tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27676150.post6268413119157482938..comments2023-09-12T14:49:27.414+01:00Comments on Some People Are On The Pitch: Euro 2008 DrawChris Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14451130702323813966noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27676150.post-640839338530292782007-12-04T09:00:00.000+00:002007-12-04T09:00:00.000+00:00Dont get me wrong Adam, I am with the hosts automa...Dont get me wrong Adam, I am with the hosts automatically qualifying - a tournament without the host nation behind it would be dire.<BR/><BR/>Im also a firm believer that the holders shouldnt have to qualify again, but thats just me.<BR/><BR/>What I dont like is the hosts being automatically being TOP seeds for the competion.<BR/><BR/>With Euro 2008 the 'top seed pot' of four contained Switzerland, Austria and Greece. <BR/><BR/>World Cup holders Italy plus World Cup runners-up France, Germany, Czech Republic are all seeded below the three above.<BR/><BR/>If the governing bodies are to continue promoting the game to by allowing smaller footballing nations such as Switzerland, Austria, USA etc then surely they have to rethink their seeding strategy.<BR/><BR/>Thats assuming there is one.Smarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11808569130484035978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27676150.post-82597544649807977892007-12-03T23:34:00.000+00:002007-12-03T23:34:00.000+00:00I'm down with hosts automatically qualifying for t...I'm down with hosts automatically qualifying for the competition, but I don't think they should automatically be seeded teams. If we're going to insist on using the 'pots' system (which I don't think we should, but that's a different discussion altogether), then hosts should be placed according to their ranking.<BR/><BR/>As for the groups, I'm pretty pleased with group A, as I think the Swiss have got a half-decent shot at progressing. Beating the Czechs will take some doing, but Turkey and Portugal should both be beatable.Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01428816290859257176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27676150.post-76258641228922729282007-12-03T21:09:00.000+00:002007-12-03T21:09:00.000+00:00Miro, I ment the passion of the fans and their lov...Miro, I ment the passion of the fans and their love for the game.. very raw and authentic..<BR/><BR/>For the Euro 2008 final to be dull would be strange as the teams at Euro 2008 are top..I mean, throw in Brazil and Argentina and you would have the best teams in the world at one tournament...Except for England and Scotland of course, but they really had the chance to be there.<BR/><BR/>FIFA Ranking oct 2007<BR/><BR/>1 Argentina 1523 <BR/>2 Brazil 1502 <BR/>3 Italy 1498<BR/>4 Spain 1349 <BR/>5 Germany 1296 <BR/>6 Czech Republic 1290 <BR/>7 France 1243 <BR/>8 Portugal 1241 <BR/>9 Netherlands 1170 <BR/>10 Croatia 1129 <BR/>11 Greece 1114 <BR/>12 England 1113 <BR/>13 Romania 1088 <BR/>14 Scotland 990 <BR/>15 Mexico 985 <BR/>16 Turkey 924Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27676150.post-39511749025936707042007-12-03T19:51:00.000+00:002007-12-03T19:51:00.000+00:00Sven, I don't know what passion are you talking ab...Sven, I don't know what passion are you talking about? I haven't seen any passion in that EN - CRO game recently... from the English side of course.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27676150.post-83820774050034347992007-12-03T19:47:00.000+00:002007-12-03T19:47:00.000+00:00A fair point, well made, Smart. If a country wants...A fair point, well made, Smart. If a country wants to host a competition that much, they should be prepared to qualify for it like everyone else, I reckon.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for clearing that up, Sven! I thought perhaps you were a Brit living abroad?Chris Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14451130702323813966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27676150.post-20996108098739965232007-12-03T15:17:00.000+00:002007-12-03T15:17:00.000+00:00It won't be easy to beat them though..Lucky enough...It won't be easy to beat them though..Lucky enough we're playing the first game against Italy.<BR/><BR/>No reason to get confused Chris, I was born and raised in Holland, so indeed that makes me Dutch. Nothing to be proud of by the way, but I do love our Dutch football Culture, and the way we approach the game. <BR/><BR/>I like the British football culture more to be honest but that has more to do with the history of the game itself, and the passion around it, not the style of playing...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27676150.post-61145025211910605952007-12-03T09:25:00.000+00:002007-12-03T09:25:00.000+00:00Its the exact reason why joint hosts isnt a good i...Its the exact reason why joint hosts isnt a good idea. Two of the four seeds are Switzerland and Austia.<BR/><BR/>Greece as holders are also seeds, which is a strange one as according to FIFA the World Cup holders arent even worthy of an automatic place in the next World Cup finals anymore.<BR/><BR/>With FIFA and UEFA trying to promote the global game, its a chance for anyone to automatically qualify for the Euros.<BR/><BR/>Imagine if Northern Ireland were to host the it with Wales? Estonia and Latvia? Romania and Bulgaria? <BR/><BR/>One or two countries that wouldnt normally qualify will be chucking there hames into the hat now.<BR/><BR/>As Swizerland and Austria did.<BR/><BR/>If we get another dull final, we only have UEFA to blame.Smarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11808569130484035978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27676150.post-61178737160786138112007-12-03T06:47:00.000+00:002007-12-03T06:47:00.000+00:00I hope you get your revenge next year, Sven. Certa...I hope you get your revenge next year, Sven. Certainly if you beat Italy in Euro 2008, you'll be considered world beaters, let alone group winners.<BR/><BR/>So just run this past me as I'm a little confused - are you Dutch or do you live in the Netherlands or did you live there before? Or do you have Dutch parentage somewhere down the line? Just curious, that's all!<BR/><BR/>Duffman, you were thinking along similar lines to me! If we get to the end of Round 1 without anyone being annexed, we should consider that a bonus...Chris Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14451130702323813966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27676150.post-68106926460000910752007-12-02T22:14:00.000+00:002007-12-02T22:14:00.000+00:00Group C may be the Group of Death but I reckon Gro...Group C may be the Group of Death but I reckon Group B is the Group Most Likely To End In War. Austria, Germany, Croatia and Poland. Imagine if England had won our group and ended up in the middle of that lot?<BR/><BR/>KABOOM!Terry Duffelenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12497567108075601329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27676150.post-75249390163105417932007-12-02T19:11:00.000+00:002007-12-02T19:11:00.000+00:00The group of death again...We (holland) had the gr...The group of death again...We (holland) had the group of death on the World Cup 2006 already, it would be fair to circulate the teams in the group of death :-)<BR/><BR/>Anyway, funny that you bring up the Holland - Italy match at Euro 2000 as I actually visited this game and still get the shiffers everytime I think of it. A payback would be nice..Bring it on !Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com