MrDuck Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 <yawns> Although, perhaps a better option than all the pointless friendlies? http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/26747394 A "League of Nations" that would be a third major tournament for European countries after the World Cup and European Championship is expected to be given the go-ahead by Uefa on Thursday. Games would be played in odd-numbered years on dates reserved for friendlies, starting after the 2018 World Cup. No exact details have been confirmed, but there would be up to four divisions with promotion and relegation, plus a 'final four' competition in the summer. England would likely be in a top tier. The 54 member associations of European football's governing body will vote on the proposal at its annual congress in Kazakhstan. Uefa general secretary Gianni Infantino has confirmed an agreement to set up the new tournament should be reached on Thursday. He said: "What has triggered what is being called the Nations League is the international calendar and the dates for friendly matches. "We have been looking at optimising the structure of the calendar without bringing in any more dates. "There are teams everyone wants to play against and other teams who struggle to get the opponents they'd ideally like. For all national associations, the fact is that national team matches are key for their development." On rankings, England would be in the top division alongside the likes of Spain, Germany and Italy. Each division would then be divided into groups with the winners qualifying for a semi-final and final, played at neutral venues. Winners of the lower divisions could be granted entry to the European Championship. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - ranked 31, 34 and 39 respectively by Uefa - could find themselves playing each other in the third of four divisions using the current national team coefficient. While matches will be played on dates reserved for friendlies, there will still be flexibility for smaller countries to arrange high-profile fixtures with bigger European teams and for nations to play friendlies against national sides from outside Europe. The Football Association is in favour of the plan, with chairman Greg Dyke saying earlier this month: "The hard thing is the detail but I think a Nations League where we played the top nations would be very attractive." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoony Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 I quite like the idea actually. Better than friendlies like you say. Although ultimately I'd MUCH prefer a football Six Nations but then England would win it every year so kinda pointless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoony Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 So, in summary, I like the idea but the idea I put forward as a 'better' idea I have decried as pointless. I should go into politics or something.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Rovers13 Posted March 26, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted March 26, 2014 Woodrow Wilson endorses this movement. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mantis Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 Woodrow Wilson endorses this movement. I can't believe they're actually calling it that. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isa Posted March 27, 2014 Share Posted March 27, 2014 I hate international friendlies so I would be quite intrigued by the prospect of this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villaajax Posted March 27, 2014 Share Posted March 27, 2014 Apparently this will be the logo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo985 Posted March 27, 2014 VT Supporter Share Posted March 27, 2014 I quite like the idea actually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted March 27, 2014 Share Posted March 27, 2014 yeah as said in England thread it will be better than friendlies and give nations not used to success a chance of a trophy and an incentive to win games. and as Euros is being destroyed by more teams I think this could eventually take over or make the Euros in the summer like an FA Cup for it and just a straight knock out tournament Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo985 Posted March 27, 2014 VT Supporter Share Posted March 27, 2014 Like I was going on abut in one of the other threads, this would allow the smaller footballing nations to have competitive games that they might actually have a chance of winning Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wainy316 Posted March 27, 2014 Share Posted March 27, 2014 I quite like the idea actually. Better than friendlies like you say. Although ultimately I'd MUCH prefer a football Six Nations but then England would win it every year so kinda pointless. Italy and France? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Posted March 27, 2014 VT Supporter Share Posted March 27, 2014 I like the name..... sounds like a group of baddies trying to take over the world! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KHV Posted March 27, 2014 Share Posted March 27, 2014 Couldn't care less. I have zero interest in watching England games, they are shite. As for watching us lose to the top teams in Europe on a regular basis well that hardly adds appeal. I'd prefer it if they ditched international football all together. It ruins the premier league weekends Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
useless Posted March 27, 2014 Share Posted March 27, 2014 Precisely. But let's keep the Word Cup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Czechlad Posted March 27, 2014 Share Posted March 27, 2014 So we'd be considered a 3rd division team at the moment? Stupid fifa rankings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo985 Posted March 27, 2014 VT Supporter Share Posted March 27, 2014 Couldn't care less. I have zero interest in watching England games, they are shite. As for watching us lose to the top teams in Europe on a regular basis well that hardly adds appeal. I'd prefer it if they ditched international football all together. It ruins the premier league weekends I'd much rather see us playing top nations (even if we lost) than crap nations. I think our national team would benefit more from regular competitive games with good teams than playing friendlies with lesser nations The more I hear about this idea the more I like it to be honest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dont_do_it_doug. Posted March 27, 2014 Share Posted March 27, 2014 How are they going to fit all the games in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo985 Posted March 27, 2014 VT Supporter Share Posted March 27, 2014 How are they going to fit all the games in? Play them instead of all the friendlies they have now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dont_do_it_doug. Posted March 27, 2014 Share Posted March 27, 2014 How are they going to fit all the games in? Play them instead of all the friendlies they have now. If there's 54 nation divided by 4 leagues, that's a lot of games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
useless Posted March 27, 2014 Share Posted March 27, 2014 It'll probably just end up being as meaningless as friendlies and owing to oversaturation might have an adverse affect on the World Cup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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