Top 5 Eastern European National Teams (1950-2010)

Discussion in 'Central & Eastern Europe' started by leszek-antonio, Nov 1, 2011.

  1. leszek-antonio

    Mar 16, 2008
    Toronto, Canada
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Nat'l Team:
    Poland
    Here is a ranking of the Top 5 Eastern European National Teams (1950-2010). I tried to use an unbaised ranking system, where each team's performance in the World Cup or Euro Cup had been evaluated fairly. Its difficult to compare a team from another era, however, I have tried this (let me know with how much success). The results were.... interesting :) Yet, some really good East European Teams, such as Czechoslovakia 1976, Soviet Union 1960, etc, had to be left out from the list, becasue they played very few tournament matches (ex: Czechoslovakia 76 "winner", played only two(2) matches, semi-final and final).

    Here is an "interesting" Top 5 list: (with a detailed explanation of the ranking system, below)

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    5. SOVIET UNION 1966 World Cup, (4th Place) --- POINTS: 13

    Key Qualification Matches: 2-1, 1-2 vs Wales

    Round 1: 3-0 vs North Korea, 1-0 vs Italy, 2-1 vs Chile, Q-F: 2-1 vs Hungary, Semi-Final: 1-2 West Germany, Third Place Match: 1-2 vs Portugal

    Total: 4- 0- 2: GF (10)- GA (6)


    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    4. SOVIET UNION 1988 Euro Cup, (2nd Place) --- POINTS: 16

    Key Qualification Matches: 2-0, 1-1 vs France

    Round 1: 1-0 vs Holland, 1-1 vs Rep of Ireland, 3-1 vs England, Semi-Final: 2-0 vs Italy, Final: 0-2 vs Holland

    Total: 3- 1- 1: GF (7)- GA (4)


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    3. CZECH REP 2004 Euro Cup, (3-- 4th Place) --- POINTS: 17

    Key Qualification Matches: 3-1, 1-1 vs Holland

    Round 1: 2-1 vs Latvia, 3-2 vs Holland, 2-1 vs Germany, Q-F: 3-0 Vs Denmark, Semi-Final: 0-1 vs Greece

    Total: 4- 0- 1: GF (10)- GA (5)


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    2. POLAND 1974 World Cup, (3rd Place) --- POINTS: 17


    Key Qualification Matches: 2-0, 1-1 vs England

    Round 1: 3-2 vs Argentina, 7-0 vs Haiti, 2-1 vs Italy, Round 2: 1-0 vs Sweden, 2-1 vs Yugoslavia, 0-1 vs West Germany, Third Place Match: 1-0 vs Brazil

    Total: 6 -0- 1: GF (14)- GA (5)


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    1. HUNGARY 1954 World Cup, (2nd Place) --- POINTS: 20

    Key Qualification Matches: None

    Round 1: 9-0 vs South Korea, 8-3 vs West Germany, Q-F: 4-2 vs Brazil, Semi-Final: 4-2 vs Uruguay, Final: 2-3 vs West Germany

    Total: 4 -0- 1 : GF (27)- GA (10)

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    Surprisingly, the strong Czechoslovakia 62 team (2nd place in World Cup) did not make the Top 5 list. Maybe it had something to do with them losing two games at that WC (1-3 vs average Mexico and 1-3 vs Brazil), by a large (2 goal) margin. Also, not included; the 1960 Soviet Union team (Winners Euro) and the 1976 Czechoslovakia team (Winners Euro). As stated these two teams didn't make the ranking becasue they only played two(2) games per tournament.... (semi-final and final) It wouldn't be fair to rank them with the others... I think...

    Teams such as Croatia 98, Bulgaria 94, Russia 08, Romania 94, Yugoslavia 68, Poland 82 and Czech Rep 96 didn't get more than 10 points each.....therefore, beyond TOP 5. Here is how I calculated the ranking:

    GENERAL POINTS

    + 4 points for a victory against any TOP LEVEL TEAM from that era. A TOP LEVEL team was a team that had WON the World Cup or Euro Cup (prior, the year of the tournament, or in the next 2 years). Bonus of +2 points, if the win (against top level team) is 2 or more goals.

    + 3 points (instead of 4 points) for a victory against a GOOD LEVEL TEAM from that era. A GOOD Level team was a team that had finished 2nd in the World Cup or Euro Cup (prior, the year of the tournament, or in the next 2 years) Bonus of + 1 points, if the win (against good level team) is 2 or more goals.

    +2 points (instead of 4 points) for any penalty kick victory against any TOP LEVEL TEAM from that era.

    +2 points (instead of 4 points) for a qualification victory (World Cup or Euro Cup) against any TOP LEVEL or GOOD LEVEL TEAM from that era. Bonus of + 1 point, if the win (against top level or good levell team) is 2 or more goals.

    + 2 points (instead of 4 points) for a victory in a third place-match against a TOP LEVEL team. Bonus of +1 point, if the win is 2 or more goals.

    +2 points if the victory (against any team in World Cup or Euro Cup) is 5 or more goals.

    +2 points for a tie against any TOP LEVEL TEAM

    - 3 points , if losing a match by 2 goals or more (any team, WC or EC)

    CONTEXT POINTS (To be sure the team wasn't a "one tournament" hit)

    + 6 points if the team achieved success at (the next or previous) Euro Cup (2 years ago/forward). Success is, victory in Euro Cup or 2nd Place.

    + 8 points if the team achieved success at (the next or previous) World Cup (2 years/ago/forward). Success is, victory in World Cup or 2nd Place.


    LET ME KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE TO BETTER RATE GREAT TEAMS FROM OTHER TIMES....:)
     
  2. TheEuroStick

    TheEuroStick Member+

    Aug 8, 2011
    Club:
    FC Bayern München
    Nat'l Team:
    Bosnia-Herzegovina
    if anything yugoslAVIA IS #1
     

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