posted Dec 6, 2007

Oh, so you are complaining about the amount of qualifyers from Concacaf. Sorry, it's just when you said

"what about the concacaf qualifying group then?
3 qualify from 6, so that Mexico and, crucially for FIFA, USA (ranked something like 8th!) get 'automatic' slots every time..."

It sounded like it was the way the group was run that you disapproved of. Not really sure how else to do though - 3 teams from one whol continent doesn't really seem excessive to me, although I do get your point.

Oh but please, I reeeally don't think FIA are "annoyed" by England not entering the World Cup at first - after all, it put your game back 20 years and meant that without home advantage you've never really been a serious threat to any of the other teams - I reckon if anything everyone else is pretty pleased

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posted Dec 6, 2007

I meant to write FIFA instead of FIA, of course

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posted Dec 6, 2007

The bit about not entering the WC was a joke (pretty lame I know).

It's not just paranoia, though, FIFA do dislike English football, you only have to listen to the pronouncements of Blatter and all the other freeloaders.

Must be pure envy...

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posted Dec 6, 2007

Oh I don't know - wasn't it blatter who came out after the group games of 2006 WC and said he thought England were playing good football(!)?

Same Blatter who when greeting both teams in the World Cup final told Zidane "I hope you win". I think England's problem may be that Blatter LIKES you - he's obviously a jinx!!

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posted Dec 6, 2007

Zidane must have misunderstood that as 'head-butt an opponent and then claim it was his fault, you'll get a Medaille d'or from the French FA.' ZZ should have paid more attention in English lessons

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posted Dec 6, 2007

what do you think the Argentinian ref said to Beckham before England vs Portugal? I reckon it was, 'I know you'll lose' ...

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posted Dec 6, 2007

comment by ForzaNapole!!!
posted 16 Hours Ago

"3 qualify from 6, so that Mexico and, crucially for FIFA, USA (ranked something like 8th!) get 'automatic' slots every time"

they are not automatic at all, they have to perform and deserve to qualify just like anyone else does. that CONCACAF final group is a as tough as the average European qualifying group. they also have to pre-qualify for the final group.

FIFA is not concerned if USA qualify or not.

USA is ranked around 20th which is about right
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Meh apart from USA, Mexico and the mighty Costa Rica there really isn't anyone bar maybe Hondoras and the ocassional Carrabian team

But let's face it there are only really three teams here and three qualify. Compare it to Asia where where you have
Australia(the top seeds), Iraq (the AFC champions), China and Qatar all competing for two slots to even get into the final round

The Great injustice is letting an OFC member have a playoff against the fifth placed Asian side.

Look at these rankings...

95 New Zealand
119 New Caledonia
125 Solomon Islands OUT
133 Fiji
141 Vanuatu
Everone here is Out too.
148 Samoa
163 Tahiti
167 Tonga
183 Papua New Guinea
200 Cook Islands
201 American Samoa

So could someone please tell me why a one (two legged) play off match against a China, Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Bahrain or Uzbekistan should be all that stands between a New Zealand or New Caledonia from qualification.

If there's any justice, it'll be against Iraq!

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posted Dec 7, 2007

It's just that in general Italian and Western Europeans tend to be more skillful anyway
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Maybe, but why? It's not in the DNA for sure.

Probably it has something to do with what the kids do.


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yes.

i know for a fact that the way i personally used to play was because i grew up playing barefoot on concrete, grass and beach, playing impromptu games and basically dribbling past everyone and playing exactly the same way cristiano ronaldo would have.

and then you learn to develop vision and see teammates.

speaking for germany - in the 50s and 60s, and then 70s, kids could play anywhere outside. on grass, enclosed areas, streets till late or wherever. after that they ruled that out with "stay off the grass" signs everywhere, and they began to police kids on the streets.

that's why players who grew up in those decades and played in the following decades were very skilful and seemed to share an emotional relationship with the ball. like the beckenbauers, overaths, hansi muellers, felix magaths etc

by the late 80s and 90s the new generation at that time were not as skilful in general, but it's coming back now...no thanks to the local councils though.

so yes, it's all to do with what the kids develop at a young age without coaches.

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posted Dec 12, 2007

am an Italian fan but puting the big three in the same group was foolish way of expressing sportsmanship.Why do they have to explain on the eventful day?Michel Platin has done poor changes to the former usual uefa formats and procedures that we used to know.But I still rate my team as number one over Holland and Romania and a draw against France.Seven points will take us through.

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posted Jun 7, 2008

I think this group will be one of the best. Italy, France and Holland can't afford to slip up so they should be playing at thier top level. Still, i want Romania to go through

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