Euro 2016 Qualifying

[StanSP]

Dean Saunders was moaning about Andorra's defending, he's probably lost more consecutive games as a manager than Andorra, ****

 

Sounded like he was fearful of Andorra

[ScouseFox]

didnt they need a last minute bale free kick to beat andorra last year? wales are about andorra's level it doesn't surprise me that they are concerned 

[Jimothy]

Can't stand Dean Saunders. He has this way of talking that makes him think he's explaining something complicated but actually he's talking about something really simple. It's like he thinks he has to explain things to people because he's so much smarter than us, but actually he just sounds like an idiot because he's taken 20 minutes to explain how to take a goalkick in simplified terms.

[marko]

didnt they need a last minute bale free kick to beat andorra last year? wales are about andorra's level it doesn't surprise me that they are concerned 

 

Do you not remember the subsequent pitch invasion by middle aged, balding men with paunches?!

[Soar Fox]

Can't stand Dean Saunders. He has this way of talking that makes him think he's explaining something complicated but actually he's talking about something really simple. It's like he thinks he has to explain things to people because he's so much smarter than us, but actually he just sounds like an idiot because he's taken 20 minutes to explain how to take a goalkick in simplified terms.

I remember seeing some Wolves fan quote some of the things he said when he was in charge of them. Here's a few.

"We might have to risk him and if his hamstring goes, he's got all summer to get over it"

"The players have some pride – they don’t want to play in League One. Apart from Saturday, every time we’ve needed a win we’ve got one.

"I'm not worried about relegation. Ladbrokes say we're 16/1 and those boys know what they're talking about."

"The lads know I only do team talks to make myself feel better "

"If we pick up three points on Saturday it is better than two draws"

[Donut]

I think this round of fixtures just show once again, international minnows have improved. The old cliche of no easy games really is true now.

[Wymsey]

Think minnows like Malta and San Marino should play in a 'mini-league', and the winner of it is guaranteed a Euro qualifier spot (this current league thing).

[Stadt]

I think this round of fixtures just show once again, international minnows have improved. The old cliche of no easy games really is true now.

or the top teams are worse

[Jimothy]

or the top teams are worse

Bit of both I think.

[Donut]

Think minnows like Malta and San Marino should play in a 'mini-league', and the winner of it is guaranteed a Euro qualifying spot.

 

For one, Malta are considerably better than San Marino, but youre suggesting putting a minnow in the tournament proper? daft.

[Dan]

Do Belgium have the most expensive set of internationals ever?

 

Benteke, Lukaku, De Bruyne, Hazard, Fellaini and Witsel all cost over 25m.

 

And they still look unbelievably ordinary every time I watch them play.

[The Horse's Mouth]

And they still look unbelievably ordinary every time I watch them play.

that's largely down to their backline being a shambles and the manager is an absolute mentalist

[Donut]

And they still look unbelievably ordinary every time I watch them play.

 

Very ordinary. Dont have a discernable style of play to me for all the talent they have, struggled in the world cup and for the talent they have, they are making a tough time of whats a reasonably difficult group but still a group youd have thought theyd be heading.

 

I watched most of the game tonight and id probably say for all the attacking talent theyve got it was only really Naingolan that had a good game and hes just an industrious worker, no flair.

[Dan]

Think minnows like Malta and San Marino should play in a 'mini-league', and the winner of it is guaranteed a Euro qualifier spot (this current league thing).

 

What a ridiculous idea

[Wymsey]

Why?

Bet San Marino players are quite numb knowing they'll get beat by a few everytime.

It has actually been suggested last year by some ITV commentator.

[Jordan]

I think a better option would be a preliminary round to whittle the field down from 53/54 to 48.

In 53-team qualifying, take the bottom 10-ranked teams, pair them two-leg ties, and have the winners advance to the qualifying group draw. In a 54-team format, do the same with the bottom 12. The losers can be put into a mini-league (with possible incentive, like an automatic berth into the next qualifying, or a top seed in the next preliminary round, to make the games meaningful).

I know UEFA--in true European fashion--wants to give all of its federations a more-or-less equal chance opportunities to make some money, but its current qualification format involves absolute no-hopers spoiling fair play by potentially turning tiebreakers into a "who can smash more goals past Gibraltar or San Marino?" contest.

[Corky]

I think he means they should get a place in the qualification groups, not the actual tournament.

[Wymsey]

I think he means they should get a place in the qualification groups, not the actual tournament.

This.

Hence editted original post to try and state this (albeit rather badly!).

[Donut]

If minnows are capable of taking points, theyre capable of influencing groups.

 

People moan about the extra games etc, but the minnows DO have a role to play.

 

Look at Kazakhstan tonight. Minnow. Could have heavily influenced their group tonight, just with that solitary point theyve scored vs Iceland. As it happened it didnt, but they are capable of taking a point off a team good enough to qualify for the tournament.

 

Faroe Islands have taken 6 points off Greece.

 

The minnows can affect seedings for future qualifying groups.

 

These teams may not be DIRECTLY challenging for qualification, but nibbling a point here and there, and wins here and there do have consequences.

[Fox42]

This.

Hence editted original post to try and state this (albeit rather badly!).

I'd imagine the minnows themselves would hate this idea. I think to them, playing and representing the country against any European team is enough to restore their pride and passion of the nation.

It's like 7 pub teams the size of Oadby playing against each other instead of branching out the country to play against PL teams... Which do you think they'd prefer?

[The Horse's Mouth]

we should just make a sub tournament like the international equivalent of the Europa leauge, which would consist of poverty nations like San Marino, Faroes, Wales .etc. Everyones as winner

[Donut]

what was the idea behind the nations cup that was mooted around?

[Stuntman_Mike]

Stunning achievement from Iceland.

 

To think they have a similar population to Leicester and they top a group ahead of Holland, Czech Republic and Turkey.

[katieakita]

Stunning achievement from Iceland.

 

To think they have a similar population to Leicester and they top a group ahead of Holland, Czech Republic and Turkey.

 

Yes fair play to them, got to laugh at those on here who pointed out the failings of Ranieri at Greece yet seemed happy if we had gone with Hiddink.

[Nalis]

Holland

I remember when people were shocked at a World Cup without Holland in 2002 when they finished behind Portugal and Ireland in those qualifiers.

How on earth have they managed to (potentialy) screw up qualification for an expanded Euros?