The Footie Thread

[PaulMdj]

Further mockery of World Cup qualifying for teams like Italy to be annoyed at. Sweden failed to win any of their six qualifiers for the tournament and finished bottom of Group B with a very negative goal difference, but qualified for the play-offs thanks to their UEFA Nations League ranking.

Yet Italy win 6 out of 8 games and have to go through play offs and lose out. Same could be said for the other home nations as well.

I know people will say well that’s how it goes etc but it makes a mockery of having a decent qualifying campaign if someone can get through in the Nations league which is garbage.

Even Kosovo who finished 9 points above them in their Group lost in the play-off Final to Turkey!

Just crazy or Graham Potter working his magic.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Chelsea finances: Blues record pre-tax loss of £262.4m - the biggest in Premier League history

Chelsea announce a Premier League‑record pre‑tax loss of £262m for the 2024‑25 season.

www.bbc.co.uk

Ouch

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Further mockery of World Cup qualifying for teams like Italy to be annoyed at. Sweden failed to win any of their six qualifiers for the tournament and finished bottom of Group B with a very negative goal difference, but qualified for the play-offs thanks to their UEFA Nations League ranking.

Yet Italy win 6 out of 8 games and have to go through play offs and lose out. Same could be said for the other home nations as well.

I know people will say well that’s how it goes etc but it makes a mockery of having a decent qualifying campaign if someone can get through in the Nations league which is garbage.

That was the only way they could find to try and improve the Nations League to make it more than just a bunch of friendlies

 

[AmandaJR]

Further mockery of World Cup qualifying for teams like Italy to be annoyed at. Sweden failed to win any of their six qualifiers for the tournament and finished bottom of Group B with a very negative goal difference, but qualified for the play-offs thanks to their UEFA Nations League ranking.

Yet Italy win 6 out of 8 games and have to go through play offs and lose out. Same could be said for the other home nations as well.

I know people will say well that’s how it goes etc but it makes a mockery of having a decent qualifying campaign if someone can get through in the Nations league which is garbage.

What a joke. More devaluing of the competition.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Even Kosovo who finished 9 points above them in their Group lost in the play-off Final to Turkey!

Just crazy or Graham Potter working his magic.

Imagine being Kosovo I’d be really annoyed a team in my group who were woeful go in my place. What was even the point in having Sweden in a qualifying group knowing they were in anyway.

That was the only way they could find to try and improve the Nations League to make it more than just a bunch of friendlies

Just adds further proof of money making by the powers that be the Nations league is a farce and has led to a weaker team gaining back door entry to a World Cup.

 

[clubchamp98]

Saw kids in the park near me yesterday when I was out walking the dog.

Maybe it’s the area you live nearby, but up here in the NE I often see kids playing footy in the parks or grassed areas around the houses.

That’s good to hear .

 

[PaulMdj]

Imagine being Kosovo I’d be really annoyed a team in my group who were woeful go in my place. What was even the point in having Sweden in a qualifying group knowing they were in anyway.

Just adds further proof of money making by the powers that be the Nations league is a farce and has led to a weaker team gaining back door entry to a World Cup.

Four teams, Sweden, North Macedonia, Northern Ireland and Romania qualified for the play offs based on their Nations League performance.

Poland who got beat by Sweden last night won 5 of their group games when finishing 2nd!

Just crap, why not just guarantee top 16 from WC Qualifiers based on results go through to play offs, or even top 4 based on WC Qualification results.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Four teams, Sweden, North Macedonia, Northern Ireland and Romania qualified for the play offs based on their Nations League performance.

Poland who got beat by Sweden last night won 5 of their group games when finishing 2nd!

Just crap, why not just guarantee top 16 from WC Qualifiers based on results go through to play offs, or even top 4 based on WC Qualification results.

It just makes a mockery of qualification, based on that alone teams like Italy, Kosovo and Poland all much more worthy of a spot in the WC than Sweden. It cheapens qualifying and has effectively given Sweden a reward for being crap and meant better teams are staying home.

 

[Hobbit]

It just makes a mockery of qualification, based on that alone teams like Italy, Kosovo and Poland all much more worthy of a spot in the WC than Sweden. It cheapens qualifying and has effectively given Sweden a reward for being crap and meant better teams are staying home.

I don’t disagree with you but if we say only best should qualify, then surely the three you’ve used as an example, and Sweden, should qualify ahead of the likes of Qatar & Cape Verde…

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

I don’t disagree with you but if we say only best should qualify, then surely the three you’ve used as an example, and Sweden, should qualify ahead of the likes of Qatar & Cape Verde…

Not at all you’re trying to make a point fit that doesn’t work! It’s different continent Sweden come under the criteria for UEFA team representation. They cannot be classed as worthy of Qualification from the European pool when they finished bottom of the group stage without a win.

I don’t have all the answers but it should be the most deserving/best teams from qualification stages from each continent. Not one that finished bottom of the group and got a back door entry via a nothing friendly competition that means nothing.

 

[irip]

I quite like the nations league as it is slightly better than meaningless friendly matches.
It should also mean you are playing teams of a similar standard which is good for everyone but you can also go up a level if you play well or drop down if you don’t.

It should however have no involvement in deciding any qualification for any other competitions.

If possible the top 2 in each group go through.
It’s simple and basic and everyone knows where they stand before qualification starts.

 

[4LEX]

The thing is each team knew the rules when they started qualifying, it's tough luck on some that miss out. The top teams have all made it. Italy were poor in both qualifying games and really don't deserve to be there. Finished 6 points behind an average Norway side in the group stage too.

Overall giving rewards to the Nations League has improved international games, hence why these two friendlies were so badly exposed as pointless with zero riding on them.

 

[Tashyboy]

Not at all you’re trying to make a point fit that doesn’t work! It’s different continent Sweden come under the criteria for UEFA team representation. They cannot be classed as worthy of Qualification from the European pool when they finished bottom of the group stage without a win.

I don’t have all the answers but it should be the most deserving/best teams from qualification stages from each continent. Not one that finished bottom of the group and got a back door entry via a nothing friendly competition that means nothing.

Which begs the question, why even make Sweden play a qualifying game and not just let them go straight into the playoffs.
It’s a bit like when you are knocked out of the Champs league, but then get to play in the Europa

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Which begs the question, why even make Sweden play a qualifying game and not just let them go straight into the playoffs.
It’s a bit like when you are knocked out of the Champs league, but then get to play in the Europa

Exactly it’s farcical!, letting a team play a full qualifying campaign and getting a free pass anyway. Yet the team who finished second in their group had to graft and were fully deserving of that spot.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2039425609105915934

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Agent’s do ok don’t they