World Cup: 2018 WC Qualifiers Part II

TheMoreYouKnow

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May 3, 2007
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A special **** You to Jogi Loew here for blackballing guys like Kiessling and Kruse and then playing a guy like Wagner, an average BuLi striker and very poor man's Kevin Kuranyi.
 

HajdukSplit

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Nov 9, 2005
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Lewandowski hattrick (two penalty kicks) as Poland look certain for the World Cup, six point lead on the chasing pack with 4 matches to go
 

HajdukSplit

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Nov 9, 2005
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Group C
Germany as expected hammer San Marino, Northern Ireland with a massive result in Baku winning 1:0 with a final minute goal. Norway-Czech share the points in a result which is no good for either team. Norway is practically eliminated from the World Cup while the Czechs are four points behind N. Ireland in 2nd. Germany not only remain perfect, only team in Europe along with the Swiss

Group E
Poland are in good shape to qualify for the World Cup after their 3:1 win over Romania, they have six points advantage over Montenegro and Denmark who also won today. Montenegro and Denmark joint 2nd, but Montenegro have a better goal difference.

Group F
Harry Kane's 93rd minute goal rescues a point for England which keeps them in good shape to qualify, had they lost the group would have been thrown on its head. Slovakia and Slovenia both beat the minnows of the group and keep pace with England however both still have to go to Wembley. Slovakia four points back of the playoff spot with a poor GD as well, they have little room for error. They need six points from their two matches in September (Lithuania away; Malta home) anything less and they pretty much out. Along with Group C anther group that potentially will be the worst runner-up
 

gary69

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Sep 22, 2004
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Then and there

When he was a Bayern youngster, I for sure thought with his comically bad play he'd never make it as a Bundesliga regular. And here he is playing for the Mannschaft.

It's only San Marino, but I'm afraid for Germany's sake, that this performance somehow convinces Löw to take him to Russia next year...
 

TheMoreYouKnow

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May 3, 2007
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He was pretty awful all the way up to the 15/16 season with Darmstadt where he did pretty well. He did OK this year with Hoffenheim but nothing that said he's international quality.

The truth is that the striker position - once a German strength - appears to have fallen into such disregard in German youth football that there isn't a lot of talent at the position anymore. Unfortunately for Loew, you still need one to open up holes for all those little midfielders he loves so much. Wagner is the best one available with whom Loew is on speaking terms so there you go.
 

Moncherry

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Feb 5, 2010
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It would be disappointing if Portugal won't be able to beat this German team at the Confederations Cup. Not that it's overly important, though.
 

Deficient Mode

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Mar 25, 2011
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When he was a Bayern youngster, I for sure thought with his comically bad play he'd never make it as a Bundesliga regular. And here he is playing for the Mannschaft.

It's only San Marino, but I'm afraid for Germany's sake, that this performance somehow convinces Löw to take him to Russia next year...

Like most Hoffenheim players, he improved a lot under Nagelsmann the miracle worker. He can actually play football now. It's crazy. Still, he should be nowhere near the tournament squad.

He was pretty awful all the way up to the 15/16 season with Darmstadt where he did pretty well. He did OK this year with Hoffenheim but nothing that said he's international quality.

The truth is that the striker position - once a German strength - appears to have fallen into such disregard in German youth football that there isn't a lot of talent at the position anymore. Unfortunately for Loew, you still need one to open up holes for all those little midfielders he loves so much. Wagner is the best one available with whom Loew is on speaking terms so there you go.

uhh, Werner? Eggestein? There are plenty of intriguing striker prospects that make this narrative a bit outdated.
 

Bures Elbow

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Nov 2, 2013
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It would be disappointing if Portugal won't be able to beat this German team at the Confederations Cup. Not that it's overly important, though.

I would have liked us to follow their example though and rest players, a lot of our recent U21's will now have 4 summers straight with no rest.

u21 euro final chokejob vs Sweden in 2015
Euro 2016
Confed Cup
World Cup 2018

ronaldo needs rest too, with him well rested look at the difference in his performances.

Add the young players we have now like Joao Mario, Bernardo Silva, Gurreiro, Gelson Martins, Andre Silva, Cancelo, Nelson Semedo, William, Bruma who just signed for Liepzig and seems to finally be realizing his immense potential..plus Pepe, Fonte, Moutinho, Danilo, Cedric, Nani, Quaresma

We have a chance to really challenge at next years world cup. I would have rather we rested most of our top players for that.
 

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