Off Topic International Break Thread

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The Changing Man said:
Absolutely surely the time has come for the smaller nations to have their own competitions, making their matches competitive as well. Currently Europe has 54 teams in qualifying groups for the world cup and 15 places available at the finals. That could easily be reduced to 30 teams in 6 groups of 5 top 2 qualify 3rds play off. The other 24 are split into 6 Groups of 4 winners of each group play in the next qualifying competition with 6 teams who finish bottom of their qualifiers dropping out of the 'Elite' groups. Still plenty of international football but with only 10 quailfiers over a 2 year period only 2 international breaks would be required in each season each with 3 qualifiers and 1 'test match' (I hate the term friendly) during the season the other 4 qualifers to be played in May/June in the odd numbered (non tournament seasons) with 1 more prestige test match to complete the summer.
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Small teams will never improve if they are boxed off into their own competition. I would just have everyone in 1 pot. No seeding. All 250+ countries from all continents, knockouts all the way to the final. Make it into a proper World Cup.


There is a reason they used to say the FA Cup is the greatest cup tournament in the world.


I know I'm just dreaming.
 
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Spurlock said:
Small teams will never improve if they are boxed off into their own competition. I would just have everyone in 1 pot. No seeding. All 250+ countries from all continents, knockouts all the way to the final. Make it into a proper World Cup.


There is a reason they used to say the FA Cup is the greatest cup tournament in the world.


I know I'm just dreaming.
Click to expand...

Great idea Spurlock and it would be very exciting, but as you say it won't happen because of money interests, such a shame.
 
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Spurlock said:
Small teams will never improve if they are boxed off into their own competition. I would just have everyone in 1 pot. No seeding. All 250+ countries from all continents, knockouts all the way to the final. Make it into a proper World Cup.


There is a reason they used to say the FA Cup is the greatest cup tournament in the world.


I know I'm just dreaming.
Click to expand...

Its a great dream and I would love to see it, even just once.

But I do believe that the smaller nations would improve is they played each other. Winning the group in their competition would become a realistic aim, they would be able to go out to try and win matches instead of setting up as Malta did to just stop us playing. Winning matches would create confidence and hopefully fuel improvement - But much as your idea will never happen neither will mine FIFA and UEFA would both say that their competitions are working and that participation is at an all time high - Shame that the quailty of matches suffers as a result of this.
 
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The Changing Man said:
Its a great dream and I would love to see it, even just once.

But I do believe that the smaller nations would improve is they played each other. Winning the group in their competition would become a realistic aim, they would be able to go out to try and win matches instead of setting up as Malta did to just stop us playing. Winning matches would create confidence and hopefully fuel improvement - But much as your idea will never happen neither will mine FIFA and UEFA would both say that their competitions are working and that participation is at an all time high - Shame that the quailty of matches suffers as a result of this.
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When you break it down like that. I can see how the smaller teams would improve by playing each other. Got to agree it would improve the quality of match ups as a whole.
 
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Spurlock said:
When you break it down like that. I can see how the smaller teams would improve by playing each other. Got to agree it would improve the quality of match ups as a whole.
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Think of the league system.
The majority of a league should be at a similar level, but the promoted are
hopefully at a level where they can survive the step up. So you are trying to
raise the average/promotion level in the leagues so that this is possible.

And so it should be for the international scene (Europe in particular) .
 
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vimhawk said:
It really does seem that the only reason to keep playing him is so that he can beat the record. As he gets closer it will be (though shouldn't be) even harder to drop him.
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Yeah, we have probably reached the point of no return for Rooney.
For commercial or ego reasons, it is not going to happen is it.

However, as caps are awarded for just stepping on the pitch, then it doesn't mean
Rooney has to start every game does it (give him the final 15 mins etc and be
done with it) .
 
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Rooney dropped to the bench for the Slovenia game. Whether to save the delicate flower's feelings, Southgate's prospects of getting the job full-time or because finally, the Emperor has been revealed to have been walking around naked for about 5 years, the dastardly dead is finally done. Eric Dier to return to the team, I would say.

I wonder who will wear the armband? Serial underachiever and mouth-breather Jordan Henderson, I would guess? He has a Southgate look to him and was the 'star turn' of our demolition of Malta.
 
Spurlock said:
Small teams will never improve if they are boxed off into their own competition. I would just have everyone in 1 pot. No seeding. All 250+ countries from all continents, knockouts all the way to the final. Make it into a proper World Cup.


There is a reason they used to say the FA Cup is the greatest cup tournament in the world.


I know I'm just dreaming.
Click to expand...

Great idea, you been smoking the weed? Perhaps FIFA should have a bhang or a chilum rather than a cup.
 
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redwhiteandermblue said:
Beckham kept himself in top condition. Rooney is fat and lazy.

The England team at this point amounts to a way to help Spurs’ rivals. The team already crocked one of our fullbacks. We alternate them so they don’t get crocked. So, fresh from injury, Southgate will play Rose twice in a week (and Walker as well), considering he can’t be bothered to call up a substitute. I think at the very least someone from our club needs to tell Southgate or any other England manager that our fullbacks play once a week or not at all. Surely Rose wasn’t needed against Malta.
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I think we need to appoint O Spurcat as the next England Manager. For one he would give the Spurs players a rest and secondly, he'd have a far better idea than that Tosser Southgate. On the down side I don't know how all the players would get on racing down the wing wearing a suit and tie.
 
deedub93 said:
On the down side I don't know how all the players would get on racing down the wing wearing a suit and tie.
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He would probably make the punishment for GKs conceding goals at the near post
to play the Rooney position in the next game.
 
"Thanks for that Brian" said:
Rooney dropped to the bench for the Slovenia game. Whether to save the delicate flower's feelings, Southgate's prospects of getting the job full-time or because finally, the Emperor has been revealed to have been walking around naked for about 5 years, the dastardly dead is finally done. Eric Dier to return to the team, I would say.

I wonder who will wear the armband? Serial underachiever and mouth-breather Jordan Henderson, I would guess? He has a Southgate look to him and was the 'star turn' of our demolition of Malta.
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That is a question, isn't it? Henderson would certainly not be inspiring. I have to admit I'm hoping it won't be a Spur. You know, I wouldn't mind Stones. He's a CB, it looks like he'll be around for a long time, and I was impressed with him in the City game.
 
redwhiteandermblue said:
That is a question, isn't it? Henderson would certainly not be inspiring. I have to admit I'm hoping it won't be a Spur. You know, I wouldn't mind Stones. He's a CB, it looks like he'll be around for a long time, and I was impressed with him in the City game.
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It'll probably still be Rooney, despite being on the bench. Him or Beckham.
 
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deedub93 said:
Great idea, you been smoking the weed? Perhaps FIFA should have a bhang or a chilum rather than a cup.
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Well spotted...I posted that just after my wake n bake...a moment of genius tanks to di urb.

You can't play a playa, Dee.
 
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Spurlock said:
Small teams will never improve if they are boxed off into their own competition. I would just have everyone in 1 pot. No seeding. All 250+ countries from all continents, knockouts all the way to the final. Make it into a proper World Cup.


There is a reason they used to say the FA Cup is the greatest cup tournament in the world.


I know I'm just dreaming.
Click to expand...

The biggest sporting event in the US is March Madness, a 64 team single elimination college (age group) basketball tournament. The Gonzaga Zags v. the UCal Santa Cruz Fighting Banana Slugs might not have much interest for you under normal circumstances, but when one team goes home and one goes on with a chance at the fabled Sweet Sixteen, well, that's a whole different story...

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redwhiteandermblue said:
The biggest sporting event in the US is March Madness, a 64 team single elimination college (age group) basketball tournament. The Gonzaga Zags v. the UCal Santa Cruz Fighting Banana Slugs might not have much interest for you under normal circumstances, but when one team goes home and one goes on with a chance at the fabled Sweet Sixteen, well, that's a whole different story...

You must log in or register to see images
Click to expand...
Fighting Banana Slugs? Do they come from Australia? Everything over there can kill you, so I might buy that.
 
redwhiteandermblue said:
The biggest sporting event in the US is March Madness, a 64 team single elimination college (age group) basketball tournament. The Gonzaga Zags v. the UCal Santa Cruz Fighting Banana Slugs might not have much interest for you under normal circumstances, but when one team goes home and one goes on with a chance at the fabled Sweet Sixteen, well, that's a whole different story...

You must log in or register to see images
Click to expand...

March madness is seeded though. So just one step down from pots
 
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