The Official 16/17 Various National Soccer Team News Thread

[SuperMatt18]

Ventura should have been fired before the playoffs, would have been unprecedented but it was clear this team needed a change.

Should have played an attacking 4-3-3 today and it’s was so clear with Belotti out of fitness.

Darmian - Bonucci - Chiellini - Florenzi
Parolo - Jorginho - Candreva
Insigne - Immobile - El Shaarawy/Bernadeschi

A lot of Italy’s creative talent is on the attacking wings and the coach couldn’t play a formation to utilize that. He should have been fired at half time after it was clear he was to stubborn to change.

[GirlySports]

Also good news for Croatian fans here is that the Italy loss guarantees Croatia will be in Pot 2 for the Dec 1st draw. Sweden will be in Pot 3

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_F...ld_Cup_seeding

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Ventura should have been fired before the playoffs, would have been unprecedented but it was clear this team needed a change.

Should have played an attacking 4-3-3 today and it’s was so clear with Belotti out of fitness.

Darmian - Bonucci - Chiellini - Florenzi
Parolo - Jorginho - Candreva
Insigne - Immobile - El Shaarawy/Bernadeschi

A lot of Italy’s creative talent is on the attacking wings and the coach couldn’t play a formation to utilize that. He should have been fired at half time after it was clear he was to stubborn to change.

Ventura really should have been fired after they lost to Spain 3-0

[Locke]

Originally Posted by d_phaneuf

Going to lower my Zlatan comes back prediction from 1000000% to 99%

How does he not come back too, it's not like a Totti situation either where he was always taking a worthy spot either

This Sweden team is desperate for his goal scoring

My thoughts as well. I'm somewhat conflicted though.

Does this Sweden team get through with 10 men playing their hearts out and a floater who might score? I dont know. But at the same time is this sustainable or likely to get them anywhere without someone who might score?

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Ventura should have been fired before the playoffs, would have been unprecedented but it was clear this team needed a change.

Should have played an attacking 4-3-3 today and it’s was so clear with Belotti out of fitness.

Darmian - Bonucci - Chiellini - Florenzi
Parolo - Jorginho - Candreva
Insigne - Immobile - El Shaarawy/Bernadeschi

A lot of Italy’s creative talent is on the attacking wings and the coach couldn’t play a formation to utilize that. He should have been fired at half time after it was clear he was to stubborn to change.

Croatia did precisely that, and came out looking like a different team altogether in the playoff. The old coach was a disaster.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Ventura really should have been fired after they lost to Spain 3-0

That or the 1-1 draw against Macedonia AT HOME!

It was clear he lost the team and was out of ideas creatively.

Really it's ridiculous they were in a group with Spain and even needed a playoff but you have no excuses when you can't manage a single goal over 180 minutes against Sweden.

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Also good news for Croatian fans here is that the Italy loss guarantees Croatia will be in Pot 2 for the Dec 1st draw. Sweden will be in Pot 3

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_F...ld_Cup_seeding

I dont know how this stuff works, why is it beneficial to be in pot 2?

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Resurrection

I dont know how this stuff works, why is it beneficial to be in pot 2?

Each of the 8 groups gets one team from each pot.
So being in Pot 2 you get only 1 good team in your group instead of two.

Assuming Peru, Australia and Ireland win
Pot 1: Russia, Brazil, Germany, Portugal, Argentina, Poland, Belgium, France
Pot 2: Spain, England, Switzerland, Croatia, Colombia, Uruguay, Peru, Mexico
Pot 3: Ireland, Iceland, Sweden, Senegal, Tunisia, Egypt, Costa Rica, Iran,
Pot 4: Serbia, Morocco, Nigeria, Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Panama
Cannot have 2 teams from the same confederation in the same group except for Europe where 6 of the 8 groups will have 2 teams.

Start making your own groups

[White Out 403]

Oh man Croatia and Serbia please.

[The Familia]

Pretty disappointed. First time Italy has missed since 1958 and only the second time they have ever missed. They didn't deserve to go through after this disgusting display or they would have been #### kicked. They really need to go back to the drawing board. The whole country is a mess from top to bottom (in soccer and a lot of other things).

My only beef is, no matter how you slice it, Italy should be there ahead of say Panama. I mean the world cup should really be the best teams in the world. This whole conference, "lets give all these ####ty countries a spot just because," doesn't make the tournament or game any better. At the end of the day, no one wants to see New Zealand vs. Panama. Big blow to the tournament when power countries like Italy and Netherlands are out.

[Party Elephant]

Originally Posted by The Familia

Pretty disappointed. First time Italy has missed since 1958 and only the second time they have ever missed. They didn't deserve to go through after this disgusting display or they would have been #### kicked. They really need to go back to the drawing board. The whole country is a mess from top to bottom (in soccer and a lot of other things).

My only beef is, no matter how you slice it, Italy should be there ahead of say Trinidad and Tobago. I mean the world cup should really be the best teams in the world. This whole conference, "lets give all these ####ty countries a spot just because," doesn't make the tournament or game any better. At the end of the day, no one wants to see New Zealand vs. Trinidad. Big blow to the tournament when power countries like Italy and Netherlands are out.

Trinidad and Tobago qualified for one world cup 11 years ago not sure why you are singling them out?

[The Familia]

Originally Posted by Party Elephant

Trinidad and Tobago qualified for one world cup 11 years ago not sure why you are singling them out?

Sorry, was thinking Panama, fixed my comment. Either way I'm not singling anyone out per say, just stating that Trinidad or Panama probably don't deserve to be there ahead of Netherlands, Italy, even Greece for that matter. Especially when Italy gets stuck with another powerhouse like Spain in their qualifying group where one of them will be shafted.

[GirlySports]

The World Cup is expanding, I'm waiting for the Soloman Islands to make it.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by The Familia

Pretty disappointed. First time Italy has missed since 1958 and only the second time they have ever missed. They didn't deserve to go through after this disgusting display or they would have been #### kicked. They really need to go back to the drawing board. The whole country is a mess from top to bottom (in soccer and a lot of other things).

My only beef is, no matter how you slice it, Italy should be there ahead of say Panama. I mean the world cup should really be the best teams in the world. This whole conference, "lets give all these ####ty countries a spot just because," doesn't make the tournament or game any better. At the end of the day, no one wants to see New Zealand vs. Panama. Big blow to the tournament when power countries like Italy and Netherlands are out.

So you're basically advocating for the Euro Cup + Argentina and Brazil.

[Strange Brew]

Come on Denmark. Let's join Sweden!

[FireGilbert]

The Italians only have themselves to blame. Sweden isn't exactly a football powerhouse.

This has been the most exciting and upset filled qualification I can remember. It's crazy that Italy, Netherlands, Chile, and the USA are all out.

The expansion to 48 teams in 2026 will be interesting. UEFA will only be going from 13 to 16 teams so qualifying through Europe will still be difficult while it will be much easier for Africa and Asia. The biggest winner though will be New Zealand who will pretty much be guaranteed a spot.

[shermanator]

So if Italy is out, what country will Canadians pretend they belong to during this World Cup?

[troutman]

Ireland gets their shot at home tomorrow.

Russia can't make enough vodka if Ireland goes through.

[Ozy_Flame]

I'm cheering for Japan. My wife is Italian and she's furious that the Azzurri are out, all the Italians I know in the community are having a meltdown lol

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

I'm cheering for Japan. My wife is Italian and she's furious that the Azzurri are out, all the Italians I know in the community are having a meltdown lol

Wow do you also secretly have an Axis powers shrine in your basement? Obviously a joke.