International Football Discussion

First topic message reminder :

Thierry Henry has been named Belgium's assistant manager. 

Another odd appointment, it makes sense for Henry who didn't want to give up his media duties. Will be interesting to see how he improves Belgium's forwards, if he can rub off any of his playing skill onto them it'd be sure to have an effect. I'm excited to see if he can work well with Origi who is a striker in his mould.

Winks

World Cup Draw (3pm)

Pot 1: Russia, Germany, Brazil, Portugal, Argentina, Belgium, Poland, France

Pot 2: Spain, Peru , Switzerland, England, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay, Croatia

Pot 3: Denmark, Iceland, Costa Rica, Sweden, Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal, Iran

Pot 4: Serbia, Nigeria, Australia, Japan, Morocco, Panama, South Korea, Saudi Arabia.

Best possible - Russia, England, Iran, Saudi Arabia/Panama

My bet is on for the following pot:

Portugal, England, Costa Rica, Saudi Arabia.

I want Australia, for not only the personal links, but also cos it adds some rivalry spice and the Aussies are really not very good. In fact, I'd be tempted to say they are second bottom/bottom of the dangers in that last group. Panama will be buzzing

For completeness, annotated with current FIFA word rankings

Just John wrote:World Cup Draw (3pm)

Pot 1: 65 Russia, 1 Germany, 2 Brazil, 3 Portugal, 4 Argentina, 5 Belgium, 7Poland, 9 France

Pot 2: 6 Spain, 11 Peru , 8 Switzerland, 15 England, 13 Colombia, 16 Mexico, 21 Uruguay, 17 Croatia

Pot 3: 12 Denmark, 22 Iceland, 26 Costa Rica, 18 Sweden, 27 Tunisia, 31 Egypt, 23 Senegal, 32 Iran

Pot 4: 37 Serbia, 50 Nigeria, 39 Australia, 55 Japan, 50 Morocco, 56 Panama, 59 South Korea, 63 Saudi Arabia.

Best possible - Russia, England, Iran, Saudi Arabia/Panama

So the hosts are the lowest ranked team in the tournament - OK, there are some issues with the FIFA rankings, but that's still quite a surprise.

To be honest, from England's perspective, I think they would want to avoid Germany and Brazil from pot 1. The bigger problem would be drawing Denmark from pot 3 (or perhaps Sweden) - otherwise, performing half decently should see them at least as group runners up

Don't want Senegal from Pot 3 either - they got a really good squad, with some real match winners.

dummy_half wrote:For completeness, annotated with current FIFA word rankings

Just John wrote:World Cup Draw (3pm)

Pot 1: 65 Russia, 1 Germany, 2 Brazil, 3 Portugal, 4 Argentina, 5 Belgium, 7Poland, 9 France

Pot 2: 6 Spain, 11 Peru , 8 Switzerland, 15 England, 13 Colombia, 16 Mexico, 21 Uruguay, 17 Croatia

Pot 3: 12 Denmark, 22 Iceland, 26 Costa Rica, 18 Sweden, 27 Tunisia, 31 Egypt, 23 Senegal, 32 Iran

Pot 4: 37 Serbia, 50 Nigeria, 39 Australia, 55 Japan, 50 Morocco, 56 Panama, 59 South Korea, 63 Saudi Arabia.

Best possible - Russia, England, Iran, Saudi Arabia/Panama

So the hosts are the lowest ranked team in the tournament - OK, there are some issues with the FIFA rankings, but that's still quite a surprise.

To be honest, from England's perspective, I think they would want to avoid Germany and Brazil from pot 1. The bigger problem would be drawing Denmark from pot 3 (or perhaps Sweden) - otherwise, performing half decently should see them at least as group runners up

I'd presume part of the reason for Russia being so low is that they're the only nation that's not played competitive games for the past 2 years so their score will constantly be dropping? Not saying they're top 20 etc but they're certainly better than Saudi Arabia etc.

I don't want Egypt either as I think Salah could beat us on his own.

Poland, England, Tunisia, Australia is what I want.

Unsure why none of these lists have Wales on..?

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:I don't want Egypt either as I think Salah could beat us on his own.

Poland, England, Tunisia, Australia is what I want.

Unsure why none of these lists have Wales on..?

I had automatically assumed they would be in pot 1. Strange

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:I don't want Egypt either as I think Salah could beat us on his own.

Poland, England, Tunisia, Australia is what I want.

Unsure why none of these lists have Wales on..?

They got Poland, Senegal and Australia in the test run yesterday apparently.

Group A - Russia, Uruguay, Egypt, Saudi Arabia
Group B - Portugal, Spain, Iran, Morocco
Group C - France, Peru, Denmark, Australia
Group D - Argentina, Croatia, Iceland, Nigeria
Group E - Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia
Group F - Germany, Mexico, Sweden, South Korea
Group G - Belgium, England, Tunisia, Panama
Group H - Poland, Colombia, Senegal, Japan

If we can't get out of that group we might as well give up international football

Conspiracy theorists among us would note Russia playing Saudi Arabia in the opening game

Quite a dull draw, no group of death there

GSC wrote:Conspiracy theorists among us would note Russia playing Saudi Arabia in the opening game

Great game for Russia

Awful game for Fifa. Two worst ranked sides to open the tournament, grim

It's a great draw for fifa in that the host team being tonked in the opening game would spell trouble

I Think Russia could have some problems getting out of their group. Difficult to know who will qualify from group h also.

Home advantage counts for a lot but suspect Russia will struggle regardless on what group they got.

If we qualify, we then play the winner or runner-up of group H in the next round. Poland, Senegal & Colombia, most likely.

Got to fancy our chances getting to QF with the possible opponents in the next round. I know Senegal and Columbia could be iffy. But I still fancy our chances

GSC wrote:Home advantage counts for a lot but suspect Russia will struggle regardless on what group they got.

if south korea got "beneficial" decisions being at home, imagine how bad the russians will be

Euro 2020 news -  (three group games, one last 16 game, both semi-finals & final, all to be held at Wembley)

England will play Nigeria at Wembley on June 2nd. They will then play Costa Rica at Elland Road on June 7th

Ryan Giggs named Wales manager. Probably the only job he was ever going to realistically get. I’ll give it one campaign

Ryan Giggs could find other managerial jobs if he were willing to go down the leagues or even into non-league. He doesn't need the money, he needs the experience. But it seems he is only interested in the top jobs.

I wouldn't go near him if I were a PL team

It's a strange choice though, you look at the passion they were so proud of in the Euros and they've appointed a guy who could rarely be arsed to play for Wales

He's got a high opinion of himself, I'll give him that.

I read that he was up against Craig Bellamy? I'd have gone with Bellars. Appears to have a lot more upstairs than Giggs.

Apparently Shearer had a pop about his history of withdrawals last night on MotD.

Bale aside they aren't that talented, they got through with organisation and team spirit mainly. Bellamy seems a much more obvious choice for that

Sad to see Wales going backwards. They had an excellent Euro 2016 (and if Ramsey was available for the game against Portugal, they would have made the final) but have regressed since then.

Giggs is a backward appointment. He will be off as soon as a PL/high-placed Championship club come knocking.

Can't see a PL team coming knocking unless he hits the ground running. He's a name, that's it.

Not getting my hopes up. But we seem to be a team full of surprises at times. Let's hope Giggs is one of those surprises

GSC wrote:I wouldn't go near him if I were a PL team

I doubt he would go near you if you were a PL team either to be honest

Steffan wrote:

GSC wrote:I wouldn't go near him if I were a PL team

I doubt he would go near you if you were a PL team either to be honest

If any football player might try nail a man who called himself a premier league team...

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:

Steffan wrote:

GSC wrote:I wouldn't go near him if I were a PL team

I doubt he would go near you if you were a PL team either to be honest

If any football player might try nail a man who called himself a premier league team...

Giggs can rarely be arsed apparently. Can't say the same for GSC...

1) Phil Neville becomes head coach of the England women’s team.
2) Old, ‘sexist ‘ tweets emerge.
3) Phil Neville deletes his twitter account.
4) Twitter mob incoming...?

Ah, the modern age.

They probably thought he was the safe option as well.

Phil Neville is being branded a misogynist and sexist for the following:
He tweeted "good morning gentlemen".

The final conclusive proof that he was a sexist and women hater was in his tweeted reply to comments asking why he hadn't said good morning to gentlewomen as well: "When I said morning men I thought the women would of been busy preparing breakfast/ getting kids ready / making the beds - sorry morning women"

The "Kick It Out" chief executive Roisin Wood is demanding an enquiry on this scandalous appointment and that Phil Neville be severely disciplined.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42803812

I can't quite make sense out of this new Uefa National League - it seems to be a way of turning friendlies into meaningful and competitive games - but I thought they were already meaningful in the sense that friendlies count in the determination of the FIFA world rankings, and FIFA world rankings determine seedings for major international competitions.  The other thing about the Uefa National League is that it is a European League - so what happens to friendlies say between England and non-European sides (Brazil, Argentina etc).
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42803594

No name Bertie wrote:Phil Neville is being branded a misogynist and sexist for the following:
He tweeted "good morning gentlemen".

The final conclusive proof that he was a sexist and women hater was in his tweeted reply to comments asking why he hadn't said good morning to gentlewomen as well: "When I said morning men I thought the women would of been busy preparing breakfast/ getting kids ready / making the beds - sorry morning women"

The "Kick It Out" chief executive Roisin Wood is demanding an enquiry on this scandalous appointment and that Phil Neville be severely disciplined.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42803812

Worlds gone mad.

He also wrote a tweet saying he's just battered his wife or something like that.

The world has gone mad though.

No name Bertie wrote:I can't quite make sense out of this new Uefa National League - it seems to be a way of turning friendlies into meaningful and competitive games - but I thought they were already meaningful in the sense that friendlies count in the determination of the FIFA world rankings, and FIFA world rankings determine seedings for major international competitions.

Wasn't there a whole thing about countries (I think Switzerland were the main example) figuring out the best thing for your ranking was simply not playing any friendlies?

If I remember correctly, the Swiss hire people to specifically work out who to play so as to give them the best chance of enhancing their seedings. Very clever

yeah you could play Columbia and Peru at home and get more points than if you had played Italy and Netherlands

FreekShow wrote:He also wrote a tweet saying he's just battered his wife or something like that.

The world has gone mad though.

I see baroness Campbell has come out and said the majority of candidates approached about the job didn't want it due to the media scrutiny involved.

I remember reading an article a couple of years ago that it's considered sexist and patronising - by some women - to hold a door open for them.

There'll be a rulebook on this sh!t soon.

As long as they are first off a sinking ship they'll just have to put up with it.

Ronald Koeman to become the next Netherlands manager

Regarding the USA match on the 15th of Nov, it won't be easy.

The US are currently going through a major overhaul of their mens national side after the pathetic performance and loss to Trinidad & Tobago team.

This overhaul, to me, says that the changing face of the USMNT, now, are no longer a laughing matter. No longer are they the joke for the world to laugh at.

I feel and see that the Americans are now more determined to change and develop than ever before and because of this I think the match against them will be at least difficult.

I'm keeping an eye on this subject of the usmnt and I have to say......I believe the world will see a very very different side now.

It was hugely obvious to me that the USA had no other choice but to change their fundamental ways in order to get better and to be taken far more seriously.


I am willing to bet that in or within 50 years time the USA mens national side will win the World Cup.

If anyone still has dreams of playing international football, I think the Denmark selectors are considering anybody that's watched a full series of Borgen or the Bridge at this point.

Lowlandbrit wrote:If anyone still has dreams of playing international football, I think the Denmark selectors are considering anybody that's watched a full series of Borgen or the Bridge at this point.

'Only' lost 3-0 to Slovakia tonight, which is quite an achievement considering.