I thought I understood, well almostly understood the rules but after yesterdays results and the media scripts that followed have gotten rather confused... I can understand promotion relegation .. but in this compo/qualifying it means something a little different especially when France can still win the group if the Germans, who will be in the Nations League second tier in 2020, beat the Dutch. but means it is 7-6 -4 pts GERMANS on the 4pts = bottom elsewhere some of the teams finishing bottom are relegated, others lost out all together? is there a simple translation
I can't understand the need for this stupid competition to be honest and it has to be all about money rather than football. We have more stops and start to this season already which stifles momentum at the league level and is a total waste of time in my opinion. Who's in charge - some Andorran general who wants his country playing the top teams?
Except Andorra won't be playing the top teams will they because they're in the 4th tier & are playing teams of their own standard. The group stage is very simple. Three teams, top team is promoted/qualifys for the next round & bottom team is relegated; if teams are tied they're ranked by results between those two teams. I know some of you old guard don't like anything new, but you should judge things on their own merits, not pan them just because they're different. International Football has traditionally been dull as dishwater outside of the bi-annual competitions (assuming your country even qualifies), bar the occasional qualifier. The Nations League (not League of Nations - I would've thought you lot would be more acquainted with that organisation) actually gives us competitive matches between evenly ranked teams and are a million times better than the largely meaningless friendlies that are the alternative. There's plenty to complain about modern Football, but the Nations League is a big hit in my mind.
Agreed. The Nations League has put some excitement into international football where previously it was a box-ticking exercise in many respects and a complete borefest. It's really not that difficult to comprehend. Four groups of 3. Bottom of each group gets relegated. Top goes to the semi-finals at the end of the season.
Being unable to watch, or get involved in any way, could you explain why this competition will generate more excitement? It just seems to be overkill and disrupts the national leagues I would think but then I'm open to a change of mind,
Makes no difference to the national leagues as it just replaces friendlies. It's just another competition introduced to reduce the number of unnecessary boring friendlies. And in my opinion it's been bloody class. Germany relegated and Switzerland potentially onto an incredible comeback as we speak.
Not having seen it I really can't comment but the latest reports I've heard are generally good and I will agree the time for pointless and boring friendlies has long since passed. On a similar note does anyone remember the old friendlies where the English League played the French League so foreign players (almost none in those days) could play for countries other than the one of their birth. Gareth Bale would play for the Spanish League and all the foreigners at Man City would play for the English League. If my memory is still working I have recollections of watching England vs France at Ashton Gate back in the late 50's or early 60's with my uncle John. Anyone else go back to those years?
I’ve enjoyed this Comp so far and I agree that it is more exciting than the old meaningless friendlies. A great comeback today and also a bit of payback for our World Cup exit. I wouldn’t mind seeing something similar on a smaller scale for our own close season instead of the usual friendlies - I’ve suggested before that a ‘West Country Cup’ competition could work - with possibly City, Rovers, Swindon, Yeovil, Torquay, Exeter and Forest Green competing. I know we have the Gloucester cup (not sure which sides compete in that tbh - maybe it could be expanded?)
the interesting thing is there must still be friendlies ..albeit not so many .. to be able to trial and error your team!
There are still friendlies, pay attention , We played USA on Thursday for instance. Each International break you normally play 2 games. With only 3 teams in a majority of the Nation League groups, you won't be able to play both teams from your group each break so one will be a friendly
yes everybody pay attention there must be friendlies, albeit not so many, how else would teams be able to nip and tuck, fine tune or give the next generation a boost without upsetting an important game ……
