World Cup Qualifiers | October 2017 | Play off draw on Tuesday

Other than ake and robben this lot have been rubbish. Might as well put robben in the middle if none of the midfielders can get him the ball.
 
Off topic I know but that Euro 2000 is easily the best international tournament I've veer witnessed. I was living in France at the time, that Zidane goal in the semi against Portugal, people went crazy. Then the Wiltord equalizer in the final and the Trezegoal winner...:drool:

The quality of players on show was incredible. All-time legends on so many squads, all over the pitch.
It’s my favorite ever tournament too, also Spain v Yugoslavia is one if the best games I have ever seen
 
Frankie De Boer missing TWO penalties, Stam with his 10 km run up that could only mean ball on saturn's first moon, and that complete rando who looked like you just picked him up outside the stadium 10 minutes before kick off 'coz you were short a guy missing the final penalty

Didn't we also play with 10 man from like the beginning of the game? Twas a classic italy performance: everybody behind the ball, defend and hope for penalties :lol:

Toldo became a national hero right until the 90th minute of the final :(:mad:
Yes Toldo saved a penalty during the 90, Holland did everything but score. Crazy, crazy game.
 
Off topic I know but that Euro 2000 is easily the best international tournament I've veer witnessed. I was living in France at the time, that Zidane goal in the semi against Portugal, people went crazy. Then the Wiltord equalizer in the final and the Trezegoal winner...:drool:

The quality of players on show was incredible. All-time legends on so many squads, all over the pitch.

Was having this discussion with a friend of mine the other day about how many footballing legends were at those tournaments between 2000 and 2006 compared to now.

Italy had Totti, Maldini, Buffon, Inzaghi, Nesta, Del Piero, Cannavaro, Pirlo and Gattuso.

England had Rooney, Beckham, Scholes, Terry, Ferdinand, Neville, Cole, Gerrard, Lampard and Owen.

Brazil had Cafu, Carlos, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Kaka, Juninho, Lucio

France had Henry, Thuram, Trezeguet, Zidane, Ribéry.

I don’t think any national team comes close in terms of star power to those sides and I was too lazy to list all the greats from Holland (already covered earlier in the thread), Portugal etc.

International football has declined massively in the last ten years.
 
Was having this discussion with a friend of mine the other day about how many footballing legends were at those tournaments between 2000 and 2006 compared to now.

Italy had Totti, Maldini, Buffon, Inzaghi, Nesta, Del Piero, Cannavaro, Pirlo and Gattuso.

England had Rooney, Beckham, Scholes, Terry, Ferdinand, Neville, Cole, Gerrard, Lampard and Owen.

Brazil had Cafu, Carlos, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Kaka, Juninho, Lucio

France had Henry, Thuram, Trezeguet, Zidane, Ribéry.

I don’t think any national team comes close in terms of star power to those sides and I was too lazy to list all the greats from Holland (already covered earlier in the thread), Portugal etc.

International football has declined massively in the last ten years.

The current France side is going to look extraordinary when people look back on it.
 
I spent that entire game utterly petrified by Zidane. You even looked like the better team, only, every time Zidane touched the ball it looked like france was about to score

I was in the Uni on those days and i remember that game clearly. I was devastated in the end but proud. We had been shite since 84 where we also lost in the semi's to France. It was the beginning of a very good era for us in terms of qualifying and going far on tournaments. All the France heartbreakers compensated by winning the Euro at their place. It was kinda worth it :p
 
Poor game from Ronaldo today. If he was in form Portugal might have won with a bigger result.
 
Quite incredible that the Netherlands will miss their 2nd tournament in a row. Dark times.
 
4-0 Lukaku

Belgium equals Germany for the world record on goals scored in qualifiers. For what it's worth :lol:
 
Was having this discussion with a friend of mine the other day about how many footballing legends were at those tournaments between 2000 and 2006 compared to now.

Italy had Totti, Maldini, Buffon, Inzaghi, Nesta, Del Piero, Cannavaro, Pirlo and Gattuso.

England had Rooney, Beckham, Scholes, Terry, Ferdinand, Neville, Cole, Gerrard, Lampard and Owen.

Brazil had Cafu, Carlos, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Kaka, Juninho, Lucio

France had Henry, Thuram, Trezeguet, Zidane, Ribéry.

I don’t think any national team comes close in terms of star power to those sides and I was too lazy to list all the greats from Holland (already covered earlier in the thread), Portugal etc.

International football has declined massively in the last ten years.

Your friend has read my posts in the following thread :D

The quality of strikers today vs late 90s / early 2000s
 
I'm bit surprised that Swiss is trailing Portugal. Thought they were the strongest in that group but I guess that is what happens when decide you are already there. Going into the playoffs invites lot of unnecessary stress of going through. But Portugal will not fluke another tournament.

But regarding the United players I'm only concerned that they stay injury free. Thats more important than how they perform for their international teams. I'm personally appealed that Belgium is playing I think both Lukaku and Fellaini in a meaningless match.
 
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I'm bit surprised that Swiss is trailing Portugal. Thought they were the strongest in that group but I guess that is what happens when decide you are already there. Going into the playoffs invites lot of unnecessary stress of going through. But Portugal will not fluke another tournament.

No surprise here, they have been pretty shite and if Ronaldo wasn't having an off day we could have been 4 or 5 up. Regarding your last phrase, don't underestimate the power of Éder. You have been warned.
 
Paul and Kante have nothing to worry about with Tolisso and Matuidi..nothing..they will both start in WC ..I am still waiting to see what is so special in Tolisso that made Bayern them spend that much
 
Was having this discussion with a friend of mine the other day about how many footballing legends were at those tournaments between 2000 and 2006 compared to now.

Italy had Totti, Maldini, Buffon, Inzaghi, Nesta, Del Piero, Cannavaro, Pirlo and Gattuso.

England had Rooney, Beckham, Scholes, Terry, Ferdinand, Neville, Cole, Gerrard, Lampard and Owen.

Brazil had Cafu, Carlos, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Kaka, Juninho, Lucio

France had Henry, Thuram, Trezeguet, Zidane, Ribéry.

I don’t think any national team comes close in terms of star power to those sides and I was too lazy to list all the greats from Holland (already covered earlier in the thread), Portugal etc.

International football has declined massively in the last ten years.

Feck off. Come back to me when you find a squad that tops Shane Duffy, James McClean and Romario Walters.