villaajax Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 Why do we always get the group of death? It's not really though, is it? People have to decide what the "group of death" is in every tournament for some bizarre reason, even when there isnt necessarily a group of death. Germany & Holland should qualify from Group B comfortably. I dont think anybody is particularly scared of Denmark, and while Portugal probably have the best individual player in the competition, they struggled to qualify for the tournament from a fairly weak qualification group which included Denmark. Portugal are a shadow of the side which did so well from 2000-2006 as most of their best players have retired, they have an artificially high FIFA ranking and unless Ronaldo does something extraordinary they will be found out this summer. Yes, we should qualify easily from the group, you'd expect it to be us vs Germany playing for first place but I believe Denmark are better than people give them credit for and Portugal are a bit of a bogey team for us, we've only beaten them once. We'll see Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRS-T Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 Why do we always get the group of death? It's not really though, is it? People have to decide what the "group of death" is in every tournament for some bizarre reason, even when there isnt necessarily a group of death. Germany & Holland should qualify from Group B comfortably. I dont think anybody is particularly scared of Denmark, and while Portugal probably have the best individual player in the competition, they struggled to qualify for the tournament from a fairly weak qualification group which included Denmark. Portugal are a shadow of the side which did so well from 2000-2006 as most of their best players have retired, they have an artificially high FIFA ranking and unless Ronaldo does something extraordinary they will be found out this summer. 3 big teams in one group = Group of Death Germany, Holland and Portugal are all big teams/heavyweight nations Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted June 4, 2012 Share Posted June 4, 2012 3 big teams in one group = Group of Death Germany, Holland and Portugal are all big teams/heavyweight nations Denmark are no mugs and except Germany last team in this group to win a trophy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRS-T Posted June 4, 2012 Share Posted June 4, 2012 The Big 9 - England, France & Italy, Germany & Holland, Spain & Portugal, Argentina & Brazil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rev Posted June 4, 2012 Share Posted June 4, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo985 Posted June 4, 2012 VT Supporter Share Posted June 4, 2012 Everytime I watch Portugal play, Ronaldo appears to be as much of a hindrance as he is an asset. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanishVillan Posted June 4, 2012 Share Posted June 4, 2012 The Big 9 - England, France & Italy, Germany & Holland, Spain & Portugal, Argentina & Brazil If you include Uruguay, it will be a little more truthful and become the much cooler Big 10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRS-T Posted June 4, 2012 Share Posted June 4, 2012 Fair enough with Uruguay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rev Posted June 4, 2012 Share Posted June 4, 2012 You cant though. "The big nine" is such a ubiquitous term that changing it now would just be weird. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted June 4, 2012 Share Posted June 4, 2012 Dont get why Portugal or England be included as top teams. Portugal have never won anything and only came close in 2004 while England have never performed away from home in tournaments except in 1990 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rev Posted June 4, 2012 Share Posted June 4, 2012 England are always going to be one of the "big" nations for a few reasons. Firstly, we invented the **** game so there is a historical link which cannot be denied. We currently have the biggest and richest league in the world (though that could change overnight, just look at Serie A in the 1990s and Serie A today) and England/the UK is one of the biggest markets in the world for all forms of football. That doesnt mean we have a good team, because quite frankly we dont and havent had for quite some time. We just have a bunch of players who earn a lot of money because they were lucky enough to be born at a time and in a place where they had the opportunity to do so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRS-T Posted June 4, 2012 Share Posted June 4, 2012 Always ranked in the Top 10 nations of the world. Always top seeds in qualification. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted June 4, 2012 Share Posted June 4, 2012 Always ranked in the Top 10 nations of the world. Always top seeds in qualification. so are Mexico Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted June 4, 2012 Share Posted June 4, 2012 England are always going to be one of the "big" nations for a few reasons. Firstly, we invented the **** game so there is a historical link which cannot be denied. We currently have the biggest and richest league in the world (though that could change overnight, just look at Serie A in the 1990s and Serie A today) and England/the UK is one of the biggest markets in the world for all forms of football. That doesnt mean we have a good team, because quite frankly we dont and havent had for quite some time. We just have a bunch of players who earn a lot of money because they were lucky enough to be born at a time and in a place where they had the opportunity to do so. Wouldnt disagree about England being a major football nation but as an international team they arent really near the top rung. Countries like Greece, Turkey, South Korea, Sweden, Croatia and Czech Republic have all got further in intenational competition in last 20 years than England Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coda Posted June 4, 2012 Share Posted June 4, 2012 England are always going to be one of the "big" nations for a few reasons. Firstly, we invented the **** game so there is a historical link which cannot be denied. We currently have the biggest and richest league in the world (though that could change overnight, just look at Serie A in the 1990s and Serie A today) and England/the UK is one of the biggest markets in the world for all forms of football. That doesnt mean we have a good team, because quite frankly we dont and havent had for quite some time. We just have a bunch of players who earn a lot of money because they were lucky enough to be born at a time and in a place where they had the opportunity to do so.Agree with all of this. I don't think England fans are under any illusions about the quality of our team but football is business and England are big business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRS-T Posted June 4, 2012 Share Posted June 4, 2012 England are always going to be one of the "big" nations for a few reasons. Firstly, we invented the **** game so there is a historical link which cannot be denied. We currently have the biggest and richest league in the world (though that could change overnight, just look at Serie A in the 1990s and Serie A today) and England/the UK is one of the biggest markets in the world for all forms of football. That doesnt mean we have a good team, because quite frankly we dont and havent had for quite some time. We just have a bunch of players who earn a lot of money because they were lucky enough to be born at a time and in a place where they had the opportunity to do so. Wouldnt disagree about England being a major football nation but as an international team they arent really near the top rung. Countries like Greece, Turkey, South Korea, Sweden, Croatia and Czech Republic have all got further in intenational competition in last 20 years than England We are like the Arsenal of international football. We are in the Top 4 but we never challenge for the title. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted June 4, 2012 Share Posted June 4, 2012 We are like the Arsenal of international football. We are in the Top 4 but we never challenge for the title. ???????? top 4 would indicate you are a regular international tournament semi-finalist Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Voinjama Posted June 4, 2012 Share Posted June 4, 2012 England are always going to be one of the "big" nations for a few reasons. Firstly, we invented the **** game so there is a historical link which cannot be denied. We currently have the biggest and richest league in the world (though that could change overnight, just look at Serie A in the 1990s and Serie A today) and England/the UK is one of the biggest markets in the world for all forms of football. That doesnt mean we have a good team, because quite frankly we dont and havent had for quite some time. We just have a bunch of players who earn a lot of money because they were lucky enough to be born at a time and in a place where they had the opportunity to do so. Wouldnt disagree about England being a major football nation but as an international team they arent really near the top rung. Countries like Greece, Turkey, South Korea, Sweden, Croatia and Czech Republic have all got further in intenational competition in last 20 years than England euro 96 semi finals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRS-T Posted June 4, 2012 Share Posted June 4, 2012 We are like the Arsenal of international football. We are in the Top 4 but we never challenge for the title. ???????? top 4 would indicate you are a regular international tournament semi-finalist Top 4 in 20 team Premier League = Top 6 in 32 team World Cup = Quarter-finals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papillon Posted June 4, 2012 Share Posted June 4, 2012 England is not the Arsenal of International football. Not by a mile! It is more like Everton or dear I say Aston Villa. Not even close to being a favourite anymore, too far behind the best teams. But an occasional semi-final here and there can be achieved. The group this year is tough. France have lots of talent and seem a bit tighter compared to recent years, Ukraine will double their effort at home and Sweden have a solid team - as well as a very clever manager. Zlatan is in form and Rooney is not even playing. I can see England fall out of this group in last place, but they can also qualify for the next round. Think all these games will have very few goals between them, you know, at least on paper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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