USA vs Holland in Boston

[MikeH]

Yeah. Holland still got beaten in a qualifying group by Ireland. They aren't good enough to go so they shouldn't go. Holland is about the only good team not at the world cup and one of the top European teams misses out every year. Tough. Europe gets more places in the finals than anyone else by miles. It's got more places in the finals by more than double anyone else.

[MikeH]

And Costa Rica beat the Mexico and the US in their qualifying so even if that federation only had 1 place in the finals they'd be there. How can you deny them that when they've earnt it in qualifying?

[Juggernaut]

To make the Dutch boys even happier, I've heard FIFA vice president Lennart Johansson say they're considering giving the Asian and North American teams even more slots in the WC.

[Kropotkin]

I thought you implied a smaller World Cup (would not regard them as a top 16 team), Holland might make it into the top 32. As for smoking stuff, that's you're department and you'll probably have no problem getting amoungst the best 32 in that aspect.

[Saint Marcus]

Holland might make it into the top 32.

might?

name 32 teams better than Holland.

[MikeH]

Starting with Ireland?

[Kropotkin]

hmm 32 teams better than Holland... should we take it in alphabetic order? Holland didn't perform. If you want teams to get to the world cup without actually performing anything on the pitch I don't know what the world cup would have to do with sports anymore.

[Zopperoni]

Originally posted by Kropotkin
If you want teams to get to the world cup without actually performing anything on the pitch I don't know what the world cup would have to do with sports anymore.

...Brazil...

[MikeH]

Absolutely. Holland should have been a good team but they weren't just a bunch of talented individuals not performing. They didn't deserve to go.

[Kropotkin]

Brazil and Italy are much alike. Two countries with boring and underperforming clubs in decaying leauges that still manage to substain a decent national side.

[Zopperoni]

Originally posted by MikeH
Absolutely. Holland should have been a good team but they weren't just a bunch of talented individuals not performing.

The National team suffers from one problem: there's no leader on the pitch.
Frank de Boer may have the most caps of all Dutch players ever, but he sucks as a captain
Van Gaal didn't make things better either with his "experiments".

[Zopperoni]

Originally posted by Kropotkin
Brazil and Italy are much alike. Two countries with boring and underperforming clubs in decaying leauges that still manage to substain a decent national side.

I don't know about that. Brazil performed pretty poorly in qualifying, which cost Luxemburgo his position, and only barely qualified.
Italy has indeed been underperforming club-wise, but it's a hell of a team they can bring onto the pitch.

[Kropotkin]

Brazil would have a hell of a team to if there was some competence at all in brazilian football. I've read that due to the total corruption and anarchy in Brazil a top side might have to play 107 games in one season. Clearly a nation where drastic reforms are necissary.

[*Clart*]

go Canada

*places bag over his head in shame*

[Saint Marcus]

hmm 32 teams better than Holland... should we take it in alphabetic order? Holland didn't perform. If you want teams to get to the world cup without actually performing anything on the pitch I don't know what the world cup would have to do with sports anymore.

we obviously outperform the USA, who are going to the World Cup.