UEFA European Championship Qualifying

Your original point was that England don't get enough credit and my point was that it's questionable what credit is due for qualifying well in between tournament disappointments.

Your second point (which, if I'm honest, bypassed my point) was that you'll support them, as you do the Rs, irrespective of performance.

That's a different subject and highly hypothetical when applied to a club team where the degrees of success and failure are more varied (and interesting IMO). My analogy about 3 months of let down compared to 21 months of lesser opposition is still valid I believe and, in the unlikely event that QPR end up in such a predictable cycle for a period of around 16 years then I guess my enthusiasm would dwindle if that answers your second point.

 

My forecast for tonight's games is
Ireland and Scotland to get away draws
And of course Georgia to win away.

I could of course be very wrong and probably am...

 

My point was mainly that a lot of people are saying that England should easily beat the teams in their group and that the fact that they only just beat Estonia wasn't good enough, whilst Germany, Holland and Spain all slipped up against so called lesser Nations.
England deserve credit for qualifying well and criticism for failing at the main tournaments in equal measure imo.

The only other thing I would say, mainly in answer to Danish's somewhat confrontational post is that I believe England have enough good young players coming through to stand a chance of being a top side in 18 months or so. I don't believe that they are anywhere near being a top side now, although I do believe that many sides rated above them are not any better, especially the likes of Switzerland.

This is all potential of course and could easily not turn out to be the case.

 

You are right Col - the best England can get is a "well they should beat these teams" and the worst is a back-page onslaught. I guess that is a bit unfair.

Personally, I still feel a bit angry at the 2006 world cup team - the most world class players I've known in an England shirt at the peak of their careers and it went down like a leaky balloon.

There is a lot of potential in the current squad (especially Lallana and Sterling) and credit does need to go to Roy Hodgson for picking them (and even blooding some during the World Cup).

My resigned cynicism will mean I won't expect them to deliver until it actually happens at which point I'll become one of those band wagon hopping morons that I hate. I would dearly love England to win something in my lifetime though.

I suppose that means I've lost faith rather than not supporting them.

 

All very fair and apt mate.

 

Have you been on the happy juice Twins? We is playing away to the best team in the World who've just been bitten and want a response. Its got to be a homer.

Actually, I was thinking earlier today. Ireland just played officially the worst team in the World and a few days later they're playing the official best. Has that ever happened before in competitive international football?

 

I get where you are coming from Col, you'll just have to be patient with those of us who do not have the inner strength to follow two teams where ultimate disappointment, and in some cases embarrassment, seem inevitable. The cynicism is a defence mechanism, which I hope to be able to abandon for at least one of them at some time. I had tears rolling down my face at the World Cup semi final in 1990, and the team had earned them. I haven't cared that much about them for about 15 years.

 

Highly unlikely but let's hope Keane has kept his shooting boots primed, I wouldn't be surprised if you get a point tonight...

 

Funny thing is I was in tears at Wembley when OBZ scored, more shock and relief than anything else but I would never be in tears for England...

 

Good result for the England u21 today though. I'd keep the youngsters with them, get them used to winning instead of promoting too early to the full team.

Be good to see wins for both Irish teams, and the Poles of course.

 

Ze Germans have cracked the crossbar already. Looks like their hangover is over

 

Bring on Roy. He'll sort out the Germans!

 

All very fair and apt mate.

 

Serbia v Albania has gone off with crowd trouble apparently, they do love one another...

 

And Northern Ireland are 2-0 up in Greece...

 

All the home countries are doing well 10 mins into the 2nd half.

Germany 0 Republic of Ireland 0
Greece 0 Northern Ireland 2
Poland 1 Scotland 1

Martin Atkinson must be wishing he was back on home turf trying to referee Serbia v Albania match (0-0) with a near riot amongst players with match suspended on 42 mins.

The Euro 2016 qualifier between Serbia and Albania was temporarily suspended in the first half following a brawl between players from both sides.
The Group I game was interrupted when an Albanian flag was flown over the stands and pitch by what appeared to be a remote controlled mini helicopter as half-time approached.
Serbian defender Branislav Ivanovic grabbed the flag, which prompted a melee involving numerous players.

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And the Jocks lead!...

 

Northern Ireland have come on in leaps and bounds. Always knew O'Neill would turn them around given time.

Scotland leading in Poland! Strachan's working wonders with them too

 

A look inside the tunnel at the Veltins Arena - different.

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The luck of the Irish just left them.