, were both anonymous for large quantities of the game. Only Rooney can come out with any credit.

Chile were average, I thought. Kept the ball well in their own half, and then lumped it forward hoping for England to make a mistake. England obliged. Twice. Baines and Jones at fault for the first, Cahill provided the mistake for the second. Defensively, Chile weren't much either, and England should have taken advantage.

Chile were pretty disgraceful in terms of spirit as well. Lost count of the amount of elbows, dives, surrounding the referee, headbutts, shirt-pulling, and even a couple of stamps, that the Chile team engaged in. They got a horribly weak and inconsistent referee on side, and that destroyed any flow to the game. A shame that teams like that, on the evidence of tonight, will be going to the World Cup.

Anyway, take the positives. Meaningless friendly, far from a first XI, one eye on Germany, middle of the season etc.

Forget about it and move on. That's what England did with Sweden.

[Guest]

England tonight: As urgent as an A&E department, and as flat as Kate Middleton's chest whilst only being half as interesting.

Are you on the turn Duty?  

[Duty281]

Ah...France not going to the World Cup.

I wish we played nice passing football like them. Oops!

[Guest]

Not sure you'd say Sweden are favourites, as such.

With the bookmakers they won't be.

[mystiroakey]

"Southampton boys out of their depth really."

I thought Lalana showed a lot of promise tonight! He was all over the pitch and threatened

[mystiroakey]

" Baines proving he's no match for Cole defensively"

TRUE

I really want to see baines and cole playing on the left against the big boys

[mystiroakey]

Not sure you'd say Sweden are favourites, as such.

With the bookmakers they won't be.

yep better to be 1-0 up

if there is away goals, the clean sheet is also worth half a goal

[Guest]

I thought I summed it up pretty nicely mysti on England

As for France was it Giroud up front?

[Guest]

I thought I summed it up pretty nicely mysti on England

As for France was it Giroud up front?

You know it was!

[Guest]

haha! Shocker with Cabaye on the bench not used! Deserve what they get I say

[Dr Gregory House MD]

Scotland News

GMS got on the pitch!!!                      

4 minutes of pure unadulterated flair

[mystiroakey]

I thought I summed it up pretty nicely mysti on England

As for France was it Giroud up front?

yep you did, just thought Lalana was decent.

Giroud yeah shocker!!

But its ukraine away- Tough game..

[Champagne_Socialist]

Giroud was the best player for France, he hit the bar twice and had a header cleared off the line.

I still think France will qualify, I can see them pulling it off in Paris.

[Duty281]

England tonight: As urgent as an A&E department, and as flat as Kate Middleton's chest whilst only being half as interesting.

Are you on the turn Duty?  

We won't learn much from this. Half of the England first XI missing, in a low-intensity friendly.

I know what England can do. They did it last month. They can do it next summer as well for 7 games.

Chile celebrated tonight like they won the World Cup. Tells you all you need to know: They're the little foreign nation, and we're England. England, the land that looks down on all the others, master of all that the eye can see, and inventors of football. Let not England forget her precedence of teaching other nations how to live - for that is her rightful place in the world.

No surrender. Ever.

On a side note, watch as a much-improved England beat Germany on Tuesday, and the claim of "meaningless friendly" returns by the media.

[Guest]

Giroud was the best player for France, he hit the bar twice and had a header cleared off the line.

I still think France will qualify, I can see them pulling it off in Paris.

You could argue that those misses are poor finishing though. Giroud is not your one chance & goal man is he? I'll take your word on it though, if he did play well. Serious situation their in now.

- -- - - - -BENZEMA- - - -- - -

RIBERY- - - -NASRI- - - -REMY

- - - -MATUIDI- -CABAYE- - -

That's how I would of set up. Pogba & Giroud removed! Bet they go like this in the return leg - all out attack

[Fernando]

Giroud was the best player for France, he hit the bar twice and had a header cleared off the line.

I still think France will qualify, I can see them pulling it off in Paris.

You could argue that those misses are poor finishing though. Giroud is not your one chance & goal man is he? I'll take your word on it though, if he did play well. Serious situation their in now.

- -- - - - -BENZEMA- - - -- - -

RIBERY- - - -NASRI- - - -REMY

- - - -MATUIDI- -CABAYE- - -

That's how I would of set up. Pogba & Giroud removed! Bet they go like this in the return leg - all out attack

It's not the forward line that's the problem with France John they had a back 4 of Debuchy-Koscielny-Abidal-Evra, It's ****ing atrocious

[Guest]

Never rated Laurent Blanc. Pretty useless at PSG, even with all the money. Playing Abidal at his age & after all his problems is a woeful decision. Debuchy is pretty shocking, I have first hand experience of seeing that. Evra is pretty much past it now, well on the decline & then there's Koscielny who appears to have had an absolute nightmare. Cabaye on the bench???? Shocking decision. Would help control the game away from home & is reliable & experienced, yet he chooses Pogba? Absurd choices for a game of such magnitude.

Offensively, I would still have Benzema over Giroud though. Just don't think in the key moments & in tight games, Giroud is the man to take a chance. I reckon that tie could go to ET in the second leg, even penalties maybe.

[Marky]

Giroud was the best player for France, he hit the bar twice and had a header cleared off the line.

I still think France will qualify, I can see them pulling it off in Paris.

You could argue that those misses are poor finishing though. Giroud is not your one chance & goal man is he? I'll take your word on it though, if he did play well. Serious situation their in now.

- -- - - - -BENZEMA- - - -- - -

RIBERY- - - -NASRI- - - -REMY

- - - -MATUIDI- -CABAYE- - -

That's how I would of set up. Pogba & Giroud removed! Bet they go like this in the return leg - all out attack

On what planet does Cabaye get in ahead of Pogba? Other than Planet Geordie of course. Pogba's been immense for Juventus, Cabaye's been inconsistent for Newcastle.

[NickisBHAFC]

Tbf id rather see France at the world cup than Ukraine.

As for England, losing 2-0 to Chile, well make up you're own minds. I listened to it on the radio, we sounded awful. Judging by my tweets Johnson needed to get tighter for the first goal, he should be 3rd choice RB IMO. Southampton lads sounded out of there dept, Rodriequez mainly. Whilshere sounded poor. 

Not looking good. Ill take a 3rd place group finish at best at this rate.

[mystiroakey]

I personally cant see how France will beat Ukraine without exposing themselves, and one away goal is going to be curtains fro them.

France are staying home

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