International Football Discussion

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.

Jurgen Klinsmann has been sacked by the USA.

Hopefully that shows that he's not the saviour of English football after all. He's been a massive disappointment for the USA. I'm not sure Klinsmann is actually a top coach, I think his plans for Germany were obviously great, but would likely only work with a country like Germany. They weren't awful before he got involved after all, they were runner ups at the 2002 World Cup, so 2004 was the only year where they were underwhelming.

Has he been a massive disappointment?

And its pretty easy to dismiss Klinsmann work with Germany, but its foolish to do so.

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:Has he been a massive disappointment?

And its pretty easy to dismiss Klinsmann work with Germany, but its foolish to do so.

They're dead bottom of a pretty easy World Cup qualifying group, they lost 4-0 to Costa Rica who aren't exactly world beaters. Failed to reach the final of the Gold Cup, which they had done the previous five competitions so around 10 years. 

Supremely unpopular with Americans as well. 

I'm not dismissing his work with German football infrastructure, but I am dismissing his work as a coach. I think he'd be better off looking for big picture opportunities in the future. As I don't think he's cut out for management.

The World Cup has been expanded to 48 giving hope to minnows such the Faroe Islands, San Marino and Scotland.

GSC wrote:The World Cup has been expanded to 48 giving hope to minnows such the Faroe Islands, San Marino and Scotland.

To be fair, the Euros expanding actually ended up being pretty decent.

I'm not convinced it's an amazing idea, but we'll see.

Did it?

Euros ended up with far too much fluff for my liking, it was better when it was a smaller tournament which led to a better standard of game overall

Don't think I watched the same Euros as Crimey. Sure some of the smaller teams got further but the matches were boring as anything.

I thought Euro 2012 was a more boring tournament than Euro 2016 for sure. I didn't think the expanded format had an effect on entertainment. International tournaments always struggle with quality.

48 teams and england will still struggle to get out of the group.

not sure why anybody thinks watching Saudi Arabia v Lithuania and Trinidad & Tobago v congo will add anything to the tournament

the world cup for me should be the elite teams all playing in the best tournament in the world, instead of just making more money for fifa. when they say "improving the development of football all over the world" there basically saying more countries they can earn money out of

The issue with FIFA is for example Burkina Fasos vote counts the same as Germany's. While that might sound elitist, Germany clearly brings far more to World Football. But it allows people like Blatter to accumulate votes from smaller nations who are comparatively cheaper and easier to win over and then vote as a bloc.

Expanded the format is more about making sure the big teams get into the tournament than helping out the smaller sides. Whilst the byproduct will be smaller sides getting to the World Cup, it's about making sure they don't have a situation where a country like Netherlands or England or Argentina don't make the World Cup as these are big markets. I'm sure they will be hoping developing countries like China will start making the World Cup more regularly because of this, but it's certainly not about small countries getting in. They get more money when they can guarantee that every big nation can make the World Cup. 

There is partly a voting thing going on as well.

They get more money from more games. A country like England missing it is likely peanuts compared to that gain.

Someone's done a projection based on current rankings, England would be in a 3 man group with Panama and the UAE.

GSC has it nailed on, this is about giving the corrupt voters more chance of their nations making the world cup.

I don't necessarily think they can be described as corrupt for voting in the interests of their particular nation. Obviously Burkina Faso wants more opportunities for Burkina Faso. You can blame the Fifa politicians for pandering for their votes rather than acting in the best interests of football but I don't think the countries representatives are wrong to act in their own interests by voting for the candidates that will give their country the best opportunities. 

Also it's not England the football team not making it the problem, it's the fact that the big nations are the ones that bring the money. Advertisements, TV rights, TV viewing figures these all hinge on the big nations consistently making the big tournaments. So when England misses Euro 2008 or Netherlands miss Euro 2016, they lose some of the star power and the TV viewing figures they otherwise would have gotten. By expanded the format, they make it so it's practically impossible for the big nations to miss out on the big tournaments, securing the star power they need.

Which is precisely why the big nations should have a bigger say

Which countries have the infrastructure to host such a big tournament? It's a lot of people and teams to accommodate. Then take into account the security risks. Police forces are already under extreme pressures. This will just make it more likely that something will go off. It's the wrong time to be thinking of this. Many more issues like why are Russia and Qatar still holding the next two world cups.

FIFA going to make an extra billion for expanding the tournament...

It's the death of the world cup as a sporting event, it's nothing more than a money making event for FIFA now.

It doesn't harm the Olympics included minnows. It won't hurt the World Cup. It's been expanded plenty of times and it's been fine and it'll be fine with this.

Nobody really giving a toss about the Olympic football competition is probably a crucial detail you omit.

I'm not talking about football specifically, I'm just talking about the Olympics generally. All countries are included and have the opportunity for their athletes to compete and it doesn't really dilute the competition. 

I don't think expanded the World Cup is going to make a massive difference. It will guarantee that the big name countries will make it every year, which appears to be what a lot of people want on here. If you don't care about the games between two smaller countries, don't watch the games between two smaller countries, it doesn't harm the competition at all.

Olympic competitions go through a ton of qualifying in general before you even start the event at the games.

The World Cup is already bloated enough, I want a tournament that is competitive throughout rather than 1 that goes on too long and you're waiting about 3 weeks to get to the 5-6 good games

If the justification for a change not being that bad is "well you don't have to watch all of it", it's probably a bad change.

If you're a fan of replays of Shawcrosses tackle on Ramsay, Taylor on Coleman is for you

shocking stuff, broken leg for Coleman. koeman won't see him again until 2018

He should get a lengthy ban for that, shocking tackle.

Yeah wasn't great.
Last thing we need is Coleman out for a long time.

Got some stick for Taylor making the tackle.
Am sure Brucey doesn't teach him that in training.

Poor game.
Meyler and Whelan are dreadful.
McGeady is having a blinder for Preston this season.
Would like to see him start next game.

Down to 10 men Wales were there for the taking, no surprise we couldn't capitalise.

Brazil seem to be doing well in their qualifying group. I think they'll do well at the upcoming World Cup. They'll be wanting to make amends for that 7-1 beating against Germany.

I see Brazil won again. I think that's 8 wins in a row for them. More importantly, I read that they played well.

Tbh, you can't read anything into qualifying. Still not convinced Brazil have progressed into anything remotely special, especially when I see Paulinho as one of the first on the team sheet during Q & him getting rave reviews. Not convinced they've solved the defensive issues either. They seem to go with this line-up, when fit.

------------------Allison------------------
Alves---Marquinhos--T.Silva----Marcelo
---Paulinho----Casemiro---R.Augusto--
-Coutinho---Gabriel Jesus-----Neymar-

Back up - Fernandinho, Douglas Costa, Firmino, Miranda, Willian, Fabinho etc

Quality goal from Giroud.

Why the French FA still believe Deschamps to be the right man is puzzling. Anyone who persists with starting Sissoko continuously, is an absolute clown.

Huge mess from Lloris, to give the game to Sweden.

For years Mark Noble couldn't get a call-up, now Jake Livermore starts an England international.

I'll say it again. Can't believe how Noble never got an England call up.
Good player.

Jesus this has been dull. Holiday

Ox scores. 1-0. Craig Gordon has looked crap all day

England 1-2 Scotland

Just awful

Two cracking free kicks from Griffiths.
Didn't think he'd score either.

Ah well a good game and considering Scotland are meant to be crap and England are supposed to be mighty all powerful world beaters the Jocks did well

I actually prefer the 2-2 draw and breaking their hearts than actually winning 1-0

I'm sure this will spun around as brave England come back from the brink of defeat and show character that will win them the world cup next year

Never since you've posted on here has it been a case where people think England will win a World Cup

That game should be Joe Hart's last as England's number 1 - both Butland and Pickford are better

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:Never since you've posted on here has it been a case where people think England will win a World Cup

Not on here I agree. But in real life I know people who do

Hahaha! I loaded up BBC just as we went 1-0 up....next time i reloaded we had escaped the jaws of defeat!

God just when you think England cannot get any worse! So much for the next exciting generation...! Again I level much of the blame at the doorstep of the FA! No Love sacks between the lot of them and the fact ex players like Le Saux etc sat on a committe and ran with the idea that Southgate was a good replacement for the uninspiring Hodgson tells everyone all they need to know. Absolute dire..and for the level of money in our game we should be completely embarrassed to call football our national sport!

Let this sink in a moment...Southgate is the 4th best paid manager in International Football!!!

Steffan wrote:

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:Never since you've posted on here has it been a case where people think England will win a World Cup

Not on here I agree. But in real life I know people who do

Lee Dixon for one. Until Roy Keane reels him in.

England winning a World Cup would be a bigger shock than Greece 04.