Bruce Arena’s team will not be at Russia 2018. It doesn’t take long to discover why they failed so badly in their bid to qualify for the tournamentThe shock is just now beginning to subside after the US men’s national team was eliminated from contention for the next summer’s World Cup in Russia. Every result that could have doomed them on Tuesday night came about, with Honduras and Panama’s respective wins combining with the US’s own 2-1 loss at already eliminated Trinidad & Tobago to knock Bruce Arena’s men out.The list of what didn’t doom the United States’ qualifying campaign is lengthy – vastly greater resources and spending power relative to the rest of the Concacaf region, first and foremost...
Republic of Ireland’s fans were outnumbered by 10 to one, but injury to Joe Allen and a goal from James McClean ensured the volume was turned down on WalesIt was billed as the biggest game in this country since 1993 and for Wales the sense of deja vu come the end was suffocating. Once again the World Cup finals will pass them by, just as they did 24 years ago, when Paul Bodin’s penalty kick thudded against the crossbar in their critical qualifier against Romania. This time it was the Republic of Ireland’s turn to spoil the party as Martin O’Neill’s side kept alive their own hopes of travelling to Russia next summer with the sort of victory that has...
Strachan entered the crazy world of managerial make-believe with his comments after Scotland missed out on another World Cup and should not be given the chance to deliver more excusesIf Gordon Strachan was seeking deflection from Scotland’s latest tale of woe, he is at least due credit for original thinking. Had Strachan’s players displayed the same elements of stunning creativity that the 60-year-old did in the immediate aftermath of a harrowing evening in Ljubljana, Scotland would still be part of the 2018 World Cup equation.Whereas Strachan’s reputation had been partly restored by a run which took Scotland – a previously ragged, dysfunctional Scotland – to the brink of a play-off spot, collateral damage appeared once more on Sunday evening. The...
The England manager has eight months to get his team to express themselves at the World Cup by using the flair of Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Marcus RashfordPut out more flags. Dust down the red and white jester’s hat. Root out the gumshield, the crumpled Yekaterinburg metro map. And prepare to head once more into that strangely gruelling territory between bruised and fearful cynicism and the eternal quiver of tournament hope.England have booked their place at the World Cup in Russia after surely the most meandering, flaccid qualification victory yet devised by any England team. Slovenia were beaten by Harry Kane’s goal but make no mistake – this was both a dreadful game of football and a numbing spectacle...
Max Rushden and the gang discuss Gareth Bale’s calf, Iceland’s cricket pitches, Burkina Faso’s squad depth, Ryan Babel, Yeovil Town and moreRate, review, share on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Audioboom, Mixcloud, Acast and Stitcher, and join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and email.Max Rushden returns for an international break Football Weekly Extra along with Barry Glendenning, Jonathan Wilson and Andy Brassell. Continue reading...