The football season is not yet over, especially for those lucky enough to be getting called up by their country. We’ve got European Championship Qualifiers happening this week. A set of games were played last night, with further fixtures to follow over the weekend.
This is the first tournament in the expanded format, which means that smaller countries have a much better shout of making the finals. Backing that final point up one bit, Southampton alumni Gareth Bale fired Wales to a 1-0 victory over Belgium last night. They lead their group, with four games to go.
Scotland and Republic of Ireland face off against each other today. A win could put Scotland top of the group, if other results go their way, but given that the other result is Gibraltar vs Germany , I think they’ll settle for second.
Northern Ireland are in a stronger position to qualify than Scotland or their Southern neighbours. They sit 2nd in their group, four points clear of the 3rd placed team.
Any interest in these qualifiers? Personally, I’d love to see a few of the “home nation” teams qualify.
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Ah the Euros. I assume Greece will be knocked out pretty soon.
Down here we have a zillion different Satellite providers, some legit, some you can get free to air (if you like watching Egyptian soap operas or Decapitation of the Day on the IS network).
But we have 3 operators of Sports. OSN who have the Darts, Golf, Aussie Eggchasing (both types) and the not so Super League, then we have an extra pay channel for cricket and an extra extra one for half of the cricket we want to see.
Then we have a subscription service for BeIn Sports who have the Egg Chasing, Athletics, Tennis (apart from Wombledon) F1 and all the proper soccer. The down side is we have all your bloody cast-offs presenting it - Keys Gray then the likes of Shearer, Hoddle et al.
THEN we have Abu Dhabi Sports who somehow have convinced UEFA that they have an audience (somehow I have this image of Twitchy being their agent and brown paper bags, but then Dogs are Haram so Rosie would be no use to him.)
Anyways, that means that on top of the THOUSAND POUNDS a year to watch OSN, NINE HUNDRED & SIXTY POUNDS a year to watch BeIn Sports and footy WITH ARABIC COMMENTARY FFS, the Abu Dhabi crew just popped up and asked us to pay THREE HUNDRED POUNDS to watch the Euro Qualifiers.
So luckily, seeing as we all know that Wales will blow it in the last second of their last match, Scotland & Ireland will stupidly draw and blow their chances, and England will turn up and be dreadful, I’m in the can’t even be arsed to watch it online crew.
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Yeah I’m with you Pap. I always want as many of the home nations to qualify for tournaments as possible. Particularly Wales.
Went on holiday to Wales as a kid and liked it. Always liked Wales since #coolstory
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Originally posted by @KRG
Yeah I’m with you Pap. I always want as many of the home nations to qualify for tournaments as possible. Particularly Wales. Went on holiday to Wales as a kid and liked it. Always liked Wales since #coolstory
Wales is top. The Welsh are top. I particularly like the Southern Welsh (Swansea, Cardiff, etc) as they’ve got super-strong Welsh accents, but no fucking idea of how to speak the language.
I know that the home nations don’t exactly root for us, but then I look at some of the comments directed their way, and I see why.
Yeah but Pap, the southern coast of Wales is pretty meh (apart from Dr Who’s beach) I mean Cardiff is not a nice place if you’re out and about before 10am in the morning - the streets being so full of Vomit and whatever.
Proper Wales is like from Aberdhabiwriststrewth and northwards surely? (Apart from that bit where they are almost Scousers of course). I’m well happy to cheer on the Bllaunauea Faustinnyogs and the Dollgellos, but eek, apart from the old passport office & The9 from the other side (oh and Celtic Manor) and the nice pub in a Valley we stayed in on the way to the FA Cup Final in 2003 the whole of the south is just a perverts paradise, hell they even leave welly boots at the entrance to every field ffs. Apparently got a grant for Social Clubs or something.
Like to see the Welsh get to a “Big One” - but they won’t. It’s a shame because even now the pain one can impart into the face of a Jock by mentioning Iran, Allie’s Army and France '98.
But it would be bloody good to see Steve Davis at the Euros that’s f’sure
Well, it’s funny that you refer to the Liverpudlian contingent of Wales. Whatever migration the Welsh sent our way, the scousers have more than met in return.
I have provided a map if it helps.
Sort of lost interest in the England national team and you know we’ll walk that qualifying group so that part of the tournament’s very ‘meh’. As such I’m deriving far more pleasure from the other home nations’ attempts. What odds they all sneak in? Looks like Republic of Ireland will have the toughest time, unless they stuff Scotland.
Sounds like Wales put in a campaign-defining performance last night. Gareth Bale needs to sort that bloody hair out though.
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Shane Long only on the bench for ROI and whilst its better than last week’s snorefest, I find myself channel hopping. Jose is also a sub for Ronaldoland, who are amusingly losing 1-0 in Armenia.
I’ve had an entire lifetime of being dissappointe by England. I just can’t follow us an more. I know that makes me a fair weather supporter, but it’s just a fact.
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So just become the forum Soccer Guy. Become a plastic yank. At least THEY are exciting and get good results against big teams
Shane’s on. Come on you can beat this shit.
Oi! Hodgson! Phil Jones is not a better right back than Nat Clyne! I don’t care if he’s taller, and Man Utd. That is no excuse.
Jones and Gibbs at full back. What an absolutely awful team selection.
FFS if Liverpool do get offered £40m for Sterling they should bite Citeh’s hand off…
If Gibbs was ever fit enough to play 10 games in a row, he’d develop into a pretty decent player IMO. Same as Wilshere, really.
Andy Townsend really is a bellend. Why do England’s forwards need a breather? They’ve done fuck all for 35 minutes.
1-0…See what happens when I listen I feel like asI posted above? LOL
