World Cup 2010 Blog: “Euro 2012 Qualifying Matchday Preview” plus 1 more |  |
| Euro 2012 Qualifying Matchday Preview Posted: 11 Oct 2010 03:31 PM PDT
Euro 2012 qualifiers are back one last time, and with Friday serving as the hors d’ourvres to Tuesday’s meaty entree. There were a few delectable delights pre-weekend – and a couple during – but this lineup feels real, as though a number of these games could be dropped into the Euro 2012 knockouts without skipping a beat. Italy v Serbia? Ireland v Slovakia? Netherlands v Sweden? England v a pants-less Montenegro? Sumptuous. Save for the last part. Belgium v Austria
Belgium v Austria Game to Watch: Belgium v Austria Battle of the misleading early schedules: Austria is 2-0-0, 5, 0 while Belgium has lost two of three. Austria’s played Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan while Belgium’s two losses have come against Germany and in Istanbul, leading to the age-old question: Is it better to get the tough games done with early, or cushion the schedule and ego with some fish-in-a-barrel action? We shall find out.
Armenia v Andorra It’s far too early for must-win games, but with Slovakia, Ireland and Russia all tied at the top at six points over three games – particularly with Russia regaining some footing with a win in Dublin on Friday – and a trio of beatable opponents at the bottom of the group, the games between these three may decide the group in the end, regardless of its date on the calendar. Might be the closest thing we get to squeaky bum time for six months to a year. Italy v Serbia Neither team had particularly enjoyable Friday evenings – Italy drawing with Northern Ireland and Serbia on the wrong end of a 3-1 with Estonia in Belgrade – but they’re still the two “name” teams of the group and the favorites to assume spots 1 & 2 when qualification is at its end. Plus they’re just “names”, and that’s part of the fun. Belarus v Albania Finland v Hungary Eighteen months ago this would’ve been an intriguing battle in which Sweden had a prayer; now it’ll require nothing short of an upset. Still a good game, however – and safer, too, sans De Jong. Latvia v Georgia England v Montenegro But more importantly: will Mirko Vucinic keep his pants on? You’d be amazed as to the genuineness of that question. Iceland v Portugal Liechtenstein v Czech Republic
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| Japan Wants 400 World Cups Simultaneously Via Hologram Posted: 11 Oct 2010 09:49 AM PDT
But the rumblings surrounding Japan’s proposed bid were the real prize; a treasure chest of possibilities which would not only spur the World Cup forward, but the very state of sport. The details of their technological revolution are leaking, and to put it bluntly: it’s just stupidly good.
Whether or not it’s feasible in just over a decade, particularly when being run by an organization which won’t hit rewind on the VCR to determine a correct call, is up for debate. Doesn’t really matter, though; time for all the other World Cup 2022 bids (that’s you, United States) to applaud, pack it up and saunter on home. (Still holding out for Japan-Qatar 2022, however.)
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