Euro 2016 Qualifiers

[InterFCAustin]

You're just a love machine

 

[Dylan]

Sorry it had to end like this Dino.

 

[DIN011]

Sorry it hand to end like this Dino.

Whatever happens, happens <3

 

[Jnr]

NORWAY - HUNGARY. Great draw for norwegians. Euro2016 seems near now. They are huge favorites.

Ukraine- Slovenia

Sweden - Denmark

Bosnia - Ireland

 

[nurko]

Sorry it hand to end like this Dino.

Don't worry, once Bosnia gets to the final, you'll be able to say Ireland lost to a worthy opponent.

 

[Dylan]

Don't worry, once Bosnia gets to the final, you'll be able to say Ireland lost to a worthy opponent.

I haven't seen any of Bosnia since the WC but people are saying they're not that great anymore. What kind of shape are you in? We will have O'Shea and Walters suspended while Long and Given are likely to miss the game so we're a bit short on players. If we get a draw away we can bring some players back in and hopefully give a great performance at home to pull through.

 

[_OC_]

NORWAY - HUNGARY. Great draw for norwegians. Euro2016 seems near now. They are huge favorites.

Ukraine- Slovenia

Sweden - Denmark

Bosnia - Ireland

Congratulations to the teams and countries that have already qualified or made it to the playoffs. I'm sure for some on this forum, it's the first time they've experienced being this close or actually having qualified for a European Championship, like our big contingent of Albanians. Once again, congratulations.

Having said that, sentiments aside... this will probably be the worst Euro of all time. There is no way any of those teams in Jnr's post, except if Zlatan turns it on for Sweden, will add anything of note wise to the finals. It's a shame Platini decided that quantity is better than quality, and I kind can of see the reasoning behind giving more chances to smaller countries or national teams of worse quality (besides the many votes he'll probably receive in the next election for implementing the new system), but it'll come at the expense of good football.
It's like if we suddenly decided that the CHL needed more teams, and suddenly we'd have a whole lot more BATEs and Brugge's running around - charming, but not exactly beautiful. 24 qualified teams out of 53 countries, a staggering 45% is just too much for any continent to be able to sustain.

There's a reason that the Euros have almost always been tournaments of greater quality than the World Cups, and it's because you had the (pretty much) perfect number of entrants. For instance, 2000 and 2004 were, on the whole, football tournaments that a World Cup will probably never match in quality in my opinion, although it's hard to compare the spectacle; whereas say, Trinidad and Tobago playing against South Korea might not be the granddaddy of football matches, it's at least a clash of cultures, football styles and (without being all anthropological) people, whereas the upcoming playoffs are the equivalent of watching Atalanta - Chievo four times over (if you choose to ignore the history of Sweden - Denmark).

I'm actually ashamed that my own country is still in contention for a spot. We've played Ranieri-like football, and yet we still have a chance at qualifying for the what is supposed to be an elite competition for the best European football countries - instead we'll end up simply making up the numbers, if we do qualify. If we don't one of Norway or Hungary will.
The structure also takes away (almost) any ounce of excitement or suspense during the qualifiers. In our case, we played like shit throughout the whole qualifications, had one, singular convincing match against Serbia, beat them at home, and then beat the mighty Armenia - somehow, that's enough for a wild-card for the Euros. The current system also removes any chance of big teams going out early (ignoring Netherlands, but I'm pretty confident that's a thing that happens once every 1/100 time and will probably not happen again for any other big teams in the foreseeable future).

All in all, I'm not trying to rain on anyone's parade, I'm just pissed that UEFA had to mess up what is almost a guaranteed a great tournament, sacrificing quality for, I guess, some kind of misunderstood solidarity?. Now we'll probably have to wait for the quarterfinals for anything significant to happen.

Rant over.

 

[Kazaan]

I don't it's about solidarity for UEFA.

I got a feeling there are more good football players in more teams than before. So apart from Platini's most probably opportunistic intentions, there is imo a subtle dispersion of quality with more and more foreign players in top European leagues learning their trade and using it with their NT's. Coaches as well. I don't think for example England could easily beat Bosnia and Herzegovina anymore, if at all. Serbia for example has an NT WAY ABOVE the level of the local league.

I think nations with top leagues will probably retain their domination on international level, but bar further restrictions toward foreign talents, other European NT's will continue to catch up.

 

[nurko]

I haven't seen any of Bosnia since the WC but people are saying they're not that great anymore. What kind of shape are you in? We will have O'Shea and Walters suspended while Long and Given are likely to miss the game so we're a bit short on players. If we get a draw away we can bring some players back in and hopefully give a great performance at home to pull through.

Bosnia before WC played a lot better than currently, these qualifications were started with bad performances after which Susic was replaced with Bazdarevic. Now it appears that more attention is being paid to tactics but it's a slow progress. We will have Dzeko back to full fitness as well as Besic back from suspension. Ibisevic who was Dzeko's partner is in very poor form but there is Djuric now who scored in two last matches as a sub and is showing a lot of promise, huge aerial threat.

My opinion is that we have a nice team, not world beaters but able to win the hardest matches and lose the easiest ones depending of how well the team is prepared.

 

[InterFCAustin]

Congratulations to the teams and countries that have already qualified or made it to the playoffs. I'm sure for some on this forum, it's the first time they've experienced being this close or actually having qualified for a European Championship, like our big contingent of Albanians. Once again, congratulations.

Having said that, sentiments aside... this will probably be the worst Euro of all time. There is no way any of those teams in Jnr's post, except if Zlatan turns it on for Sweden, will add anything of note wise to the finals. It's a shame Platini decided that quantity is better than quality, and I kind can of see the reasoning behind giving more chances to smaller countries or national teams of worse quality (besides the many votes he'll probably receive in the next election for implementing the new system), but it'll come at the expense of good football.
It's like if we suddenly decided that the CHL needed more teams, and suddenly we'd have a whole lot more BATEs and Brugge's running around - charming, but not exactly beautiful. 24 qualified teams out of 53 countries, a staggering 45% is just too much for any continent to be able to sustain.

There's a reason that the Euros have almost always been tournaments of greater quality than the World Cups, and it's because you had the (pretty much) perfect number of entrants. For instance, 2000 and 2004 were, on the whole, football tournaments that a World Cup will probably never match in quality in my opinion, although it's hard to compare the spectacle; whereas say, Trinidad and Tobago playing against South Korea might not be the granddaddy of football matches, it's at least a clash of cultures, football styles and (without being all anthropological) people, whereas the upcoming playoffs are the equivalent of watching Atalanta - Chievo four times over (if you choose to ignore the history of Sweden - Denmark).

I'm actually ashamed that my own country is still in contention for a spot. We've played Ranieri-like football, and yet we still have a chance at qualifying for the what is supposed to be an elite competition for the best European football countries - instead we'll end up simply making up the numbers, if we do qualify. If we don't one of Norway or Hungary will.
The structure also takes away (almost) any ounce of excitement or suspense during the qualifiers. In our case, we played like shit throughout the whole qualifications, had one, singular convincing match against Serbia, beat them at home, and then beat the mighty Armenia - somehow, that's enough for a wild-card for the Euros. The current system also removes any chance of big teams going out early (ignoring Netherlands, but I'm pretty confident that's a thing that happens once every 1/100 time and will probably not happen again for any other big teams in the foreseeable future).

All in all, I'm not trying to rain on anyone's parade, I'm just pissed that UEFA had to mess up what is almost a guaranteed a great tournament, sacrificing quality for, I guess, some kind of misunderstood solidarity?. Now we'll probably have to wait for the quarterfinals for anything significant to happen.

Rant over.

dont be so bitter. There's still a chance some country in Europe might politically break down and UEFA suspends them,therefore Danmark can get in their place (euro 1992)...seems like that's the only way your MIGHTY Denmark can qualify for anything...what makes you think other countries IN European Union shouldn't have a right to compete with the other better soccer nations? You elitist wannabe.

 

[_OC_]

dont be so bitter. There's still a chance some country in Europe might politically break down and UEFA suspends them,therefore Danmark can get in their place (euro 1992)...seems like that's the only way your MIGHTY Denmark can qualify for anything...what makes you think other countries IN European Union shouldn't have a right to compete with the other better soccer nations? You elitist wannabe.

You are right, that was exactly the point I was making. The fact that I'm bitter over Denmark not qualifying directly was why I literally wrote "I'm actually ashamed that my own country is still in contention for a spot".

Moron.

 

[InterFCAustin]

You are right, that was exactly the point I was making. The fact that I'm bitter over Denmark not qualifying directly was why I literally wrote "I'm actually ashamed that my own country is still in contention for a spot".

Moron.

Then whats the fucking point of writing a rant about how smaller countries shouldn't qualify for Euros cuz the competition would be bad?! What kind of sense does that make you prick? Ok yeah from now on we will only have big soccer countries on euros and we gonna exclude smaller countries and ban them from qualifiers so you can enjoy your euros! It's not 1942 anymore wake up! Oh wait today is back to the future day..go on dream on.
Sure...whatever makes you feel better...ashamed...bitter....writing a rant...different mood for different day
But,hey there's always a chance Danmark can qualify somehow,no worries.

 

[Dylan]

Then whats the fucking point of writing a rant about how smaller countries shouldn't qualify for Euros cuz the competition would be bad?! What kind of sense does that make you prick? Ok yeah from now on we will only have big soccer countries on euros and we gonna exclude smaller countries and ban them from qualifiers so you can enjoy your euros! It's not 1942 anymore wake up! Oh wait today is back to the future day..go on dream on.
Sure...whatever makes you feel better...ashamed...bitter....writing a rant...different mood for different day
But,hey there's always a chance Danmark can qualify somehow,no worries.

You really aren't getting the point at all.

 

[InterFCAustin]

You really aren't getting the point at all.

Aha ok thanks now I do since you say it.

 

[Wings]

love how josigod assumes everything OC posts is because of Denmark not qualifying

 

[InterFCAustin]

love how josigod assumes everything OC posts is because of Denmark not qualifying

well,that's not everything...i also said how he is butt hurt that the competition has gone down now,since the smaller countries get to qualify...he,himself called it a rant. Then tried to mask his anger by saying i didnt get the point...yeah sure..next time i'll try to read his mind.

 

[Dylan]

How's your squad looking, are your players in good form?

Missing O'Shea and Walters for the first leg. Both big misses, especially Walters who is usually our best outlet in away games by winning everything in the air and on the ground. Other than that Hoolahan seems to be in form but he doesn't get picked for away games most of the time. Wilson will probably come in CB to replace O'Shea and he has the great CB characteristics of not being very strong or very quick or very good at anything.

We're probably going to play for the 0-0 in the first leg.

 

[DIN011]

Missing O'Shea and Walters for the first leg. Both big misses, especially Walters who is usually our best outlet in away games by winning everything in the air and on the ground. Other than that Hoolahan seems to be in form but he doesn't get picked for away games most of the time. Wilson will probably come in CB to replace O'Shea and he has the great CB characteristics of not being very strong or very quick or very good at anything.

We're probably going to play for the 0-0 in the first leg.

As far as I know you're still a defensive minded team, how's your offense looking? We usually struggle against teams with quick and skillful players, at least when Besic isn't playing. I can imagine the first leg ending 1–0 with us scoring a late goal. We always look like we're struggling to create anything against defensive teams, and then we score out of nowhere.

Besic missing the first game is a huge loss for us, so hopefully you'll try and settle for a draw. He's by far our best DM. Grahovac looks interesting tho, this is his first call up.


Luckily for us Pjanic is in great form, but he's never really been that good in the NT. I mean, he hasn't been bad, but not as good as he can be. Dzeko scored today too which is good. Beside them we have Visca who's lighting fast and then there's Djuric (from Cesena, scored against Juve last season) who's a great super sub, wins everything in the air.

 

[Dylan]

As far as I know you're still a defensive minded team, how's your offense looking? We usually struggle against teams with quick and skillful players, at least when Besic isn't playing. I can imagine the first leg ending 1–0 with us scoring a late goal. We always look like we're struggling to create anything against defensive teams, and then we score out of nowhere.

Besic missing the first game is a huge loss for us, so hopefully you'll try and settle for a draw. He's by far our best DM. Grahovac looks interesting tho, this is his first call up.


Luckily for us Pjanic is in great form, but he's never really been that good in the NT. I mean, he hasn't been bad, but not as good as he can be. Dzeko scored today too which is good. Beside them we have Visca who's lighting fast and then there's Djuric (from Cesena, scored against Juve last season) who's a great super sub, wins everything in the air.

We're still pretty solid defensively as we were in 2012 but Dunne has retired so we don't have one player who can put in a brilliant defensive performance anymore. Attacking-wise we're a poor team. Usually a long ball to Walters/Long and getting the flick-on works but we don't have the ability to create from the middle. Although Hendrick recently scored a very nice goal for us and he's coming along nicely. If we are to score it will be from a cross/set-piece or Long breaking through to a pass.

Pjanic scoring every fucking freekick he takes might be an issue if we give away sloppy freekicks. I probably wouldn't worry too much about big strikers facing us as we're pretty well equipped.

The manager usually surprises us but I think we'll line up like this:

http://lineupbuilder.com/?sk=9bx73

With Long coming on in the second half after Murphy literally just tries to hassle your defence and generally be physical.

 

[DIN011]

We're still pretty solid defensively as we were in 2012 but Dunne has retired so we don't have one player who can put in a brilliant defensive performance anymore. Attacking-wise we're a poor team. Usually a long ball to Walters/Long and getting the flick-on works but we don't have the ability to create from the middle. Although Hendrick recently scored a very nice goal for us and he's coming along nicely. If we are to score it will be from a cross/set-piece or Long breaking through to a pass.

Pjanic scoring every fucking freekick he takes might be an issue if we give away sloppy freekicks. I probably wouldn't worry too much about big strikers facing us as we're pretty well equipped.

The manager usually surprises us but I think we'll line up like this:

http://lineupbuilder.com/?sk=9bx73

With Long coming on in the second half after Murphy literally just tries to hassle your defence and generally be physical.

Pjanic still hasn't scored a FK for us tho but there's a first for everything. :slick:

We still have Salihovic too who's a great free kick taker as well.


Mcgeady could cause problems if he get's too much time on the ball. But it also depends on which side he'll play imo, if he's on the right wing he'll have one of Zukanovic and Kolasinac (the Schalke player) against him, and they're both really solid in defense. He'd struggle against either one. If he plays on the left wing he'll face Mujdza who's probably our weak link atm, he's in very poor form. Constant injuries have gotten the better of him.

Our defense is still dependent on Spahic, if he has a good day, we have a good day.