Also what a laugh that is. Take Australia and put them in any group of the European qualifying groups and they're running 4th at best, 3rd maybe in the weakest group. Iran and South Korea the same. Japan are the only team from the Asian groups which could realistically qualify and even then they'd be hard pressed to come second in most groups. Africa is similar. Outside of Ghana and Ivory Coast, there's no team that would do better than 2nd in a group. Maybe Nigeria. South America and Europe should make up at least 20 of the 32 spots at the world cup because to date, only one team in the tournament's existence has made the final four outside of Korea in 2002 and that was the USA back in 1930 when there were like 4 teams in the world cup. At the most recent world cup, European teams finished 1st, 2nd and 3rd with the other quarter finalists being South American and the only team from any other association was Ghana, who albeit were unlucky to miss out on the semi-finals, were extremely lucky to make the knockout stages based on goal-difference and a number of lucky/dubious decisions in the group stage. Also the 4 Asian qualifiers only managed 14 points, compared to the 4 aforementioned European teams 13 points. If the 4 best from Asia can only match the 4 worst from Europe (in what was one of the worst European world cup performances to date) then there's absolutely no way in the world that the Asian section deserves any more places. Look at some of the teams in danger of missing out from Europe & South America: Croatia Serbia Czech Republic Sweden Ireland Turkey Portugal Uruguay Slovakia Ukraine France Modric, Ibrahimovic, Hamsik, Ronaldo, Cavani, Suarez, Ribery Some of the world's best and brightest players could be missing out on the world cup because of lowly teams like Iran, Australia, Jamaica, Mali and others being afforded chances to go there and return with little more than maybe a spirited draw against a team who spurns a lot of chances. The world cup should be about showing off the best teams in the world regardless of where they're from. Of course every section should get the chance to send qualifiers, but that's because they're genuinely competitive and a chance to succeed in the tournament, not token qualifiers with no hope. Any of the teams above mentioned would easily qualify in any section other than the UEFA or CONMEBOL sections.
I think it's fine as it is. It is the World Cup, after all. It wouldn't be a world cup if you had one team from Asia, Africa, North America and the rest from South America and Europe because those are the only two continents who have a realistic aim of winning it. Don't agree that Asia needs more spots, though.
Was shocked when i seen the world rankings the other day and columbia where like 3rd or 4th. Wouldn't of thought theyd be in the top 20 letterlone top 5. Have they paid fifa in cocaine or some shit.
at the grammar, but Colombia's actually got a good team. Maybe a bit inflated, but they're good enough to be in the top 10 for.
Don't worry Lukic, the Euros is admitting more teams for 2016, more fringe European teams like Serbia will get to actually play in international tournaments then!
World Cups: 3 to 0 Euros: 3 to 0 Germany qualifed for 15 WC's and 11 Euros in a row. Serbia qualified for 4 of 9 international tournaments since Yugoslavia broke up winning 4 of 14 matches. Quick, we better get more spots for the footballing powerhouses such as Serbia and IRELAND
Portugal v Sweden Ukraine v France Romania v Greece Iceland v Croatia New Zealand v Mexico Ivory Coast v Senegal Ethiopia v Nigeria Tunisia v Cameroon Ghana v Egypt Burkina Faso v Algeria Uruguay v Jordan My picks for the remaining qualifiers, I do hope though that I get at least some of those wrong so that we aren't the lowest ranked country going into the World Cup.
Out of interest, why Tunisia over Cameroon? Kameni, Kana-Biyik, Chedjou, Nkoulou, Mbia, Song, Matip, Makoun, Assou-Ekotto, Eto'o, Bassong is a fairly decent set of players, no?
It's a closer tie than many would expect I'd reckon. Cameroon missed out on qualifying for both of the last two African Cup of Nations, and there's been unrest within the squad for ages. Tunisia on the other hand are lucky to even be there, as they only made it because Cape Verde were found to have used a suspended player. They have however got a team that is much more settled. 0-0 in the first leg in Tunisia gives Cameroon the advantage though I'd reckon.
Cameroon should of won the first leg about 3-0, missed a few open goals, one shit cunt missed from probably 3 yards out. They should win the 2nd leg easily tbh Should start Idrissou as well, more goals then Eto'o this season
Cameroon have a reputation of underperforming as opposed to how they look on paper. Tunisia, the opposite. It'd be just like Cameroon to fail to qualify thanks to a poor performance. And as Speirz says, Tunisia are always a solid outfit, if unspectacular. That said, I didn't know they'd drawn in Tunisia. Cameroon favourites then for sure, but don't count out an implosion.