triggs Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 If England played any of the following in a World cup/Euros knockout game, I would expect the other team to come through, whether on penalties or in normal time: Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Holland, Brazil, Argentina, Chile. Then there are the likes of Croatia, Mexico, Belgium, Colombia, Chile, Uruguay, Portugal which the game could go either way and then I'd expect England to beat pretty much everyone else And you would be disappointed. You wouldn't think we wouldn't beat USA (was it?), struggle against Algeria & Costa Rica. But the proof is in the pudding. Competition game against Greece, Ivory Coast or another S. American side with a good team at the moment and I wouldn't be confident. Chile, Colombia, Belgium are comfortably better than us man. As teams and individuals. Pretty sure we've faced Portugal in 3 or 4 times in major cup competitions in the last 15 years. They've beat us every single time. I said Chile were better than you, I watched Colombia in the Copa and they looked s*** in the main, although they do have a good side. I don't really rate Belgium You mentioned Chile twice. We haven't beaten a side in competition football as good as Belgium or Colombia since... Argentina in 2002 and they didn't even make it out the group. Be interested to see the teams we've beaten, drawn and lost in 30 years of comp. Sorry just noticed that now Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeloEmre Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 Ryan Shawcross out for 2 months. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Segun Oluwaniyi Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 Albania 22nd in the FIFA rankings, France 23rd. Mike Ashley will love only having to buy from the Albanian League now. I have been yelling about this for ages, and every time I mention it people think I am crazy or justify the ranking because it is mathematical. It is simple, Romania and Wales haven't qualified for the last two major tournaments and are ranked among the top ten team in the entire world on the back of a few recent good results in qualifiers that are amplified by the artificially high rankings of European teams. Romania are especially ridiculous. Their biggest competitive accomplishment over the past four years is beating Turkey and Greece in qualifiers, yet they are 7th. Such a ranking shouldn't be used to seed World Cup or determine work permit situations. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaizero Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 Albania 22nd in the FIFA rankings, France 23rd. Mike Ashley will love only having to buy from the Albanian League now. I have been yelling about this for ages, and every time I mention it people think I am crazy or justify the ranking because it is mathematical. It is simple, Romania and Wales haven't qualified for the last two major tournaments and are ranked among the top ten team in the entire world on the back of a few recent good results in qualifiers that are amplified by the artificially high rankings of European teams. Romania are especially ridiculous. Their biggest competitive accomplishment over the past four years is beating Turkey and Greece in qualifiers, yet they are 7th. Such a ranking shouldn't be used to seed World Cup or determine work permit situations. That's why though. The rankings are basically a form guide rewarding nations for winning matches, not for qualifying for things. Don't see much wrong with it whatsoever. CONEMBOL is worth more than UEFA fwiw. The other federations have a lot of shitty nations so a smaller value is needed to make the rankings somewhat fairer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deuce Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 Don't think I could name a single player for Albania. Hamdi Salihi still playing? Played one uninspiring season in MLS a few years ago. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeyt Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 Lorik Cana Couldn't name another Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Segun Oluwaniyi Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 Nah, I understand that, I just believe that is a foolish system given the things the rankings are used for...i.e. comparing teams in tournament/qualification draws. It is fine as a form guide, but in international football, tournaments are the beginning and end of everything and need to be weighted more heavily. The rankings are based on a four year window and if you fail to qualify for both of your major tournaments in that period, it should be very detrimental to your ranking. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mole_Toonfan Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 Lorik Cana Couldn't name another Aye that's all i can think of as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 Even after looking at the squad I'd not be able to name another Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
triggs Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 None of the best players that qualify to play for Albania actually play for Albania Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeyt Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 Think Gateshead had an Albanian last season Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nattfare Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 Dr. Alban Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fugazi Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 Albanians are big in Manchester, so I hear. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrenBartonCentrePartin Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 Never buy programmes but I must admit I like the approach this season. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paully Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 Jack Wilkshere loves an injury! October 2009 - Ankle (out for five weeks) January 2010 - Hamstring (five weeks) November 2010 - Back (two weeks) August 2011 - Ankle (14 months) February 2013 - Hip (one week) March 2013 - Ankle (four weeks) May 2013 - Ankle surgery (seven weeks) October 2013 - Ankle (two weeks) January 2014 - Ankle (two weeks) March 2014 - Ankle (two months) October 2014 - Ankle (two weeks) November 2014 - Ankle (five months) August 2015 - Fibula ('few weeks') Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deuce Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 None of the best players that qualify to play for Albania actually play for Albania Such as? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeyt Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 Januzaj, Shaquiri, Xhaka. Probably some others Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deuce Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 Januzaj, Shaquiri, Xhaka. Probably some others Ah yeah, that's fair. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
triggs Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 None of the best players that qualify to play for Albania actually play for Albania Such as? Shaqiri, Xhaka, Dzemaili, Behrami, Mehmedi(all Switzerland), Mustafi(Germany), Januzaj(Belgium), also a few Greeks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeyt Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 Jonjo Shelvey too EDIT: sorry albino not albania Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deuce Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 None of the best players that qualify to play for Albania actually play for Albania Such as? Shaqiri, Xhaka, Dzemaili, Behrami, Mehmedi(all Switzerland), Mustafi(Germany), Januzaj(Belgium), also a few Greeks How many of those players would've realistically chosen to play for Albania anyway? Don't think any were born or raised in the country itself (and all are good enough to play for better national teams). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
triggs Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 Most of them were born in Kosovo to Albanian parents and then emigrated. I don't really know much about that part of the world so couldn't tell you what the chances of them playing for Albania were Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxfree Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 https://instagram.com/p/6DgfnnljkQ/?taken-by=bidido39 Our favourite Frenchies enjoying some mojito and celebrating Abeid. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foluwashola Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 Don't watch SSN much these days but had it on before and they were comparing Jordan Rhodes & Dwight Gayle's Football Manager stats. Is this a thing now? Presenter looked like he wanted to top himself. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nemtizz Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 https://instagram.com/p/6DgfnnljkQ/?taken-by=bidido39 Our favourite Frenchies enjoying some mojito and celebrating Abeid. Who's the guy in the middle? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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