The Official 14/15 Various National Soccer Team News Thread

[GirlySports]

I want Iceland to win it all!

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

Yep I think the field of 24 is going to lead to a lot more upsets and interesting matchups

even the so called lesser teams all have match winners who can create something out of nothings

its not like the world cup where the bottom teams just dont stand a chance

Like England and Italy?

[The Big Chill]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

Wales one trick pony? I hate Arsenal as much as the next logical, sane person, but Aaron Ramsey?


To put into perspective, he'd be Liverpools' best player.

Don't forget the Welsh Xavi!

[d_phaneuf]

to be fair, Ramsey is excellent, and Ashley Williams is a very good CB

But Bale has 6 of the 9 goals, and 2 assists on the 3 he hasn't scored

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I want Iceland to win it all!

Heard today that 90 percent of their players were born in the same hospital

[Locke]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

Wales one trick pony? I hate Arsenal as much as the next logical, sane person, but Aaron Ramsey?


To put into perspective, he'd be Liverpools' best player.

I dont disagree but:

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

to be fair, Ramsey is excellent, and Ashley Williams is a very good CB

But Bale has 6 of the 9 goals, and 2 assists on the 3 he hasn't scored

This is pretty much my point. They have 1 scoring threat.

Its a two-way street in International Tournaments, having a guy like Bale can earn you 1-0 wins against lower to middle teams but against bigger, deeper teams one player can be more easily marked out.

[CroFlames]

Croatia dismiss coach Niko Kovac:
http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/qualifi...d=2280978.html

A 0-0 draw in Azerbaijan and 2-0 loss in Norway meant Croatia fell behind their Nordic opponents and lost ground on leaders Italy. Croatian Football Federation (HNS) president Davor Šuker announced the decision to end Kovač's reign of just under two years on Wednesday morning, with the replacement scheduled to be appointed by 21 September ahead of October's decisive qualifiers against Bulgaria and Malta

I've always loved Kovac the man and the player. But again, he was in over his head and it showed in Brazil and it showed last week. Inexperienced. Although probably the most dapper of all national team coaches. I know the females in my family agree to that.

Problem is, dapper doesn't equal championships. Just ask Henrik Lundqvist.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Croatia dismiss coach Niko Kovac:
http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/qualifi...d=2280978.html

I've always loved Kovac the man and the player. But again, he was in over his head and it showed in Brazil and it showed last week. Inexperienced. Although probably the most dapper of all national team coaches. I know the females in my family agree to that.

Problem is, dapper doesn't equal championships. Just ask Henrik Lundqvist.

I dont know what to make of that, I think hes a competent manager and it isnt like Croatia are done and dusted, they're still well in the Qualification mix.

They should have sealed the deal on this matchday but they really dropped the ball hard.

[devo22]

interesting comparison.

[SuperMatt18]

Outside of WC Finals goals that is pretty favourable for Rooney, and he makes up for that somewhat with some decent showings at the Euro's.

[devo22]

was surprised to see that Rooney only scored 6 penalty goals, thought it'd be way more. There will always be discussions about his poor record at big tournaments, but it's still a great career achievement to score 50.

[polak]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I want Iceland to win it all!

Same here. Besides Poland, I'm 100% behind Iceland. How epic would that be!!?

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by polak

Same here. Besides Poland, I'm 100% behind Iceland. How epic would that be!!?

Basically if you cheer against Iceland you have no soul or are a communist.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Outside of WC Finals goals that is pretty favourable for Rooney, and he makes up for that somewhat with some decent showings at the Euro's.

There are reasons for it definitely, but he hasn't had a decent game at the Euro's in 11 years

[d_phaneuf]

how much quicker would he have gotten to 50 if Capello didn't have England playing so defensive too

28 games to get from 20 to 30 under Fabio

13 games from 40 to 50, including 20 goals in his last 30 games, that's an excellent return I can't imagine many European players with better in the same window

I think he has at least until 2020 being a starter in the team too, he may end up being a support striker behind Kane by next summer, but that's another lets say 40 games

Can see him getting to 65-70 definitely

[Locke]

At least he did it in a similar number of caps.

I love Klose and everything but he has 71 goals to Gerd Muller's 68, but der Bomber did it in 62 caps (which is admittedly insane) and Miro took 137.

[d_phaneuf]

Ya Gerd won't be beat

even with England I think Jimmy Greaves (44 in 57) or Lineker's 48 in 80 with a Golden Boot are more impressive

[cam_wmh]

SHOTS FIRED.


SHOTS FIRED!!!!!




http://streamable.com/hplh

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

even with England I think Jimmy Greaves (44 in 57) or Lineker's 48 in 80 with a Golden Boot are more impressive

Yeah, Rooney might have the record but I struggle to think of him as the best English goalscorer I've seen in my lifetime. In my lifetime, Lineker for me was far more lethal, in fact Linker was absolutely world class. I'd rather have Shearer at his peak also.
Same with United. He's going to break their record there also but I'm going to struggle to think of him as a "great".

[troutman]

Originally Posted by devo22

interesting comparison.

Looks like Bobby did not play as many guppies as Wayne,