FIFA World Cup Qualifiers 19/11

[Napoleon Solo]

06:00	New Zealand	Fiji
15:00	Bahrain	Australia
16:15	United Arab Emirates	Iran
16:30	Qatar	Japan
16:35	Saudi Arabia	South Korea
18:30	San Marino	Czech Rep.
19:30	Surinam	Haiti
01:00	Honduras	Mexico
01:00	Jamaica	Canada
01:00	Trinidad & Tobago	Cuba
01:00	USA	Guatemala
01:30	El Salvador	Costa Rica

[MickeyPaul]

W Cup Cent American Qual

19 Nov 19:30 Surinam v Haiti 2.40 3.25 2.90
20 Nov 00:00 Trinidad & Tobago v Cuba 1.28 5.50 10.00
20 Nov 01:00 Jamaica v Canada 1.44 4.33 7.00
20 Nov 01:00 USA v Guatemala 1.40 4.50 8.00
20 Nov 01:30 El Salvador v Costa Rica 2.50 3.25 2.80

W Cup Asian Qual

19 Nov 15:00 Bahrain v Australia 4.33 3.40 1.85
19 Nov 15:15 United Arab Emirates v Iran 4.00 3.30 2.00
19 Nov 16:30 Qatar v Japan 3.30 3.25 2.20
19 Nov 16:30 Saudi Arabia v South Korea 2.30 3.25 3.10

W Cup Oceania Qual

19 Nov 00:00 New Zealand v Fiji 1.50 4.33 6.00

World Cup Qualifying Euro

19 Nov 18:30 San Marino v Czech Republic 51.00 15.00 1.02

Odds from bet365

[Napoleon Solo]

I'll put some odds up for those if I get some time later (unless someone else wants to do it for me )

Anyway, the reason I put the matches up are that one of the games stands out for me when you consider various factors.

New Zealand v Fiji (or should that be Fiji v New Zealand???)

This is a pretty meaningless game for both sides. New Zealand have already qualified for the World Cup playoff place against the fifth best Asian team, doing so with a so far perfect record of five wins from five games. Fiji, conversely, can't qualify and are only playing for pride and the chance not to finish bottom of the group. They've also lost both away games so far, to the mighty footballing nations of New Caledonia and Vanuatu.

This match was supposed to be played last October but, due to a visa problem with the Fijian goalkeeper, when he was refused entry to New Zealand after it was discovered a family member had unfavourable military ties, was postponed by FIFA. The match was rescheduled for so long afterwards when tension between the two nations came to a head over the incident. It was also thought scheduling the match in Fiji was the better option in order to avoid a similar incident. So, this is a Fijian away game, being played at home, in the stifling Fijian heat.

The Fijian coach Juan Carlos Buzzetti has stated the Fiji will field their strongest team as they see this as an important game for the island nation. They do have a few injury concerns, but all their most important players are expected to be passed fit in time for the match.

New Zealand have different ideas about this game as they name a squad full of young domestic based players as coach Ricki Herbert looks to build for the future. Neither of the strikers has played internationally before while at least four other players are expected to make their first start for their country. Add to this the fact that the team have flown out yesterday and aren't expected to train together as a team before the match, a walk over Churchill Park being their only likely preperation.

Considering everything above, the 8.00 on offer at Paddy Power seems rather generous, as does the 3.00 on offer for a Fiji win or Draw.

Fiji to beat New Zealand @ 8.00 - 1 point (PaddyPower)
Fiji to win or draw @ 3.00 - 1 point (PaddyPower)

[Napoleon Solo]

Cheers Mickey!

[Napoleon Solo]

Of the Asian qualifiers, which I'll look at in more detail should I have time:

Qatar have a very good record against Japan, who were quite frankly shit in their last game against Uzbekistan.

Both Bahrain and Australia are beset by injuries!

As too are Saudi Arabia, who host South Korea. They're very short on attacking players and could well struggle to trouble the solid South Korean backline.

Iran should probably beat UAE.

[daikoku]

Bahrain v Australia

It's World Cup Qualifier time in asia and the Socceroos will travel to the Persian Gulf for a match with group counterparts Bahrain. Both sides have played 2 matches so far with contrasting results. Australia sit at the top of the group with a maximum of 6 points. Their home win against Qatar was not unexpected, but they'll have been releived to come away with all 3 points in a potential banana skin game away to Uzbekistan. The hosts are already in trouble, with only 1 point gained away to neighbours Qatar after defeat at the hands of Japan in the first match.

The importance of this match has not been lost on Bahrain's Czech coach Milan Micala, "We cannot lose and we know how important this game is". Fighting talk, but With only 2 teams qualifying from the 5 team group it already looks like a miracle will be needed.

Preparations for the fixture have been far from ideal as the home side lost to Saudi Arabia in a recent friendly. That result is the least of coach Micala's problems. Bahrain will be missing 4 regulars due to suspension for this match: key midfielder Mohammed Salmeen, Abdulla Omar, Mahmood Jalal and defender Abdulla Al Marzooqi. All 4 players have played the first two qualifying games.

Australia are looking pretty healthy in terms of available personnel for this match. Scott Chipperfield is out due to injury and Vince Grella looks doubtful but everyone else is available.

The quality of Bahrain's football has undoubtably progressed in recent years. Nevertheless, I just can't see them getting a result against a virtually full strength Australian team when they've got key players missing.

Pick: 6.5 units on Australia(-0.5) @ 1.88

[daikoku]

Originally Posted by daikoku

Australia are looking pretty healthy in terms of available personnel for this match. Scott Chipperfield is out due to injury and Vince Grella looks doubtful but everyone else is available.

Not quite accurate as Scott McDonald and Brett Emerton will also miss out. However I stand by the pick and the stakes.

[discodave]

at least six aussies have pulled out kewell chipperfield emerton are their main strikers ? dunno, aussies only need a draw and most of em cant be bothered to turn up thats got to be a worry when your doing an away side, japan looks like they pummelled bahrain going 3-0 up then in the 87th minute bahrain scored then 89 mins a japan own goal to end it 2-3 bahrain have to win this else they are out i believe, this doesnt look as one sided thou as i first thought but then again surely the aussies will beat who? i was going to have a big single on these but i think i might wait till the in running and if the aussies look strong then i may as well do them to score the next goal your bound to get the same price as an outright aussie win and at least you can see if the ausssies are bothered

[discodave]

new zealand fiji

if new zealand are going to be fielding a totally young and inexperinced side napoleon surely your not going to get too many opportunities at an 8/1 shot if i liked it that much id max out the only way to get ahead fast sometimes im sure the price scares people off it does me sometimes and i end up putting 100 quid on a 1/2 shot and not the 8/1

not sure the heat will be a factor maybe the kids will tire second half thou like the bet thou good find

[rcgills]

It's just finished now, Dave, Fiji won 2-0.

Cracking stuff, Napoleon Saw your post about 20 mins before the game started too, so had a little interest on the straight win and the double chance, so thanks

Had Futbol24 on to follow the score, when the game was nearly over, heard the "Ping" to say a goal had been scored, was dreading seeing a New Zealand equaliser, but it was a 90th minute goal for Fiji.

[daikoku]

Originally Posted by discodave

at least six aussies have pulled out kewell chipperfield emerton are their main strikers ?

Kewell should definitely play dave. It's thought that Pim Verbeek will play an attacking quartet, Cahill and Josh Kennedy as the main strikers with Kewell and Bresciano on the flanks.

[discodave]

ok i just read it on a website said bresciano and kewell were not playing thats all hopefully your right as ive done australia now anyway

[discodave]

yeah i read it wrong i found the right page now read it too quickly sorry

[discodave]

didnt know it had already kicked off, im not with any bookie offering it ,glad it won thou

[discodave]

australia playing crap should be at least one down possibly 3 they had 2 shots first half of what i saw one was a sort of scramble and the other shot ended up a throw in level of bahrains box they picked up a little bit in last 5 minutes hopefully the manager will earn his sheckles and get them playing in the second half