In case you havent followed Euro qualification that closely: the World Cup 3rd is likely to miss out on qualification for an even enlarged 24 team Euro 2016. Greece, R16 participant last year, finished dead last behind European powerhouse Faroer Islands. What does this tell us about the quality of World Cups compared to the realitve strenght of Euro? Id like to hear your opinion on this! BTW... this is not the first this happened: Poland 1984 France 1988 Italy 1992 Sweden 1996 (even though Euro expanded from 8 to 16) Croatia 2000 Turkey 2004
It can go both ways, Spain and Italy were the finalists of Euro12 and both went out in the first round of the next World Cup.
They still might squeak it out though. If they win at home vs. Czech Rep, and Turkey loses or draws at Iceland -- both certainly possible -- Holland gets the 3rd place playoff slot in the group, right?
A draw would be enough for Turkey as they have a better head to head record verses the Netherlands, 1-1 away, 3-0 at home.
It tells me that form comes and goes, that injuries happen, that national teams have more turnover than many people think. In other words, pretty much nothing.
Well, you guys are right I think. apart from the fact that Europeans can play each other at a world cup more often like Italy and England or Germany and Portugal and end each others campaign. A tourney is also different cause you can get send home by one or(three games) while qualification is longer almost like a league.
To make this topic more applicable to the FIFA and tournaments section I will say that the Euro qualifiers proves to me that expansion of a tournament is not a bad thing. Many people said expanding the Euro to 24 teams would be bad and would only water down the tournament. As it appears it is doing the exact opposite. It is making a lot of teams play better than expected and inspiring teams to hit above their weight. And consequentially it punishes the teams that underachieve and makes them look even more shameful. I think the same would happen to the World Cup. Many people don't want the World Cup to expand . I think if done properly it could make things more competitive in qualifying and in the actual tournament itself.
I don't see the level of the tournament rising. What I see, is lots more average teams, getting tickets to a tournament that if it wouldn't have had a raise in the numbers of those who will participate in them, they wouldn't have had a chance to be there in the first place. If whatever team happens to under performs at qualifiers, the raise of the numbers of participants, will probably still give them a chance to get tickets, despite how horrible their performance could have been. With lower numbers of participants, they wouldn't have a chance. At the end it is a reward for mediocrity.
It remains to be seen how the actual tournament in France will turn out. But if it is anything like qualifying I will certainly be entertained by it. If those "average" teams you mention turn out to play horribly then I will agree with you. Until then, there is no indication that on a neutral site those "average" teams that qualify will play poorly.
Yeah, you might have something on this, but the truth is that there is no indication, that those qualified teams are at a superior level neither.
For qualifying, I think you're 1005 correct. Middle and low-middle teams have a realistic shot, so they seem to be hitting on all cylinders and are no longer content with merely a "good showing". The downside is that teams at the top of the table find it easier to coast once they build that lead, because spot 2 is guaranteed and even the third spot grants some level of comfort. I'd still like to see a two stage approach to build on the "we can actually do this" mentality. Prelims run prior to WC to cull the field to 6x6. WC qualifiers and next n best teams by FIFA ranking go direct to 2nd qual round. The lower teams can compete on more level terms in the prelim that way. If you make the 6x6, you've got a bit more clear of a path to the tourney proper too. Incentivize reults in the 6x6 by tying the results in qual groups directly to the tourney pot placement. Now finishing 1st, 2nd, or 3rd vs. simply qualifying carries added importance. This would add more excitement to the qualifying round.
Haha. Since you just missed out on the Euro and we missed out on the Confed Cup, maybe we should get our teams and a few others together and hold our own tournament. Could call it the Reject Cup, or the Toilet Cup, or...