Road to the World Cup (WC 2010)

[pfeifere1]

With only one team qualifying for the World Cup from each group, this will be intense!

Group C is loaded and its a shame that one of the three top 32 teams in the world won't make the WC.

Should be finishing this up this weekend(as I'm doubtful I'll qualify!)....so that means it is time to start thinking about what team I will be next in my journey! Suggestions are more than welcome!

[pfeifere1]

World Cup Qualifier

March 28, 2009
Blantyre, Malawi

Malawi 1-3 Tanzania

11' R. Mwafulirwa (J. Kamwendu) - MWI
24' H. Shindika (D. Mrwanda) - TAN
32' J. Tegete (H. Shindika) - TAN
75' S. Nsajigwa (G. Namwandu) - TAN



5 Shots 13
4 SOG 9
46% Possession 54%

Stage Three of the CAF World Cup Qualifying started off poorly for Tanzania as they came into Malawi needing a result of some sort if they wanted to have a chance of advancing to the World Cup. In the 11th minute Mwafulirwa headed home a goal to give the hosts a 1-0 advantage. It didn't take long for Tanzania to wake up and join the game. In the 24th minute Shindika collected the ball in the middle of the field and let fly a 20 yard shot that flew into the far side netting to even the score. Just 8 minutes later Tegete was able to find himself on the scorers sheet for the first time since coming back from his hamstring injury with a headed home rebound from Shindika's initial shot that was saved by the Malawi keeper. The insurance, and goal differential, goal came in the 75th minute with defensive midfielder Nsajigwa for his first goal of the qualifying campaign. He received the ball from Namwandu, a defender who was up for the corner kick, and lofted a perfectly placed ball with his left foot over the helpless keeper from 25 yards out. Nobody expected the shot, especially the keeper, who was caught wrong-footed. Elsewhere in Group A, Ghana and Mali drew 2-2 in Ghana. Mali went up early 2-0, but couldn't hold on as Ghana fought back for a tough point apiece. This leads to Tanzania as your Group A leaders after Matchday 1.





Group A

1. Tanzania 1-0-0 3pts.
2. Mali 0-1-0 1pt.
3. Ghana 0-1-0 1pt.
4. Malawi 0-0-1 0pts.

[pfeifere1]

Friendly
May 9, 2009
Dar El Salaam, Tanzania
Tanzania 0-1 Latvia

90' G. Solonicins (A. Pereplotkins) - LVA



8 Shots 6
4 SOG 4
48% Possession 52%

Coach Pfeifer thought it would be a great idea to bring in an out of continent opponent to see a different style of play during the latest friendly against Latvia. Latvia, who currently sit in great position of Group B in their UEFA World Cup Qualifying campaign, have 11 points, 2 behind group leader Israel and even with Switzerland. It was a great idea as Tanzania and Latvia fought back and forth with a goal finally coming in the 90th minute off a wonder-strike from midfielder Solonicins from Latvia. This great competitive match encouraged Coach Pfeifer to schedule other out of continent opponents with the next two opponents being China and Qatar. The next match takes Tanzania to China who bowed out of the AFC World Cup Qualifying in Stage 3 as they finished with 8 points, one behind Qatar who moved on with their second place finish.

[pfeifere1]

Friendly
June 3, 2009
Beijing, China
China PR 1-1 Tanzania

40' Qu Bo (Gao Lin) - CHN
55' J. Tegete (D. Mrwanda) - TAN



8 Shots 11
2 SOG 5
47% Possession 53%

Another fantastic friendly for Tanzania to be a part of. It has been refreshing to see them go outside the CAF to find competition elsewhere. In Beijing, Tanzania were able to hold the Chinese star forward Qu Bo to only one goal from his 3 shots. His lone goal came in the 40th minute on a breakaway goal. He used his blazing speed to get behind the injury riddled Tanzanian backline and slotted home the goal under the arms of the backup keeper for Tanzania. Tanzania were able to level the match in the 55th minute from a Tegete goal off a feed from Mrwanda. Tegete blasted home the one-timed shot for his second goal in three matches. Up next is a home match with group favorites Ghana.

[pfeifere1]

World Cup Qualifier

June 7, 2009
Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

Tanzania 1-2 Ghana

3' H. Shindika (D. Mrwanda) - TAN
5' K. Asamoah (S. Appiah) - GHA
69' K. Asamoah (S. Muntari) - GHA



14 Shots 21
7 SOG 14
48% Possession 52%

A promising start after a 3rd minute goal by Shindika was immediately cancelled out by Asamoah's first in the 5th minute. The game remained tied at 1-1 until the 69th minute when Asamoah connected on Muntari's cross as he headed home the important 3 away points for Ghana, who are now ahead of Tanzania by 1 point, and only behind Mali by goal differential. After the game the Tanzanian supporters were seen celebrating as they have never been this competitive in any qualifying campaign. All is not lost, but it will certainly be an uphill struggle for the top spot in Group A.



Group A

1. Mali 1-1-0 4pts. (+3)
2. Ghana 1-1-0 4pts. (+1)
3. Tanzania 1-0-1 3pts.
4. Malawi 0-0-2 0pts.

Malawi 1-3 Tanzania
Ghana 2-2 Mali

Mali 3-0 Malawi
Tanzania 1-2 Ghana

[AdamJones113]

Quote: Originally Posted by pfeifere1

Friendly May 9, 2009 Dar El Salaam, Tanzania Tanzania 0-1 Latvia 90' G. Solonicins (A. Pereplotkins) - LVA 8 Shots 6 4 SOG 4 48% Possession 52% Coach Pfeifer thought it would be a great idea to bring in an out of continent opponent to see a different style of play during the latest friendly against Latvia. Latvia, who currently sit in great position of Group B in their UEFA World Cup Qualifying campaign, have 11 points, 2 behind group leader Israel and even with Switzerland. It was a great idea as Tanzania and Latvia fought back and forth with a goal finally coming in the 90th minute off a wonder-strike from midfielder Solonicins from Latvia. This great competitive match encouraged Coach Pfeifer to schedule other out of continent opponents with the next two opponents being China and Qatar. The next match takes Tanzania to China who bowed out of the AFC World Cup Qualifying in Stage 3 as they finished with 8 points, one behind Qatar who moved on with their second place finish.

Nice to see a friendly against a European team. Also good to see Israel in serious contention!
You probably mentioned this earlier, but I am too lazy to go back: what console/settings/game/rosters are you using?
Nice job so far with Tanzania, despite overwhelming odds against you.

[pfeifere1]

Quote: Originally Posted by AdamJones113

Nice to see a friendly against a European team. Also good to see Israel in serious contention! You probably mentioned this earlier, but I am too lazy to go back: what console/settings/game/rosters are you using? Nice job so far with Tanzania, despite overwhelming odds against you.

Thanks for the follow! It was refreshing to play outside of the CAF. Yea...Israel has 13 points and are closely followed by Switzerland and Latvia with 11. If I had to guess, I think Switzerland will take that group, although Israel should be able to grab the play-off spot!

I'm using World Cup 2010 on the 360 with Legendary difficulty and the standard rosters...don't think you could ever update those rosters and if so, the servers are no longer open anyway.

Again, thanks for the follow...do you have any suggestions as to who to play with next? Remember it needs to be a country that hasn't made it to the World Cup yet.

[AdamJones113]

I'm thinking maybe an Asian or South American team, like Laos or something.