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Post by cjeagle on Mar 13, 2015 2:15:49 GMT 8
First Round 1st leg
India 2-0 Nepal Yemen 3-1 Pakistan East Timor 4-1 Mongolia Cambodia 3-0 Macau Taiwan 0-1 Brunei Sri Lanka 0-1 Bhutan
Major upset for last place Bhutan (zero FIFA points before this game) on their away leg. Now they have the advantage of playing in high elevation in the 2nd leg at home. Brunei also garnered its first ever win in WC qualifying also on its away leg.
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Post by jpmanahan on Mar 13, 2015 4:01:11 GMT 8
March rankings are out, so here are things as they stand:
10 Saudi Arabia (338.56) 3/30 vs Jordan 11 Jordan (325.51) 3/26 vs Syria 3/30 vs Saudi Arabia 12 Bahrain (319.08) 3/26 vs Colombia 13 Qatar (300.3) 3/26 vs Algeria, 3/30 vs Slovenia 14 Kuwait (231.06) 3/30 vs Colombia 15 Philippines (220.61) 16 Vietnam (220.27) 17 Maldives (214.07) 3/26 vs Tajikistan 18 Afghanistan (203.33) 3/31 vs Kyrgyzstan 19 Palestine (194.37) 20 Tajikistan (192.18) 3/26 vs Maldives, 3/31 vs Syria
Curious if camp hosts Bahrain would be interested in playing a friendly on the 3/30 or 3/31. If Palestine ever sorts its matter out (they don't have a manager yet), would be nice to play them on the 3/26.
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Post by xyz1000 on Mar 13, 2015 7:48:21 GMT 8
The next release for rankings is April 9. The draw is April 14.
This is so close!
If the Maldives or Afghanistan wins, that might put them over the Philippines. We have got to play and win a game during the break.
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Post by cjeagle on Mar 13, 2015 13:41:45 GMT 8
Bhutan made the NY Times: A Moment Atop the World for Bhutan’s Last-Ranked Team www.nytimes.com/2015/03/13/s...on=Footer&module=MoreInSection&pgtype=articleKavazovic confronted a half-empty but bewildering news conference, where he had been expected to discuss an easy victory. “Yes, it is embarrassing, losing to the worst team in the world,” he said. “But I expect we will win the second game. And if I don’t,” he added with a smile, “I will have an unexpected holiday for a few months.”
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Post by stingray11214 on Mar 14, 2015 16:38:37 GMT 8
That match in Thimphu is going to be veeerrryy interesting. It'll be an icebox, and Sri Lanka may not be able to handle it.
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Post by cjeagle on Mar 15, 2015 5:49:20 GMT 8
That match in Thimphu is going to be veeerrryy interesting. It'll be an icebox, and Sri Lanka may not be able to handle it. It will be even colder in Ulan Bator, Mongolia which is considered the coldest capital in the world, with average annual temperartures below zero degrees centigrade, along with the high altitude and the 2nd worst smog in the world. The Philippines played there 4 years ago around the same time and lost as the players were unable to adapt to the conditions. Fortunately East Timor already has a 4-1 lead, which will be hard to overcome. All they need to do is sit on thier lead. Sri Lanka will have a tougher task trying to reverse a 0-1 deficit in cold, high altitude Thimpu.
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Post by xyz1000 on Mar 15, 2015 10:26:22 GMT 8
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Post by stingray11214 on Mar 15, 2015 14:47:07 GMT 8
That match in Thimphu is going to be veeerrryy interesting. It'll be an icebox, and Sri Lanka may not be able to handle it. It will be even colder in Ulan Bator, Mongolia which is considered the coldest capital in the world, with average annual temperartures below zero degrees centigrade, along with the high altitude and the 2nd worst smog in the world. The Philippines played there 4 years ago around the same time and lost as the players were unable to adapt to the conditions. Fortunately East Timor already has a 4-1 lead, which will be hard to overcome. All they need to do is sit on thier lead. Sri Lanka will have a tougher task trying to reverse a 0-1 deficit in cold, high altitude Thimpu. Timor-Leste should have zero problems dispatching Mongolia. No way Mongolia puts 3 past East Timor. As for Sri Lanka, they were absolutely putrid. The problem is that they will attempt to come out with all straws spitting. Bhutan is still basically an all amateur side. On paper, Sri Lanka SHOULD win this. But, after that match in Colombo, I just cannot see it. As far as the Azkals dropping slots. Be real. They are not qualifying for the World Cup. That is not happening. They SHOULD qualify for the Asian Cup. They would have to finish fifth in a group, and virtually get blown out of every match NOT to qualify for the Asian Cup Third Round qualifiers. But, to qualify for the World Cup track, the Azkals have to WIN their group or finish as one of the best 2nd place teams. It is a herculean task that is beyond the Azkals at this time.
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Post by xyz1000 on Mar 18, 2015 6:21:28 GMT 8
Etheridge back for Azkals in Bahrain ‘friendly’MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Azkals, bracing for another important tournament, return to action on March 30 when they face Middle East powerhouse Bahrain in an international friendly in Manama. ... If the Philippines even ties Bahrain, that would help in maintaining or improving the ranking. Based on the April projections, Vietnam and Maldives will jump over the Philippines, thus a draw or win would really help. If I were the coach or PFF, I would consider this "friendly" more than a friendly because of the ranking implications and the prize of getting into pot #2.
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Post by jonny on Mar 18, 2015 6:54:53 GMT 8
Etheridge back for Azkals in Bahrain ‘friendly’MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Azkals, bracing for another important tournament, return to action on March 30 when they face Middle East powerhouse Bahrain in an international friendly in Manama. ... If the Philippines even ties Bahrain, that would help in maintaining or improving the ranking. Based on the April projections, Vietnam and Maldives will jump over the Philippines, thus a draw or win would really help. If I were the coach or PFF, I would consider this "friendly" more than a friendly because of the ranking implications and the prize of getting into pot #2. Philippines win against Bahrain : 206 Points Draw : 197 Points Loss : 193 Points Vietnam (not playing in March) : 229 Points Maldives win against Tajikistan : 216 Points Draw : 199 Points Loss : 191 Points Afghanistan win against Kyrgyzstan : 207 Points Draw : 199 Points Loss : 195 Points Thailand win against Cameroon and Singapore : 213 Points Syria win against Tajikistan and Jordan : 225 Points ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Just a small chance for Philippines to get to pot 2 if they win against Bahrain
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Post by dingodile5 on Mar 21, 2015 23:59:15 GMT 8
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Post by stingray11214 on Mar 27, 2015 4:30:33 GMT 8
There is too much that has to be done elsewhere for the Azkals NOT to be in the third pot. This will solidify the Asian Cup track for them. Second place in a group is not out of the realm of possibility. Being in the top two in a group in Round Three is extremely doable. However, you feel bad for the countries that lost in the First Round, as they will shutter their programs for a while.
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Post by cjeagle on Mar 27, 2015 6:17:24 GMT 8
jonny's post on bigsoccer
POT 2
Maldives lost today against Tajikistan and missed their chance to be in pot 2.
Syria surprised with win against Jordan away and will be in pot 2 with a friendly win against Tajikistan.
Afghanistan , Philippines and Thailand could be in pot 2 if Syria losing or drawing.
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It looks to me that Syria has the biggest chance of making pot 2 which means that the Philippines will be relegated to pot 3. Only chance for the Azkals is if they win against Bahrain and Syria, Afghanistan and Thailand lose at least one of their games this month.
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Post by xyz1000 on Mar 27, 2015 7:08:32 GMT 8
Thailand wins against Singapore 2:0.
:-(
Cameroon thinks Thailand will be cake.
19 Mar 2015 17:57:08 Cameroon legend Roger Milla has questioned the Indomitable Lions’ decision to travel far to Southeast Asia for the two international friendlies against Indonesia and Thailand
The retired great has labelled it as humiliation to Cameroon football to play against the aforementioned sides.
"Confronting Indonesia and Thailand is a humiliation for Cameroon.” Milla was quoted as saying.
.....
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Post by cjeagle on Mar 27, 2015 7:51:42 GMT 8
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