The Official 14/15 Various National Soccer Team News Thread

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Isle of Man, Channel Islands, Monaco

With the last two popes being a German and Argie it's about time the Vatican fielded a team also.

Joking aside, we're probably <10 years away from a Catalonia team.

Chechnya?


Croatia qualify outright after sputtering and tripping over the finish-line. Should have topped the group with that crop of talented players. The Croatian FA is inept and likely corrupt and hired another nobody as manager and probably pay him $55k a year, whereas other top team managers make a million or more.

Hopefully sheer determination of the players takes them deep in the tournament. One can hope.

[d_phaneuf]

they have a great midfield, arguably the best central midfielder in the tournament

always means they have a chance

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Chechnya?


Croatia qualify outright after sputtering and tripping over the finish-line. Should have topped the group with that crop of talented players. The Croatian FA is inept and likely corrupt and hired another nobody as manager and probably pay him $55k a year, whereas other top team managers make a million or more.

Hopefully sheer determination of the players takes them deep in the tournament. One can hope.

They're fans are vile racists.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

as girly mentioned above its the only way unless we ever get 2 more countries

Hey, I get it. But I still think it's stupid that teams who have played a better qualification than Turkey have to play in the playoffs now.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

They're fans are vile racists.

sigh

Their

[devo22]

Euro playoffs:

Norway - Hungary
Bosnia - Ireland
Ukraine - Slovenia
Sweden - Denmark

pretty interesting matchups, most of those could go either way.

[devo22]

Rooney misses tomorrows England-Spain friendly through injury, meaning that Hodgson will have Barkley as no 10 behind Kane. I think that has a lot of potential and I'd be more than happy to see Rooney dropped for good.

-------------Kane------------
Sterling-----Barkley-----Vardy

potentially that's an attacking four that could do a lot of damage.

[GirlySports]

Hungary won 1-0 in Oslo today, that's a bit of an upset.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by devo22

Rooney misses tomorrows England-Spain friendly through injury, meaning that Hodgson will have Barkley as no 10 behind Kane. I think that has a lot of potential and I'd be more than happy to see Rooney dropped for good.

-------------Kane------------
Sterling-----Barkley-----Vardy

potentially that's an attacking four that could do a lot of damage.

I like three, but Vardy? Isn't that premature?

[devo22]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

I like three, but Vardy? Isn't that premature?

well, who else? Sturridge, Walcott and Ox are always injured. Might as well give Vardy a chance, he has been outstanding this season.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by devo22

well, who else? Sturridge, Walcott and Ox are always injured. Might as well give Vardy a chance, he has been outstanding this season.

haha, I was going to suggest Welbeck or Walcott.

I like the thought of the best in form gets first opportunity though.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

haha, I was going to suggest Welbeck or Walcott.

I like the thought of the best in form gets first opportunity though.

Welbeck hasn't played at all since April and he'll be out until January/February. Walcott is injured again as well.

[cam_wmh]

touche'.

[d_phaneuf]

I think it's 50/50 at best Vardy even makes the Euro squad, if he keeps this up definitely but his shooting percentage is at something like 25%

Which is not only way above league average, but is ahead of Ronaldo/Aguero/Messi in their best seasons

[d_phaneuf]

Also the team needs to be picked on form but to an extent, I do think England form matters as well

Rooney has been fine for England, as long as he's not up top I think he will be fine, and I expect that our first game at the Euros it ends up being

-------------Kane------------
Sterling-----Rooney-----Barkley

which leaves the right a bit light on width but Walker or Clyne are more than enough attacking to cover for that. In that scenario the late game sub would be Walcott if fit, likely for Rooney, move Barkley to the middle

I also don't think he will but I would love to see Hodgson try Carrick and Dier together in one of these friendly's, think Dier has been the best English DM by a wide margin this year and should be starting, he can win the ball back quickly, move it to Carrick who can quickly get it up to the front 4

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

They're fans are vile racists.

Chechnya or Croatia?

Croatian fans aren't vile racists.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

They're fans are vile racists.

Yeah, but that could be said of most of Eastern Europe.

I remember my Father-in-law asking why Ukraine was never competing and I told him that you have to actually qualify and that they only lists Ukraine are on the top of are 'Racism' and 'Number of Times being invaded by Russia.'

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Locke

they only lists Ukraine are on the top of are 'Racism'

man, that's really unfair to Serbia.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by devo22

man, that's really unfair to Serbia.

Sorry, I should have said 'near the top.'

Because yeah, Serbia's got that one sewed up. If FIFA actually reprimands you and docks you points for racism thats when you know its really bad.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

I think it's 50/50 at best Vardy even makes the Euro squad, if he keeps this up definitely but his shooting percentage is at something like 25%

well sure he'll regress a bit, there's no way he can keep his current pace going. But really, who's better?

12 Vardy
6 Kane
5 Wilson
4 Sterling, Redmond

That's the 5 best English goalscorers this season. Like Ings, Wilson tore his ACL and is out long-term. Walcott and Sturridge are obviously locks to make any English team at any time, but they have to be healthy ... and that's obviously an issue.

Sooo ... not a lot of options up front. Kane is a lock, obviously Rooney is too (I agree that he should play as no 10 instead though). Berahino could make the team too, but he has struggled a bit this season and he'll have to pick it up soon.