The Football Thread

[Meini Hirion]

Originally Posted by footstep

Second victory for national team 0 3 in Armenia.Just saw the goals after work,tv said a correct match,Deschamps seems satisfied.
England back too?After a sad world cup,or just a wake up call...too late.

The old problem Foots... having to play 'Friendlies' whilst most European teams are engaged in serious competitive matches ~ to qualify, whereas France, as Host Nation won't have that 'edge' from these matches ~ imo

And playing Albania twice, on either side of a Denmark 'Friendly' between now and next summer doesn't make me think that their planning is at all creative.
They would get better workouts and learning/experience against some African or even South American teams ~ who are available.

I mean, with little disrespect, Armenia and Albania twice?????



Edit PS:
England are back to where we've always been, foots...

People ~~ the World Over ~~ see the money / hype and excitement of the Premier League, as if it was related to England.

It isn't. And our Manager, has the easiest of Groups from which to qualify especially after the Swiss imploded first match. So expect SUPER-HYPE come 2016 about England being back.
And, imo, unless France get serious about their 'Friendlies' we'll both go early Bath come 2016.

[victor meldrew]

A couple more stories about ticket pricing.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29527838

Who ate all the pies?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29614699

[Greenman]

Disgraceful what happened in that match between Serbia and Albania was it? Anyway I felt sorry for Martin Atkinson, what a match to referee-nothing like that has ever happened in this country thank goodness-mind you the Celtic v Rangers and some of the Derbies can get a bit 'tasty' but never as violent.

Ha ha, it's official! Andy Townsend has been voted the WORST Co-commentator/summariser with Michael Owen second and poor old Mark Lawrenson third-I rather like his pithy comments on the radio)-shame they vote Clive Tyldesley as the WORST EVER commentator. Someone on Yahoo home page where you will find the story has even come up with a bingo game with all of Townsend's remarks to mark off at each game

[victor meldrew]

Originally Posted by Greenman

Disgraceful what happened in that match between Serbia and Albania was it? Anyway I felt sorry for Martin Atkinson, what a match to referee-nothing like that has ever happened in this country thank goodness-mind you the Celtic v Rangers and some of the Derbies can get a bit 'tasty' but never as violent.

Its typical of the governing bodies of football, these two sides should never have been in the same group in the first place because of the history between the two countries.

The sad thing is both countries are being charge by UFA, when they themselves are the culpable party.

God forbid that one day football will be run by people who care about the game rather than the money.

[Markus R]

Originally Posted by victor meldrew

Its typical of the governing bodies of football, these two sides should never have been in the same group in the first place because of the history between the two countries.

The sad thing is both countries are being charge by UFA, when they themselves are the culpable party.

God forbid that one day football will be run by people who care about the game rather than the money.

It is typical of UEFA - when Spain landed Gibraltar in the same group they were moved to another group to avoid tensions (I doubt the tensions would have ever amounted to anything like that of Serbia and Albania). Likewise, Russia and Ukraine were going to be kept apart at the qualifying draw for 2016.

[footstep]

Violence is back everywhere in Europa (even if it was always there).
What uefa will do?

[footstep]

Originally Posted by Meini Hirion

The old problem Foots... having to play 'Friendlies' whilst most European teams are engaged in serious competitive matches ~ to qualify, whereas France, as Host Nation won't have that 'edge' from these matches ~ imo

And playing Albania twice, on either side of a Denmark 'Friendly' between now and next summer doesn't make me think that their planning is at all creative.
They would get better workouts and learning/experience against some African or even South American teams ~ who are available.

I mean, with little disrespect, Armenia and Albania twice?????



Edit PS:
England are back to where we've always been, foots...

People ~~ the World Over ~~ see the money / hype and excitement of the Premier League, as if it was related to England.

It isn't. And our Manager, has the easiest of Groups from which to qualify especially after the Swiss imploded first match. So expect SUPER-HYPE come 2016 about England being back.
And, imo, unless France get serious about their 'Friendlies' we'll both go early Bath come 2016.

We did worst!
We are used to!
Money,money,federation must dig holes to put all euros won

[gordian_knot]

Originally Posted by Meini Hirion

This is a joke folks ~~ and a question

Which country would win the World Cup ~ or any Inter-Nations Trophy...if...

The National Team entered could include ANY player who was registered and played in that Country for...say 12-18 months..prior to qualifiers?
But was of a different Nationality?

I know, it would be an Inter-League Competition, and they've failed in the past ~~~ but, for an aside ~~ which Country {League} do you think would win? I think it would be a European walkover. Because of the money angle.

Just trying to think of how England might win something....

It'd be between Spain, England and Germany. England might win, but it's doubtful if any English players would make the team.

Serbia v Albania might have been seen as a chance to start to normalize relations. It was played with Albanian fans excluded. UEFA could never have anticipated someone would set off that drone. With no fans present suspicion has fallen on the Albanian players and staff. But it's not impossible some Serb nationalists did it to further stir up tensions. If it's ever proved that someone within the Albanian or Serb camps did it, the offenders should be kicked out of the Euros at the very least.

[teaktop]

I found it funny two of the most hateful countries playing football it wouldn't surprise me if they are the next cohosts for the world cup #fifa corrupt

[buttsie]

Originally Posted by Motorboater

Australia. 0 goals against the might of UAE and Qatar! All this after we were promised a more ambitious style of play.

Judging by how Australia has dropped from 20-30 ranking to 80 in 2/3 years
we're hardly a heavy weight ourselves

Says a lot about the rankings - most middle ground teams avoid playing too many quality sides in a year so their ranking is kept artificially higher - we've played 4

4 games against quality opposition and 4 losses and they drop from 50 to 80
Even ranks them below UAE 73


All the lead-up games to the Asian cup in January are meaningless from a results point of view....0-0 or 0-1 or 2-0 over Saudi Arabia in london recently

Their little more than trial games to see who outside the World Cup might sure up the defence or be an avenue to goal.

Looking at Australias strikers Josh Kennedy at age 32,6ft 4 (17 goals in 33 matches) is still a walk up start to partner the other relic from 2006 Tim Cahill age 34 (35 goals in 75 matches)

The rest might as well ask to play in a different position or be prepared to play as a sub


Robbie kruse (3 goals in 30 matches) at that rate Mark Vidukas less than
flattering 11 goals in 43 matches could be in danger.

The other forwards have worse records - the cupboard is empty

We obviously need to offer citizenship to some other countries players , like our Olympic team has always done because we sure as hell cant produce them anymore.

The U19s recently missed out on qualifying for the 2015 world cup

They can score goals but cant defend - maybe they should play the Asian Cup
- Australia U19 3 - 4 Japan U19

http://www.soccerway.com/matches/201...er-19/1767353/

http://au.soccerway.com/teams/austra...15731/matches/