Voinjama Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 This is actually the first time they haven't and the main reason is because they (Spain) asked to be included in the qualifiers. Not true. Italy had to qualify for the 2010 world cup. They were in the group with republic of ireland and bulgaria. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rev Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 They did the exact same thing in Cardiff in October. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rev Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 This is actually the first time they haven't and the main reason is because they (Spain) asked to be included in the qualifiers. Not true. Italy had to qualify for the 2010 world cup. They were in the group with republic of ireland and bulgaria. Might be the second time then. It's certainly a recent thing and was introduced at the request of the winners because playing two years of meaningless friendlies while everybody else gets competitive football is not the best way to prepare to defend your title. I think the hosts should always get automatic qualification. A tournament without a home team would be shit and sometimes the country who hosts a tournament might not have a good enough team to qualify for it, but for the defending champions it should be a mere formality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Voinjama Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 Spain may be going into the playoffs. France are running that group. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVFCforever1991 Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 Spain may be going into the playoffs. France are running that group. Hopefully. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rev Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 I can see Spain winning in Paris quite easily though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villaajax Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 This is actually the first time they haven't and the main reason is because they (Spain) asked to be included in the qualifiers. Not true. Italy had to qualify for the 2010 world cup. They were in the group with republic of ireland and bulgaria. Might be the second time then. It's certainly a recent thing and was introduced at the request of the winners because playing two years of meaningless friendlies while everybody else gets competitive football is not the best way to prepare to defend your title. I think the hosts should always get automatic qualification. A tournament without a home team would be shit and sometimes the country who hosts a tournament might not have a good enough team to qualify for it, but for the defending champions it should be a mere formality. From Wikipedia "Until 2002, the defending champions also received an automatic berth, but starting from the 2006 World Cup this is no longer the case." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRS-T Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 Imagine the reaction if England drew with Finland at home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVFCforever1991 Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 (edited) Would love it if both Spain and Portugal failed to qualify for the world cup Edited March 22, 2013 by AVFCforever1991 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarewsEyebrowDesigner Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 I'd hate to see Iniesta and co miss out, but then I remember how they play (the final against Italy aside). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avflife Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 Fletcher off injured within the first five minutes tonight for Scotland Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dont_do_it_doug. Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 Would love it if both Spain and Portugal failed to qualify for the world cup Why? Not having the defending champions there would be horrendous. Portugal too, they're a mainstay. Lets face it, England don't stand a **** chance of winning it, so my vote is always for romance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamieZ Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 (edited) Clint Dempsey finishes a deflected shot from Jozy Altidore to put USA up 1-0 against Costa Rica on a snowy Denver evening. Edited March 23, 2013 by JamieZ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maqroll Posted March 23, 2013 Author Share Posted March 23, 2013 Absolute whiteout conditions in Denver. The Ticos must think they're in a frozen Hell Guzan having no problems at all...25 minutes left Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo985 Posted March 23, 2013 VT Supporter Share Posted March 23, 2013 This is actually the first time they haven't and the main reason is because they (Spain) asked to be included in the qualifiers. Not true. Italy had to qualify for the 2010 world cup. They were in the group with republic of ireland and bulgaria. Might be the second time then. It's certainly a recent thing and was introduced at the request of the winners because playing two years of meaningless friendlies while everybody else gets competitive football is not the best way to prepare to defend your title. I think the hosts should always get automatic qualification. A tournament without a home team would be shit and sometimes the country who hosts a tournament might not have a good enough team to qualify for it, but for the defending champions it should be a mere formality. From Wikipedia "Until 2002, the defending champions also received an automatic berth, but starting from the 2006 World Cup this is no longer the case." Yep, was going to say I'm fairly certain Brazil had to qualify for 2006 and that was the first time it was done. Don't know about the requesting it though, I'll take Rep's word for it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimzk5 Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 (edited) Absolute whiteout conditions in Denver. The Ticos must think they're in a frozen Hell Guzan having no problems at all...25 minutes left yep, pretty horrific conditions Edited March 23, 2013 by Jimzk5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVFCforever1991 Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 Why did they play it in Colorado? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troglodyte Posted March 23, 2013 VT Supporter Share Posted March 23, 2013 (edited) I'd hate to see Iniesta and co miss out, but then I remember how they play other teams play against them (the final against Italy aside). Edited March 23, 2013 by Troglodyte Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Voinjama Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 If Spain didn't qualify, FIFA would find a way to shoe horn them in. You can't have a world cup without the holders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maqroll Posted March 23, 2013 Author Share Posted March 23, 2013 Why did they play it in Colorado? They probably thought that the cold and altitude would give them an advantage over C.R., but I don't think they accounted for a massive snowstorm. Both managers were offered to abandon the game 10 minutes into the 2nd half, but both declined. C.R. were losing at that point, so their manager might live to regret it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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