Internationals November (World Cup Qualifiers)

[Samid]

Matches kick off at 20:45 CET unless otherwise stated. All times CET.


MATCHDAY 9
Thursday 11 November

Group A: Azerbaijan vs Luxembourg (18:00), Republic of Ireland vs Portugal
Group B: Georgia vs Sweden (18:00), Greece vs Spain
Group H: Russia vs Cyprus (18:00), Malta vs Croatia, Slovakia vs Slovenia
Group J: Armenia vs North Macedonia (18:00), Germany vs Liechtenstein, Romania vs Iceland

Friday 12 November

Group C: Italy vs Switzerland, Northern Ireland vs Lithuania
Group F: Austria vs Israel, Denmark vs Faroe Islands, Moldova vs Scotland
Group I: Andorra vs Poland, England vs Albania, Hungary vs San Marino

Saturday 13 November

Group D: Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Finland (15:00), France vs Kazakhstan
Group G: Norway vs Latvia (18:00), Turkey vs Gibraltar (18:00), Montenegro vs Netherlands
Group E: Belgium vs Estonia, Wales vs Belarus

MATCHDAY 10
Sunday 14 November

Group A: Luxembourg vs Republic of Ireland, Portugal vs Serbia
Group B: Greece vs Kosovo, Spain vs Sweden
Group H: Croatia vs Russia (14:00), Malta vs Slovakia (15:00), Slovenia vs Cyprus (14:00)
Group J: Armenia vs Germany (18:00), Liechtenstein vs Romania (18:00), North Macedonia vs Iceland (18:00)

Monday 15 November

Group C: Northern Ireland vs Italy, Switzerland vs Bulgaria
Group F: Austria vs Moldova, Israel vs Faroe Islands, Scotland vs Denmark
Group I: Albania vs Andorra, Poland vs Hungary, San Marino vs England

Tuesday 16 November

Group D: Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Ukraine, Finland vs France
Group E: Czech Republic vs Estonia, Wales vs Belgium
Group G: Gibraltar vs Latvia, Montenegro vs Turkey, Netherlands vs Norway

 

[11101]

Another international break already? I wonder who will get injured this time.

In all those fixtures there really isn't one that stands out. Maybe Wales v Belgium.

 

[Vault Dweller]

Come on Scotland, huge game next week.

 

[kthanksbye]

Italy Switzerland should be a decent watch.
It's exciting to watch Verratti, Jorginho, Barella, Pelligrini, Locatelli play, competent midfielders basically.

 

[Lay]

Another international break already? I wonder who will get injured this time.

In all those fixtures there really isn't one that stands out. Maybe Wales v Belgium.

Norway v Netherlands

 

[Demyanenko_square_jaw]

Another international break already? I wonder who will get injured this time.

In all those fixtures there really isn't one that stands out. Maybe Wales v Belgium.

There's quite a few important games in there that will decide group winners/playoff places.

 

[FootballHQ]

Who's in most danger of going into play offs.....would probably say Spain as not certain they'll win in Greece and Swedes showed in the summer they can go there and grind out a 0-0 even if totally dominated. Isak also in great form in La Liga so will unsettle their defence if he gets enough ball.

 

[Gio]

I know a lot of the jeopardy has been taken out of international football with the massive tournaments now, but there are some medium-stakes fixtures in there with 1st v 2nd facing off in a few of the groups.

 

[Dave Smith]

I wish International football would go off and die.

 

[Sassy Colin]

Spoiler

 

[Acole9]

I wish International football would go off and die.

So do I. Bloody awful.

 

[joedirt87]

this is the only way you are going to get to see United players outside of Ole's favorite 11 plus his 2-3 favorite subs, so take advantage of it.

 

[paulscholes18]

Is Greenwood still being punished for what he did in Iceland?

 

[Berbaclass]

Is Greenwood still being punished for what he did in Iceland?

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

 

[Berbaclass]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

 

[Bosnian_fan]

There really are a few great games to look out for. I'm going to make a quick UEFA qualifiers shortlist in case anyone wants to tune in.

Group A
Portugal - Serbia on November 14 is big game. Serbia are playing exciting football and have a really good side, but Portugal is playing at home and should prevail. Portugal will most likely only need a point, so that makes it even tougher for Serbia. Serbia on 17 points right now, Portugal 16 with game in hand.

Group B
Spain - Sweden, also November 14. Right now two points separate the sides, but while Sweden plays next round away to Georgia, Spain have a tricky away fixture to Greece and failure to win there would most likely send them to play offs. Sweden on 15 points, Spain on 13.

Group C
Italy - Switzerland on November 12 is direct decider on first place most likely. Both should be able to win last two games, but goal difference may also play the role. Italy still has advantage though. Both on 14 point, Italy 2 better in goal difference.

Group D
Most important group for me. France have all but won it, but it's quite a fight between Finland, Bosnia and Ukraine for play off spot. We play last two games at home against Finland on 13 and then against Ukraine on 16. Four points will send us through in whichever combination. Ukraine will go through if they beat us, while Finland must beat us and then beat France or hope that Ukraine doesn't beat us.

Ukraine has 9 points, Finland 8, Bosnia 7. If anyone decides to tune in, I suggest paying particular attention to central defender Anel Ahmedhodžić, he is definitely the one for future.

Group E
Belgium will win the group against Estonia on 13, while Czech Republic and Wales are tied on 11 points, with Wales having game in hand. However, both of them are practically assured play off spot, so really there isn't much to play for.

Group F
Denmark has been incredible and has one the group with 8 wins on trot and without once conceding. Second spot fight also hasn't been too interesting, as Scotland has done quite well to prevail. They have 17 points ahead of away tie to Moldova, while Israel is third on 13. Israel would have to beat Austria away and hope Scotland somehow fails to beat Moldova, else it's game over.

Group G
Haaland injury has probably ruined this. Netherlands are leading the group with 19 points, Norway is on 17, while Turkey has 15. All three have fairly easy fixtures on 13 November and should win without much trouble. So, ahead of last round table will most likely be: Netherlands 22, Norway 20, Turkey 18. Netherlands will host Norway in last round, while Turkey are playing away in Montenegro. Should Norway win in Netherlands, they would also win group and send Netherlands in play offs. Should Norway take a point, they would probably prevail on goal difference ahead of Turkey in second. Should Netherlands win, Turkey would seal play off spot. Definitely game worth watching between Netherlands and Norway.

Group H
Croatia hosting Russia at fully packed Poljud on 14 November. Russia on 19, Croatia on 17 points, both assured of top two finish. Should be a cracking game on paper, but in reality I would be extremely surprised if Croatia didn't win this easily. Russia's been far from convincing recently.

Group I
Finally, England simply can't lose this group. 20 points ahead of Albania home and San Marino away fixtures. Four points to guarantee top spot, but it will be all six, and easily. That would also lift a lot of pressure off Poland, who will secure play off spot with a win away to Andorra.

 

[VanDeBank]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Danjuma Memphis Berghuis
Wijnaldum F. De Jong Klaassen
Blind Virgil De Vrij Dumfries
Bijlow

Likely line up.

 

[Yagami]

Italy Switzerland should be a decent watch.
It's exciting to watch Verratti, Jorginho, Barella, Pelligrini, Locatelli play, competent midfielders basically.

I'm more interested in Italy - N.Ireland. We could potentially see our very own Galbraith against those midfielders. Really hoping he starts both games, which I know is very unlikely.

 

[VanDeBank]

Berghuis, Timber and Drommel injured for Holland. Their replacements are Bergwijn, Rensch, Cillessen.

Makes the Norway fixture more fair. Berghuis - Haaland sorta comparable

 

[Samid]

Berghuis, Timber and Drommel injured for Holland. Their replacements are Bergwijn, Rensch, Cillessen.

Makes the Norway fixture more fair. Berghuis - Haaland sorta comparable

You could pick a pure C team and we'd still not win. Got no chance without Haaland.

 

[VanDeBank]

You could pick a pure C team and we'd still not win. Got no chance without Haaland.

I highly doubt that. If I had to choose from players that didn't receive call ups:

Bergwijn L. De Jong Stengs
Veerman Van de Beek Rosario
Wijndal Struijk Bazoer Karsdorp
Cillessen

You'd be favorites. Easily. We are serial botchers.

 

[Blackwidow]

German national team:

Süle tested positive. Seems that 4 other players have to go into quarantine. The last messages about it are that it is Kimmich, Gnabry, Musiala and Adeyemi (but that is not official).

 

[WeePat]

So the Faroes and the Scots stand in the way of Denmark and a perfect 10 wins out of 10 qualifying group. That's mighty impressive for a nation as tiny as Denmark.

 

[Gio]

Group F
Denmark has been incredible and has one the group with 8 wins on trot and without once conceding. Second spot fight also hasn't been too interesting, as Scotland has done quite well to prevail. They have 17 points ahead of away tie to Moldova, while Israel is third on 13. Israel would have to beat Austria away and hope Scotland somehow fails to beat Moldova, else it's game over.

Even if second place is guaranteed after the Moldova game, I think we'll need something from the Denmark game to be seeded for the play-off. I can't see us qualifying if not seeded to be honest.

 

[View from a blue]

I can’t believe we’re being subjected to another international break so soon.

Not a fixture there I could even remotely get excited about watching.

 

[SirReginald]

International fixtures really are the dullest part of the football calendar. Are we really missing good football for games against San Marino and Albania.

The most frustrating part is that these are games we should win comfortably but watch us scrape wins.

 

[Paul_Scholes18]

Just love these international breaks. Just not watching United torture me is great for 2 weeks.

Watching Sweden play much better football than United is crazy though, but we are playing way better with worse players.

Always many fun games to watch as well in international football. Saturday games a bit dull though this time. Bosnia-Finland a huge game, but probably a dull game I would imagine.

 

[Bosnian_fan]

Just love these international breaks. Just not watching United torture me is great for 2 weeks.

Watching Sweden play much better football than United is crazy though, but we are playing way better with worse players.

Always many fun games to watch as well in international football. Saturday games a bit dull though this time. Bosnia-Finland a huge game, but probably a dull game I would imagine.

We are not that dull anymore actually, but the importance of game could of course make it much more reserved from both sides. Big news for us though, Džeko probably out for Finland game. Could be out for both Finland and Ukraine, which makes it much more difficult to claim these four points needed.

Btw, my feeling is that fans of smaller nations cherish national team games much more than for example England fans. You as a Swedish and me as Bosnian are logically going to enjoy this much more, as our nations are not guaranteed anything, unlike England, Germany, France etc.

 

[duffer]

We are not that dull anymore actually, but the importance of game could of course make it much more reserved from both sides. Big news for us though, Džeko probably out for Finland game. Could be out for both Finland and Ukraine, which makes it much more difficult to claim these four points needed.

Btw, my feeling is that fans of smaller nations cherish national team games much more than for example England fans. You as a Swedish and me as Bosnian are logically going to enjoy this much more, as our nations are not guaranteed anything, unlike England, Germany, France etc.

England usually sell out Wembley and take a lot of fans away, even against the smaller sides.

There's tons of traitorous English people who don't support the national side though, certainly.

 

[Samid]

England usually sell out Wembley and take a lot of fans away, even against the smaller sides.

There's tons of traitorous English people who don't support the national side though, certainly.

Doesn't really disprove his point. England's population is 20x Bosnia's so it should be a given that they sell out a stadium that is 5x size of Bosnia's stadium. It would be more interesting to see TV rating percentages of all countries in these qualifiers.

 

[KirkDuyt]

Norway will finish 2nd. Turkey aren't getting 6 points, they're rubbish.

 

[duffer]

Doesn't really disprove his point. England's population is 20x Bosnia's so it should be a given that they sell out a stadium that is 5x size of Bosnia's stadium. It would be more interesting to see TV rating percentages of all countries in these qualifiers.

Sure. TV figures for England games are usually very high. 30 million people watched England v Italy.

Im sure Bosnia would have similar or higher % figures in a similar situation but I don't really accept "smaller country = care more". Ask a Brazilian about the national team for example.

Some smaller nations don't give a feck, some really do.

 

[Bepi]

Italy - Switzerland in Rome on Friday is going to be tense, with a non-zero chance of a decent upset. It mainly depends on how many Italian starters are going to be fit at game time: Verratti, Zaniolo, Pellegrini and Immobile are already out; Bonucci, Chiellini and Barella are only probable/questionable. Switzerland have also their own missing players, but pressure is entirely on Italy.

 

[Wolf1992]

Norway will finish 2nd. Turkey aren't getting 6 points, they're rubbish.

They trashed Norway 3-0 playing away, as bad as they are, Norway hasn't secured anything yet, wouldn't be a surprise if they get the play-off spot, still I'd rather have Norway in WC, we saw how bad Turkey was the last Euro.

 

[Samid]

Sure. TV figures for England games are usually very high. 30 million people watched England v Italy.

Im sure Bosnia would have similar or higher % figures in a similar situation but I don't really accept "smaller country = care more". Ask a Brazilian about the national team for example.

Some smaller nations don't give a feck, some really do.

That was a final with a month long hype behind it. Tournament ratings will be high for all countries involved. What would the numbers be for a normal qualifying game?

I don’t know the answer but I think his point about cherishing more is a fair one. If you breeze through every qualifier on autopilot the excitement levels are simply bound to go down.

 

[Samid]

They trashed Norway 3-0 playing away, as bad as they are, Norway hasn't secured anything yet, wouldn't be a surprise if they get the play-off spot, still I'd rather have Norway in WC, we saw how bad Turkey was the last Euro.

Ah yes, the ‘away’ game that was played in an empty stadium in Spain. Those conditions were tailor made for Turkey. They scored from almost every shot in the first two games, they’ve regressed to mean since then.

I do think Turkey will get 2nd though, they’re bound to beat Montenegro. Norway without Haaland don’t stand much chance against Holland. We’ll probably approach that game double minded where we can’t decide if we want to go for 1st (win) or 2nd (most likely draw) place and we’ll end up losing and finishing 3rd.

 

[Kentonio]

I can’t believe we’re being subjected to another international break so soon.

Agreed. Why they don't just put the international stuff in a block and stop fecking up the rhythm of the leagues is beyond me.

 

[KirkDuyt]

They trashed Norway 3-0 playing away, as bad as they are, Norway hasn't secured anything yet, wouldn't be a surprise if they get the play-off spot, still I'd rather have Norway in WC, we saw how bad Turkey was the last Euro.

Their 1st 2 games were good, beating us and Norway, but they've been shite since.

 

[Bosnian_fan]

That was a final with a month long hype behind it. Tournament ratings will be high for all countries involved. What would the numbers be for a normal qualifying game?

I don’t know the answer but I think his point about cherishing more is a fair one. If you breeze through every qualifier on autopilot the excitement levels are simply bound to go down.

That was my point exactly. I'm not calling us bigger, better fans or whatever, just in these instances, it is way more exciting for us because we are just about playing at or around our level.

France, Finland, Ukraine, Bosnia and Kazakhstan are together in a group. Kazakhstan is out so I imagine for them also next two games are not big deal. France are almost qualified and there is no excitement or anything. In Finland, game against France will be huge in last round, for France, it's just as (un)important as other games.

What big nations experience in latter stages of big tournaments, most of others experience in qualifiers.

 

[TheGame]

Why hasn't Aaron Hickey been called up by Scotland? He's playing in every game for Bologna this season.