Only 5 matches to go.....

[Mato]

Taking a look at the table makes you wonder....


POSITIONS

==========PTS.
-Argentina:___32
-Paraguay:___26
-- Ecuador:___25
------Brasil:___21
--Uruguay:___21
-Colombia:___19
-----Bolivia:___13
------ Perú:___12
------ Chile:___10
Venezuela:___4

The first 4 automatically clasify to WC. The fifth has a playoff with the champion from Oceania (in dont remember this one in english, is it ok? It's zone where Australia, New Zealand, and some others play) to get there.
Now...next fixture Brazil plays against Paraguay (second in table and tough team) at home and i hope for a tie. Uruguay plays visitor against Venezuela and it shouldn't be hard for Uruguay. Colombia receives Peru and probably they win. If that happens Uruguay will pass Brazil leaving him in 5th position. After that, Brazil plays visitor against Argentina (and we'll kick their butts to kingdom come) And Colombia receives Ecuador this time and it should turn out for Colombia, and Uruguay vs. Peru at Peru(no clue about the result, probably tie or peru win). It all sound pretty logic, right?
That would leave Brazil in 6th position with only 3 matches to go and....out of the WC?! The bad news is after all this Colombia and Uruguay will play each other, and that would leave Brazil chances to reach for the loser of that game or even if it's a tie, it will be close...

BUT IF IT TURNS OUT THAT ARGENTINA COMES OUT CHAMPION OF THE PLAYOFF (AS WE SURELY WILL) AND BRAZIL OUT OF THE WC....HEHEHE I WILL BE LAUGHING AND CELEBRATING TILL THE WORLD CUP.

[Garrincha]

Argentina will probably qualify in first place, no question about it. I DO think you shouldn't take for granted that you'll beat Brazil on your home pitch...we've beaten you guys before, we can do it again. In a derby like this one, a lot more goes in the mix than just the moment each team's in. Heart, spirit and rivalry are great factors here. I'd say anything goes.
Does that mean I think Brazil's not in a bad place? No, Brazil currently SUCKS. But we've got those four stars (yes, count 'em.. FOUR) and we'll get our fifth one before you guys get your fourth one, don't worry. (Oh, I forget, you have yet to get a third star...sorry...:D )
Anyway, I compliment the AFA on a job well done, wish you fellows a lot of luck in the future... and if you qualify and we don't, well, I know I would laugh out loud for WEEKS if the situation was reversed...;)

[Mato]

Well....how do you make a comeback for that? I guess you're still pretty much ahead....hehe, but we agree, in either case we both would enjoy it.
Don't get me wrong, i have a couple of friends from Brazil, and i'm going there next summer (for the first time, so maybe you could give me a few pointers about a good place on the coast, safer than rio, but less boring than places like Porto Seguro, where some of my friends went and didn't find much fiesta), but when it comes to futebol......you're head to head with england in my most hated list hehe...(got to get started with the faces and loose the "hehe")

[Severus]

the italian perspective - FORZA ARGENTINA ! i would also be laughing all the way to the WC if brasil didn't qualify but i think garrinchea hit the nail right on the head when he mentioned something about the intense rivalry between the 2 nations. that match is asolutamente a coin toss. argentina should win because they're at home, they're better and because its a rivalry. but brasil SHOULD be hungrier for that win which makes them the more dangerous team for this particular situation.

i'm not gonna even touch this match but forza argentina anyway !

[Mihajloviç]

Forza Brasil...

they must make it , what kind of world cup would it be without Brasil :question:

[Garrincha]

I don't think it would be a lesser Cup because of Brazil's absence. Hey, it looks like England, Germany and Holland are also skating thin ice...
And Mato: Try Fortaleza, in Ceara. Lovely, crystal-water beaches, hot women, warm weather. Nice spot for vacation. :) :cool:

[Mato]

Thanks Garrincha,
I'll put it to my friends (one of them knows a lot of Brazil so I'll ask him. He's kind of a renegade: he listens to and dance samba, musica de Bahia, and i don't remember what other stuff, he's speak portuguese like a native, he watches O'Globo. And when we were making fun of him cause Brazil had lost to Honduras, he even said he would go to the stadium when Brazil comes here and watch it with your Torcida, but i think he was bluffing cause he knows we would kick his ass if he did)

Thanks again

[Garrincha]

Hey, I've got to congratulate your buddy on balls, if not on smarts. You know, saying he'll do somethin' like that could really raise a few eyebrows.

And I have one question: With, as you said, only 5 matches to go, is there doubt about some position in the Argentinian squad? I know Crespo's been getting a lot of field time in order to make the team learn to play without Batigol, who's over thirty - but I guess it's no contest about who's the real starter, Batistuta is excellent. Is there some position the team's still trying to settle, or is the squad set?

I mean, we know the Brazil team has five or six positions in search of a starter, but how is Argentina doing on that matter?

[Mato]

Well....the keeper's been a position that never had a clear owner since several years, but apart from that, Bielsa already has "his" team chosen, with a couple of variations accepted, but with a defenitive tactic and a base of players. Maybe the most unclear apart from the keeper is the 3rd striker sub (if Bati and Crespo are not available), but most of the formation and its subs is clear in Bielsa's mind. Not that I agree in all of them but......you gotta give him credit for being able to switch a few players but keep the type and spirit of playing of the team intact.

[Zvezda]

For me it will be very pleasant to see ARGENTINA the winner of the South America qualifing group ( LIKE ALLWAYS !! ) but more pleasant it will be to see Brazil out of the WC 2002 !!! :)

[Mato]

Yeah!! Que vamo' a salir campeone' otra vez, como en el 86!!
Dale Zvezda (wherever you're from) :D :D :p :smoking:

[Mato]

Well, it seems everything turned out the way it was supposed to........in Brasil's direction that is :D:D. Damned Uruguay humilliated himself with Venezuela's win, colombia lost to peru at home after all that hoopla about winning the copa america. And......Brasil managed to get 3 points against Paraguay.
Thing is, even is we defeat Brasil in the next fixture, uruguay plays visitor against peru and colombia (still -5 from brasil) receives this time ecuador, and after all that Colombia and Uruguay will play eah other, clearing the way for brasil (with either result between them) to make an easy win at home over chile and getting the luggage almost ready. They still gotta play Bolivia in the heights of La Paz, and they should watch out for any further surprises. We'll see how it all comes along, it's gonna be an exciting end!!

[Garrincha]

Yeah, isn't it lovely the way the nice Colombians and Uruguayans folded? So helpful. :D

We're not there yet, but things look MUCH better. Even from a tactical viewpoint, the team seems much better - and next match, Scolari already hinted that Mauro Silva and Emerson might get in the main eleven (can't take chances in Buenos Aires, y'know):worried: .

And congratulations for Argentina. Competence was rewarded, and it should also be applauded.

Of course, now would also be a good time for Argentina to fold before Brazil and make things easier on everyone, huh? :rolleyes: :D

[Mato]

You know, we could.......but what does every argentinian wants??
Beat Brasil every single time :D:D. Too bad Veron is missing it, but i bet Bati will be back.
But all in all, it seems that if Brasil wins the matches it's supposed to (the expected ones), they could be pretty much in (watch out though, you never know what can happen next match between Peru and Uruguay). I'll keep my eyes peeled.

Hey Garrincha, What do ya think about that guy Adriano playing in Inter, he seems pretty good..:thumbsup: