The Socceroos

[marc71178]

And how would you like it if England were forced to travel to South America to play in a play-off match?

If England had to play precisely no qualifying games of any difficulty then maybe that'd be the case.

 

[marc71178]

Just as hard to travel to Asia and the Uk as it is to got to South America. The huge distance is the problem

Yes, which is why when a European side had to travel to Iran they IIRC won...

 

[marc71178]

Thoughts on Australia competing in Asia?

It's wrong, they're not Asian.

Only if the 2 confederations combine should it be allowed to happen.

 

[BoyBrumby]

It's wrong, they're not Asian.

Only if the 2 confederations combine should it be allowed to happen.

Israel is in Asia tho & they play in the European qualifiers, so it's not without precedent.

 

[chaminda_00]

It's wrong, they're not Asian.

Only if the 2 confederations combine should it be allowed to happen.

Australia may not be asian, but the only way for Australia to move forward as football nation, was by moving to Asia. By staying in Oceania they were going no where fast. In a perfect world both confederations will combine, but that is unlikely to happen in the near future.

 

[superkingdave]

Well Trinidad and Tobago look like they might qualify for the world cup after their win against Mexico,saw the goals, the crowd looked mental - don't spose any of our t&t contingent were there?

they play Bahrain or something in the playoff

 

[Blaze]

I am concerned that NZ football is going to die. Especially with Aus moving to Asia.

 

[sledger]

they were ranked higher than northern ireland last year, not sure if that is still the case.

 

[BoyBrumby]

I am concerned that NZ football is going to die. Especially with Aus moving to Asia.

On the plus side it more or less guarantees you a play-off with someone for the next WC.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Israel is in Asia tho & they play in the European qualifiers, so it's not without precedent.

That was because if they played Syria in a must-win qualifier it would probably result in warfare, not because they couldn't qualify.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Well Trinidad and Tobago look like they might qualify for the world cup after their win against Mexico,saw the goals, the crowd looked mental - don't spose any of our t&t contingent were there?

they play Bahrain or something in the playoff

Now that is daft. Bahrain v Trinidad and Australia v Uruguay are the two playoffs.

Why not take all four to Munich for a week and have a group structure where the top two make it?

 

[Neil Pickup]

On the plus side it more or less guarantees you a play-off with someone for the next WC.

*Cough*Solomon Islands*Cough*Vanuatu*Cough*

 

[Blaze]

*Cough*Solomon Islands*Cough*Vanuatu*Cough*

 

[sledger]

"its a hard knock life, its a hard knock life...for blaze.."

 

[BoyBrumby]

That was because if they played Syria in a must-win qualifier it would probably result in warfare, not because they couldn't qualify.

I think it's more or less because the other Asian countries refused to play them. In the qualifiers for the 1958 WC (IIRC) Egypt, Sudan & Indonesia all refused to play them (back then Asia & Africa only got one place between them), so the 9 runners-up from the European groups were put into a pot & Wales were drawn out. Wales beat Israel over two legs, meaning that Africa & Asia's representative in Sweden was yer Taffs!

Only time they ever qualified too!

 

[steds]

they were ranked higher than northern ireland last year, not sure if that is still the case.

Didn't Northern Ireland go like 3 years without a win or summat, though?

 

[Pothas]

they didnt even get a goal for something obsurd like 9 hours of football

 

[sledger]

can beat england easy enough though ......

 

[Cloete]

can beat england easy enough though ......

Who can't?

 

[twctopcat]

I look forward to the chants in belfast this time next year of " we beat the world champions".