2014 FIFA World Cup Qualification

[LittleOzzy]

The group winners will qualify directly for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Among the nine group runners-up, the eight best runners-up (determined by records against the first-, third-, fourth- and fifth-placed teams only for balance between different groups) will advance to the play-offs, where they will be drawn into four home-and-away ties to determine the other four qualifiers.

[ejftw]

Go Armenia! Our keepers out the first match due to horrid officiating in the Ireland game, just glad its against Malta. Boghossian possibly joining the team along with Mamedov as well....just need a healthy back line and think they can sneak up to 2nd but realistically expecting them to finish in 3rd, which is still a huge step up.

[theTROOF]

1. Italy
2. Czech
3. Bulgaria
4. Denmark

[LittleOzzy]

Standings

Code: Select all

               Pld    Pts
 Italy          4    10
 Bulgaria       4    6
 Czech Republic 3    5
 Armenia        3    3
 Denmark        3    2
 Malta          3    0


[ATL Boy]

I haven't followed this group at all but I'm absolutely shocked that Denmark has only 2 points in 3 games, they have no star sure but they've won their group in the last 2 qualifiers and played well in Euro 2012.

[123IHul]

Great win for Denmark tonight against the Czechs in Olomouc. A much needed victory. If we can get the win against Bulgaria on tuesday, we're definitely in the drivers seat for second place.

The first 45 saw two very evenly matched teams, but Denmark had the initiative from the start of the second half, and Cornelius broke the deadlock with a stunner right around the hour mark. Kjær and Zimling sealed the deal. Look out for Cornelius. Just turned 20, strong as a bull, strong header and finisher with both feet.

While we've had a poor start to the qualifiers, it's worth noting that we've played Italy and Bulgaria away, as well as the Czechs as of today. And only the Czechs at home. The loss in Italy was expected, and Italy only salvaged a draw away to Bulgaria as did Denmark. The remaining matches are 2xMalta, 2xArmenia and Italy and Bulgaria at home. Get the win against Bulgaria, and things look promising.

What's even more encouraging about the win tonight, was the fact that we were without our presumaby best central midfielder in William Kvist (Stuttgart) and striker in Nicklas Bendter (Juventus, loan). The replacements, 36-year-old Nicolai Stockholm (FC Nordsjælland) and Andreas Cornelius (FC København) did great.

[magik9113]

2 more goals for Super Mario

[magik9113]

Czech-Italy 2:45 on ESPN today
Juve/Milan plus De Rossi lineup for Italy:

----------------Buffon
Abate--Barzagli--Bonucci--Chiellini
---De Rossi---Pirlo---Marchisio
-------------Montolivio
-----Balotelli-----El Shaarawy

Balotelli making it clear that El Shaarawy is his new BFF, saying he will allow El Sha to take the PK if there is one

[Massimo]

I truly love how Italians keep everything inside of the Italy. None of those players play outside of Italy.

[magik9113]

that was the case in '06 when they won the world cup. it hurts them in terms of hype/press coverage but I love it as well

[Massimo]

If you are a bit smart, don't watch this game. It is beyond disgusting.

[El Turco]

balotelli strikes again

[Da Schwab]

I love Balotelli, but Christ can he be unbelievably stupid.

[magik9113]

awful game, but come on that was not a yellow card foul for mario

[Foye]

Wow...was Denmark really beaten at home by Armenia by 4 goals? Seems like an April fool in June.

[Point forward]

When I first saw that Denmark was drubbed by Armenia, I thought I was looking at some weird Eurovision Song Contest headline

[ejftw]

Can't wait until Friday's games.

And to comment on the drubbing of Denmark in Copenhagen by my Armenian side, if you followed the Euro 12 qualifying cycle, you wouldn't have been shocked that Armenia can score in bundles. Granted, thrashing Slovakia (I think? Or was it Slovenia?) and Andorra on the road 4-0 isn't near the ballpark of drubbing the Danes, it showed our offensive capabilities. Also scored 4 on Macedonia. We outscored the Russians by five on the campaign as a whole, and the Irish by 7.

Against teams that don't bunker down and allow us to counter while everything being free flowing, goals could come in a hurry. If it wasn't for that atrocious loss to the Maltese, and all the suspensions for the Denmark return game, we could very well have had a chance for the playoff spot, but as it stands, we need to drub Bulgaria (I think we take it 3-1 personally), and upset Italy IN Italy, which is a tough task. They aren't going to take us lightly either considering that we had chances to take the lead in Yerevan, but just missed the target, and Italy being Italy, didn't.

[Point forward]

^^Ever since watching Mkhitaryan in Dortmund, I realize that Armenia is not a walkover anymore. HM has been spectacular in Dortmund, he just needs some decent team mates in the Armenian NT to do some serious damage.

[J-Mezzy]

HM was beastly in Shakhtar as well. No surprise to me that Armenia is a decent team

[Point forward]

My knowledge of Armenian football is next to nil, but IMHO they could use some more players who play abroad. When e.g. Slovenia qualified for the EC, their only star was Zahovic, but they had quite a number of established guys (Bulajic, Knavs, Pavlin, Ceh etc.) who had made it in the Bundesliga, Austrian or other foreign leagues.