World Cup Qualifiers

[Shocker]

US down 1-0 already

[Goondal]

CAF had their fourth of six match days this round and things have really come into focus.

Group A: Tunisia (10 points) is in great shape with only DR Congo (7) within striking distance and no head-to-head remaining.  As long as they gain four points against the bottom two (@Guinea and Libya) then they are home

Group B: Nigeria (10 points) and Zambia (7) are the only two with a shot.  They do have a head-to-head in Nigeria up next and Nigeria leads GD by five (+7 against +2).  Zambia would still get by with a one goal victory but would need help from bottom of the group Algeria on the final weekend.  Their best chance is to beat Nigeria on Oct 7 by 3+

Group C:  Much more competitive.  Ivory Coast (7 points, +4), Morocco (6, +6) and the team I am rooting for, Gabon (5, -2) are all right there.  Morocco does control their own destiny with head-to-head against both while the other two get to play Mali, who is still technically alive at two points, but not really

Group D: Best competition by far.  Personal favorite Burkina Faso (6, +2) lead Cape Verde (6, -2) on GD and both Senegal (5, +1) and South Africa (4, -1) are very much alive.  Burkina Faso is done with Senegal, same for Cape Verde and South Africa

Group E: Egypt (9, +3) is in control here and while Uganda (7, +1) and Ghana (5, +2) are still breathing, neither control their own destiny.  Egypt has Ghana and Congo (one point) to close qualification

[Borat]

30 minutes ago, Shocker said:

US down 1-0 already

Not looking good. 

[Goondal]

US looks horrible right now.  No possession at all

[Shocker]

5 minutes ago, Borat said:

Not looking good. 

Gonzalez looks really bad right now.  

[Goondal]

CB play has been ugly during both games

[Shocker]

Another pass back to the keeper.  They look atrocious right now.

[Goondal]

Thank you Bobby!!!

[Goondal]

Did they call a foul on Pulisic there?

[Shocker]

Probably he hasnt gotten a call tonight.

[Shocker]

Great result, but man we have to get a lot better than that.

[Goondal]

That was an embarrassing performance, but the result is what was needed.  With the schedule the way it is there is very little chance of finishing fifth and still control their own destiny for top three.

I am not a fan of the Panama game being in Orlando.  Why would we want to play them in a hot/humid environment?  Should be in somewhere that will make Panama feel uncomfortable.

[Borat]

It would be a disaster to have to play a playoff, but even if we avoid it, we're not playing well enough to merit any sort of optimism. 

[Goondal]

Chile lost away to Bolivia while Argentina managed only a draw while hosting Venezuela. Worst two teams in COMNEBOL creating chaos.

Brazil (37 points) is in while Uruguay (27) and Colombia (26) have put themselves in position.  Then it gets interesting.

Peru (24, +1) has the current tiebreak over Argentina (24, +1) due to goals scored.  Argentina has only sixteen goals in as many games.  Chile (23, +1) meanwhile sit a point back.  That is right, with two matches to play Peru is in, Argentina to the tiebreak, and back-to-back Copa America winners and Confederations Cup runner-up Chile is out.  They still control their own destiny to a playoff however as Peru visits Argentina next so at least one of them will drop points.

Paraguay (21, -6) and Ecuador (20, EV) are still technically alive.