The 2010 South Africa world cup qualifiers thread

[Buffy_09]

Hehe, on Boards.ie, the Soccer forum, the "What Made Me mad/sad/annoyed" and the "famous people I want to punch" threads are going mental

[Whappeh]

Originally Posted by CanadianLoonie

Just like we knew Eduardo dived...and converted the spot-kick to boot...

Why France and not Italy who just took out van Persie?!

Because Italy didn't cheat to qualify. They cheated to win last year vs. Australia, but that is last year.

Eduardo's dive, while obviously wrong, is no where NEAR as big of a stage as a World Cup play-off, and his dive did not have any direct impact on the outcome, as Arsenal killed Celtic on the return leg. Also, Eduardo's dive got sorted out by the manager, and Arsenal is not exactly known for dirty play, and he admitted to going down "softly".

[stevanford1]

Another reason why i hate France.

Originally Posted by CanadianLoonie

God-damned flaming dirty cheating Italian scum...what else do you expect from them when they come upon an offensively creative player that can tear their defensive system apart?

Someone talked too soon.

[Paddy]

Originally Posted by Whappeh

Arsenal is not exactly known for dirty play, and he admitted to going down "softly".

As a Liverpool supporter, I endorse this statement. Arsenal are the only other BPL team that I'd class as a clean team. Every Liverpool / Arsenal match is guaranteed to be epic, physical and clean football. None of this Ronaldo / Drogba shit.

But seriously, I wouldn't mind if France had deservedly won but that just sickens me to go out to what was cheating. I'm boycotting Gilette and Renault Clios.

Va Va Voom me 'hole Henry.

[stevanford1]

Proof that Henry is a cheat.

+ YouTube Video

[Donington]

Proof that Maradonna is secretly coaching the French

[Nati]

Haha they're fucked then

[Whappeh]

Originally Posted by stevanford1

Proof that Henry is a cheat.

One thing that shocked me about that video was Gallas. He didn't celebrate at all. He knew they slide one by.

[Whappeh]

Oh, and also, now that Russia is out, Team America World Police should get Guus Hiddink.

[ahpadt]

Originally Posted by Whappeh

Oh, and also, now that Russia is out, Team America World Police should get Guus Hiddink.

Yeah, and Russia won with relative ease against the dutch last year. WTF is happening.. Netherlands freaking destroyed their group.

[Buktu]

I'm sad that Russia didn't manage to qualify, they played some great football in the European Championship..

France.. I must admit I wanted them to qualify, but the way they did it.. That shouldn't have happened. Terrible way to qualify.

On a happier note, Denmark beat USA 3-1 in their friendly match with a whole bunch of new players on tryout People can't keep claiming that we're just lucky that we qualified first in our group..
We did play 0-0 with South Korea this weekend, but that doesn't matter

Very much looking forward to the World Championship now.. Hoping for a team without injuries, we need people like Daniel Agger and Niclas Bendtner in perfect shape if we want to get good results

[stevanford1]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...-play-off.html

With cries of “cheat” ringing in his ears from furious Irish fans, the Barcelona and former Arsenal forward emerged from the dressing room to say: “I will be honest, it was a handball. But I’m not the ref. I played it, the ref allowed it. That’s a question you should ask him.”

Henry may have been shamed into making his confession by Ireland’s manager, Giovanni Trapattoni who had earlier stopped short of accusing the player of cheating, but added that Henry should be given the chance to admit his offence.

Sport on television Trapattoni said: “All European people saw the situation. I am sure that, if the referee had asked Henry, he would have admitted to the handball.

“I would prefer to go out on penalties than this. I am sad because the referee had the time to ask the linesman and Henry.

"I am upset for fair play because we are told many times about fair play. We didn’t change the rules three months ago.

“I go into schools to talk about fair play and tell the young kids that it’s important for their life.”

Irish defender Richard Dunne was less charitable, saying: “I think it was quite blatant that he cheated. The linesman was in line with the incident, it wasn’t even a hard decision to make.”

Gallas attempted to dodge the controversy surrounding his former Arsenal team-mate by insisting he did not see how Henry provided the pass for the goal.

Gallas said: “It all happened so quickly. I received the ball from Thierry, but I couldn’t see. I saw Thierry’s pass, the Irish were surprised and I put my head and my chest out.”

France coach Raymond Domenech, a contrary and unpopular figure in France, brushed off Irish complaints during a heated post-match press conference.

Domenech said: “I didn’t see the hand. You people [media] are talking of this after seeing it from 80 yards. The referee gave the goal, but I couldn’t see anything from where I was. I didn’t see the replay.

“But I am disappointed for the Irish team, their public and fans. I regret that Ireland haven’t qualified for the World Cup.”

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, commentating for French broadcaster TF1, was more candid in his assessment of the goal, however, by admitting that France "went through thanks to a refereeing error".

Ireland had produced an incredible display of character and determination to take the game into extra-time after Robbie Keane’s 32nd minute goal had squared the tie and cancelled out Nicolas Anelka’s first-leg winner.

But despite dominating for 90 minutes, Ireland failed to convert one of their many opportunities to score a second and leave France facing up to elimination.

Keane twice and Damien Duff both spurned golden chances in the second-half to put the game beyond the French, who were booed off the pitch at half-time by their own supporters.

Ireland’s inability to punish the hosts further ultimately proved their undoing when Gallas levelled the tie on the night and put France 2-1 ahead on aggregate.

But the manner of France’s progression, and Henry’s role in Ireland’s demise, are unlikely to be forgotten quickly by the Irish, who left Paris with a justifiable sense of injustice.

[desertgeek]

First, I'm curious- can UEFA come out and say that the goal doesn't count and have them replay the extra time periods? To have that be the call that allows France through in an embarassment to the game.

Originally Posted by Paddy

As a Liverpool supporter, I endorse this statement. Arsenal are the only other BPL team that I'd class as a clean team. Every Liverpool / Arsenal match is guaranteed to be epic, physical and clean football. None of this Ronaldo / Drogba shit.

Totally agree with this. Arsene Wenger runs a clean ship over there at Arsenal. He doesn't tolerate dirty football at all. I truly can't think of a manager who I respect more than Wenger. Because of that, I don't despise Arsenal with every fiber of my being like I do Chelsea or Man Utd.

[Walsh_e]

Originally Posted by Paddy

As a Liverpool supporter, I endorse this statement. Arsenal are the only other BPL team that I'd class as a clean team. Every Liverpool / Arsenal match is guaranteed to be epic, physical and clean football. None of this Ronaldo / Drogba shit.

Yeah Liverpool are all angels, never see Liverpool players dive, wrestle people to the ground or commit cynical fouls.

As for the Ireland game, I was so angry when I watched what happened, but we didn't take our chances, if we'd of taken them then it wouldn't have gone to extra time and the officials wouldn't of had the chance to disgrace themselves.

[stevanford1]

Originally Posted by Walsh_e

Yeah Liverpool are all angels, never see Liverpool players dive, wrestle people to the ground or commit cynical fouls.

cough Gerrard and Ngog cough.

Originally Posted by Walsh_e

As for the Ireland game, I was so angry when I watched what happened, but we didn't take our chances, if we'd of taken them then it wouldn't have gone to extra time and the officials wouldn't of had the chance to disgrace themselves.

Very true although you have every right to be pissed off.

[Walsh_e]

Originally Posted by stevanford1

Very true although you have every right to be pissed off.

At the end of the day every referee is pretty awful at best, there's no point blaming them, you know they are going to cock everything up at some point so you just have to make sure you take your chances to when they do it doesn't matter! For me blaming the ref is simply glossing over your own teams problems.

Just like with my beloved Tranmere last weekend again Norwich, we're in control of the game, created chance after chance then the ref gave them a penalty when they hit the ball into our defenders arm whilst it was at his side. It was never a penalty but if we'd of taken our chances then it wouldn't have mattered.

[Whappeh]

Originally Posted by desertgeek

First, I'm curious- can UEFA come out and say that the goal doesn't count and have them replay the extra time periods? To have that be the call that allows France through in an embarassment to the game.

No. They'll do this:

1) Reprimand the Ref/line crew, and bar them from reffing an international match for a few months (irrelevant).

2) Say that they're going to review the incident.

3) Say something to quell the "Video replay is a must in football" crowd.

4) Never say or hear another word on the subject again.

[desertgeek]

The 32 countries that will compete in World Cup 2010:

Host- South Africa

UEFA
Denmark
England
Germany
Italy
Netherlands
Serbia
Spain
Slovakia
Switzerland
Greece*
Slovenia*
Portugal*
France*

South America
Brazil
Paraguay
Chile
Argentina
Uruguay*

North America
United States
Mexico
Honduras

Africa
Ghana
Ivory Coast
Nigeria
Cameroon
Algeria**

Asia
Australia
Japan
South Korea
North Korea

Oceania
New Zealand*

*-scheduled playoff winners
**- Algeria advances from a Africa Group C playoff def. Egypt 1-0 in the Sudan after they finished tied for the group with 13pts, a +5 goal difference, 9 goals scored (4 allowed), a split of the head-to-head matchup and having an equal amount of goals scored against each other (3-3)

[Whappeh]

So I've been talking it over, and here is what FIFA should do:

In light of Henry's admittance of using his hand to control the ball, FIFA should allow the match to stand. Replaying the match, or awarding the match to Ireland would set a bad precedent. However, in light of Henry's drive to clean up the game (including his crusade against racism in football), FIFA should make an example of him by banning him for the entire World Cup. If FIFA wants the game to be clean, and people to not cheat and dirty and sully the game, then they need to step up and take action. Issue 1 year bans for anyone who attempts to change the outcome of a match by means outside of the rules of the sport.

[Peter3hg]

Originally Posted by Paddy

As a Liverpool supporter, I endorse this statement. Arsenal are the only other BPL team that I'd class as a clean team. Every Liverpool / Arsenal match is guaranteed to be epic, physical and clean football. None of this Ronaldo / Drogba shit.

All teams have divers, don't try to paint any as saints. Gerrard is one of the worst.

+ YouTube Video

+ YouTube Video