2014 WC QUAL UEFA GRP A - CRO - SER - BEL - SCO - MAC - WAL

Malko · Post by **Malko** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 10:16

Great. Belgium is back in the game !

nikola_belgrade · Post by **nikola_belgrade** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 11:17

Without quality forward and with Subotić on the bench this defeat is expected.

Though, Belgium surely deserved to win but the result it's too high (plus, third goal is clear offside).

zender · Post by **zender** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 14:00

What about the enigma that is Eden Hazard.
"outstanding" as he is in the premier league with Chelsea, we never see anything of that with the national team.
Yesterday he was arguably the weakest link on the field.
It's like we get a totally different Hazard, A hazard who can't place his mark on the game.
I am wondering if it wouldn't be better to let Hazard start on the bench against Scotland next Tuesday and place Mertens from PSV in the starting 11.

De Bruyne who got his first spot with the starting 11 didn't disappoint and crowned himself as man of the match with an assist and a goal.

Serbia are going to get there don't you worry, they are going through some growing pains right now.

patje13 · Post by **patje13** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 14:22

Go Belgium !!!
Impressive result, against an impressive opponent. bar and goalie kept us in the match the first 15 minutes; second half was ours !! and, indeed, third goal clearly outside

I actually start to dream that this time, qualification football won't end up as a big disappointment. It looks like belgium, croatia and serbia will go for the first three places. Our advantage: we played against both of them !! Hope they will draw their both matches.

I'm curious about the level of Schotland, our next opponent in Brussels. losing for them means a very very very long campaign without any perspective. their match of the last chance; always tricky.

naaba · Post by **naaba** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 16:28

For the discharge of Hazard : he had 2 or 3 players on him the whole match, freeing up space for the rest of the team. So again, thankless job but still useful for the team. Though he could do better (as in Chelsea or when in Lille), of course.

Malko · Post by **Malko** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 19:13

Concerning Eden hazard, it was the same when he played in Lille. He never could gat to that level with the National team, but this was because that time the national team was not as good as now. i suppose he soon will play well with the Diables Rouges.

nogomet · Post by **nogomet** » Tue Oct 16, 2012 20:49

Ball possession at half time:
Croatia: 72%
Wales: 28%

Goal shots (on target):
Croatia: 10 (7)
Wales: 1 (0)

Lyonnais · Post by **Lyonnais** » Tue Oct 16, 2012 20:55

naaba wrote:For the discharge of Hazard : he had 2 or 3 players on him the whole match, freeing up space for the rest of the team. So again, thankless job but still useful for the team. Though he could do better (as in Chelsea or when in Lille), of course.

probably true but Hazard has often disappointed in the big games (in CL with Lille or with Belgium in international games). If he really is at the level some expect him to be it's now time to show it at international level.

Michael S Collins · Post by **Michael S Collins** » Wed Oct 17, 2012 01:48

I hate football.

FFS I could do a better job of managing Scotland than bloody Levein.

zender · Post by **zender** » Wed Oct 17, 2012 04:45

Both ex Genk players did it again just like against Serbia and broke the game open against Scotland.
De Bruyne with the assist and Benteke with the header.
Kompany decided the game with a beautiful goal 2 minutes later after the opening goal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESFbcZ4UNdI

It's becoming more and more clear now that it is going to be a fight between Croatia and Belgium.

patje13 · Post by **patje13** » Wed Oct 17, 2012 12:23

The first two are already known after 4 matchdays.

Belgium is on its way to Brazil; I'm certain

nogomet · Post by **nogomet** » Fri Feb 22, 2013 10:22

Ticket sale for the "match of the decade" started and ended yesterday in Croatia. All tickets have been sold/distributed and Maksimir will be packed (35.000) on March 22.

People waited the whole night in front of ticket offices, which opened at 9 AM. My friend specifically waited 14 hours (from midnight to 2 PM) and got the ticket at the last moment before they announced that there are no tickets left. Fans are furious because it seems that HNS has put only 12.000 tickets through the free sale (internet sale and ticket offices), while remaining 23.000 they distributed to players, sponsors, local county football associations, "football family", etc.

bugylibicska · Post by **bugylibicska** » Tue Mar 19, 2013 05:33

I`ve predicted a Croatia first place, but not so sure anymore, since Belgium looks very strong! This really looks like a two horse race, none of them can afford to drop points. If Belgium wins in Macedonia and Croatia in Wales (I expect them to win their home games) the chances are very close. (I`ll watch the Croatia-Serbia derby!)

nogomet · Post by **nogomet** » Wed Mar 20, 2013 00:08

Croatia have never won all of their home games in one qualifying campaign, so I wouldn't count on it this time either. Serbia match on Friday looks very tricky. Everybody here is so optimistic given the recent form of our key players Modric and Mandzukic, and the stakes are very high, more psychologically than in terms of qualification. Croatia have more quality, that's for sure, but can they withstand the pressure of the whole nation demanding and expecting the victory? This is still more than a regular match for Croats, it has been the main topic in the media for weeks, and our team has a history of not performing well when the expectations are high. Very tricky match...

I somehow found my way to the ticket and will be watching it from the Maksimir stadium. Looking forward to it. I think it's THE match of the day in whole Europe.

JPV · Post by **JPV** » Fri Mar 22, 2013 09:02

Inter Omnes, Belgae fortissimi sunt ("of all those, the Belgians are the bravest")

(c) Julius Caesar, "De Bello Gallico".

Why?

FIFA Ranking:
month year rank-european rank
JAN 2010 68-35
JAN 2011 58-33
JAN 2012 40-24
JAN 2013 20-13
APR 2013 19-12

Other countries current ranking:
rank - eur. rank country
9- 7 Croatia
19- 12 Belgium
35- 21 Serbia
66- 31 Scotland
71- 33 Wales
73- 34 FYR Macedonia

Transfermarkt.de value:
1 Spain € 630.000.000
2 Germany € 470.000.000
3 Argentina € 410.750.000
4 Brasil € 395.000.000
5 Italy € 373.000.000
6 England € 368.500.000
7 France € 358.000.000
8 Belgium € 337.000.000
9 Portugal € 307.200.000
10 Netherlands € 206.000.000
11 Russia € 195.800.000
13 Croatia € 180.500.000
17 Serbia € 148.950.000
24 Wales € 105.450.000
25 Scotland € 104.850.000
62 Macedonia € 28.100.000

And most important, this:
http://sotb.bluefields.com/sotb-topics/ ... world-cup/
http://footballspeak.com/post/2012/09/0 ... ation.aspx