Belgium-Suomi

[raskarhu]

How are finnish tifosi when abroad? Are they behaving like e.g. English or Dutch tifosi?

I was thinking about this because on the 13th of october Finland plays against Belgium and I was maybe planning to go and watch the game with a friend of mine. Could we go and watch the game in the 'Finnish section' of the stadium?

Any clues anybody?

Cheers
Raskarhu

[Nordisch]

Why would you go and watch the match in-between people that are supporting a country other than yours? Wouldn't it be much more logic to catch up them for a beer or two in a pub in Brussels afterwards?

Anyway, I don't think you'll find any on this forum that will go to the match. Your best chance is to catch some finn person by the eye and try to contact with him by then.

[Mies Belgiasta]

We(Belgians) will lose anyways! I'm pretty sure of it, since last time we lost so badly. This time I'm in Finland supporting the Fins tho.

[molon_lave]

I see a 1-0 victory for Finland

[Paul_D]

It was a very pleasant game to watch, even though no goal was scored. The teams were at the same level, victory could have fallen on one side or the other.

Yet, the result is terrible for Finland. Getting only one point, while Poland and Portugal were taking three, it means that Finland is eliminated, unless a string of miracles would happen (such as : winning the 2 last games, including the one against Portugal, and having either Poland or Portugal that does not get much points in their 2-3 last games)

/Paul

[Salopian]

It was a very pleasant game to watch, even though no goal was scored. The teams were at the same level, victory could have fallen on one side or the other.

Yet, the result is terrible for Finland. Getting only one point, while Poland and Portugal were taking three, it means that Finland is eliminated, unless a string of miracles would happen (such as : winning the 2 last games, including the one against Portugal, and having either Poland or Portugal that does not get much points in their 2-3 last games)

/Paul

I don't think, as it turned out, that the two points dropped against Belgium means too much (other than Finland haven't scored for five hours of play now). If Finland beat Azerbaijan at home, then a victory in Portugal will take them to Switzerland and Austria next year, unless Serbia get nine points from nine (basically, the Belgium draw left a window of opportunity open to Serbia, but doesn't change the Portugal/Finland equation - Finland would've still needed to beat Portugal).

Even if Portugal go on to beat Serbia after that match, Finland's then-superior head-to-head record vis-à-vis Portugal will mean that Finland qualify...unless Serbia win their final three games (last of all at home to Portugal...who will hopefully be out by then, unless Poland self-destruct...). If Serbia and Finland are joint-second, Serbia go through thanks to their superior head-to-head record.

...it's all so simple! Finland need a miraculous performance in Portugal...ugh.

Table

[Paul_D]

You missed one point: Portugal has played 11 games out of 14, while Finland has played one game more: 12 out of 14. Furthermore, Finland has the handicap of a low number of goals scored.

Let's look at the realistic scenarios (I exclude the tie-breakers that would favor Finland... if Finland scores ~10 goals in one game.) I exclude as well results such as Portugal losing against Kazakhstan and Armenia. I put the miracles in blue, and the possible-but-hard-to-get in green. Predictable results remain in black.

So, Finland is qualified against Portugal if:
- Finland beats Azerbaijan
- Finland beats Portugal
- and Serbia does not win its 3 games
-->
26 points for Finland
20-26 points for Portugal
17-24 for Serbia
--> In case of equal number of points for Team A and Team B, the results between Team A and Team B are the first tie-breakers. So Finland gets qualified, thanks to a victory and a draw against Portugal.

Or, Finland is qualified against Portugal if:
- Finland beats Azerbaijan
- Finland draws against Portugal
- Portugal does not win against Kazakhstan on the 17.10.2007
- Portugal does not win against Armenia on the 17.11.2007
- and Serbia takes no more than 6 points in 3 games (i.e. at least a defeat, or 2 draws)
-->
24 points for Finland
21-23 points for Portugal
17-23 for Serbia
If Portugal gets 4 points from Kazakhstan+Armenia, Portugal would have 24 points, and be considered as 2nd thanks to its high number of goals scored.

Or, Finland is qualified against Portugal if:
- Finland draws against Azerbaijan
- Finland draws against Portugal
- Portugal gets only 1 point against Kazakhstan and Armenia
- and Serbia takes no more than 4 points in 3 games
-->
22 points for Finland
22 points for Portugal
17-21 for Serbia
If Portugal gets 4 points from Kazakhstan+Armenia, Portugal would have 24 points, and be considered as 2nd thanks to its high number of goals scored.

Or, Finland is qualified against Poland if:
- Finland gets at least 4 points from Azerbaijan and Portugal (1 win and 1 draw)
- Poland loses against Belgium on the 17.11.2007
- Poland loses against Serbia on the 17.11.2007
- and Serbia does not take more than 3 points against Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan
-->
24 points for Finland
24 points for Poland
20-23 for Serbia
Finland gets qualified, thanks to a victory and a draw against Poland.

So, in short, there is only one scenario, the last one, that does not require a miracle, but it does require four hard-to-get results. So, I say, it would be a miracle.

But, GO FINLAND, GO ! Only 2 games left, it's possible but it requires miracles. It's time to show some more sisu for the Finnish players.

/Paul

[otyikondo]

It was a very pleasant game to watch, even though no goal was scored. The teams were at the same level, victory could have fallen on one side or the other.

Yet, the result is terrible for Finland. Getting only one point, while Poland and Portugal were taking three, it means that Finland is eliminated, unless a string of miracles would happen (such as : winning the 2 last games, including the one against Portugal, and having either Poland or Portugal that does not get much points in their 2-3 last games)

/Paul

I don't think, as it turned out, that the two points dropped against Belgium means too much (other than Finland haven't scored for five hours of play now). If Finland beat Azerbaijan at home, then a victory in Portugal will take them to Switzerland and Austria next year, unless Serbia get nine points from nine (basically, the Belgium draw left a window of opportunity open to Serbia, but doesn't change the Portugal/Finland equation - Finland would've still needed to beat Portugal).

Even if Portugal go on to beat Serbia after that match, Finland's then-superior head-to-head record vis-à-vis Portugal will mean that Finland qualify...unless Serbia win their final three games (last of all at home to Portugal...who will hopefully be out by then, unless Poland self-destruct...). If Serbia and Finland are joint-second, Serbia go through thanks to their superior head-to-head record.

...it's all so simple! Finland need a miraculous performance in Portugal...ugh.

Table

Serbia and Portugal have already played twice. Both draws. Which is of course WHY Serbia will win a three-way tie - they have 6 points to Finland's possible five and Portugal's possible (assuming a Finland victory over Portugal in November) 3 points. Serbia's last game is against POLAND.

Beating Belgium would at least have put a measure more pressure on the Portuguese in their two upcoming games, and would also have reduced the comfort zone now afforded the Poles, who now know they only need to deal with Belgium and can then put their feet up.

Always assuming they DO stuff Belgium, I'd quite likely expect to see an under-21 Polish side going to Belgrade, and Serbia having a relatively easy night of it.

[Salopian]

Oho! Mis-read 'Pol' and 'Por' on the fixtures grid! D'oh.

Thanks for the clarication, otyikondo!