2022 Qualifiers - Other Games Thread (AFC & beyond)

[PrinceAli]

Wow that Italy vs Portugal match is gonna be must see TV

[Leicester City]

Japan/Australia vs Chile/Uruguay/Peru is going to be wild

Hopefully AFC team wins.

[eerooni]

^australia actually left OFC Because they thought the intercontinental qualifier playoff was more difficult. They felt that having their WC qualification coming down to a single intercontinental playoff was too high stakes. I think the final straw was their shock loss against TM in the 1997 intercontinental playoff.

and now they qualify almost EVERY TIME !

[Medzdidz]

Some good games to watch with that draw. Turkey will make it difficult for Portugal - they found their form again at the end of the qualifying group.

Good draw for us too in regards to world rankings.

[inarsenewetrust]

it is a total joke that AFC gets 4 guaranteed slots (w/potential for a 5th) in addition to Qatar as hosts lol. Meanwhile one of portugal and italy has to miss out.

AFC should get 3 slots, winner of each group + winner of playoff between 2 runners up. Maybe the loser of that can go to an intercontinental playoff.

But from a performance standpoint this makes no sense whatsoever, and is actually preventing Asia from sending teams that can achieve good results and raise coefficient.

[Omid177]

When is the draw for Africa?

[Malkay]

2 weeks ago, we had a 98% chance of being 3rd seed. The comments on here about being seeded 2nd seemed like a pipe dream but with what happened in the last round of qualifiers and now this UEFA draw, which really could not have gone much better... our chances of being seeded 2nd has gone from extremely hopeful to very possible

We absolutely must win every remaining game to give ourselves a fighting chance of getting as close as possible to 16th in the FIFA ranking (anyone 8th to 16th guaranteed to be 2nd seed now that only one of Portugal and Italy can make it to the WC)... 18th might be enough if results elsewhere are kind and the teams below us don't catch up.

So we're rooting for the following:
UEFA - anyone but Wales, Sweden, Italy and Portugal
CONCACAF - Canada, Panama and Costa Rica... then New Zealand
CAF - whichever team draws Senegal in their 2 leg playoff - although I'm hearing the AFC may make it 1 leg which means less ranking points
CONMEBOL - Ecuador... Then the 3rd placed AFC against whoever their opponent is - Colombia, Uruguay, Peru or Chile

[kastro]

When is the draw for Africa?

I believe the 26th of January. Not sure why they're waiting till then considering the AFCON won't have any bearing on seeding.

[Nokhodi]

it is a total joke that AFC gets 4 guaranteed slots (w/potential for a 5th) in addition to Qatar as hosts lol. Meanwhile one of portugal and italy has to miss out.

AFC should get 3 slots, winner of each group + winner of playoff between 2 runners up. Maybe the loser of that can go to an intercontinental playoff.

But from a performance standpoint this makes no sense whatsoever, and is actually preventing Asia from sending teams that can achieve good results and raise coefficient.

I'm ok with it.
Let those European countries come and travel Asian distances, play against geopolitical rivals, deal with AFC, play on shitty fields with incompetent refs, and teams that waste time 50% of the game... then we'll see how they fare.

[Omid177]

I believe the 26th of January. Not sure why they're waiting till then considering the AFCON won't have any bearing on seeding.

I think it's because they are investigating the matches of Ghana and Congo for match fixing and substitution rule violation.

[diz]

and now they qualify almost EVERY TIME !

Exactly, their plan paid off!

[perspolis#1]

Hopefully AFC team wins.

Japan technically is as good as those teams, Australia is as physical.

The major difference now, is that the Intercontinental playoff will be played AS ONE GAME in a NEUTRAL venue. So the chance actually increases for AFC if they can hold off the S. American team in the first half from scoring. If they take them to penalties its a 50/50

[PSGman#19]

it is a total joke that AFC gets 4 guaranteed slots (w/potential for a 5th) in addition to Qatar as hosts lol. Meanwhile one of portugal and italy has to miss out.

AFC should get 3 slots, winner of each group + winner of playoff between 2 runners up. Maybe the loser of that can go to an intercontinental playoff.

But from a performance standpoint this makes no sense whatsoever, and is actually preventing Asia from sending teams that can achieve good results and raise coefficient.

It's a total joke africa has so many spot while doing nothing noticeable at wc. Afc was doing better than them last time

[Omid177]

Unfair in my opinion Oceania gets a free ride to playoffs. They should play an Asian team first giving Asia a chance for two sports in the playoffs.

Interesting match-ups in Europe. Scotland Wales final for sure, I still think Portugal will qualify plus they'll be on home in the final if they win.

Don't underestimate Austria. Last time they played away against Wales they were the better team even though they lost. And against Scotland, they would have a home advantage. Bale and Ramsey are injury prone, so who knows if they will even play.

[milad_b]

Lol even better than what i wanted ! Iran now has 90% of getting that sexy pot 2

So Portugal/Italy atleast one of them is out
Sweden got some tough teams to beat
Wales also has some tough teams to beat.

Uruguay/colombia atleast one of them won't make it.