World Cup Play-Offs (European)/International Friendlies Friday and Tuesday Thread

[Duty281]

First topic message reminder :

European Play-Offs First Leg:

Iceland v Croatia (19:00)
Greece v Romania (19:45)
Portugal v Sweden (19:45)
Ukraine v France (19:45)

International Friendlies:

England v Chile (20:00)
Ireland v Latvia (19:45)
Scotland v USA (20:05)
Turkey v Northern Ireland (19:00)

Obviously the stand-out tie for the play-offs tonight is Portugal v Sweden, or Zlatan v Ronaldo if you prefer. That tie looks to be the most balanced of the four, with just one spot in the World Cup Finals up for grabs. Ukraine will remain hopeful of catching France off their guard, but France will start as strong favourites. Greece should seal their place over a potentially dangerous Romanian side. Lastly, Iceland will be aiming to spring one of the biggest surprises in World Football - by defeating Croatia. I imagine that, should Iceland get there, they will be the smallest nation to ever make the World Cup.

On the friendlies side, Ireland (under new management), Scotland, and Northern Ireland will start their building process to next autumn's Euro 2016 qualifiers.

For England, this is the first of five friendlies in preparation for the 2014 World Cup. Chile will provide a test, one that England should overcome, against an injury-hit and virus-hit home team. During qualification, Chile averaged the most possession amongst the South American teams - surpassing the likes of Argentina, Colombia and Uruguay - and an average of 3.4 goals per game were scored in matches involving Chile. High tempo, high pressure - that's the Chile way. England are suffering with the absences of Gerrard, Wilshere, Lambert and Walker. Nevertheless, I expect England to triumph 2-0.

Expected England team (the Times): Ruddy, Johnson, Jones, Smalling, Cole, Lampard (C), Cleverley, Milner, Lallana, Rodriguez, and Rooney.

[John Cregan]

Ronaldo is scum and a diving cheat so I'd love to see him crying in Stockholm tonight.

Id agree with that during a lot of his time at Man United. He is now a truly great player though............and doesn't cheat anymore...............a pain in the a*se as a person though.

[mystiroakey]

Nope.

Zlatan on form is frieking unstoppable..

He just doesn't produce week in week out like ronaldo or messi.

He seems suited at the PSG's or Citehs of the world as many may call him a bit luxury.. But still, if that man is on form - I am going to watch him over any other player in the world, and no again i am not drunk

[mystiroakey]

Ibrahimovic never shows up on the biggest stage...not a great.

Yep so far I would agree,

however tonight is one of his biggest ever and we will also start seeing him play massive CL games soon as well.

So things may change very quickly.

The last season or so Zlatan really seems to have matured and stepped up

[Champagne_Socialist]

Ibrahimovic never shows up on the biggest stage...not a great.

yes he does, he has scored goals in italian derbys, spanish derbys and french derbys. he got 2 goals at euro 2012 and 2 goals at euro 2008 including a goal against spain and he has scored 46 goals for sweden and he has scored 39 goals in the champions league.

[mystiroakey]

TBF When he was in Italy and Spain there was a bit of a question mark over his consistency. ANd maybe going missing in bigger games,

I remember back in the day when PL teams played against him in the CL , and i was constantly questioning his ability because he never showed up in those games.

But not anymore..

[Champagne_Socialist]

TBF When he was in Italy and Spain there was a bit of a question mark over his consistency. ANd maybe going missing in bigger games,

I remember back in the day when PL teams played against him in the CL , and i was constantly  questioning his ability because he never showed up in those games.

But not anymore..

Just had a look at his stats and apart from his spell at Juventus his goal scoring record was amazing.

At inter milan in 122 appearances he got 66 goals and 32 assists. That is on average a goal every 1.8 games.
At barcelona he got 22 goals in 46 appearances and 13 assists so he was averaging 1 goal every 2 games, not bad for his first season and very impressive.
At ac milan he scored 56 goals in 85 appearances and got 27 assists which is 1 goal every 1.5 games.

at psg he has got 49 goals in 61 games which is 1 goal every 1.2 games

for sweden he has 46 goals in 95 apearances.

His goal scoring record is amazing.

[mystiroakey]

Yes Champers that is exceptional. and it seems to be constantly improving.



Top 5 player in the world , but for me the biggest draw. Some of the things he does is just breathtaking

[Champagne_Socialist]

I love how he bullies defenders. He is 6ft 5 and 95 kilos, he is massive.

[westisbest]

Zlatan v Ronaldo in a fight would be funny.

Want Sweden to win, nothing to do with Zlatan.
Just prefer Sweden as a team.
Kept an eye on them when we had Sewdish players.
Had a great couple of days there in march.

And the main reason, there woman are alot nicer looking(and personality) from what i found.

Not the best reasons, but hey, reasons none the less.

[super_realist]

Yeah, those 4 goals in a Champions League game were just rubbish, and that cheeky back heeler in the World Cup and the audacious lob against England (who fair enough are rubbish) were just not good enough eh?

[Duty281]

Zlatan v Ronaldo in a fight would be funny.

Want Sweden to win, nothing to do with Zlatan.
Just prefer Sweden as a team.
Kept an eye on them when we had Sewdish players.
Had a great couple of days there in march.

And the main reason, there woman are alot nicer looking(and personality) from what i found.

Not the best reasons, but hey, reasons none the less.

England fans to Sweden fans at Euro 2012: "You're sh!t, but your birds are fit..."

[Duty281]

Yeah, those 4 goals in a Champions League game were just rubbish, and that cheeky back heeler in the World Cup and the audacious lob against England (who fair enough are rubbish) were just not good enough eh?

Didn't do it when it mattered though, did he?

[mystiroakey]

you had to add the bracket bit didnt ya SR .

all 4 goals against england were out of this world..

[mystiroakey]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IzRpUM2g3Y

 

[super_realist]

Zlatan v Ronaldo in a fight would be funny.

Want Sweden to win, nothing to do with Zlatan.
Just prefer Sweden as a team.
Kept an eye on them when we had Sewdish players.
Had a great couple of days there in march.

And the main reason, there woman are alot nicer looking(and personality) from what i found.

Not the best reasons, but hey, reasons none the less.

England fans to Sweden fans at Euro 2012: "You're sh!t, but your birds are fit..."

Sweden could say worse to England. "You're sh*t and your birds are ugly." Doesn't quite roll off the tongue, but true.

[monty junior]

Anyone know what happened with Veggard Forren at Southampton? he was highly touted, moved for four million then never played a game and is now back at Molde..

[mystiroakey]

As I have said before SR- lower your standards a bit.

[super_realist]

It's tough Oakey, I'm in Denmark and Norway quite a bit and it's about 10 leagues ahead of UK women, when you come back here, it's as if every woman is grotbags.

[mystiroakey]

Well I suggest you push to live out there then!

[Duty281]

Zlatan v Ronaldo in a fight would be funny.

Want Sweden to win, nothing to do with Zlatan.
Just prefer Sweden as a team.
Kept an eye on them when we had Sewdish players.
Had a great couple of days there in march.

And the main reason, there woman are alot nicer looking(and personality) from what i found.

Not the best reasons, but hey, reasons none the less.

England fans to Sweden fans at Euro 2012: "You're sh!t, but your birds are fit..."

Sweden could say worse to England. "You're sh*t and your birds are ugly." Doesn't quite roll off the tongue, but true.

This being the land that has given the world Rosie Jones, Keira Knightley, Kelly Brook, Lucy Pinder, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and that fit girl off Eastenders (Jaqueline Jossa?)?

Not to mention the football. One of only 8 countries to win the World Cup, and haven't lost a meaningful game for 3 years.

[super_realist]

Zlatan v Ronaldo in a fight would be funny.

Want Sweden to win, nothing to do with Zlatan.
Just prefer Sweden as a team.
Kept an eye on them when we had Sewdish players.
Had a great couple of days there in march.

And the main reason, there woman are alot nicer looking(and personality) from what i found.

Not the best reasons, but hey, reasons none the less.

England fans to Sweden fans at Euro 2012: "You're sh!t, but your birds are fit..."

Sweden could say worse to England. "You're sh*t and your birds are ugly." Doesn't quite roll off the tongue, but true.

This being the land that has given the world Rosie Jones, Keira Knightley, Kelly Brook, Lucy Pinder, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and that fit girl off Eastenders (Jaqueline Jossa?)?

Not to mention the football. One of only 8 countries to win the World Cup, and haven't lost a meaningful game for 3 years.

Things are pretty poor when you have to delve into the dreary world of contrived and cliched celebrity "lookers" to determine your national measure then you are as well as admitting the fact.

You'll see far better looking women just walking around in Oslo and Copenhagen, and they haven't had to undergo an afternoon of pre tv make up either. You get whiplash walking along the street.

England calling Sweden sh*t at football is like Vanessa Feltz calling Cherie Blair "ugly"

[monty junior]

Been to Stockholm for a few days and a 7 over here would be a modest 5 over there, an ugly bird over there is about as common as a hot one here. They are amazing  

[mystiroakey]

"You get whiplash walking along the street.

get on a train from London and go west SR and its pretty similar dude..

Sadly I live east- its kind of different!- but then I like vairety

[super_realist]

You'll never see a Scandi in a tracky either.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Woah woah woah, now I've got to read a Scot tell me about how to judge the standards of women?!

You'd bang me if I wrapped it in batter!

[super_realist]

"You get whiplash walking along the street.

get on a train from London and go west SR and its pretty similar dude..

Sadly I live east- its kind of different!- but then I like vairety

There are pockets in the UK Oakey, but Scandi's just look so natural, take care of themselves, aren't in the least chavvy and seem to be of a similar standard across the whole region.

Mind you, I've found that in most countries I've been too. We really get a raw deal here.

[Duty281]

Zlatan v Ronaldo in a fight would be funny.

Want Sweden to win, nothing to do with Zlatan.
Just prefer Sweden as a team.
Kept an eye on them when we had Sewdish players.
Had a great couple of days there in march.

And the main reason, there woman are alot nicer looking(and personality) from what i found.

Not the best reasons, but hey, reasons none the less.

England fans to Sweden fans at Euro 2012: "You're sh!t, but your birds are fit..."

Sweden could say worse to England. "You're sh*t and your birds are ugly." Doesn't quite roll off the tongue, but true.

This being the land that has given the world Rosie Jones, Keira Knightley, Kelly Brook, Lucy Pinder, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and that fit girl off Eastenders (Jaqueline Jossa?)?

Not to mention the football. One of only 8 countries to win the World Cup, and haven't lost a meaningful game for 3 years.

Things are pretty poor when you have to delve into the dreary world of contrived and cliched celebrity "lookers" to determine your national measure then you are as well as admitting the fact.

You'll see far better looking women just walking around in Oslo and Copenhagen, and they haven't had to undergo an afternoon of pre tv make up either. You get whiplash walking along the street.

England calling Sweden sh*t at football is like Vanessa Feltz calling Cherie Blair "ugly"

Well alright then, this country has more fit guys than Sweden or any other Scandinavian country.

And you'll have to take my word for that.

[mystiroakey]

I know what you mean- I go to belgium, france, holland and germany alot.

I doubt there are up there with The scandies..

The women are all fresh, they do dress pretty different though. They like to tuck themselves up and wear some pretty random old fashioned clothes.. But I would rather that than your average essex fake tan, fake t!ts, fake personality, fake laugh, fake hair, fake teeth any day of the week.

[super_realist]

The Danes, Spanish, Americans', Norwegians, Dutch and French I work with are pretty appalled by the standard of British women.

It's often not always that they happen to be ugly, but good grief there are so many in an appalling state if physical condition.

[mystiroakey]

Not sure why an american would say that,.

Its abit like the pot calling the kettle black(and the pot is blacker!!)

It would be no different from a brit going to parts of america from west london or Salisbury(said that town because i worked they for a week last month- its full of fit hotties!!)


Its all about our diet and lifestyles SR.

[super_realist]

Not sure why an american would say that,.

Its abit like the pot calling the kettle black(and the pot is blacker!!)

It would be no different from a brit going to parts of america from west london or Salisbury(said that town because i worked they for a week last month- its full of fit hotties!!)


Its all about our diet and lifestyles SR.

I don't know Oakey, I was in California over summer and I'd say the standard was within a % of Scandi's.

Diet and lifestyle might be a reason, but it shouldn't be an excuse.

[mystiroakey]

thats one state SR.

[Champagne_Socialist]

pointless debate, everyone has different taste when it comes to women.

In my view british women are very attractive and many men from different countries love british women. I lived in spain and they all loved british women.

[monty junior]

St Andrews is stunner central, of course most of them are foreign but still <ok>

[mystiroakey]

But then SR you are from Scotland dude, I am not sure you should really be grouping the English in with your women

[super_realist]

thats one state SR.

Oregon and Washington were pretty good too. I'd imagine that some of the southern states would be worse, especially in the bible basher belts

[mystiroakey]

Well I have only been florida and new york, and the majority are on par or worse than London.(bar Miami beach off course)

[Stella]

Go to Marlow on a sunny weekend afternoon, and you will see plenty of clasy thirtysomething women.

[super_realist]

But then SR you are from Scotland dude, I am not sure you should really be grouping the English in with your women

Oakey, I've been all over the UK, and regardless of where I am in the UK (London and Edinburgh being better than the national average) I'd say without a shadow of a doubt that your average European is better looking, better condition and better dressed than your average Brit.

[mystiroakey]

Better dressed - never in a million years unless they are Italian.

[monty junior]

SCOTTAAAYYYYY BROOON! so undeserved, great strike though!

[super_realist]

Oakey, I've talking specifically about Scandi's.

Very stylish.

[mystiroakey]

No one dresses better than Italians though. I can spot them a mile off.

[super_realist]

I think they might be a little ridiculous though, take it too far, it's not natural, it's too contrived and showy. Even just when going out to the bakery.

The russians dress dreadfully. THey think price equals style.

[J.Benson II]

You don't anything for not winning. It's either win or lose.

So every team who doesn't win the tournament are losers and get tarred with the same brush? From the losing finalists to the teams who exit in the group stages?  

England were the second best team at that tournament - they were the only team to get close to Brazil.

I thought both Belgium and Turkey were more gallant and impressive in their losses to Brazil than England were.

[mystiroakey]

Not sure, from my experience they just allways have clothes that fit really well.

Our bodies(uk and us, possibly germans and french as well) on average just dont fit good clothes as well.

But when it comes to northern Europeans dress sense especially the french and beligiums(non Scandinavia) they seem to have no idea about colour coordination..

[super_realist]

I don't think it helps that our cities are pretty ghastly and depressing places compared to European ones.
A few of ours aside you can't really compare Newcastle to many of the European ones.

[mystiroakey]

Newcastle is a pretty lively place dude!

And i didnt think the women wore clothes there

belts and bras are pretty much the norm even in freezing conditions.

[super_realist]

Lively doesn't make it a good city. Basra is pretty lively, but I wouldn't want to live there.

[mystiroakey]

I wouldn't call it depressing though

[Sponsored content]