So Scotland will be in Pot 4 for next month's World Cup draw in Brazil - a drop of two pots from the last World Cup in what will be an incredibly tough task to get to South America in 2014.
They will be in Pot Four along with the might of Bulgaria, Romania, Georgia, Lithuania, Albania, Northern Ireland, Austria and Poland.
So next time we hear that it's not the result that counts in friendlies...just remember how it's affected our WC qualification chances. We may be moving in the right direction on the field. BUT results are absolutely paramount. We've sacrficed too many points in our Euros campaign so far due to inept management. It was foolhardy playing Brazil. We shoulda beat Eire. We still are sidelining some players over blinkin stubborness (e.g Stevie Fletcher). Time to just sort it out start winning and improving our official ranking. It's part and parcel of the qualification process and we must start treating EVERY gme as a must win.
Pot 4 for us....
posted on 28/6/11
How are England ranked fourth?
posted on 28/6/11
I will never forgive Levein for that shambles against the Czechs.Then everybody just seemed to gloss over the fact we needed a 97th minute goal to beat Lichtenstein.He should be done for foooking treason.
posted on 29/6/11
Yeah, we can't complain about being in pot 4 but there was nothing between us and the Republic and the Sweden game was a shadow side.
I feel we'd be capable of beating both of these teams.
posted on 29/6/11
Yeah, we can't complain about being in pot 4 but there was nothing between us and the Republic and the Sweden game was a shadow side.
I feel we'd be capable of beating both of these teams.
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other than a win agains the Faroes and Lichtenstein, what other teams have you beat recently that suggests you could beat any decent side. I think your ranking is about right.
posted on 29/6/11
If only the manager didn't pick players on reputation and their ability to be English, we could probably have been nearer the second pot...
posted on 29/6/11
I will never forgive Levein for that shambles against the Czechs.Then everybody just seemed to gloss over the fact we needed a 97th minute goal to beat Lichtenstein.He should be done for foooking treason.
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Richard Gough in Cyprus anyone? Numerous lame efforts against the Faroes?
It's hardly the first time we've struggled to beat a minnow.
Yes Levein was ultra defensive in his first few games, but I don't blame him. We spent 2 years shipping goals and scoring very few under Burley.
The Czech game was a poor decision but it was his 3rd competitive game in a job on a different level from anything he's ever done before. He seems to have learned from it and moved on, we should too.
If only the manager didn't pick players on reputation and their ability to be English, we could probably have been nearer the second pot...
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I see you've drifted over to ja606 hobo.
I don't agree with all the 'Englishmen' he's playing but at the same time I don't think there are that many homegrowns who are glaringly better although I'm sure you'll probably quote me half the united squad.
posted on 29/6/11
other than a win agains the Faroes and Lichtenstein, what other teams have you beat recently that suggests you could beat any decent side. I think your ranking is about right.
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This is true. As it hard as it is to admit.
Shadow teams or not we have not beat a decent side in a competitive game since France 4 years ago.
That is why we are where we are.
Miss a couple of tournaments and you can say you're unlucky, weren't at full strength etc. But we've not been to a tournament in THIRTEEN years. This is not an accident or the fates conspiring against us. Teams like Greece, Ireland, Poland etc that people are saying we should beat have been to tournaments in that time. This is not an accident either.
We slam the English for overrating ourselves but we do it as well. The truth is we are not much better than a less than average European side like Lithuania or Iceland etc. When you are struggling to beat that calibre of side you have no chance of qualifying.
We need to pull our heads out the sand and completely change the way football is taught and run in this country.
I hope the McLeish report is acted upon, the early signs are good and hopefully within 10-15 years we'll see real international quality players coming through who can see us qualify consistently and not scraping the barrel against a pot 1 side on the last day as usual and hoping for a miracle slice of luck.
posted on 4/7/11
V honest. Like Murray we choke at major tournaments.
Always have done: always will
posted on 27/7/11
Looks like possible England france Scotland wales group
posted on 27/7/11
piece a cake