World Cup Qualifying 14:37 - Oct 5 with 4551 views | BlueDales | I've noticed that Syria has reached the Asian World Cup playoff and play this weekend. Your thoughts: A feel good story? Should they even be allowed to compete? | ![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
World Cup Qualifying on 15:30 - Oct 5 with 4497 views | AtThePeake | They played today against Australia, drawing 1-1 in the 'home' leg. They were only allowed to compete at the last moment as Malaysia allowed them to host their home games there. | ![](/images/avatars/1813.gif) |
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World Cup Qualifying on 15:38 - Oct 5 with 4484 views | 1mark1 | I personally think it’s a feel good story. Obviously it’s right that they play their home games in a neutral venue. | ![](/images/avatars/1117.gif) |
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World Cup Qualifying on 15:57 - Oct 5 with 4453 views | meeee |
World Cup Qualifying on 15:30 - Oct 5 by AtThePeake | They played today against Australia, drawing 1-1 in the 'home' leg. They were only allowed to compete at the last moment as Malaysia allowed them to host their home games there. |
Good result for Syria but their goal was one of the worst penalty calls I've ever seen. How is this a peanlty? https://streamable.com/so1xj [Post edited 5 Oct 2017 15:59]
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World Cup Qualifying on 16:16 - Oct 5 with 4417 views | DaleFan7 | A lot of Syrians see it as another way to push the Assad regime. Especially turned up to a press conference in a pro-Assad shirt. | ![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
World Cup Qualifying on 17:03 - Oct 5 with 4352 views | pioneer | If we excluded all countries that the US would like to see political change it would be a small world cup - it would probably exclude the hosts! | ![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
World Cup Qualifying on 18:26 - Oct 5 with 4290 views | 1mark1 |
World Cup Qualifying on 17:03 - Oct 5 by pioneer | If we excluded all countries that the US would like to see political change it would be a small world cup - it would probably exclude the hosts! |
Yes thankfully the US don’t run or control Football like they try to control the UN etc. Still though I am of the opinion that in no circumstance should the occasion be allowed to be turned into any kind of pro regime exercise. Saying that , Assad as much as anyone has been taking on the Daesh terrorists. [Post edited 5 Oct 2017 20:40]
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World Cup Qualifying on 19:27 - Oct 5 with 4244 views | SalwaDale | ATP, it wasn't last minute at all, the game was always going to be played in Malaysia, as that is where they have played most of the games. They did consider moving it to somewhere a little closer to home but decided to stick with Malaysia. Definitely a feel good story. A number of their better players (Firas Al Khatib, Omar Al Soma, and a couple of others) have been very, very anti Assad and Firas has refused to play for the national team for quite a while. When the qualifying started quite well, he decided to represent his country again. At one point it even looked like he might play his club football there but decided to return to Kuwait, where he has played most of his career. Wny would they not be allowed to compete? | ![](/images/avatars/1155.gif) |
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World Cup Qualifying on 19:42 - Oct 5 with 4234 views | AtThePeake |
World Cup Qualifying on 19:27 - Oct 5 by SalwaDale | ATP, it wasn't last minute at all, the game was always going to be played in Malaysia, as that is where they have played most of the games. They did consider moving it to somewhere a little closer to home but decided to stick with Malaysia. Definitely a feel good story. A number of their better players (Firas Al Khatib, Omar Al Soma, and a couple of others) have been very, very anti Assad and Firas has refused to play for the national team for quite a while. When the qualifying started quite well, he decided to represent his country again. At one point it even looked like he might play his club football there but decided to return to Kuwait, where he has played most of his career. Wny would they not be allowed to compete? |
Sorry SD, I meant generally they weren't going to be allowed to compete in qualifying whatsoever as they had nowhere to play, it was right at the start of qualifying that Malaysia swooped in to help host games. I can't remember where I read that the other day! | ![](/images/avatars/1813.gif) |
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World Cup Qualifying on 21:18 - Oct 5 with 4166 views | SalwaDale |
World Cup Qualifying on 19:42 - Oct 5 by AtThePeake | Sorry SD, I meant generally they weren't going to be allowed to compete in qualifying whatsoever as they had nowhere to play, it was right at the start of qualifying that Malaysia swooped in to help host games. I can't remember where I read that the other day! |
Ah,my apologies. Misread your post. Interesting tweet if you read the follow ups:
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World Cup Qualifying on 11:55 - Oct 10 with 3861 views | DiddyDave | 1-1,extra time about to start. Syria relying on the counter attack and look dangerous on the break. Australia pathetic,the passing so pedestrian and predictable. Anybody`s game. | ![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
World Cup Qualifying on 12:42 - Oct 10 with 3786 views | DiddyDave | Tim Cahill once again the hero for the Aussies with a goal three minutes into the second period of extra time,but not before Syria had a bloke sent off for two yellows and players from both teams falling over like ninepins near the end. A bloody awful game,but the locals go home happy. Think it`s either Honduras or Panama now who will play Australia in November for a place in the finals. | ![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
World Cup Qualifying on 13:01 - Oct 10 with 3762 views | AussieDale | very poor game with Syria hitting the post with almost the last kick of the game when down to ten men. Aistralia have not produced an international class player since the advent of the national league. Not sure what the connection is, if any, but the current team is nowhere near the quality of the side that had Kewell, Cahill, Viduka, Neill, Emerson and Swartzer in goal. Half a dozen good quality premier league players. There isn't one now. | ![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
World Cup Qualifying on 14:16 - Oct 10 with 3678 views | judd |
World Cup Qualifying on 13:01 - Oct 10 by AussieDale | very poor game with Syria hitting the post with almost the last kick of the game when down to ten men. Aistralia have not produced an international class player since the advent of the national league. Not sure what the connection is, if any, but the current team is nowhere near the quality of the side that had Kewell, Cahill, Viduka, Neill, Emerson and Swartzer in goal. Half a dozen good quality premier league players. There isn't one now. |
They would be hard to beat with all them in goal,tbf. | ![](/images/avatars/1067.gif) |
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World Cup Qualifying on 11:29 - Oct 11 with 3524 views | macro | USA not qualifying amused me. | ![](/images/avatars/4893.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
World Cup Qualifying on 13:28 - Oct 11 with 3454 views | DaleFan7 |
World Cup Qualifying on 11:29 - Oct 11 by macro | USA not qualifying amused me. |
The fact Panama's first goal wasn't a goal made it even funnier. [Post edited 11 Oct 2017 13:29]
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World Cup Qualifying on 14:44 - Oct 11 with 3394 views | EllDale | No Netherlands either. How the hell do you go from third in 2014 to not qualifying three years later? | ![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
World Cup Qualifying on 15:03 - Oct 11 with 3382 views | ChaffRAFC |
World Cup Qualifying on 14:44 - Oct 11 by EllDale | No Netherlands either. How the hell do you go from third in 2014 to not qualifying three years later? |
Given they're still reliant on the likes of Robben, Babel, Sneijder, Van Persie etc shows there must be a significant lack of young Dutch talent coming through. | ![](/images/avatars/1119.gif) |
| If I hadn't seen such riches, I could live with being poor |
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World Cup Qualifying on 17:13 - Oct 11 with 3319 views | EllDale | Perhaps Roland Bergkamp is typical of the new generation of Dutch masters? | ![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
World Cup Qualifying on 17:17 - Oct 11 with 3309 views | pioneer |
World Cup Qualifying on 11:29 - Oct 11 by macro | USA not qualifying amused me. |
I am in US until the weekend - much hand wringing and blood letting here - particularly since FOX paid $400M for the rights! | ![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
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