Winners and Losers

Peruvian players celebrate 2-0 win over New Zealand

The high stakes playoffs for the final spots in the 2018 World Cup Finals did not produce the finest of football.  Four out of the eight European matches were 0-0 draws and two more were 1-0 affairs that featured a dubious handling call and a ricochet goal. The inter-conferederation playoffs were no better. However, judging by the celebrations of the winners, they really could care less how the matches looked; they're going to Russia.  Pictures capture the contrasting emotions of those who made it and those who didn't.

I saw most of the matches and offer the following random recollections.


Switzerland 1 Northern Ireland 0 - In the first leg, Switzerland benefited from the questionable hand ball call and the return leg in Basel was more notable for the rain-soaked pitch than anything else.  I guess there was the moment when the Swiss cleared a ball off the line; with the away goals rule that actually would have sent Northern Ireland into the finals.  Good on the underdog Northern Ireland side for making this such a close contest.

Italian soccer players after their team’s elimination in a
 World Cup playoff match against Sweden in Milan on Monday.
 CreditLuca Bruno/Associated Press

Croatia 4 Greece 1 - If you missed the first 33 minutes, which I did, you missed all the action.  Croatia was up 2-0 in 20 minutes, Greece grabbed one back but things were pretty much settled with a third goal in the 33rd minute.  I cannot remember a thing from the 0-0 second leg.

Sweden 1 Italy 0 - Very mixed feelings about this.  Sweden's goal in the first leg was a lucky deflection off an Italian defender.  Italy did nothing to engender the support of neutrals as the fans booed during the playing of the Swedish national anthem for the return leg in Milan.  Onslaught is probably the best word for the how the match went but Italy could not break through.  Sad that this was Buffon's final performance; at least he was classy until the end, as he tried to stop the booing during the anthem.  Italy misses the WC for the first time in 60 years.

Denmark 5 Ireland 1 - Christian Eriksen turned a tight qualifying series into a laugher with his hat trick.  After an 0-0 first leg in Denmark, Ireland had taken an early 1-0 lead in front of a delirious Dublin crowd.  Unfortunately, you could see the Danes get stronger as the match went on and two goals in the space of four minutes put the Irish in a deep hole by the 33rd minute.  They would not recover.  You can see all three of Eriksen's goals here.

Australia 3 Honduras 1 - Truly all I can remember from this series was how ridiculously high the grass was on the pitch in Honduras for leg one.  Might as well have been playing in snow.  Not surprisingly, it ended 0-0.  Down Under however, Mile Jedinak, not necessarily known as a goal scorer, put up a hat trick and Australia moved on.

Peru 2 New Zealand 0 - The contrast in pitches was staggering and the first leg in New Zealand looked to be played on a pool table.  Alas, the result was 0-0 too.  Back in Lima, Jefferson Farfan sent Peru on their way with this goal. Subsequent replays show it was slightly deflected but the quality of the buildup and the finish make it my choice for this week's YouTubeableMoment.

So the World Cup field is set and the draw will take place on December 1st.  We'll be talking more about this in subsequent posts.


Rumors from the Tyne

Two big stories coming out this week regarding Newcastle's future.

1) Fernando Torres wants to return to the EPL on a short-term loan for the rest of the season.  Newcastle and Southampton are the two clubs mentioned.  At 33, he would not be the force he was at Atletico Madrid (the first time) or Liverpool.  On the other hand, he might be less risky than spending big bucks on somebody who then has trouble adjusting to the EPL.

2) An Indonesian media outlet reported on 11/12 that Amanda Staveley's group has made an actual bid to purchase Newcastle United with the clear intent to close the deal before year-end.   Other sources say that's not correct but suggest that talks are progressing smoothly and a deal is likely.

Pictures of both the key actors below.  I'll let you figure out who is who.

Where Were We?

EPL action returns this weekend and the MLS playoffs resume on Tuesday.  Can't do much better than a North London derby to start the weekend (7:30 NBCSN).  Arsenal is hosting Spurs, which might not be an advantage for the Gunners given that Tottenham have tended to play better away from Wembley.  Arsenal are scoring goals but only five have allowed more than them.  Have to think there's more pressure on Arsenal here as a loss could leave them farther from the top four.  

An MLS season ticket holder derby at 12:30 on NBC with Jeff H's Man United hosting Newcastle.  Low expectations here for me, given that Man United have allowed just five goals in 11 matches this season.  I suppose we could steal a 0-0 draw but I think that's the only way the Magpies get a result.  But 0-1 or 0-2 seems much more likely.  

The rest of the schedule looks like a big meh to me.  You can see Leicester hosting Man City at 10 am Saturday on NBCSN.  Leicester has surrendered 16 goals while Man City have scored 38; might not be pretty.  I'd be more inclined to check out Crystal Palace vs Everton at Selhurst Park (also 10 am but only on NBC Gold); two teams fighting for the their seasons might make for interesting viewing.  Liverpool - Southampton at Anfield might also be a better choice.  Sunday's match is Watford vs West Ham at 11 (NBCSN) and Monday has Brighton (and Hove Albion) taking on Stoke (3 pm NBCSN); neither would be in the "mouth watering" category.

MLS playoffs get back in gear on Tuesday with the first legs of the conference finals.  Toronto travels to Columbus (last game ever in Columbus before move to Austin?) at 8 pm on ESPN.  Later that night Houston host Seattle at 9:30 on FS1.  Someone please tell me why with the whole night to work with they've scheduled the two matches 90 minutes apart?   Return legs are Tuesday/Wednesday of the following week.  Recall that for the first leg Toronto will be without both Giovinco and Altidore due to suspensions; that might be enough to give Columbus some hope. A more detailed preview of the matchups from ESPN can be found here.  My rooting interests will be with Toronto (not that I like them but I would prefer to see the team that was clearly the best in the regular season actually get the MLS Cup too) and Houston (I have no idea why my sympathies lie with them but for whatever reason I don't like Seattle).

Oh, and so I don't get sh grief from Michael B, I must also note that Atletico Madrid host Real Madrid at 2:45 Saturday on beINSports.  If you expect to run into Michael later this weekend, be sure to check the Tottenham and Atletico results before you do; they'll give you some idea of what to expect his mood to be.