Teema: U20 Australia NT Discussion

Thanks! We have to win the next two games. Then hopefully I'll have a better idea of what we need to do to qualify.

I thought,
if the next one will click into three additional points, then anything is possible
Fingers crossed!

Grats crico!

Disappointing draw with Egypt overnight:
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Belgium smashed Ireland 6-0 which means they've pulled ahead of us on for-against. Colombia in 4th lost to Brazil so we're now only two points behind them. The Colombia game is now shaping as a must-win game. Unfortunately, we'll be away so they'll have the advantage.

Anyway, next week we take on Ireland at home. That is also a must-win. It's still possible, but it would have been easier if we'd beaten Eqypt.

Bad luck! We were the better team that match, but it didn't show in the scoreline.

Fortunately, the Ireland match is at home!

Solid win over Ireland keeps our finals hope alive:
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Top of the evening to you

Nice one!

Thanks. Now all the games have been completed this round, I have a better idea of what we need to do from here and it's not going to be easy. The table now is:
Serbia 19
Finland 18
Brazil 17
Colombia 16
Belgium 14
Australia 14
Ireland 7
Egypt 7

The last four rounds involve each of the top four teams playing each of the bottom four. It's not unreasonable to assume the top four will all get at least two wins out of the three games that don't involve us. That means we need at least three wins to be in with a chance. If we get there, we'll deserve it

Good U20 NT player forward for sale - Jeremy Whelan

Sorry had too many players & forwards...

We held Brazil to a 0-0 draw overnight.
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Away to a stronger opponent, it was a great result but it doesn't get us any closer to qualifying. A win to Colombia has lengthened the gap between us and 4th (now Brazil).

Next week's home game against Finland is a must win.

Don't wanna sound too clever
..afraid that even winning wouldn't get us through
3pts plus +/- and on the top one of the top teams would have to loose match

I agree, but not winning will make it basically impossible. The only 'realistic' option I see at the moment is:
* Australia wins all three remaining games
* Belgium beats Colombia but drops points on at least one of its remaining games.

Then we finish ahead of Colombia and Belgium regardless of other results. But if you have to rely on four results out of four going your way plus another one out of two, you know you're on very thin ice.

we already are on thin ice.. I know what u meant..
.. there is hope yet

I saw the latest score against Finland. Looks like the Aussie dream is still alive!

We had to win and we did
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Another result went our way. Belgium drew with Brazil which means we leapfrog them into 5th spot and are now just one point behind Finland and Brazil. While that sounds promising, Finland and Brazil each play Egypt and Ireland in their final two qualifiers and should win both games. So while qualification seems tantalisingly close, we still need to win our last two games and see Belgium beat Colombia to definitely qualify.

Next week, we travel to Colombia.