One-sided games

[wm02]

Very true. Was there a similar problem when Austria/Switzerland were co-hosts? Endemic of co-hosted tournaments? I was in the hinterlands of Maine during that one and missed most of the tournament.

 

[sotnas]

I think Portugal minus Ronaldo are extremely average bordering on poor even.

That's not quite true.

Ronaldo has been lethal in the last 2 matches. But the team was far from being an average side against Germany or Denmark.

Ronaldo just solves the finishing handicap this team has.

 

[toffeejack]

expanding euro to 24 teams aren't they? will see some bore/enthralling (whichever way they turn out) group games for sure

 

[formerly manx toffee]

Solitaire is the biggest one sided game I have ever see.

 

[Elong]

You say that Rook, but the south american minnows (Ecuador, Venezuela etc) only started doing anything once the South American qualifying became a full league where everyone played everyone else. Games solely against each other with the reward being to get hammered in one game by a big boy doesn't help anyone improve.

See also New Zealand and Australia's struggle to win the play off after only playing the likes of samoa and fiji.

This is true. Australia argued for years to be put into the Asia qualifying group, even though it would make it a lot harder for them to progress to the World Cup, they wanted it so they could better themselves as a nation. They're now into the top 20 and a formidable team.

New Zealand now has a piss easy Oceania group, and once they win that they play the 5th or 6th best South American team for a spot at the World Cup. 1 big game every 4 years isn't going to improve us as a team or a country.

 

[Papa Shango]

Very true. Was there a similar problem when Austria/Switzerland were co-hosts? Endemic of co-hosted tournaments? I was in the hinterlands of Maine during that one and missed most of the tournament.

Not really. It was a strange one as the seeds were the two hosts, the holders (Greece) and the best ranked team at the time (Netherlands). but the groups ended up fairly balanced with the exception of group C which had Netherlands, Italy and France along with Romania.

I think hosts should be seeds regardless though. They are playing at home after all. I dont think Switzerland or Poland are bad sides though and would have had a chance to get out of their groups regardless but they both **** themselves when push come to shove. Austria and Ukraine are pretty average though.

 

[Papa Shango]

expanding euro to 24 teams aren't they? will see some bore/enthralling (whichever way they turn out) group games for sure

I cant wait. Hopefully we will get to see some teams who never usually qualify for tournaments get there. Im all up for that.

 

[toffeejack]

I cant wait. Hopefully we will get to see some teams who never usually qualify for tournaments get there. Im all up for that.

as a welsh fan so am i, it would be great to see some unexpected results i.e. senegal beating france, but it may just provide even more one-sided games and a few bore games that not many will want to watch, however like i said, these could turn out to be the better games of the tournaments if both teams can't defend greatly. Just pissed off france has been chosen to host again - give it to someone else you corrupt bastards

 

[Allezfan]

I cant wait. Hopefully we will get to see some teams who never usually qualify for tournaments get there. Im all up for that.

It'll ruin qualifying though. 24 out of 53 getting through pretty much removes any risk for the big boys.

RFUS should be pleased, though. It'll mean even Belgium can't mess it up.

 

[toffeejack]

does anyone know why there isn't a 3/4th place playoff?

 

[Allezfan]

does anyone know why there isn't a 3/4th place playoff?

There used to be, but nobody cared.