World Cup Qualification (Europe) - Group B

[Stan 12,369]

Thursday 31st August, 2017
Hungary vs Latvia
Portugal vs Faroe Islands
Switzerland vs Andorra

Sunday 3rd September 2017
Faroe Islands vs Andorra
Hungary vs Portugal
Latvia vs Switzerland

 

[ASF 244]

A win in Budapest is essential, if we want to qualify as group winners. 

Switzerland won't lose any points until the game in Lisbon, so we need to keep on winning as well, if we want to have a chance to surpass them on the last day of qualifiers. 

[ASF 244]

Good win tonight. 

Another hat-trick for Ronaldo and it was good to see Nélson Oliveira playing for the National Team, again. I hope he gets called more often, from now on.

Time for the big decisions, on Sunday.

[RandoEFC 5,155]

Portugal actually conceded a goal at home against one of the joke qualifier sides (Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, San Marino, Malta - this list is not exhaustive). For shame.

[Stan 12,369]

Hungary been swinging the elbows around all match. Priskin gets Pepe square in the face and he wonders why he's seen red  

Portugal should be a few goals up already.

[Guest]

Yeaahhh come on Faroe Islands. My boys, we're going to Qatar!!!

I'll make sure to wear my Faroe Islands shirt for the next game.

[Stan 12,369]

Switzerland and Portugal vying for the top 2 spots now. Goal difference majorly in Portugal's favour if they finish level. 

Switzerland have Hungary at home. Portugal have Andorra away. 

They then face each other in the final group game which will be very decisive if there's still a 3 point gap. 

[Stan 12,369]

Saturday 7th October
Faroe Islands vs Latvia
Andorra vs Portugal
Switzerland vs Hungary

Tuesday 10th October
Hungary vs Faroe Islands
Latvia vs Andorra
Portugal vs Switzerland

Big showdown game on Tuesday. If Portgual and Switzerland both win then it's down to Portugal to beat Switzerland and they'll finish top. Both have more than enough points to qualify as 1 of the best 2nd-placed teams. 

[bozziovai 195]

On 10/3/2017 at 6:54 PM, Stan said:

Saturday 7th October
Faroe Islands vs Latvia
Andorra vs Portugal
Switzerland vs Hungary

Tuesday 10th October
Hungary vs Faroe Islands
Latvia vs Andorra
Portugal vs Switzerland

Big showdown game on Tuesday. If Portgual and Switzerland both win then it's down to Portugal to beat Switzerland and they'll finish top. Both have more than enough points to qualify as 1 of the best 2nd-placed teams. 

can you clarify something for me, let's assume that portugal and the swiss will win on their next match, and their last match will be against each other and portugal win, that means, equal on points but portugal tops the group with a bigger goal difference.    does the Swiss still go to a play-off match being 2nd or should they also auto-qualify having amassed such points ???

[Stan 12,369]

1 hour ago, bozziovai said:

can you clarify something for me, let's assume that portugal and the swiss will win on their next match, and their last match will be against each other and portugal win, that means, equal on points but portugal tops the group with a bigger goal difference.    does the Swiss still go to a play-off match being 2nd or should they also auto-qualify having amassed such points ???

There's 9 groups in qualification and the top 8 best 2nd placed teams go in to play offs next month. The 4 winners of those playoffs go to the world cup. 

Note though that the top 8 2nd placed teams have their points taken away from their games against the bottom placed team in the group they were in. I think Switzerland and/or Portugal will be fine though as they've got enough points anyway. 

[ASF 244]

Important win, but I was let down by the fact that we only managed to score when Ronaldo came in. What the fuck?

Anyway, Switzerland won't handle the pressure of a full Stadium of Light on Tuesday. 

3-0

[Machado 1,385]

Our goal average is considerably higher than Switzerland's. Just need an 1-0 win today and we finish first with 9W 1L.

[Guest]

Viva la Faroe Islands!!!

[Stan 12,369]

Portugoal!

Djourou own goal sends Portugal top!

[Cicero 4,117]

Portugal are on par with Uruguay in the dull factor. My god how did this team win the Euros. 

[Guest]

29 minutes ago, Cicero said:

Portugal are on par with Uruguay in the dull factor. My god how did this team win the Euros. 

I think its a taste thing but I find this Portugal side much more fun to watch than Uruguay.

This Portugal team is more tactical and more about being defensively structured, where as Uruguay as more about winning in the air and beating their opponent in strength.

 

2-0, thats Portugal in Russia.

[The Artful Dodger 1,733]

Portugal are very good side, dull or not. You'd expect them to be beaten by the likes of Germany but in a cup competition there always a chance for a decent well managed team.

[Stan 12,369]

Ronaldo's had a poor game. Screwed up a one on one which you'd expect him to slot away.

[Cicero 4,117]

1 minute ago, Stan said:

Ronaldo's had a poor game. Screwed up a one on one which you'd expect him to slot away.

No?? Not the best Club and International player in the world???

[Stan 12,369]

the co-commentator on Sky Sports' coverage of this Portugal game must have got out on the wrong side of the bed. He's absolutely livid and so frustrated that Switzerland have had no offsides and that Andre Silva didn't get booked. 

[Mel81x 2,473]

I don't get why there was so much intricacy in front of the goal tonight. Get the ball and slot it, no need to try and run around the keeper or make as many cut-ins with defenders. All said and done Portugal have made it to the WC in Russia.

[SirBalon 2,607]

Congratulations to the brothers in Portugal!  Couldn't be a World Cup without Portugal and now they can relax until the summer which is important. 

[Stan 12,369]

5 minutes ago, SirBalon said:

Congratulations to the brothers in Portugal!  Couldn't be a World Cup without Portugal and now they can relax until the summer which is important. 

just like it couldn't be a World Cup without Argentina. Hope they qualify.

[Guest]

Unless its Brazil, Germany or Italy then a world cup can do without anyone else.

I'm sure in the 50's and 60's people were saying that a world cup isn't a world cup without Hungary.

[SirBalon 2,607]

2 minutes ago, Blue said:

I'm sure in the 50's and 60's people were saying that a world cup isn't a world cup without Hungary.

True, but they've only had one great generation even if it was one of the greatest of all time.

5 minutes ago, Stan said:

just like it couldn't be a World Cup without Argentina. Hope they qualify.

Argentina HAVE to be there!  I don't want to happen to the World Cup what UEFA have done to the European Championships...  Please, NO!

At the moment, today has been a good day for the bigger sides.

[ASF 244]

Good prospects for the World Cup. I think we can do a good campaign. Reaching the semis, at least.

The sector that will worry Fernando Santos the most in the center of the defense. You can't have both center-backs being 34/35 years-old. The rest of the squad though, will be just fine. 

 

[Machado 1,385]

It would be good if we started playing actual football. We get the results but it can't last forever without proper football... or can it?

[SirBalon 2,607]

37 minutes ago, Machado said:

It would be good if we started playing actual football. We get the results but it can't last forever without proper football... or can it?

The team is solid though!  I agree with ASF in that the centre of the defence needs at least one member with young blood with pace...  The other central defender with his experience will marshal the younger one.  Aside from that, the team has belief and after the European Championships they know how to win and play the whole tournament by pacing themselves which is detrimental to a side that wants to compete to the latter stages.

I doubt Fernando Santos is going to change too much when he has a formula that has worked.  It's based on being as solid as possible and taking the chances that arrive.