World Cup playoffs

[plant43]

Originally Posted by on the move

So what? How many of the press pack had their country dumped out of the WC by a handball?

Controversial incidents happen in football, fair enough. But any player can control a ball with his hand and set up his teammate for a tap in. The reason any player doesn't do it, is because it is illegal.

I was at the game. There were 5 offences in that passage of play, 5 injustices that referees/linesmen at the highest level of the game are trained to spot and act upon. The fact that none of them were is unforgiveable. So no, I won't "get over" it. We'll still be complaining about it for years and years to come, as we have every right to do.

Sounds like Costa Rica were dumped out by a bad offside decision.

In any case, if the goal had have been disallowed, I think France would still have scored. They were coming on stronger, Ireland were making more mistakes and not really retaining the ball. France stopped playing once the goal was scored.

Plus any defence with McShane in it is liable to concede at any point.

Joking aside, it looks like FIFA are going to mandate an extra official at either end for the World Cup. I think that's the best outcome we could hope for. Also I think Sepp Blatter said that the qualification process needs to be looked at again, and I think they may do away with playoffs in the future.

[on the move]

Going out to an offside is unlucky, going out to a double deliberate handball is outrageous. France were applying pressure at the time, but if we had held out for another 2 minutes, we could easily have regrouped. When France did score, obviously they were happy to hold onto it.

FIFA won't put extra officials behind the goals at the finals. Personally I don't think putting them there will make any difference. Under the current experiment, nothing has been decided by an extra official.

If they do away with playoffs, that would be a good move. I have always hated them. In Europe, if you finish second in the groups, you shouldn't have to face playoffs as well.

[Thomas Ralph]

Originally Posted by on the move

If they do away with playoffs, that would be a good move. I have always hated them. In Europe, if you finish second in the groups, you shouldn't have to face playoffs as well.

Good in theory, but there aren't enough places available for that. Unless you want to make six groups of nine teams in Europe.

[on the move]

For the last Euro qualifiers, there were no playoffs. The top two all qualified. That's how it should be. Only 1 new country has been admitted since then.

Playoffs are extra stress and expense for everyone involved.

[Thomas Ralph]

There are more spaces in the Euro than the World Cup, although with two hosts to put straight through this time they can't manage it.

[on the move]

There were two hosts last time as well.

Last time, there were 7 qualifying groups. 6 had 7 teams, 1 had 8 teams. 7x2 = 14, +2 hosts = 16 spots. Straight forward.

The same could have been used for the next championships. Instead there'll be 6 groups of 6 teams, and 3 of 5 teams. The best runner up will qualify, the rest will be tossed into the playoff lottery again.

I don't think we'll be "best" runner up somehow.

[Thomas Ralph]

I heard the associations were complaining about having to play 7 away matches in the groups of 8.

[on the move]

Associations will always complain. When we were qualifying for the '94 WC, our association were complaining about being in the only 7 team group. Having to play 7 group games away from home and knowing whether you've made it or not at the end, is better than playing 6 and a playoff.