GRcade

COYBIG, the nerves have kicked in already.

Just showing how good Drogba was, Ivory Coast are out of the World Cup with Morocco taking their place.

African Qualifiers

Morocco
Tunisia
Egypt
Nigeria
Senegal

DML wrote:Just showing how good Drogba was, Ivory Coast are out of the World Cup with Morocco taking their place.

African Qualifiers

Morocco
Tunisia
Egypt
Nigeria
Senegal

To be fair they have Wilmots as manager.

We saw how bad he managed Belgium.

Disappointed that ridiculous pen from the first leg has cost Northern Ireland.

3,000 Irish fans wore red to get into the Denmark v Ireland game in Copenhagen and the local Police thanked us.



https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2017/1113/919589-ireland-fans/

Balloon d'Or 2017 Winner Leaked.

It says Messi has won.

Enjoying this Italy v Sweden game. It’s not even just that it’s high stakes, it’s actually been pretty entertaining. Both teams could have had a penalty and Sweden cleared one off the line.

Last time Italy didn’t qualify was 1958.

Sad to see Buffon go this way

Garbage

Oh well at least Zlatan going to the World Cup will be good value.

Heroic defensive display from Sweden but that Italy team have been appalling under Ventura, like a more boring version of England (somehow). Completely lacking that cutting edge and ability to get a goal from nothing. Lots of talented players and a solid defence but they just can’t break teams down.

Bets on Zlatan coming out of retirement?

PaperMacheMario wrote:Heroic defensive display from Sweden but that Italy team have been appalling under Ventura, like a more boring version of England (somehow). Completely lacking that cutting edge and ability to get a goal from nothing. Lots of talented players and a solid defence but they just can’t break teams down.

Bets on Zlatan coming out of retirement?

He's made a big point of saying he won't even if they get there.

PaperMacheMario wrote:Heroic defensive display from Sweden but that Italy team have been appalling under Ventura, like a more boring version of England (somehow). Completely lacking that cutting edge and ability to get a goal from nothing. Lots of talented players and a solid defence but they just can’t break teams down.

Bets on Zlatan coming out of retirement?

They had Insigne on the bench, who should have started or come on. But they don’t have that special player in attack like a Totti, Baggio or Del Piero. Even in midfield without Veratti it’s ordinary.

To be fair if England were in a group with Spain then I wouldn’t expect them to qualify too. I’d be nervous also facing Sweden in two legs as we always seem to struggle against them.

Buffon trying and repeatedly failing to retire after winning something is hilarious, bet Juve don't even win Serie A this season now

Tomous wrote:

PaperMacheMario wrote:Heroic defensive display from Sweden but that Italy team have been appalling under Ventura, like a more boring version of England (somehow). Completely lacking that cutting edge and ability to get a goal from nothing. Lots of talented players and a solid defence but they just can’t break teams down.

Bets on Zlatan coming out of retirement?

He's made a big point of saying he won't even if they get there.

And they've been better without him

Good to see some bigger names miss out to show that as an England fan it could be a whole lot worse.

Irene Demova wrote:Buffon trying and repeatedly failing to retire after winning something is hilarious, bet Juve don't even win Serie A this season now

Tomous wrote:

PaperMacheMario wrote:Heroic defensive display from Sweden but that Italy team have been appalling under Ventura, like a more boring version of England (somehow). Completely lacking that cutting edge and ability to get a goal from nothing. Lots of talented players and a solid defence but they just can’t break teams down.

Bets on Zlatan coming out of retirement?

He's made a big point of saying he won't even if they get there.

And they've been better without him

He actually said that. Although he did approach it from the angle there was too much pressure on the team because they were expected to win the cup as he's so good

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41966734

Very sad news about Liam Miller.

twitter.com/eliosalerno87/status/930198148294889472

Was Ventura Italy's answer to Steve McLaren?

I know they're currently a bit meh and are lacking the beautiful footballers of yesteryear (Totti, Del Piero, Pirlo, Zola, Taibi etc), but it's still going to be sad and strange to not have Italy at the World Cup. Can't we agree to swap out England for Italy? I think that'd be the best outcome for all parties involved.

edit: also De Rossi