World Football Thread IX - Weltmeisterschaft Ausgabe

[Locutus]

Originally posted by Solver
Please not Russia at the World Cups, they get unberable then. But really, I think Europe is pretty much at the limit of how many teams they can have while keeping it fun. Poland and Switzerland are no powerhouses. I think the number is fine. I'd rather see Turkey instead of Switzerland this year, and almost anyone instead of Poland...

You're not wrong about Poland (although they've shown strong football in the past) but it's the small countries that make it fun, as long as the big ones are also there. And as much as I hate to encourage LoA, you're severely underestimating Switzerland...

[Winston]

Denmark is the highest ranked side not participating. Currently at #11, going by FIFA's list. We've been consistently in the Top 20 for years and years.

[Locutus]

Originally posted by Winston
Denmark is the highest ranked side not participating. Currently #14 I believe, going by FIFA's list. We've been consistently in the Top 20 for years and years.

So have the US and Mexico. That Mickey Mouse ranking is useless...

But yes, I consider Denmark one of the five I mentioned, if not the strongest one (which would be Turkey).

[Solver]

And as much as I hate to encourage LoA, you're severely underestimating Switzerland...

I don't think I am. I think Turkey is a good deal stronger, but I expect the Swiss to play pretty well. I certainly expect them to get out of their group, and I also expect them to at least draw with the French.

[GePap]

Originally posted by Locutus


So have the US and Mexico. That Mickey Mouse ranking is useless...

But yes, I consider Denmark one of the five I mentioned, if not the strongest one (which would be Turkey).

Why should FIFA slow down its spread into the most populous of continents to appease Europeans?

[C0ckney]

switzerland are a pretty average side, though respect to them for beating the dirty turks

and to whoever said that angola's midfield were as good as portugal's today, funniest thing i've heard for ages.

[Winston]

Originally posted by C0ckney
switzerland are a pretty average side

Ah, you mean like England?

Denmark has participated 6 times in a row in the Euro finals, which no other side has ever managed, I think that is one factor contributing to the consistently high ranking. Being placed as #11 is certainly valid on our case.

Oh, and we beat average side England 4-1 just last year.

[Solver]

Denmark doesn't have Schmeichel anymore, though, which is a shame. He was one great keeper .

[C0ckney]

we've got a lot more quality than the likes of switzerland or denmark. now if only our play always lived up to that

[SpencerH]

Originally posted by Locutus


Trying to reason with the English about football is impossible, don't even bother to try.

A dutch pot calling the kettle black.

[SpencerH]

Originally posted by Locutus

It's probably because it's new grass: in most if not all cases it was placed just days before the matches started, it's probably not really solidly in place under the surface yet. The fact that the problems seem to mostly be in the corners and on the edges of the field confirms this. Hopefully it'll get better with time.

I think you're right. Crouch took out a divot near the flag then tamped it back in yesterday that looked like he was playing golf (badly).

[Lawrence of Arabia]

switzerland was in a group with ireland and france, and no one gave them a shot.

then they drew turkey, and no one gave them a shot

see the pattern?

[Daz]

Lets sum up:

Germany - crappy defence. Not really impressive overall
Argentina - lucky bastards. Good actors. Won on experience.
Ivory Coast - nice to watch. Too naive.
Netherlands - good 1st half. Gassed in the 2nd- wtf???
Serbia- are they blind or what? Did they simply not see Robben or what was that?
Portugal- going down. You cant score against Angola, youre out.
England - not a good game.
Sweden - , go home!
Poland- for a team thats almost always the first to qualify, that quite suprising. Bad, that is...


But then again, its the first matches. Everyone is a bit tense and cautious. Lets wait for the second round...

[Kropotkin]

The problem with Poland, as I see it, is that their national side is not up to date on modern football. They are moving the ball from defence to attack way to slow. They move up enough men to put some serious pressure on their opponent but they get few real chances that way.

Passning the ball in midfield wastes time. Get the ball, let one winger run up the flank, place a cross to a winger on the other side while the others make runs to break up the defence. Score a goal.

[Daz]

Yea, but the point is that they always breeze through the qualifiying round... And now this....?