Disco Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Brazil, Argentina, Germany & Italy are your core teams who've always been there/thereabouts then the rest IMO. Holland too. They've only won a couple European Cups. But they must have been in atleast 6 semi-finals/finals. Netherlands have not appeared at 10 of the World Cups. Compare that with Argentina (4), Brazil (0), Italy (2) and Germany (2). If anyone is too join that list of 4 it'd be Spain having won both major tournaments and only missed 6 WCs, did miss a few Euros though back in the day. Your criteria is flawed. I believe Finals & Semi appearances should count for a lot more than simply turning up. Holland have been in the semi's/finals of major tournaments 9 times compared to Spain's 3. Spain would be slightly ahead of Holland because they've won the big things twice but still... generally as a football nation the Dutch have been superior. Spain have had 1 great side (one of the best ever) and one good one in their entire history. France have a greater football record than Spain by a long way too. I think you're coming at it from a different angle too me. I'm using my own definition as stated in the initial post and to me the Dutch haven't always been "there/thereabouts" hence why I'm not including them and favouring Spain over them & France. All about being consistant and that, not really arguing who's the more successful. aye, didn't enter or qualify between 1938 and 1974. Read 'Brilliant Orange' last summer, its all explained in there. Dutch football was up the shitter during that time. Aye, fancy reading that. Read that one about Brasil by Alex Bellos that was pretty good. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The College Dropout Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Brazil, Argentina, Germany & Italy are your core teams who've always been there/thereabouts then the rest IMO. Holland too. They've only won a couple European Cups. But they must have been in atleast 6 semi-finals/finals. Netherlands have not appeared at 10 of the World Cups. Compare that with Argentina (4), Brazil (0), Italy (2) and Germany (2). If anyone is too join that list of 4 it'd be Spain having won both major tournaments and only missed 6 WCs, did miss a few Euros though back in the day. Your criteria is flawed. I believe Finals & Semi appearances should count for a lot more than simply turning up. Holland have been in the semi's/finals of major tournaments 9 times compared to Spain's 3. Spain would be slightly ahead of Holland because they've won the big things twice but still... generally as a football nation the Dutch have been superior. Spain have had 1 great side (one of the best ever) and one good one in their entire history. France have a greater football record than Spain by a long way too. I think you're coming at it from a different angle too me. I'm using my own definition as stated in the initial post and to me the Dutch haven't always been "there/thereabouts" hence why I'm not including them and favouring Spain over them & France. All about being consistant and that, not really arguing who's the more successful. aye, didn't enter or qualify between 1938 and 1974. Read 'Brilliant Orange' last summer, its all explained in there. Dutch football was up the shitter during that time. Aye, fancy reading that. Read that one about Brasil by Alex Bellos that was pretty good. "There or thereabouts" means "they have a realistic chance of winning it" right? Only one and a half Spanish generations can make that claim in my books. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Brazil, Argentina, Germany & Italy are your core teams who've always been there/thereabouts then the rest IMO. Holland too. They've only won a couple European Cups. But they must have been in atleast 6 semi-finals/finals. Netherlands have not appeared at 10 of the World Cups. Compare that with Argentina (4), Brazil (0), Italy (2) and Germany (2). If anyone is too join that list of 4 it'd be Spain having won both major tournaments and only missed 6 WCs, did miss a few Euros though back in the day. Your criteria is flawed. I believe Finals & Semi appearances should count for a lot more than simply turning up. Holland have been in the semi's/finals of major tournaments 9 times compared to Spain's 3. Spain would be slightly ahead of Holland because they've won the big things twice but still... generally as a football nation the Dutch have been superior. Spain have had 1 great side (one of the best ever) and one good one in their entire history. France have a greater football record than Spain by a long way too. I think you're coming at it from a different angle too me. I'm using my own definition as stated in the initial post and to me the Dutch haven't always been "there/thereabouts" hence why I'm not including them and favouring Spain over them & France. All about being consistant and that, not really arguing who's the more successful. aye, didn't enter or qualify between 1938 and 1974. Read 'Brilliant Orange' last summer, its all explained in there. Dutch football was up the shitter during that time. Aye, fancy reading that. Read that one about Brasil by Alex Bellos that was pretty good. "There or thereabouts" means "they have a realistic chance of winning it" right? Only one and a half Spanish generations can make that claim in my books. Well you have to be 'there' to have a chance of winning it for starters and I think you could argue that Spain and others would have fancied themselves to do better in a fair few of the tournaments hence the perennial darkhorse tag they used to have. As I said though Arg, Bra, Ger and Ita are miles ahead of everyone else IMO. Then probably Spain, France and Netherlands followed by England, Uruguay and a few others. Anyhoo to steer this thread back on topic I hope Spain show a bit more incision against France ce soir. Be interesting to see France try and play deep and contain, don't see them as that sort of team at all. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The College Dropout Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Brazil, Argentina, Germany & Italy are your core teams who've always been there/thereabouts then the rest IMO. Holland too. They've only won a couple European Cups. But they must have been in atleast 6 semi-finals/finals. Netherlands have not appeared at 10 of the World Cups. Compare that with Argentina (4), Brazil (0), Italy (2) and Germany (2). If anyone is too join that list of 4 it'd be Spain having won both major tournaments and only missed 6 WCs, did miss a few Euros though back in the day. Your criteria is flawed. I believe Finals & Semi appearances should count for a lot more than simply turning up. Holland have been in the semi's/finals of major tournaments 9 times compared to Spain's 3. Spain would be slightly ahead of Holland because they've won the big things twice but still... generally as a football nation the Dutch have been superior. Spain have had 1 great side (one of the best ever) and one good one in their entire history. France have a greater football record than Spain by a long way too. I think you're coming at it from a different angle too me. I'm using my own definition as stated in the initial post and to me the Dutch haven't always been "there/thereabouts" hence why I'm not including them and favouring Spain over them & France. All about being consistant and that, not really arguing who's the more successful. aye, didn't enter or qualify between 1938 and 1974. Read 'Brilliant Orange' last summer, its all explained in there. Dutch football was up the shitter during that time. Aye, fancy reading that. Read that one about Brasil by Alex Bellos that was pretty good. "There or thereabouts" means "they have a realistic chance of winning it" right? Only one and a half Spanish generations can make that claim in my books. Well you have to be 'there' to have a chance of winning it for starters and I think you could argue that Spain and others would have fancied themselves to do better in a fair few of the tournaments hence the perennial darkhorse tag they used to have. As I said though Arg, Bra, Ger and Ita are miles ahead of everyone else IMO. Then probably Spain, France and Netherlands followed by England, Uruguay and a few others. Have England been there or thereabouts post '96? We've only missed one tournament. I'd say no. Or Spurs in terms of the Premiership? IMO both have pretty much made up the numbers in terms of there or thereabouts. Despite missing a good few tournaments i'd have France comfortably ahead of Spain as well. Won more trophies, more finals & semi-finals. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Village Idiot Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 We have had great sides crashing badly. The team that had Hierro-Guardiola-Raúl as the backbone *should* have done way more than it did, for example. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The College Dropout Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Uruguay have got to be a long way ahead of England too. England don't deserve to be mentioned in the pantheons of great historic national sides. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The College Dropout Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 We have had great sides crashing badly. The team that had Hierro-Guardiola-Raúl as the backbone *should* have done way more than it did, for example. Aye but as you say, they didn't get anywhere near in the end. Which to me doesn't equate to a great side. Like the English Golden Generation, talented bunch but that's it. Fortunately for you, they where followed by one of the greatest generations football has ever seen. Something tells me Henderson & co. won't do it for us. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ketsbaia Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Any team news for tonight yet? I wonder if Del Bosque plans on pulling a Jogi on us. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEMTEX Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Sounds like Blanc is gonna fiddle with shit and parc le bus. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Hope this lives up to the quality of players on show. Just think France will be defensive and Spain will find it hard to break them down. Early Spain goal would be good, I guess. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skirge Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 I think France will nick this at the death. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beren Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Hope this lives up to the quality of players on show. Just think France will be defensive and Spain will find it hard to break them down. Early France goal on the break would be good, I guess. FYP. Stop Spain from pissing about - although balanced against conceding a second goal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Not sure France are disciplined enough to 'sit in'. Shitter seems to be suggesting Nasri will be AXED and Revelliere might also play. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ameritoon Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Wouldn't think so, it's hard to imagine a team with individual talent going forward like they have sitting back. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Not sure France are disciplined enough to 'sit in'. Shitter seems to be suggesting Nasri will be AXED and Revelliere might also play. In terms of not playing, I wonder where "axed" stands in relation to getting "hauled off". Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 I think Frabce will nick this at the death. Hopefully the guilty party will at least get booked. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mole_Toonfan Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Not sure France are disciplined enough to 'sit in'. Shitter seems to be suggesting Nasri will be AXED and Revelliere might also play. You dont really need to sit in, i would'nt call what Italy did " sitting in " also i agree they are not disciplined enough with the line up against Sweden but if they go with something like this..... i feel they would be disciplined and potent enough to do the job. Lloris Debuchy Rami Koscielny Revelliere Diarra Cabaye M'Vila Menez Benzema Ribery Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Apparently Debuchy is starting on the right of a midfield 4. EDIT: Might actually be a midfield 5. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEMTEX Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 What I read on twitta: Lloris Clichy Rami Koscielny Revelliere Debuchy Cabaye M'Vila Malouda Benzema Ribery Cba to put them proper positions/sides Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEMTEX Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 It's a horrid lineup compared to what they could have. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderson Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 What I read on twitta: Lloris Clichy Rami Koscielny Revelliere Debuchy Cabaye M'Vila Malouda Benzema Ribery Cba to put them proper positions/sides Malouda () LW and Ribery off of Benzema I'd imagine. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mole_Toonfan Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Apparently Debuchy is starting on the right of a midfield 4. Oh so that's why Revelliere is coming in then... interesting choice from Blanc if so i wonder who will else will form this midfield 4 and how the rest of the team lines up. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponsaelius Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Looks like containment attempt. Bad craic considering the quality of players they have. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ameritoon Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Blanc pretty much said he would be doing this, disappointing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JS Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 I think this is gonna be France's like. Spain topped a not so difficult group a weakened Italy (when compared with previous years) and an alright Croatia side. Ireland were a joke like. In my 'John Humble' Spain's style of football is being somewhat found out in a sense that it can be countered and without Villa and Puyol don't look half as good this time around. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now