*The Road to Brazil 2014* WC 2014 Qualifying Discussion

[Whitesox]

We didn't have a concrete thread for qualifying last year, and since the preliminary draw was made tonight, I figured that, if one was to exist, now was the time to make one. I figure we can use this for qualifying discussion and then when the final draw is made a new thread can be created; hopefully things will be tidier.

The following pictures outline the qualifying rules for each confederation as well as show the draw. They were cropped out of the .pdf file on FIFA's website, available here. I'll be updating these as qualifying progresses, as well.

General and Intercontinental Playoff:

Spoiler

African Zone:

Spoiler

Asian Zone:

Spoiler

European Zone:

Spoiler

North, Central America and the Caribbean Zone:

Spoiler

Oceanian Zone:

Spoiler

South American Zone:

Spoiler

[Whitesox]

Re: *The Road to Brazil 2014* WC 2014 Qualifying Discussion

Teams Qualified

African Zone

Asian Zone

European Zone

North, Central American and the Caribbean Zone

Oceanian Zone

South Ameican Zone
Brazil (Hosts)

Total Teams Qualified: 1/32

[peigone]

Re: *The Road to Brazil 2014* WC 2014 Qualifying Discussion

I really don't understand why there isn't some kind of backlash or revolt against the obvious ineptitude of FIFA and the people who set up the WC tournament. It's the same ill-conceived organizational nonsense every time. You have 53 European teams fighting for 13 spots, meaning 25% of those teams get in. Meanwhile, 4 of the 9 South American teams get in, or 44% of the teams taking part. The discrepency here defies any sane or logical explanation.

It was especially noticable last WC when I compared a list of the teams taking part with the FIFA world standings. It was shocking how many of the world's top teams weren't in the tournament. In that regard the WC is like the MLB allstar game, where a sizable % of the game's best don't even take part. The only people worse at what they do are the organizational dummies who set up the Stanley Cup playoffs, where Montreal and Toronto never have the opportunity to play each other in the finals, lol.

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: *The Road to Brazil 2014* WC 2014 Qualifying Discussion

It's always shocking when I see Canada stomp another team.

In the first 2 WC Qualifying games, Canada has outscored their opponent 7-1. Winning 2 out of the last 4 games might be enough to win the Group and advance to the next stage. Canada caught a huge break with the groups. We won't have to face the US or Mexico until the final round of qualifying (assuming we make it this far).

I wish David Hoilett will make up his mind and finally decide what Country he wants to play for, Canada or Jamaica. He grew up in Ontario so I feel like he should play for Canada. I'm not a soccer expert but the fact he plays in the EPL tells me he's probably the best Canadian player in the world.

[Whitesox]

Re: *The Road to Brazil 2014* WC 2014 Qualifying Discussion

It's always shocking when I see Canada stomp another team.

In the first 2 WC Qualifying games, Canada has outscored their opponent 7-1. Winning 2 out of the last 4 games might be enough to win the Group and advance to the next stage. Canada caught a huge break with the groups. We won't have to face the US or Mexico until the final round of qualifying (assuming we make it this far).

I wish David Hoilett will make up his mind and finally decide what Country he wants to play for, Canada or Jamaica. He grew up in Ontario so I feel like he should play for Canada. I'm not a soccer expert but the fact he plays in the EPL tells me he's probably the best Canadian player in the world.

To me, the stars seem to be aligned for Canada to steal a spot in Brazil. You've got an easy round 2 draw (obviously), and a relatively easy round 3 draw.

Their group stands to look like:
Honduras (weakest of top 3)
Cuba (weakest of 4-6)
Panama
Canada

If they slip by, then all they need to do is finish 4th or better out of 6 in the final round, and they'll earn either a direct birth or, if they finish fourth, the next best thing, a playoff against the Oceanic team that survives their qualifying.

[RoyceDa59]

Re: *The Road to Brazil 2014* WC 2014 Qualifying Discussion

It's always shocking when I see Canada stomp another team.

In the first 2 WC Qualifying games, Canada has outscored their opponent 7-1. Winning 2 out of the last 4 games might be enough to win the Group and advance to the next stage. Canada caught a huge break with the groups. We won't have to face the US or Mexico until the final round of qualifying (assuming we make it this far).

I wish David Hoilett will make up his mind and finally decide what Country he wants to play for, Canada or Jamaica. He grew up in Ontario so I feel like he should play for Canada. I'm not a soccer expert but the fact he plays in the EPL tells me he's probably the best Canadian player in the world.

Hoilett is okay he hasn't established himself enough in the EPL but I feel there are much better Canadian born players than him. Paul Stalteri had a good stint in the Bundesliga and did okay in the EPL. Jonathan de Guzmán is one play I would like to see play for Canada, he is really talented but he has been playing for the Netherlands youth squad.

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: *The Road to Brazil 2014* WC 2014 Qualifying Discussion

Hoilett is okay he hasn't established himself enough in the EPL but I feel there are much better Canadian born players than him. Paul Stalteri had a good stint in the Bundesliga and did okay in the EPL. Jonathan de Guzmán is one play I would like to see play for Canada, he is really talented but he has been playing for the Netherlands youth squad.

Do you know why Stalteri isn't on Team Canada?

I've never heard of Jonathan de Guzmán but I know his older brother plays for Team Canada. I wish all these guys that were born in Canada would actually play for Canada. We can add Teal Bunbury to this list. His father is one of the best Canadian players of all-time so you would think he would nudge his son to play for Canada.

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: *The Road to Brazil 2014* WC 2014 Qualifying Discussion

To me, the stars seem to be aligned for Canada to steal a spot in Brazil. You've got an easy round 2 draw (obviously), and a relatively easy round 3 draw.

Their group stands to look like:
Honduras (weakest of top 3)
Cuba (weakest of 4-6)
Panama
Canada

If they slip by, then all they need to do is finish 4th or better out of 6 in the final round, and they'll earn either a direct birth or, if they finish fourth, the next best thing, a playoff against the Oceanic team that survives their qualifying.

I'm not a big soccer fan but I love the World Cup. I would be thrilled if I could watch Canada play in 2014. Canada has only made it once (1986) and they were badly outplayed in every match.

It seems like Canada always has trouble scoring against decent to good teams. Another issue is that most of the home games feel road games for Canada because the stands are filled with people rooting for the other Country (I think the US has this problem too, especially in the last Gold Cup Finals against Mexico).

[PeruvianPlaya954]

Re: *The Road to Brazil 2014* WC 2014 Qualifying Discussion

It's always shocking when I see Canada stomp another team.

In the first 2 WC Qualifying games, Canada has outscored their opponent 7-1. Winning 2 out of the last 4 games might be enough to win the Group and advance to the next stage. Canada caught a huge break with the groups. We won't have to face the US or Mexico until the final round of qualifying (assuming we make it this far).

I wish David Hoilett will make up his mind and finally decide what Country he wants to play for, Canada or Jamaica. He grew up in Ontario so I feel like he should play for Canada. I'm not a soccer expert but the fact he plays in the EPL tells me he's probably the best Canadian player in the world.

Yeah, Canada had it rough last go-around with a group consisting of Jamaica, Mexico and Honduras in the third round. That said, Canada has been so, so underwhelming for so long.

[RoyceDa59]

Re: *The Road to Brazil 2014* WC 2014 Qualifying Discussion

Do you know why Stalteri isn't on Team Canada?

I've never heard of Jonathan de Guzmán but I know his older brother plays for Team Canada. I wish all these guys that were born in Canada would actually play for Canada. We can add Teal Bunbury to this list. His father is one of the best Canadian players of all-time so you would think he would nudge his son to play for Canada.

Stalteri is a free agent, I don't see him getting called to the team unless he gets signed and gets regular games. However, it would be nice to see Canada qualify for 2014 World Cup as I usually end up rooting for Netherlands seeing my grandparents and my father is originally from there.

[Ermolli]

Re: *The Road to Brazil 2014* WC 2014 Qualifying Discussion

Uruguay won almost an hour ago 4-2 against Bolivia. The field wasn't in good conditions (it has been raining since last night) but we played very well, the two goal difference doesn't reflect how the game was played. The ref performance wasn't good, he helped us sometimes (Palito should have left with a red card and maybe someone else and the Bolivian penalty was a joke).
I'll later post the highlights of the game. I wanted to go to the stadium but the prices were too high and it was raining a lot for moments.

Argentina-Chile in an hour and something.

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: *The Road to Brazil 2014* WC 2014 Qualifying Discussion

Canada thumps St. Lucia 7-0 on the road and than ties Puerto Rico 0-0 at Home. Puerto Rico needed to win the game to stay alive but they just played for the tie which doesn't make any sense.

On the positive side, we only need 1 point in the remaining 2 games to advance to the next stage in World Cup qualifying.

[Ermolli]

Re: *The Road to Brazil 2014* WC 2014 Qualifying Discussion

We were winning last night against Paraguay until the last play when they scored on a corner play :/

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: *The Road to Brazil 2014* WC 2014 Qualifying Discussion

I watched the Canada vs. Armenia game today and Canada was dominated after the first 15 minutes. Armenia is ranked 41st in the World which is better than the 3 teams will we face in the next round of WC qualifying (Panama/49,Honduras/59,Cuba/116).

Klukowski was brutal coughing up the ball time and time again. Jackson barely got to touch the ball. Overall it was a really bad performance and the game could have easily been 5-1 instead of 3-1. Sportsnet reported Stephan Hart talked to Jonathan De Guzman in Spain recently and there's a chance he might play for Canada. I'm not a Soccer expert but people are saying if joined the national team he would be the best player on the team.

Our next friendly is against USA in June. I don't even remember the last time we beat the US.

[~LiverpoolRed~]

Re: *The Road to Brazil 2014* WC 2014 Qualifying Discussion

I gotta say Canada has done well so far. 4 points so far from two tough games. The real test will be Panama who have started strong. A slip up for the USA in Guatemala was surprising. They are now level on points with Jamaica.