International Football thread

[budgetmeansbudget]

Not slating Wilshere, but I think that's the first time I've heard a player say 'we knew we were going to win'.

Im not sure Wilshere is going to be around to long at the top. He needs to do something with Arsenal this season, and he is yet to impress in an England shirt. He needs to make his mark this season.

The commentator kept bigging him up in the second half but I thought he had an ordinary game. Infact i've never seen him have a good game for Arsenal or England, i keep hearing he's the future of the England team, i can't see it yet. Jack Wilshere, the myth?

[Gingerfinch]

Not slating Wilshere, but I think that's the first time I've heard a player say 'we knew we were going to win'.

Im not sure Wilshere is going to be around to long at the top. He needs to do something with Arsenal this season, and he is yet to impress in an England shirt. He needs to make his mark this season.

The commentator kept bigging him up in the second half but I thought he had an ordinary game. Infact i've never seen him have a good game for Arsenal or England, i keep hearing he's the future of the England team, i can't see it yet. Jack Wilshere, the myth?

He played some nice balls in the second half but this was san marino. I try not to knock or big up players, in these games.

[mikesiva]

With all due respect, I don't see what UEFA is trying to achieve by subjecting San Marino to barrage after barrage....

UEFA could take a page out of the book of Concacaf, which TWT knows well. The big boys, such as the USA and Mexico, never play the likes of Anguilla and Cayman, because they are weeded out by an earlier round.

UEFA could easily add an earlier round that includes the likes of San Marino, Andorra, Faroe Islands, Leichenstein, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Georgia (are they even in Europe?), Modova, Lithuania, and any team outside of the top 100, and say something like, the top two advance to the main draw. That way, these teams would play teams closer in strength to them, better develop their all-round play, and are not consumed with playing 11 men in defence.

[sussexpob]

With all due respect, I don't see what UEFA is trying to achieve by subjecting San Marino to barrage after barrage....

UEFA could take a page out of the book of Concacaf, which TWT knows well. The big boys, such as the USA and Mexico, never play the likes of Anguilla and Cayman, because they are weeded out by an earlier round.

UEFA could easily add an earlier round that includes the likes of San Marino, Andorra, Faroe Islands, Leichenstein, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Georgia (are they even in Europe?), Modova, Lithuania, and any team outside of the top 100, and say something like, the top two advance to the main draw. That way, these teams would play teams closer in strength to them, better develop their all-round play, and are not consumed with playing 11 men in defence.

Slovakia beat Spain last night.....

[SaintPowelly]

Also, the San Marino players seem to be loving it, living their dream, why kill that ?

Postman by day, international footballer by night for most of them.

[sussexpob]

Also, the San Marino players seem to be loving it, living their dream, why kill that ?

Postman by day, international footballer by night for most of them.

Indeed. I personally think its part of international football that these fixtures should be played.

[dan08]

At least FIFA are trying to grow the game and give them a chance unlike say in cricket, where the ICC don't care about anyone outside the top 10.

[yuppie]

At least FIFA are trying to grow the game and give them a chance unlike say in cricket, where the ICC don't care about anyone outside the top 10.

Indeed, and thus stopping the growth of the game.

[sussexpob]

At least FIFA are trying to grow the game and give them a chance unlike say in cricket, where the ICC don't care about anyone outside the top 10.

Indeed, and thus stopping the growth of the game.

Tbf, if a World Cup is in Qatar then trying to force rubbish teams through extra qualifying rounds is pointlessly contradictory...... they just gave automatic qualification to the team behind Haiti in the rankings.

[GGAS]

Not slating Wilshere, but I think that's the first time I've heard a player say 'we knew we were going to win'.

Im not sure Wilshere is going to be around to long at the top. He needs to do something with Arsenal this season, and he is yet to impress in an England shirt. He needs to make his mark this season.

He's been very good in Arsenal's last few games. I think a big problem with English football is that a youngster has three good games at 18 and is expected to turn into the next Zidane. Wilshere has been hyped ridiculously, and I don't think he'll ever be the best player around, but he can definitely be one of the best in the premiership if he stays fit and continues his development.

[SaintPowelly]

Not slating Wilshere, but I think that's the first time I've heard a player say 'we knew we were going to win'.

Im not sure Wilshere is going to be around to long at the top. He needs to do something with Arsenal this season, and he is yet to impress in an England shirt. He needs to make his mark this season.

He's been very good in Arsenal's last few games. I think a big problem with English football is that a youngster has three good games at 18 and is expected to turn into the next Zidane. Wilshere has been hyped ridiculously, and I don't think he'll ever be the best player around, but he can definitely be one of the best in the premiership if he stays fit and continues his development.

I agree with you in principle about how young players get touted by the media, but not about Wilshere, too weak, too one footed, too injury prone, if he wasn't English he wouldn't get near the Arsenal team.

[Alviro Patterson]

With all due respect, I don't see what UEFA is trying to achieve by subjecting San Marino to barrage after barrage....

UEFA could take a page out of the book of Concacaf, which TWT knows well. The big boys, such as the USA and Mexico, never play the likes of Anguilla and Cayman, because they are weeded out by an earlier round.

UEFA could easily add an earlier round that includes the likes of San Marino, Andorra, Faroe Islands, Leichenstein, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Georgia (are they even in Europe?), Modova, Lithuania, and any team outside of the top 100, and say something like, the top two advance to the main draw. That way, these teams would play teams closer in strength to them, better develop their all-round play, and are not consumed with playing 11 men in defence.

UEFA do this at U17/U19 level with a Qualifying Round and Elite Round before the main event.

While it sounds like a good idea in theory, those teams knocked out in a Preliminary stage are going to be kicking their heels until the next qualifying event.

Another way round it is to adopt the competition format of Rugby World Sevens by adding two lesser tournaments, played in between major championships. Teams who finish 3rd and 4th in Qualifying play in a European Plate tournament, those who finish 5th/6th play in a European Bowl tournament.

[Aidan11]

Kazakhstan leading the Netherlands

[SaintPowelly]

Kazakhstan leading the Netherlands

Was a bloody good header too.

Suarez scored in Uruguays 1-1 draw.

[sussexpob]

And we kick Kazakhstan out?