In the absence of our weekly predicts I am forced to use the time I typically spend incorrectly guessing about the weekend’s scores writing a legitimate article. Luckily, the lack of Premiership matches does not mean there is a lack of news bits to talk about. Here is a brief rundown on the coming international week, as well as some news bits that may interest you.

I leave the USMNT talk to Biggy, thus I will only briefly mention that they are playing on Saturday in Honduras (a game which I predict they will draw, because I hate Bob Bradley, Dempsey is injured and I’m Canadian).

In other qualification news, the match-up that is most intriguing to me is the Sweden v Denmark game, as a Swedish victory all but spells an end to Portugal’s qualification campaign. One of the things that irks me most are the “football fans” that are ranting on and on how a World Cup without Argentina, Portugal, or France (who have subsequently made their situation better recently and will at least get a playoff game) is a World Cup not worth going to. This is horsecrap. I’ll give you some reasons:

1. Quality teams OFTEN don’t make big tournaments. Hell, just look two years   ago when England didn’t qualify for Euro 2008.
2. Only the top teams DESERVE to go to South Africa. These teams have 10 games spaced over two years to figure their shit out. If they can’t do that, they don’t deserve to be there and at the current rate, that includes Portugal and Argentina.
3. I get to make fun of my Portuguese friend for at least four years if Portugal doesn’t qualify. That may not seem that interesting to most of you, but if you knew how pissed off this guy gets when you rag on either Portugal, or his lover Cristiano, you would relish this prospect as well.

A reason completely unrelated to those that I just thought of regarding Portugal is that their non-qualification gives weight to my “Ronaldo is not a captain” rant. I’m sorry, a 24 year old leading one of the biggest teams in the world, when he has never held the captains band for any successful team in his existence? Good choice Queiroz….

Other important matches exist in Group 6, where Ukraine and Croatia are fighting for that second position slot behind England. If Ukraine manages to upset England, which is potentially possible given their already-qualified standing, they could upset Croatia and nab the second spot. Further still, Croatia MUST win against Kazakhstan, or they will open the door for the former Soviets.

This is the perfect time to briefly mention FIFA’s new plan to seed the playoff spots, seemingly in an attempt to save the big name team’s in danger of not qualifying. Do not worry, a debate is already brewing on this one between Biggy and I, and should be up by Sunday.

My last bit of news regards the Club Soccer team here at Poly. We have two more big games this weekend, at USC on Saturday at 11:00 AM, and then back at Cal Poly Sunday against Cal at 11:00 AM. If you are in either of the area’s I suggest checking out the games, and rooting for Poly, because seriously, who likes USC or Cal? The Women’s Club team is also in action down in Santa Barbara, and while I don’t have their schedule, I’m pretty sure it’s a tournament, so head out and watch our girls kick some Gaucho ass!