Italy out of the World Cup

[Robbie Earle's Perm]

We've seen recently the likes of Jermaine Defoe, Andros Townsend, Rashford, Loftus-Cheek to name a few and even Wayne Rooney being sat on the bench or bumped around in favor of overseas players.

 

Because they ain’t good enough bottom line.

 

Teams like England and Italy won’t achieve anything though whilst the imbalance in the proportion of players in their own leagues is allowed to continue due to sheer greed.

[Robbie Earle's Perm]

Why would I?

I would prefer it to be a straight knockout competition.

 

Me too the qualification system in Europe is utterly painful.

[Paul6754]

Because they ain’t good enough bottom line.

 

You mean like your opinion of Tom Pope.

 

Teams like England and Italy won’t achieve anything though whilst the imbalance in the proportion of players in their own leagues is allowed to continue due to sheer greed.

 

Imbalance in the proportion of what?

[Aussie Rules]

Me too the qualification system in Europe is utterly painful.

 

Not as painful as Australia who have played 22 games on several continents and still need to win today to qualify for Russia 2018.

[geosname]

Should be a straight knockout Barry... all the teams in a hat anyone plays anyone

[Aussie Rules]

Should be a straight knockout Barry... all the teams in a hat anyone plays anyone

 

Agree Geo

[RailwayRowdy]

Apart from just the prolonged qualification process, I think the number of sides actually progressing to the finals should be reconsidered. Take last years Euro’s Finals to make point. 24 teams qualified, but only something like 53 countries actually participated in the qualification process. That’s a whopping 45% or so ! Thus the standard drops and we see matches like N.I. v Wales which was appalling. The Finals are supposed to be a celebration of the best European football has to offer and NOT to include some of its dross.

[Robbie Earle's Perm]

You mean like your opinion of Tom Pope.

 

However poor England and Italy are Pope isn’t good enough for either sadly

 

 

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[Robbie Earle's Perm]

Not as painful as Australia who have played 22 games on several continents and still need to win today to qualify for Russia 2018.

 

True fingers crossed for later!

 

At least some of your qualification games have had an element of excitement, ours have just been underwhelming and relatively dull.

 

 

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[Robbie Earle's Perm]

Apart from just the prolonged qualification process, I think the number of sides actually progressing to the finals should be reconsidered. Take last years Euro’s Finals to make point. 24 teams qualified, but only something like 53 countries actually participated in the qualification process. That’s a whopping 45% or so ! Thus the standard drops and we see matches like N.I. v Wales which was appalling. The Finals are supposed to be a celebration of the best European football has to offer and NOT to include some of its dross.

 

The problem is over recent tournaments since Sven England have contributed greatly to the appalling standard of games.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using the onevalefan mobile app

[Robbie Earle's Perm]

Not as painful as Australia who have played 22 games on several continents and still need to win today to qualify for Russia 2018.

 

Looking good AR! 😉 16 minutes to go.

[Jacko51]

Due to changes in recent years this is now a World Cup but not a Best in the World Cup. Of the top 32 teams in the world, at least nine will not be present and seven of those are from Europe.

[For Us All]

4 times winners, twice runners-up, now reduced to tears. The World Cup without Italy and Holland will look very different.

 

Such a shame but it's football and anything can happen,it's literally down to the luck of the draw.

Never mind Bea we've got Panama and Saudi Arabia to look forward to?

[Santa]

There have always been quotas per continent/confederation. That's just the way it is.

 

32 places:

Russia as hosts

13 Europe

5 Africa

4.5 Asia

3.5 North, Central America & Caribbean (CONCACAF)

4.5 South America (CONMEBOL)

0.5 Oceania

[Santa]

Never mind Bea we've got Panama and Saudi Arabia to look forward to?

Fair play to both. Panama finished above the USA in qualifying and the Saudis pushed the Aussies into the inter-confederation play offs.