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World cup 2026 Draw

Sharkman84 said:
According to that article, Iraq replaces Iran and UAE will go to the playoff.
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I mean.. yeah but the article is saying it’s just a possibility - sounds like it’s just an option thrown in by the writer. Is there enough time for UAE to organise themselves into the playoffs? they’re only in 3 weeks
 
Palestine managed to play despite conflict. Iran has always had players who spoke out against the regime so provided they receive visas for the tournament and there's a focus on football nothing should change.
 
JS96 said:
Palestine managed to play despite conflict. Iran has always had players who spoke out against the regime so provided they receive visas for the tournament and there's a focus on football nothing should change.
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True, but this may be a stance from the FA itself
 
Question is now who replaces Iran but also the other players are a mess and Nigeria has over a million pleas to somehow be let in.
 
JS96 said:
Question is now who replaces Iran but also the other players are a mess and Nigeria has over a million pleas to somehow be let in.
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The articles I had read previously seem to suggest that the UAE will replace Iran and Iraq will replace the UAE in the playoff.

www.theguardian.com

Iraq or UAE could take Iran’s World Cup finals spot due to Middle East crisis

Iraq and the United Arab Emirates are viewed as the most likely beneficiaries should Iran withdraw from the World Cup
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com
 
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Sharkman84 said:
The articles I had read previously seem to suggest that the UAE will replace Iran and Iraq will replace the UAE in the playoff.

www.theguardian.com

Iraq or UAE could take Iran’s World Cup finals spot due to Middle East crisis

Iraq and the United Arab Emirates are viewed as the most likely beneficiaries should Iran withdraw from the World Cup
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com
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That's not fair of the system, if I'm understanding you correctly.

Iraq should get the direct slot (if they can finalise this in the next two weeks), with UAE taking Iraq's spot in the playoff (whether it's delayed, or UAE can get there in time if they have the same travel issues as Iraq at the moment) given that Iraq had to beat UAE in a playoff to get to the playoff.

I've heard rumblings of them postponing either the final match of that playoff path, or the whole playoff path to accomodate this.
 
NicCarBel said:
That's not fair of the system, if I'm understanding you correctly.

Iraq should get the direct slot (if they can finalise this in the next two weeks), with UAE taking Iraq's spot in the playoff (whether it's delayed, or UAE can get there in time if they have the same travel issues as Iraq at the moment) given that Iraq had to beat UAE in a playoff to get to the playoff.

I've heard rumblings of them postponing either the final match of that playoff path, or the whole playoff path to accomodate this.
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Sorry I got it mixed up.

Iraq would qualify for the World Cup, UAE will go through to the playoff.
 
Going back to Group D. Popovic's claims we he 'wants to do somethin special'. He also said that this squad for the FIFA Series was to bring in players that could 'make an impact' at the World Cup. Assuming they are fit, Irvine, Souttar and Toure come back in.

My questions are threefold - if at the time of the draw we thought we would be playing for 3rd and a likely R32 exit, what if anything has changed since then? What players in this squad are the 'make an impact players' at the World Cup? Will we surprise anyone with our squad or will we continue the way we have with the rest of the group looking at us as easybeats?

I really think we could have a good run at the World cup if we picked the right squad. As it is I'm not even close to being confident of beating Cameroon.

I know people will say I don't see people training - but i'm more concerned that we don't even have the right people in the squad to see training.
 
patjennings said:
Going back to Group D. Popovic's claims we he 'wants to do somethin special'. He also said that this squad for the FIFA Series was to bring in players that could 'make an impact' at the World Cup. Assuming they are fit, Irvine, Souttar and Toure come back in.

My questions are threefold - if at the time of the draw we thought we would be playing for 3rd and a likely R32 exit, what if anything has changed since then? What players in this squad are the 'make an impact players' at the World Cup? Will we surprise anyone with our squad or will we continue the way we have with the rest of the group looking at us as easybeats?

I really think we could have a good run at the World cup if we picked the right squad. As it is I'm not even close to being confident of beating Cameroon.

I know people will say I don't see people training - but i'm more concerned that we don't even have the right people in the squad to see training.
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I think every squad member has the ability to pull something out. In saying that the tactics are like shackles on creativity and initiative. We saw against Colombia how we kept ignoring the space and forward options.

I know the USA have their own issues but when I see their midfield and O'Neill and Irvine lose the battles, their attack against our defence still leaves me worried. I see a lot of crosses and cut backs staggering our lines and their very good attackers hitting it first time on target.
 
JS96 said:
I think every squad member has the ability to pull something out. In saying that the tactics are like shackles on creativity and initiative. We saw against Colombia how we kept ignoring the space and forward options.

I know the USA have their own issues but when I see their midfield and O'Neill and Irvine lose the battles, their attack against our defence still leaves me worried. I see a lot of crosses and cut backs staggering our lines and their very good attackers hitting it first time on target.
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I'm assuming Irvine, Souttar and Toure will come back in.

I think the bolded part is what worries me. To my mind we need the defence to be solid. Tick. The mids to be creative and great at feeding quick and skilful forwards. Cross. The forwards to be quick and skilful and willing to take on players 1 v 1. Marginal.

But how do we play. Maybe every member does have the ability to pull something out - but what does that mean. There is no 'cohesive whole' no 'this is how we are going to shock the world'. The squad looks like a squad that says I'm not sure what I'm going to do and not it a good way. There is no plan a, plan b, plan c. This a very patchwork squad.

We need to have multiple ways of playing. A dour Arnold like side to ground out a draw (Turkey) , a quick counter attacking side that can defend well against a very good attack but a less that stellar defence and keepers (USA) and a dominant side that can unlock a stingy defence (Paraguay).

Which is this squad? I would suggest none. This squad is built for a mid-tier football nation that wants to be a mid-tier football nation while talking the big game of a player.

This is not the squad to 'do something special'. This squad has a floor of 4th in the group and a ceiling of R32 exit. We pick the right squad and play the right tactics the floor is we can challenge for top of the group and the ceiling is a quarter final. If Popovic is going to talk a big game at least give us hope that he will deliver on it.
 
There is no one out of the squad who is a game changing player. These are just squabbles about fringe spots and bench minutes.

The best 11 guys are being selected. There is no one on the outer who would dramatically improve our chance to progress (ie playing regularly in a top league or at a big club). It is below average, as it has been at every world cup.
 
Cunningstunt said:
There is no one out of the squad who is a game changing player. These are just squabbles about fringe spots and bench minutes.

The best 11 guys are being selected. There is no one on the outer who would dramatically improve our chance to progress (ie playing regularly in a top league or at a big club). It is below average, as it has been at every world cup.
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It is probably true that the best XI are being selected - but are those XI relevant for all objectives.

Can you answer this question? How does this squad address the dilemma below? That is my big problem with the squad. We are not set up to play any of these ways - but we need to be able to play all these ways.

We need to have multiple ways of playing. A dour Arnold like side to ground out a draw (Turkey) , a quick counter attacking side that can defend well against a very good attack but a less that stellar defence and keepers (USA) and a dominant side that can unlock a stingy defence (Paraguay).
 
patjennings said:
It is probably true that the best XI are being selected - but are those XI relevant for all objectives.

Can you answer this question? How does this squad address the dilemma below? That is my big problem with the squad. We are not set up to play any of these ways - but we need to be able to play all these ways.

We need to have multiple ways of playing. A dour Arnold like side to ground out a draw (Turkey) , a quick counter attacking side that can defend well against a very good attack but a less that stellar defence and keepers (USA) and a dominant side that can unlock a stingy defence (Paraguay).
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If you want to criticise setup and tactics I agree with you.
But even under a different coach the same guys are getting picked because they are the best available. The only differences would be at the fringes, which does not move the needle much.
 
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