[FOOTY] International Fixtures (9-16 November)

[Reg]

TV list including U21s, A-League etc http://www.live-footballontv.com
Fixtures including non-televised internationals http://uk.soccerway.com

P/O1 = Play-Off 1st Leg
P/O2 = Play-Off 2nd Leg
QF = Qualifier
FA = FA Cup 1st Round Replay

Thursday 9th
Scotland v Netherlands - 19:45 SS Football
Croatia v Greece (P/O1) 19:45 SS Mix
Northern Ireland v Switzerland (P/O1) - 19:45 SS Main Event

Friday 10th
Japan v Brazil - 12:00 FreeSports
Sweden v Italy (P/O1) - 19:45 SS Football
England v Germany - 20:00 ITV
France v Wales- 20:00 BBC1 Wales

Saturday 11th
Doncaster Rovers v Rotherham United - 12:30 SS Football
Ivory Coast v Morocco (QF) - 17:30 BTS 3
Denmark v Republic of Ireland (P/O1) - 19:45 SS Football / Main Event

Sunday 12th
AFC Wimbledon v Peterborough United - 14:30 SS Football
Switzerland v Northern Ireland (P/O2) - 17:00 SS Football
Greece v Croatia (P/O2) - 19:45 SS Football

Monday 13th
Italy v Sweden (P/O2) - 19:45 SS Football / Main Event

Tuesday 14th
Germany v France - 19:45 BTS 1
Republic of Ireland v Denmark (P/O2) - 19:45 SS Football / Main Event
Wales v Panama - 19:45 BBC2 Wales
England v Brazil - 20:00 ITV

Wednesday 15th
Tranmere Rovers v Peterborough United (FA) - 19:45 BTS 1

Thursday 16th
Peru v New Zealand (P/O2) - 02:15 FreeSports
Billericay Town v Leatherhead (FA) - 19:45 BTS 1

[John Arne]

I was going to say that Germany are going to give us a good fisting - but then I just checked their squad - it’s not all. 1-0 Germany. We need Michael Owen back.

[Bernanke]

2-0 at home, 0-2 in Italy, and out on penalties after Buffon becomes the national hero by saving all of ours.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Germany are over the hump and into another decline.

I'd quite like Italy to get dumped on their arse, don't let me down Bernanke.

[Bernanke]

I'm not hopeful. I'd give it like a 1/5 chance of us actually pulling it off.

[Giggles]

So long as the Swiss win I don't even care if Denmark do also.

[Mazuuurk]

Not even that. Italy just isn't the kind of nation that misses the world cup.

Besides, if Germany is past their peak, I feel Italy are on their way up. Players like Insigne will destroy us.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41915670

They should void this.

Shilton's lowest division was the old third (current League Two), this guy is making appearances in the 9th tier of English football.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Well the record isn't 'Most appearance in leagues Mahow deems acceptable', is it?

[Offshore Toon]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41915670

They should void this.

Shilton's lowest division was the old third (current League Two), this guy is making appearances in the 9th tier of English football.
As the games tick by you just think, 'don't get injured, don't get injured'," he said. "On Tuesday I was involved in a minor car crash, which was my own fault - I pulled out on a lady."

:cool:

[-james-]

Hard to put into words how bad Greece have been here.

[Luke Emia]

Two things. One he's playing for Wisbech which makes him a massive pikey. Two, Gary Setchell is a massive cunt.

Probably should have quoted the original post but talking about that keeper not Greece.

[Baz]

Actually looking forward to an England game. :eek:

Only cos Brazil treat friendlies like World Cup semis. Gonna be an absolute pasting! Genuinely expecting 6-0.

[Ian]

I dunno when the last time was I looked forward to an England game. Probably over a decade now.

[phonics]

International footballs fucking shit so it's time for real football news. TRANSFERS.

Herrerra has practically signed for Atletico Madrid.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Sounds like a case of paid off referees in the NI game.

Senegal in SA later, a point will see them to Russia.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, that penalty was fairly hilarious. Got to be up there as one of the all time bad calls. It's not even as if there's a "didn't see it" defence.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Romania is probably Europe's most corrupt football nation, I'd be amazed if any of their refs were clean.

[John Arne]

I really can't be arsed staying up for this tonight.

[John Arne]

http://strimi.world/s/bus.html

Japan v Brazil. Second half just kicked off. 3-0 Brazil.

[phonics]

Speaking of Brazil

928950282825949184

hahahahahahha

[Jimmy Floyd]

Where is his son? Has he wandered off?

[Reg]

Yet it was strange that Young also repeatedly made reference to having played for only three managers at United when it is, in fact, four – Ferguson, David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and now José Mourinho (or five if Ryan Giggs is counted). Young did not elaborate but mentioned it being three so many times it left the suspicion that perhaps he was not too fond of either Moyes or Van Gaal. Should we read anything into it? “You can do if you want,” he said.

:D Moyes or van Gaal?

[Giggles]

He should have said two.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

929057883630776320

Not sure what is worse, the font used or the actual line up.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

929061187320451072

[niko_cee]

Got to be in the running for the worst England team ever put out, although I imagine that might be a surprisingly competitive field.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I hope we get thrashed by an embarrassing margin. Southgate has to go and go immediately, he doesn't have a clue.

[Pleb]

Rashford on the bench again then?

Lame.

[niko_cee]

I hope we get thrashed by an embarrassing margin. Southgate has to go and go immediately, he doesn't have a clue.

All out defence with a few pace merchants to punt it at might not be the worst approach, sadly. Narrow defeat.

Or Ruben Loftus-Cheek is going to be the next Gascoigne, if ITV pundits are to be believed.

[Jimmy Floyd]

When Ruben Loftus-Cheek gets found out it's going to be a glorious day, mainly because I know someone who lives next door to him and therefore the size of cunt that he is.

[Reg]

I hope we get thrashed by an embarrassing margin. Southgate has to go and go immediately, he doesn't have a clue.
Why not let him play a couple of teams that are considerably better than Malta before deciding where he has a clue or not?

[Foe]

When Ruben Loftus-Cheek gets found out it's going to be a glorious day, mainly because I know someone who lives next door to him and therefore the size of cunt that he is.

Do tell.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Why not let him play a couple of teams that are considerably better than Malta before deciding where he has a clue or not?

He's already done that, Scotland, Slovakia and Slovenia, terrible in all 5 games.

[Foe]

Sweden are going for it tonight. Gung ho from minute 1 in the first leg. Fair play.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Joshua Kimmich is going to have a field day regardless of where he actually plays tonight.

There's no one in the England team that will come close to him.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Phil Jones with an injury? I don't believe it.

[Reg]

He's already done that, Scotland, Slovakia and Slovenia, terrible in all 5 games.
Admittedly I didn't see all those because historically England games have tended to suck the joy out of me, but it's not like we've lost all 5. These two games will tell us more about him than whether we beat Slovenia with a swashbuckling 5-0 or a dreary 1-0, in my opinion.

[Ian]

At least we're letting the FUTURE have a go at some ambition-free ponderous shit.

EDIT: We will be shit here but friendlies are meaningless. We've looked okay against decent teams in friendlies at Wembley a number times over recent years. Doesn't help us when it matters and the decent teams actually try.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

At least we're letting the FUTURE have a go at some ambition-free ponderous shit.

THE SYSTEM is well drilled.

Sane was pissing about far too long which allowed Jones to get back.

[Lewis]

It's hard to think of a set of circumstances that would lead the FA to sack a manager in the build-up to a World Cup. Especially now when the upper stiffs are all working most of the day under their desks with the phones unplugged. Noncing would obviously do it, but other than that... Could you spin that Pizza Hut advert as a racist reference to the paper bag test?

[Lewis]

Woah wait. Did Jamie Vardy really used to play non-league football?

[Ian]

I don't know if he's actually any good but I do quite like Tammy Abraham. This has got a bit better.

[John]

Woah wait. Did Jamie Vardy really used to play non-league football?

I wonder if/when they'll start trying to get self referential and preface that with shit like 'as you may have heard.'

[Weaver]

Senegal qualified for the WC earlier on, so that’s 24 of 32 sorted.

Diao, Diouf, Diop :cool:

[Lewis]

I like that they still try to sell Brazil as exciting. They haven't played SAMBA FOOTBALL since Adriano was still recognisably an athlete.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Admittedly I didn't see all those because historically England games have tended to suck the joy out of me, but it's not like we've lost all 5. These two games will tell us more about him than whether we beat Slovenia with a swashbuckling 5-0 or a dreary 1-0, in my opinion.

I'd take the opposite view to that, competitive context > all.

For instance, we had an alright first half there but Germany are playing in second gear if that.

[Magic]

What's the game actually like?

[Reg]

I think it's been pretty entertaining and we've been good. Loftus-Cheek looks at home, and I'm glad for Pickford as he deserves a shot.

[Magic]

Anyone that actually enjoys watching football?

[Baz]

What is FreeSports and can I watch it on Sky?

Annoyed that the second leg of the Peru-NZ game is on TV but the first isn’t. Hopefully I can find a dodgy stream on Reddit.


I think it's been pretty entertaining and we've been good. Loftus-Cheek looks at home, and I'm glad for Pickford as he deserves a shot.Pickfords garb. Already been #foundout and we’re only in November.

Nick Pope should’ve played ahead of Pickford, Hart and Forster.

[Reg]

That doesn't work, but carry on.

[Ian]

You have to preface any comment, good or bad with, "It's only a friendly, but-" but it's actually been sort of entertaining. I mean I'm kind of hoping if we're to score and win 1-0 it's in the last seconds because God knows what'll happen if Germany wake up.

[Magic]

Freesports or my subtle dig?

[John]

What is FreeSports and can I watch it on Sky?


Channel 424 on Sky. They show a seriously odd mix of things. Tonight they're following up middling Spanish football with One FC, the biggest MMA promotion in Asia, and some live NASCAR.

[Baz]

Freesports or my subtle dig?Hashtags maybe? :rosebud:

[Reg]

Freesports or my subtle dig?
Your dig.

[Jimmy Floyd]

How will Italy score their 93rd minute equaliser then? I reckon back post header.

[Bernanke]

How will Italy score their 93rd minute equaliser then? I reckon back post header.

You mean 95th?

[Magic]

Your dig.

:(

[Jimmy Floyd]

Italy even slow starters in two-legged playoffs. Prepare for heartbreak, Swedes.

[Ian]

How will Italy score their 93rd minute equaliser then? I reckon back post header.

Luca Toni lumbering in at the back post, downward header just inside the woodwork.

EDIT: Oh, it's already finished.

Schweden. :cool:

[Bernanke]

Win and Verratti suspended. Couldn't have wished for more.

[mugbull]

I really, really don't want Honduras in the WC again. Most worthless team

[niko_cee]

In my ignorance I had no idea Tammy (seriously, is he fucking scotch or something?) Abraham was such a carthorse. What a touch.

Unlike the other loanee who looked semi-god mode until Germany brought on an actual midfielder to play opposite him/he ran out of gas after 60 minutes. Staked his claim the BBC say. There you have it.

How can Keiran Trippier have such a good first touch and cross the ball combo when he's so bad at crossing the ball from a set piece? Baffling.

Overall though, 7 defenders and hope Kane/Alli/whoever (Lallana?) can win you the game is probably the best set-up we'll go into a major tournament with in fucking ages, so here's looking forward to ditching it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Have Honduras ever played Australia at any sport before?

[Adramelch]

Mah boy, Johansson. :cool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Loftus-Cheek better than Bakayoko according to Dixon and Hoddle.

Edit: And Wright too:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5071685/Loftus-Cheek-better-Bakayoko-says-Wright.html

[Lewis]

It's odd how nobody seems to factor Glenn Hoddle being an obvious space cadet into his analysis/commentary. His head has completely gone.

[Bernanke]

Mah boy, Johansson. :cool:

:cool:

Any transfer talk around him? Genk still sniffing around?

[Spoonsky]

Italy were so frustrating in that game. Every corner taken short. :cab:

[Adramelch]

:cool:

Any transfer talk around him? Genk still sniffing around?

Last I heard was Rennes, but that was last season or sth.

Edit: Actually I think Las Palmas were interested this summer.

[John Arne]

Edwin Cardona of Colombia in trouble for doing this at the end of the South Korea game :face:

https://d.ibtimes.co.uk/en/full/1647667/edwin-cardona.jpg?imwidth=640

That was then followed up by a News Anchor...

https://gyazo.com/0a430eb750cdf1b0eca2156b43722ca8.jpg?imwidth=640

[Giggles]

It doesn't look like he's doing the same thing as she is.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They're all doing it, probably taking a cue from Yuli Gurriel who did it to a Japanese pitcher during the World Series the other week (baseball is big in Colombia).

[Shindig]

I'm trying to think of a Columbian equivalent but I don't think a coke snort would set them off.

[Giggles]

He's doing more of a downs mocking face than a slant eye mocking thing. Are we supposed to think it's the latter?

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's a slant eye.

[Giggles]

Not in that picture it's not, but presumably there's video footage.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He was too coked up to do it properly.

[Ian]

It's odd how nobody seems to factor Glenn Hoddle being an obvious space cadet into his analysis/commentary. His head has completely gone.

He must have been a wrong'un in a previous life.

[Giggles]

O'Dowda starts and Murphy instead of Long.

And no Whelan, so I presume someone has kidnapped O'Neill and picked the team instead.



.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Hervé Renard cruising to the World Cup.

He is a fucking shit club manager as well. Such a legend.

[Giggles]

This lot definitely have a lot more about then than Wales. Once they get one it'll be a rout.

[-james-]

There's something very inevitable about Ireland shitting out a 1-0 aggregate win here.

[Giggles]

Robbie Brady has no business being an automatic name on the team sheet.

[Ian]

Thrilling stuff so far.

[Boydy]

Normally I'd want the Republic to win but my housemate was being a cunt after the NI game the other night so I hope they don't go through now.

[Giggles]

Normally I'd want the Republic to win but my housemate was being a cunt after the NI game the other night so I hope they don't go through now.

You should have called him and his smelly relatives gypsies.

[Giggles]

Sometimes I think I'm being too harsh on this lot but a league of Ireland team would be embarrassed to play like this. They're not going to knock it about like Barcelona but surely players from the premier league and championship can do better than hoofed clearance after hoofed clearance.

[Ian]

It really is grim. Not even attempting to do anything, as you say. No real sense of purpose other than bodies behind the ball.

[Giggles]

It really is grim. Not even attempting to do anything, as you say. No real sense of purpose other than bodies behind the ball.

Nothing football. It's not as if they can't string two passes together, they're not even attempting it.

And this lad got a new contract before the Wales game too :face:

[Ian]

Blimey, I didn't know Bendtner was still a thing.

[-james-]

Sometimes I think I'm being too harsh on this lot but a league of Ireland team would be embarrassed to play like this. They're not going to knock it about like Barcelona but surely players from the premier league and championship can do better than hoofed clearance after hoofed clearance.

I think they've been good.

On paper it's a remarkably weak side for one that's competing for a European world cup spot. Your star men are James McClean and Jeff Hendrick. I woudn't be ungrateful.

[Giggles]

I think they've been good.

On paper it's a remarkably weak side for one that's competing for a European world cup spot. Your star men are James McClean and Jeff Hendrick. I woudn't be ungrateful.

They're premier league players. Like I said, a league of Ireland (League Two/Conference to you) would refund fans if they served up tripe like this. Poor play is one thing but there's absolutely zero effort or intention to do a thing only hoof the ball into the other half.

[Giggles]

Actually I'm being to generous. Go down a park on a Sunday and you'd see more composure on the ball than this.

[-james-]

They're bottom half premier league players at very best. It's a well organised defensive block and it's worked well, obviously it's going to limit attacking options. I think it's exactly what Ireland had to do.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If they score first at home I think they'll do it.

[Giggles]

They're bottom half premier league players at very best. It's a well organised defensive block and it's worked well, obviously it's going to limit attacking options. I think it's exactly what Ireland had to do.

Bottom half premier league players should have more composure than this, league two players should have more composure than this.

The hoofing that has went on tonight is about ten levels worse than 'limiting attacking options'.

[-james-]

Bottom half premier league players should have more composure than this, league two players should have more composure than this.

The hoofing that has went on tonight is about ten levels worse than 'limiting attacking options'.

I don't really know why composure matters when you've got the result and deserved to do so. I'd be more annoyed if I were a Denmark fan.

[Ian]

Are these three England call-ups seriously what we're reduced to?

[Giggles]

Are these three England call-ups seriously what we're reduced to?

3 new ones or do you mean Cheek and Abraham, etc?

[Ian]

Dominic Solanke (85 Premier League minutes this year), Angus Gunn (Championship, apparently) and Lewis Cook who I at least think I've heard of.

[Browning]

How long until one of us is added?

[Ian]

I'm not young enough to fit Southgate's "call up literally anybody who's young" policy. :(

[Weaver]

Who would you lot have called up instead, out of interest?

Nick Pope, Jonjo Shelvey, Andy Carroll?

[-james-]

About half of the full strength squad isn't there and English strikers are pretty thin on the ground, to be fair. Jack Cork and Jake Livermore are the two that are completely pointless exercises.

[Lewis]

Remember that time, in an attempt to defend 'Mr. Capello', Roy Keane went through our disappointing World Cup team and called nine of them crap? I would like to see Alan Shearer go off on a similar point.

[Ian]

Who would you lot have called up instead, out of interest?

Nick Pope, Jonjo Shelvey, Andy Carroll?

If we're taking Championship guys there must at least be a young English striker who has played a game this year we could select ahead of Solanke, for a kick-off.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They seem to be going down the England cricket route of picking 'guys who know the setup'.

We'll see a lot more of this as they try to justify the existence of St George's Park.

[-james-]

St. George's Park has done alright for itself this year to be fair.

Solanke and Cook are there because they were the best two candidates from the u20 team that won something this year. I don't think there's any harm in giving them a call-up over Martyn Waghorn.

[Jimmy Floyd]

When it starts delivering results after footballers' first big contracts, I'll become a believer.

[phonics]

I'm not sure how a totally separate entity paying them a bunch of money is St. George's Parks fault or demeans it's work.

[Disco]

But it's still a waste of time and money if it ruins them as players anyway.

[Shindig]

Don't we just blame the players anyway?

[Reg]

I don't know much about St George's Park, but by what measure has it not been a success? Our youth teams are better than they have been in donkey's.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm being a bit facetious as if it can train up x number more coaches in perpetuity it will really have done its job, but I personally don't agree with the idea of centralising football development. We're too big a country to do it well and it ignores late developers and people who actually perform well in favour of people who have the attributes to do so in theory.

[phonics]

Yeah this sort of thing only works in small nations like France.

[Waffdon]

Anyone know where to get updates on the Togo game? Or even the score at all?

[Lewis]

Togo.

[Waffdon]

Waiting on them for a bet aye.

It’s just vanished off everything. Unless some madman is killing folk again.

[Waffdon]

Is Gerry Armstrong blootered?

[Jimmy Floyd]

If you've bet on an African friendly I hope you have inside info.

(Togo won 6-0)

[Raoul Duke]

They should promote kids from the youth teams up a level if there's space, rather than bring in time wasters like Cork or whatever.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Gerry Armstrong giving one of the great co-commentaries here. Just slated the Swiss for wearing gloves in Switzerland.

[Amigo]

Sounds like someone's slaughtering a cow in the stands.

[Waffdon]

Gerry Armstrong giving one of the great co-commentaries here. Just slated the Swiss for wearing gloves in Switzerland.

Absolutely hates Seferovic and Schar.

[Waffdon]

Seferovic has never done anything correctly in his life.

[-james-]

It's been brilliant. I reckon if Switzerland score he'd just refuse to acknowledge it.

[Lewis]

There are a load of benders on Twitter crying about it. Probably the sort of people who don't support England.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That Swiss keeper has been an absolute calamity throughout his career, no idea how he gets away with it.

[Lewis]

Has GS just died or what? He clearly doesn't have a life to have ditched us for.

[Giggles]

:drool:

So long huns.

[Spikey M]

I reckon him and Harold are plotting a Far-Right Terror Attack. Luckily you can use the mental health argument for the pair of them. :o

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Probably got done for noncing.

[Lewis]

Right, so who knew that 'Frostbit Boy' (who is clearly the gayest person on that entire island) released a charity single (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQR9kbqw3h8)?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

They got the second gayest to be with him and some hot girl on the haystacks too.

[Shindig]

I reckon him and Harold are plotting a Far-Right Terror Attack. Luckily you can use the mental health argument for the pair of them. :o

"Look, we're not using Rick Flair disguises. We're trying to remain incognito."

[Giggles]

In news to brighten GS' evening after the footy, apparently Liam Miller (formerly of Celtic and briefly Man U) hasn't long left. Seems like it was very recent that he was playing.

[Waffdon]

Croatia really do have some outstanding players. Not much better midfields about. Sorely lack a decent centre half.

[Lewis]

'I could see Croatia being a bit of a dark horse this...'
*folds against first organised opponent*

[Jimmy Floyd]

The best they ever did was in 1998 when absolutely nobody thought they'd do anything.

[Ian]

And even then they were only undone by attacking dynamo Lilian Thuram.

[Lewis]

If Yugoslavia had never fallen to bits they would have gone into 1998 as the outside bet and lost every group match.

EDIT: And they had to gypo France down to ten men.

[ScousePig]

In news to brighten GS' evening after the footy, apparently Liam Miller (formerly of Celtic and briefly Man U) hasn't long left. Seems like it was very recent that he was playing.

Pancreatic cancer apparently.

[Magic]

Lewis Cook always knew he'd be an England international. First Leeds academy player to play for England proper since Delph?

[Magic]

Right, so who knew that 'Frostbit Boy' (who is clearly the gayest person on that entire island) released a charity single (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQR9kbqw3h8)?

Hate cunts that have that perma red cheek thing going on.

[Giggles]

Pancreatic cancer apparently.

Yeah but the talk of him being in a hospice weren't true at least by the looks of it. He's still at the treatment stage.

[Trancemeister]

Really Italy? boo during the national anthem. That's low.

[CJay]

That looked a good shout for a penalty for Italy.

[Trancemeister]

As did that for Sweden.

[-james-]

I'm worried for Italy. Sweden can score and Italy ain't scoring three.

[CJay]

It’s amazing how ordinary their team is on paper. Going the way of Netherlands by the looks of it.

[Bernanke]

As did that for Sweden.

The first one wasn't really for me, but this one just now was a definite pen.

[CJay]

Agreed. That one just now was stonewall.

[-james-]

People have moaned about the scorelines but these play-off games have largely made excellent viewing.

[Max Power]

Italy look much better this leg. Their two wing backs are atrocious though. Darmian especially wasting so many good chances to cross.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Not sure why Zappa isn't playing, pretty much all he can do is cross.

[phonics]

I haven't seen an Italy team run around like this in years. Desperate.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I think this ref's got some brown envelope action in him, let's see.

[Lewis]

Italy have been shit for ages. That 2-0 over Spain at the last Euros was their first competitive win over somebody decent for a decade.

[mugbull]

I think this ref's got some brown envelope action in him, let's see.

Lmao.

[Lewis]

This Lindelof is good. Maybe United meant to sign him instead.

[-james-]

I think this ref's got some brown envelope action in him, let's see.

Only had enough lira for a fourth official.

[Giggles]

Weaker tournament if they're not there.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Luckily I was on over 135.5 overhit Italian passes.

[Baz]

A World Cup without Italy. :eek:

[Ian]

Sweden. :cool:

[John]

Italy have been shit for ages. That 2-0 over Spain at the last Euros was their first competitive win over somebody decent for a decade.

Balotelli murdered Germany on his own the Euros before that.

[Pleb]

What fucking scenes this is.

[Magic]

What a boring non entity. They'll go out without scoring. Cunts.

[Trancemeister]

Speechless. What a bunch of heroes

[Ian]

Weaker tournament if they're not there.

International football is largely a load of old meh atn the moment anyway. Italy wouldn't have brought much other than Buffon and people wanting to believe they're still a really good team.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If you're not good enough to either top your group or beat Sweden over two legs, you're not good enough to be at the World Cup.

[mugbull]

Weaker tournament if they're not there.

What, Italy? :D

Italy would provide nothing at the tournament, like they haven't for the past 2

[Lewis]

I didn't count that because 'Yogi Love' BOTTLED IT and they were shit. We gave them a better game in the quarters.

At John mate.

[Spoonsky]

fuck off Ventura fucking cretino

[Bernanke]

Fucking scenes here in Stockholm. :cool:

[-james-]

I'm absolutely all for smaller teams shitting out progression against "big names". Sweden absolutely deserve their spot and they'll do fine.

[Giggles]

What, Italy? :D

Italy would provide nothing at the tournament, like they haven't for the past 2

Still though, it's Italy.

Delighted for Sweden though. Wouldn't want to see one without them either.

[-james-]

Actually, I'd forgotten that Zlatan will announce his unretirement and they'll be terrible again with him playing.

[Giggles]

Actually, I'd forgotten that Zlatan will announce his unretirement and they'll be terrible again with him playing.

They really need to tell him to fuck off if he does.

[Foe]

Italy have been shit for ages. That 2-0 over Spain at the last Euros was their first competitive win over somebody decent for a decade.

I was at that game, and the Spain Croatia game and Spain lost both so don't give Italy too much credit. Spain lost largely due to not having a potent striker force. A 34 year old Aduriz and Alvaro morata.

[Vim]

How are you all doing on this fine day?

[ItalAussie]

I'm just really sad for Buffon. The rest of the wasters can wallow in their own failure.

[Spoonsky]

That Euro 2016 Italy team was great. They were so shit but Conte brought them together and made them a great team. I reckon they'd have won the whole thing if they'd beaten Germany on penalties.

Without Conte it fell apart though. I wonder who will be next. Ancelotti?

[ItalAussie]

Italy probably should have beaten Sweden, sure. But they also should have done well enough over the last few years not to be a second seed and draw Spain in the group. The failure started early.

[Vim]

Ventura is the main culprit here, this team beat Spain and Belgium in the EUROs and one year later we lose against Sweden. It is not a coincidence, the players underperformed without a doubt but when every single player underperforms there is no way it is not the manager's fault. Hopefully at least this will mean that every one in the federation will be thrown out and maybe Italian football as a whole can try to start fresh.

[Giggles]

:D

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[Bernanke]

https://streamable.com/a94lw

In 50 years, Buffon might actually be the player I will have the fondest memories of.

930192387770585088

:(

[Lewis]

Your arse wound will have consumed you within ten.

[Bernanke]

One hell of a thing to remember that.

It's still going though, so fair play, I'll probably be gone before 35.

[Magic]

:D

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She'll have that down as sexual assault.

[Lewis]

One hell of a thing to remember that.

It's still going though, so fair play, I'll probably be gone before 35.

It's so dominant in how I perceive you that it took me ten minutes to work out why you were supporting Sweden.

[Bernanke]

:D

That's actually kind of amazing.

[Mazuuurk]

That was a bit special. Granqvist after the game was a complete teary mess :D


Now all they have to do is convince Zlatan to do a comeback just in time for Russia :henn0rz:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Did they underperform or are they just shit?

Ibrahimovic should be nowhere near it, there's a reason they did fuck all with him in the team.

[ItalAussie]

Did they underperform or are they just shit?

Ibrahimovic should be nowhere near it, there's a reason they did fuck all with him in the team.

Ewing Theory :nodd:


Eventually, we decided that two crucial elements needed to be in place for any situation to qualify for "Ewing" status:

A star athlete receives an inordinate amount of media attention and fan interest, and yet his teams never win anything substantial with him (other than maybe some early-round playoff series).

That same athlete leaves his team (either by injury, trade, graduation, free agency or retirement) -- and both the media and fans immediately write off the team for the following season.

[Mazuuurk]

Did they underperform or are they just shit?

Ibrahimovic should be nowhere near it, there's a reason they did fuck all with him in the team.

Underperform? I thought that was a pretty damn good performance from us.

As for Zlatan - you are probably right. This team has a real collective unit feeling about it and he would ruin that.

At the same time, he's always worked well in 4-4-2 systems, and Toivonen is essentially a really shit version of him, so. Still don't think it would happen.

[Magic]

Did Pontus start?

[Bernanke]

I'm behind Zlatan coming with if he agrees to start every game on the bench and be our supersub in minute 65-70. That's the only way his presence would be a positive.

[Bernanke]

Does anyone know in which order the pots are drawn? 1 -> 2 -> 3 -> 4 or 1 -> 4 -> 3 -> 2?

[SincereTheRebel]

I'm behind Zlatan coming with if he agrees to start every game on the bench and be our supersub in minute 65-70. That's the only way his presence would be a positive.

Like everyone else, we all like zlatan. But he needs to sit down. I dont agree with him coming back to sweden, even if he is on the bench. He played zero part in qualifying.

[Bernanke]

Like everyone else, we all like zlatan. But he needs to sit down. I dont agree with him coming back to sweden, even if he is on the bench. He played zero part in qualifying.

We brought Henrik Larsson twice after he didn't take part in qualifying, and nobody seemed to mind then.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Ewing Theory :nodd:

The US Ryder Cup performance with and without Tigger is a great one. He missed 2008 and that was their only win for eight years either side.

[Giggles]

Is there a particular reason everyone loves Buffon so much? You always find that with Italian players where people fawn over them (Pirlo, Totti, Buffon, etc) but hate the Italian team as a collective.

[Boydy]

I think it's because he's been around for so long and so good for so long. There's a nostalgia value with him, I guess. He's probably one of the last greats still around from the era of when someone who's now in their late 20s was in their early teens and proper mad about football.

[niko_cee]

It's an interesting observation re the longevity Italians, you've got Maldini in there as well.

Buffon also came through on an early champ manager didn't he (in that epic Parma team)? Got to be some residual love from those times in 'the community'.

[Giggles]

No chance we're qualifying tonight but this bit of the anticipation is: drool:

Everywhere is buzzing.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's an interesting observation re the longevity Italians, you've got Maldini in there as well.

Buffon also came through on an early champ manager didn't he (in that epic Parma team)? Got to be some residual love from those times in 'the community'.

I think it's general nostalgia for the 90s when Serie A was good and exotic and we were kids (or most of us were). Not sure we'll be fawning over Antonio Candreva in 10 years' time.

[Giggles]

Such bullshit, but still.

:chief:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hD4kuWld7A

[mugbull]

Giggles gives up his melodramatic persona only when it's somehow about Ireland. Tribalism :drool:

[Giggles]

Giggles gives up his melodramatic persona only when it's somehow about Ireland. Tribalism :drool:

It's class though. It's all anyone has talked about all day, it's all over every tv and radio show, you'd swear it was a world cup final or something. There's a lot to be said for being shít really.

And fuck it, if we lose we're all in it together anyway and we'll go again next time.

[Lewis]

Is there a particular reason everyone loves Buffon so much? You always find that with Italian players where people fawn over them (Pirlo, Totti, Buffon, etc) but hate the Italian team as a collective.

He probably gets a bit of credit for not poncing off to Milan when Juventus got relegated as well.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Not sure why he is reading out a quintessentially Welsh poem.

[Giggles]

He probably gets a bit of credit for not poncing off to Milan when Juventus got relegated as well.

True actually, I'd forgot that bit.

[Giggles]

Not sure why he is reading out a quintessentially Welsh poem.

It might as well be Yugoslavian for all I know.

They use a song by a Scottish band on some of their GAA previews but I haven't stormed the buildings yet as it works.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Ireland is probably the leading poetry nation of all time, so there's no excuse.

[Giggles]

Ireland is probably the leading poetry nation of all time, so there's no excuse.

Maybe they're all shit. Quality over quantity thing.

[Giggles]

Meyler for O'Dowda, Hendrick out to the right. Should have been further right and onto the bench, he's been so bad since Euro 2016.

[Baz]

Has Shane Long shagged Martin O’Neill’s wife or something?

[Baz]

Buffon also came through on an early champ manager didn't he (in that epic Parma team)? Got to be some residual love from those times in 'the community'.Yeah but it was a weird one, cos he seemed to vary in age from game to game. Sometimes he’d be 10 years older. I still don’t understand what used to happen.

[Giggles]

Has Shane Long shagged Martin O’Neill’s wife or something?

He wouldn't score in a barrel of fannys, but yeah he should really be starting to at least stretch them a bit.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

930513321870143488

[Giggles]

Who's Gomez?

[Lewis]

lol is Joe Hart still our number one?

[Giggles]

Have to be Pickford now wouldn't it?

[Reg]

Butland's injured and Pickford rested by the sounds of it. Southgate's keeping it open as to who's number one.

[Giggles]

I know it's an early lead, but going ahead early brings out the worst in this lot. They'll sit deep as fuck til the equaliser.

[Lewis]

Butland's injured and Pickford rested by the sounds of it. Southgate's keeping it open as to who's number one.

Which means Hart will be starting in the World Cup.

[Reg]

Southgate's already dropped players, I think whoever starts will do so on merit.

*Cue Rooney being recalled.*

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It must be wonderful being so naive, Reg.

[Giggles]

This is diabolical. You can't invite any team onto you for 75 minutes and expect to hang on. The Danes have free run to do what they like for 3/4's of the pitch.

[Reg]

It must be wonderful being so naive, Reg.
:cool:

I didn't say those there on merit would score or win or anything fanciful like that.

[Ian]

Oh good, Hart is in the team. Hopefully we don't give away any free kicks in the dead centre of the pitch within 40 yards of the goal.

[Giggles]

That's been coming. Arter summing up his shit performance so far with his hand in it.

[Baz]

Stephen Ward.:gs:

[Giggles]

Stephen Ward.:gs:

Sloppy as fuck. That's that over then, there's not 3 goals in a game in this team and the scoreline is what both teams deserve at this stage.

Got 25 minutes of craic out of it anyway :groove::happycry:

[Baz]

You could cheer yourself up with the England game?

I’m watching Ireland but just compared the England and Brazil starting lineups and jeez louise it’s gonna be a stuffing. :roflmao:

[Ian]

Can't wait to see Southgate try and get away with this ambition-free, static drivel against a good team when it's a competitive game and they actually care.

[Giggles]

You could cheer yourself up with the England game?

I’m watching Ireland but just compared the England and Brazil starting lineups and jeez louise it’s gonna be a stuffing. :roflmao:

We're drinking every time Dunphy and Brady say 'Wes' or 'Houlihan' so I'll have to keep watching for the half time.

[Lewis]

Can't wait to see Southgate try and get away with this ambition-free, static drivel against a good team when it's a competitive game and they actually care.

To be fair we'll have all our world class players back for any actual matches.

[Ian]

Good point, it'll be Harry Kane jogging about aimlessly rather than Vardy or Rashford.

[Giggles]

Robbie Brady getting crabby with everyone when he's contributing sweet fuck all. Just as he has for the last year.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Lingard must be due another Wembley goal after failing on the weekend.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The one time that Rashford puts in a passable ball in from a set piece and Stones fucks it up.

[Giggles]

That Sisto lad is a tidy enough player when he doesn't have to defend.

[niko_cee]

This is pretty much the Brazil starting XI isn't it? I can only assume South American qualifying isn't the footballing nightmare it is cracked up to be. Even with Jose Arcadia Buendia in charge they look fairly hopeless. It won't be David Luiz funny, but they'll get stomped by anyone half decent in an actual game.

7-1-2 is starting to grow on me, but it would be nice if the 1 and 2 were quite a bit better. Either that or Andy Carroll has to channel his inner Charisteas or something.

In the long and storied history of football has there ever been a player who more obviously plays for himself over all others than Neymar?

[Giggles]

The sour faced one is a serious player. Two lovely goals.

Ah well, I said at the start of this thread that I'd have taken a Danish win so long as the Swiss did too, and I'll stand by that.

[Giggles]

5-1, fucking hell.

The substitutions were a bit odd in fairness, so it was win or bust. And by fuck did it bust.

A Bendtner goal must be the ultimate insult :D