Wonderful thanks.

Thanks DJ, good work.

Doesn’t look like Son, Sarr or Bissouma are coming back anytime soon. We def miss Son, Sarr and Bissouma less so - although I suspect Sarr will turn into a monster player for us

DJ, how is the best 3rd placed teams worked? GD or goal scored?

It doesn’t look easy for Egypt to go out basically

comment by Robbing Hoody - I taught Szoboszlai how to cus... (U6374)
posted 2 minutes ago
DJ, how is the best 3rd placed teams worked? GD or goal scored?

It doesn’t look easy for Egypt to go out basically
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Disciplinary points; 5) Drawing of lots.

Latest odds

Africa

Senegal 10/3
Morocco 7/2
Ivory Coast 7/1
Algeria 9/1
Nigeria 9/1
Egypt 12/1


Asia

Japan 13/8
South Korea 7/2
Iran 11/2
Australia 13/2
Qatar 10/1
Saudi Arabia 12/1

Why in God's name has somebody given this one star. He should be named.

The BBC continue their discrimination against the Asian cup with zero mention or links to it from their Football front page yet 8 articles and a dedicated section devoted to AFCON.

comment by manusince52 (U9692)
posted 5 minutes ago
Why in God's name has somebody given this one star. He should be named.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

There a few who just love 1 starring schitt - usually a board rivalry or they have a problem with the OP. Often it’s just low IQ - Weekend Maf

comment by Silver (U6112)
posted 10 minutes ago
The BBC continue their discrimination against the Asian cup with zero mention or links to it from their Football front page yet 8 articles and a dedicated section devoted to AFCON.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The AFCON seems to get a lot more attention than even the Copa America. I assume because of the large African population, decent times for the games and a lot of PL players there makes it more attractive than the Asian cup. The fact not even TNT, DAZN or Viaplay bothered with the Asian cup shows the lack of interest.

No early goals in Asia group A, which isn't much of a surprise as only Qatar have scored in the previous 4 games and they are playing a shadow side.

Cape Verde dish up some great results on a regular basis, dunno how they do it. Almost made the last round of African qualifying two years ago ahead of Nigeria.

Good scouting and getting Portuguese players to play for them.

comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 1 hour, 10 minutes ago
comment by Silver (U6112)
posted 10 minutes ago
The BBC continue their discrimination against the Asian cup with zero mention or links to it from their Football front page yet 8 articles and a dedicated section devoted to AFCON.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The AFCON seems to get a lot more attention than even the Copa America. I assume because of the large African population, decent times for the games and a lot of PL players there makes it more attractive than the Asian cup. The fact not even TNT, DAZN or Viaplay bothered with the Asian cup shows the lack of interest.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Large population? LIke Asia with 59% of the World's population?

I get it. African EPL players, BBC up themselves with still having EPL rights, spin 'their' product.

Thing is they bought in 100% to the sh.t about promoting minority sport & racial diversity right?

comment by Silver (U6112)
posted 42 seconds ago
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 1 hour, 10 minutes ago
comment by Silver (U6112)
posted 10 minutes ago
The BBC continue their discrimination against the Asian cup with zero mention or links to it from their Football front page yet 8 articles and a dedicated section devoted to AFCON.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The AFCON seems to get a lot more attention than even the Copa America. I assume because of the large African population, decent times for the games and a lot of PL players there makes it more attractive than the Asian cup. The fact not even TNT, DAZN or Viaplay bothered with the Asian cup shows the lack of interest.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Large population? LIke Asia with 59% of the World's population?

I get it. African EPL players, BBC up themselves with still having EPL rights, spin 'their' product.

Thing is they bought in 100% to the sh.t about promoting minority sport & racial diversity right?
----------------------------------------------------------------------

AFCON generally is far higher quality also - Asia really only has Japan, South Korea, Iran and Australia. The Saudis are unpredictable and Qatar are decent recently. Africa has loads of traditionally good sides - Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Congo. You then also get some really decent sides like Mali, Cape Verde and Angola.

Large population?
=========
Meant in UK of football fans.
I have met many British-Indians and never met one interested in Indian football. I have met many Anglo/African people and they tend to have at least a fair interest in their African national team.

Qatar 1-0 China
Tajikistan 0-1 Lebanon

Lebanon on course to qualify for the next round. China on 2 points could sneak a best 3rd placed place. If scores stay the same... ~ 20 mins to go

comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 46 minutes ago
Large population?
=========
Meant in UK of football fans.
I have met many British-Indians and never met one interested in Indian football. I have met many Anglo/African people and they tend to have at least a fair interest in their African national team.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Then you meant in England when you said UK. It's OK, we're used to it.

And UK overall has twice the number of people of Asian descent than of African descent. No idea the stats on football interest but imho I see more 'Asians' on TV games than 'Africans' but as that focuses on the front few rows that may not be overall representative? And I realise that is not national team interest.

Anyway, good thread.

Qatar beat China to seal their 100% record.
China failed to score in a group they should have got out of. Now they have to hope 2 other 3rd placed teams are worse than them.

For Tajikistan it is an historic moment, as they seal a 2-1 win to qualify for the knockouts on their AFC Cup debut. They will face the runners-up in group C (Iran/UAE/Palestine)

China have a population of over 1b and they couldn’t score a single goal in that group I remember the days when people were saying they would be football’s next ‘superpower’

Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea both lead 1-0.

The hosts are in a bit of danger.

The stadium erupts in joyous rapture - only for the equalising Ivorian goal to be ruled out!

Wow, what a hit!!!
Equatorial Guinea 2 up. Cote d'Ivoire position weakens.

THREE!!! This is a disaster.
Cote d'Ivoire will have a long wait to see if they go through.

Literally 10 seconds after the restart