Asunto: National Team

This is how we look after match day 3...


Seed Team (world ranking) Pts +/-
1. Česká republika (3) 9 +16
2. Colombia (44) 6 +5
3. Bosna i Hercegovina (19) 6 -1
4. Australia (58) 3 +8
5. Kypros (66) 3 -4
6. Kenya (84) 0 -24

Despite only having 3 points, this has been a pretty good campaign. After a spanking of Kenya we have been very competitive in narrow losses against the 2nd and 3rd seeds so we are probably unlucky not to have more points. The upside is the goal difference is in a really good position so in the likely event of a close finish on the last matchday we are looking ok to finish equal or higher than our seeding in the group.

This week we play the might of the Czech Republic! Currently ranked 3rd in the world these guys are pulling average ratings of 82 points!!! A full ten points ahead of us. This one is about damage control.

bon chance mon ami. :)

Česká republika 1-0 Australia

Damage control achieved.

That's a bloody good result.

Yup, the defensive tactic was good. We absorbed a lot of pressure. To be fair, they deserved a few more goals but I’ll take it!

This is how we look after match day 4...


Seed Team (world ranking) Pts +/-
1. Česká republika (3) 12 +17
2. Colombia (44) 9 +10
3. Bosna i Hercegovina (19) 9 +3
4. Australia (58) 3 +7
5. Kypros (66) 3 -9
6. Kenya (84) 0 -28

So the group standings are exactly as per the seedings at this stage. It's now a six point gap to both second and third places but we now have back to back matches against Kypros over the next three weeks and at the same time it's back to back Bosnia v Colombia. Given our strong goal difference, if we can win these matches we have a chance of jumping a place up the table.

Australia 3-0 Kypros

Job done.

Now ranked 57.... & I see Bos Herc’s GD down to 0, as opposed to our +10.
:)

Sad reacts only, can't score for shit.

This is no place for trolls.
Take you crass comments elsewhere.

This is how we look at the halfway point of qualifying


Seed Team (world ranking at start of qualifying) Pts +/-
1. Česká republika (3) 15 +23
2. Colombia (44) 12 +13
3. Bosna i Hercegovina (19) 9 +0
4. Australia (58) 6 +10
5. Kypros (66) 3 -12
6. Kenya (84) 0 -34

Third seed Colombia have really shaken up the apple cart and sit in second spot with points and goal difference over Bosnia. our performance so far is really summed up by our goal difference. Commanding wins over the teams we should beat, and heartbreaking narrow losses against the strong teams. Hopefully in the return legs we can convert some of those into points.

We now have a week off, before the return clash against Kypros.

Key stats at the halfway point...

Leading scorers:
10 Zahrudin Kadrić Bayern Bosnia
9 Tim Alagich Tönisheider Spatzen
8 Vojtěch Špíček SK Tatra Smíchov
Javier Toche Reconquista FFC
7 Jesús Campos Goferva FC
5 Rudolf Zilvar Magisterská Juniorka
Pavel Blahovec FK Černá Pole
Jim Judd AC TurboTurbine
4 Čedomir Hordov F.C. LIVERPOOL
Emre Pehlivan MUC 72
3 Allan Ng Chelsea.F.C
Savvakis Stefani Real Termini
Benedikt Lehký the_tom_pettyites
Joaquín Ortegón F.C. Celtics
Ngumo Jepleting Ghost Team

Most assists:
8 Karel Horčica SK Tatra Smíchov
4 Preston Hammond Red Bull
2 Jure Rako Q-3 REVOLUTIONS
Callum Van Blerk PEBROTS
Jim Judd AC TurboTurbine
Silvino Modesto Wild Hogs
Charis Koudas W.S. Klabund Utd
Vojtěch Špíček SK Tatra Smíchov
Liasis Karaolis I MISERABILI

Average individual marks:
81.0 Česká republika
78.9 Bosna i Hercegovina
75.0 Colombia
72.0 Australia
67.9 Kypros
60.8 Kenya

First squad average value
4 482 938 AU$ Česká republika
3 779 455 AU$ Bosna i Hercegovina
3 776 717 AU$ Colombia
3 285 812 AU$ Australia
2 906 473 AU$ Kypros
2 118 650 AU$ Kenya

First squad average age
30.2 Australia
28.8 Kypros
28.5 Bosna i Hercegovina
Colombia
28.3 Česká republika
27.9 Kenya

Wow BiH are really struggling. 2nd ranked with an equal for and against.

Yep, and it just rubs in the red card we got against them when it was 1-1... and they won 3-2.

Hope you put them in their place. I'll stir the pot after what's been said. :)

To be fair, I think he was venting about his own team not being able to score.

Yes I was, it's a bit hard not to write something when you're browsing through rival forums. We looked even worse against Colombia compared to Czechia, conceded 3 goals after headers, stuff that doesn't even happen in the lowest leagues. Very concerned about qualifying to the WC as the whole community expected us to do so.

While I'm here I'll also say that, truth be told, you didn't even come close to a draw in that game we had, we pretty much dominated it before the RC and you scored a lucky banger in the last minutes of the game. Could've easily been 4-1.
You can certainly challenge us on a good day, but that certainly wasn't even close to your best day.