World Soccer XXXI: Golden Generation?

[Jimjamesak]

With Australia being eliminated that means there are no more Asian teams left in the tournament (for soccer, Australia is Asian).

Asia had nine teams qualify. Two (Japan and Australia) advanced to the knockout round, two others (South Korea and Iran) finished third in their group and didn’t advance. Oceania is the only Confederation with a worse record and they only had one team (New Zealand).

 

[ticapnews]

With Australia being eliminated that means there are no more Asian teams left in the tournament (for soccer, Australia is Asian).

Asia had nine teams qualify. Two (Japan and Australia) advanced to the knockout round, two others (South Korea and Iran) finished third in their group and didn’t advance. Oceania is the only Confederation with a worse record and they only had one team (New Zealand).

That news will make Infantino have a sad.

 

[Jimjamesak]

That news will make Infantino have a sad.

Like with all things West Asian soccer, massive amounts of money will fix the sadness.

For the stat heads, here’s the conversion rate of teams into the knockout rounds by Confederation:

Oceania 0/1 0%
Asia 2/9 22%
CONCACAF 3/6 50%
UEFA 13/16 81%
CONMEBOL 5/6 83%
Africa 9/10 90%

 

[Kepler]

Who is the guy doing most of the yapping in ARG-CPV?

Because he sucks.

 

[Kepler]

Cape Verde is what if Tucson had a World Cup team.

 

[RaceBoarder]

Like with all things West Asian soccer, massive amounts of money will fix the sadness.

For the stat heads, here’s the conversion rate of teams into the knockout rounds by Confederation:

Oceania 0/1 0%
Asia 2/9 22%
CONCACAF 3/6 50%
UEFA 13/16 81%
CONMEBOL 5/6 83%
Africa 9/10 90%

I still don't know if I am against the expansion to 48 or not here...

Honestly, I felt this year was a lot more competitive than I imagined...

 

[Jimjamesak]

Who is the guy doing most of the yapping in ARG-CPV?

Because he sucks.

John Strong the announcer or Stuart Holden the analyst?

Because both are actually pretty good. And considering that Strong is from Portland AND a former Duck, that’s saying something.

 

[Jimjamesak]

I still don't know if I am against the expansion to 48 or not here...

Honestly, I felt this year was a lot more competitive than I imagined...

It really has felt more competitive.

The Europeans of course wanted more European teams but I don’t think Kosovo, Poland or Denmark are adding much. Italy maybe but that’s debatable.

Asia seems to be hurting themselves by basically rigging everything to the benefit of Qatar and Saudi Arabia. South Korea imploding from corruption and stupidity doesn’t help either. Getting countries like Vietnam and Indonesia some investment would help.

CONCACAF really just had bad timing and bad luck with Costa Rica being between generations and Honduras and Jamaica collapsing. I do wonder how much not having the US and Mexico affected things. It’ll be interesting to see how the 2034 cycle goes.

But what a run for Africa. And this is without Cameroon and Nigeria too. They deserve some more slots but FIFA won’t do that because, well money.

 

[Kepler]

John Strong the announcer or Stuart Holden the analyst?

Because both are actually pretty good. And considering that Strong is from Portland AND a former Duck, that’s saying something.

PBP. I just hate him.

Is UO any good in soccer? I honestly do not know.

 

[ticapnews]

ARG 1 - 0 CPV
You know 29'

 

[ticapnews]

I watch too much tennis on ESPN. Every time Stu says something I hear Mary Jo Fernandez.

 

[Jimjamesak]

PBP. I just hate him.

Is UO any good in soccer? I honestly do not know.

They suck at Women’s, don’t have a Men’s team (probably because the OSU Men’s team isn’t great).

I like John Strong. I think he gets crap because he doesn’t have an accent but he’s knowledgeable, he’s enthusiastic and he’s professional but with a little whimsy (“the English historically struggle in Massachusetts”).