England deserve auto-qualification ....

[Berean Todd]

Damn you guys have some good crack over there, because that is what this reporter is smoking:

Enough is enough. This madness has to stop. How can you have a leading tournament without England? The last time they tried it was the World Cup finals in the United States in 1994 – a tournament so lacklustre Bulgaria made it to the semi-finals. England did not have to qualify for the rugby World Cup in France so why do John Terry and Co have to go through the charade of playing against teams such as Andorra before they can take their place in Austria and Switzerland?

Michel Platini was elected president of Uefa in January with a mandate to shake up the game and instead of messing around with half-baked plans about restructuring the Champions League, he should give England, Germany, Italy, France and Spain direct entry into every European Championship finals.

Why do England have to fly to Estonia, Andorra and Israel to prove that they are one of the best 16 teams in Europe? As things stand next year’s tournament could kick off without Italy, England and Spain. That might be good news in Zagreb and Warsaw, but it should set alarm bells ringing at Uefa headquarters in Nyon. Police officers in Austria and Switzerland may be looking forward to a trouble-free tournament without England fans, but how can any team claim they are the best in Europe if they have not come up against Wayne Rooney or Fernando Torres or Fabio Cannavaro?

The England rugby team qualified automatically for this year’s World Cup because they reached the quarter-finals of the previous competition in Australia in 2003. If Uefa adopted a similar policy to the International Rugby Board, the eight quarter-finalists from Euro 2004 – Portugal, England, Sweden, Holland, France, Greece, the Czech Republic and Denmark – would have booked their places without having to take their chances against Liechtenstein, Luxembourg or the Faeroe Isles.

European qualifying for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa starts next year, so there is time for Sepp Blatter, Fifa president, to throw his weight around and give a bye to the quarter-finalists, including England, from the World Cup finals in Germany last year. Please, Sepp, don’t send us to San Marino again.



http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/euro_2008/article2689751.ece

[-Orion-]

This just smacks of arrogance to me... I can see his point of view - in that the best should always be on show because it's in the best interests of the sport - but he's being hugely subjective...

There is a whole other side to the footballing world, and to suggest they never even get a chance is ridiculous... Some sort of compromise is needed to make the process less drawn-out... so I would suggest the real, REAL poor teams do take a walk...'cuz Andorra, Faroe Isles, San Marino, etc...there are about a half dozen of them at least who are just God-awful - that's not in any way racist - more just relating to the fact they're tiny, tiny countries so the talent pool simply cannot be as big, nor can the scale of development

You take them out, then not only is the qualification process less disruptive of domestic campaigns, it's also less mundane and time-consuming for the players themselves who have to go out there for would-be "training matches"...

Yes, in theory "the odd upset" can occur - it always can - but I definitely think, like everything, we just need to play percentages... The chances of an upset are so slim that if the matches can be avoided they should be...as in rugby and indeed cricket (where the test nations are separate from the others)...

But what this guy fails to realise is that football is bigger than those two sports put together... The fan base, the playing base, the whole thing... So more participation is a necessity...

Don't **** on a Croatia or a Bulgaria... or a Turkey or hell, even a South Korea (tho their progression was controversial to say the least)... If a smaller team gets far in a tournament it's tough **** to "Fernando Torres" "Fabio Cannavaro" and whoever else for not stepping their game up and proving how "obviously better" they're supposed to be

[Gib710]

As an inhabitant of a smaller nation (though obviously we're not on a par with Andorra and the like) I agree the guy is talking out of his ass. If he had his way and England and Spain had byes to the tournament then I would have missed out on two of the best nights for me in the past couple of years - the 1-0 win over England and the 3-2 win over Spain.

Where would the fun be for teams like us if we only ever got to play teams like Estonia, Hungary, Finland and the like in qualification? No disrespect to those teams, but even fans of theirs would admit that its the games against the likes of Italy that they savour, rather than home ties against Norn Iron.

If you're good enough, you'll qualify, its as simple as that. Spain were good enough, Italy and France were good enough. Greece, Portugal, Sweden, Holland and the Czech Republic were good enough. England weren't. Denmark finished behind us in this qualification campaign, so why the fvck should they have gotten a bye?

[Celticrugby]

Damn you guys have some good crack over there, because that is what this reporter is smoking:

Enough is enough. This madness has to stop. How can you have a leading tournament without England? The last time they tried it was the World Cup finals in the United States in 1994 – a tournament so lacklustre Bulgaria made it to the semi-finals. England did not have to qualify for the rugby World Cup in France so why do John Terry and Co have to go through the charade of playing against teams such as Andorra before they can take their place in Austria and Switzerland?

Michel Platini was elected president of Uefa in January with a mandate to shake up the game and instead of messing around with half-baked plans about restructuring the Champions League, he should give England, Germany, Italy, France and Spain direct entry into every European Championship finals.

Why do England have to fly to Estonia, Andorra and Israel to prove that they are one of the best 16 teams in Europe? As things stand next year’s tournament could kick off without Italy, England and Spain. That might be good news in Zagreb and Warsaw, but it should set alarm bells ringing at Uefa headquarters in Nyon. Police officers in Austria and Switzerland may be looking forward to a trouble-free tournament without England fans, but how can any team claim they are the best in Europe if they have not come up against Wayne Rooney or Fernando Torres or Fabio Cannavaro?

The England rugby team qualified automatically for this year’s World Cup because they reached the quarter-finals of the previous competition in Australia in 2003. If Uefa adopted a similar policy to the International Rugby Board, the eight quarter-finalists from Euro 2004 – Portugal, England, Sweden, Holland, France, Greece, the Czech Republic and Denmark – would have booked their places without having to take their chances against Liechtenstein, Luxembourg or the Faeroe Isles.

European qualifying for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa starts next year, so there is time for Sepp Blatter, Fifa president, to throw his weight around and give a bye to the quarter-finalists, including England, from the World Cup finals in Germany last year. Please, Sepp, don’t send us to San Marino again.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/euro_2008/article2689751.ece

SO THAT IS WHY THEY HATE IT!

I totally forgot. They choked and we are the deathstar of world soccer. 2 strikes right there.

Then the third that our nation put on the highest attended world cup in history yet we are FOOZEBALL hatin' YANKZ. Strike 3.

Love it. :laugh

How many times do you have to not qualify for the arrogance to go away?

They've missed a few major tournaments have they not?

[Linus]

"England should win every game 100 - 0 - no exceptions

England are the best football team in the world and although we haven't discovered other planets with life on them, when we do England will beat them 100 - 0 as well

All their playes should not only be Knighted but made Gods for the working classes throughout Britain to worship

Yes even the working classes of Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland - should pray for England players past and present

Just to breathe the same air as these Gods is enough for most of us working class Scots

Thank you for being, thank you for letting us play your game - on behalf of the rest of the world thank you"

[Boovy]

Berean, dont be a pr1ck just because you support 32 nations and 78 club teams. One of them is BOUND to qualify

[Berean Todd]

Berean, dont be a pr1ck just because you support 32 nations and 78 club teams. One of them is BOUND to qualify

Nice defense of the OP Boovy you jack@ss. Enjoy watching us lift another cup this summer.

[Berean Todd]

1974 England fail to qualify for World Cup

1976 England fail to qualify for Euro Championships

1978 England fail to qualify for World Cup

1984 England fail to qualify for Euro Championships

1994 England fail to qualify for World Cup

2008 England fail to qualify for Euro Championships

Do we see a pattern here Boovy? I'm not trying to "kick England while it's down", I'm just saying that auto-qualification for ANYONE is ridiculously stupid, and all the more so for England who never win anything. When was the last time you were in the finals of a single major tournament?

I'm not saying Italy are perfect. Although we do have the one Euro title, and the runners up medals from 2000, hell we missed 3 out of 4 Euro competitions at one point, and 4 out of 6 over a certain stretch. That's the point. No one deserves to auto-qualify for anything.

But oh, pitty that I should say anything negative about good-ole Ingerlund, pardon me Mr. Boovy the allmighty. :handbags

[ruud best]

I see the old adage that Americans don't get irony is still true,how could anyone have thought he was being serious? :laugh

Are you on drugs Feeney?

I know our newspapers may give people the impression that we're arrogant but it's just not true,believe me,you're average Englishman is much more likely to be a self-deprecating pessimist than a sure of himself,arrogant pri*k.

Scots would have you believe that all Englishman think our football team will definitely win the World Cup because they're so great but in reality,we hope we've got a slight chance if things go well but know we'll almost certainly lose in the QF on penalties,those are not the actions of arrogant people.

[gargy]

I cant decide if i think the author of that article is serious or not. But if he is, thats just the sort of attitude that makes sure England stays as the mediocre team they are.

[ada]

I'm in favour of automatic qualification for big footballing nations, not because they deserve it, it'll just mean less sh1tty international games.

[donexile]

I see the old adage that Americans don't get irony is still true,how could anyone have thought he was being serious? :laugh

Are you on drugs Feeney?

I know our newspapers may give people the impression that we're arrogant but it's just not true,believe me,you're average Englishman is much more likely to be a self-deprecating pessimist than a sure of himself,arrogant pri*k.

Scots would have you believe that all Englishman think our football team will definitely win the World Cup because they're so great but in reality,we hope we've got a slight chance if things go well but know we'll almost certainly lose in the QF on penalties,those are not the actions of arrogant people.


I live in england and most of my english mates know their football and know england don't deserve to be there...
BUT there is still a feeling,especially amongst the press,and the players-look at Michael Owen's Croatia players wouldn't get in england team rant-that they have a devine right to be at the world cup and euros...

[Boovy]

Nice defense of the OP Boovy you jack@ss. Enjoy watching us lift another cup this summer.

What cup are USA in this summer? :handbags ooo err


Before you give me some England facts, im a club over country person and frankly dont really care, just to let you know

[Fins Prompte]

What cup are USA in this summer? :handbags ooo err


Before you give me some England facts, im a club over country person and frankly dont really care, just to let you know

es italia amico, no USA

[Fowksee]

Seriously you dont see how sarcastic and ironic the reporter is being? :laugh

fvck me I guess what they say about Yanks is true, Irony is truly lost on them!

[libertine]

Anyone that cant see the article is a joke must be borderline retarded.


And the whole England fans are arrogant talk is bull****. The majority of us are pessimistic bastards. Of course there is always some optimism/excitement at times, just as if you want to any board frequented by predominantly one country - You would see a bias and optimism at certain times.

It hasnt been unreasonable of England fans to expect this group of players to qualify for the Euro's. If any team like ours didnt qualify, the fans would ask questions.

[bambergascoigne]

i appologise unreservedly for 'supporting' my team, and wanting them to perform well. Whta a deluded arrogant ***** ive been. Oh and todd, f*ck off. I had a pizza on friday thus im more italian than you, leave it.

[leeman]

has there ever been an italian man in history called todd?

[Manic Loop]

i honestly dont think that peice is meant to be serious journalism, just a p1ss take piece. but non brits just dont have humour glands so dont get it

[intotheforest]

i appologise unreservedly for 'supporting' my team, and wanting them to perform well. Whta a deluded arrogant ***** ive been. Oh and todd, f*ck off. I had a pizza on friday thus im more italian than you, leave it.

No you have to stab an englishman first to be considered Italian.

I am truly baffled at the argument you are trying to put up. You are using a light hearted p!sstake of an article used after the Croatia game to cheer us English up, as something serious. On your argument you would think our FA have proposed it to FIFA and UEFA.

And what was the failing to qualify thing prove? We were sh!t in the 70's?

I can't believe that something one person writes about ends up meaning that the whole of England think we want auto qualification.

We aren't arrogant at all. We are pessimistic as others have said. We do carry an aura of confidence going into a tournement but why not? We have players who are superb for their clubs and regularly ghet to a CL quarter or semi final. We know they can do it, they show this week in week out. But if we get to the quarters or ESemi's we are equally happy that we can be considered one of the best 4/8th best country in the world.

Get your facts right Todd before you spout sh!t in here again.

[Gaurav]

quality article that.

barean todd :laugh

[TheChelseaBlues]

What cup are USA in this summer? :handbags ooo err

We've already won our confederation's cup, no need to continue dominating the region into the summer.

[Dandy]

I think we should get rid of the tournament games altogether and have the the captains of the following nations draw straws to see who gets to be the world champ:

- Germany
- Holland
- England
- Italy
- France
- Brazil
- Argentina

There. Problem solved.

[bambergascoigne]

I think we should have a dance off

[Barcelinha]

Seriously you dont see how sarcastic and ironic the reporter is being? :laugh

sarcasm doesn't read well online it seems. :laugh
good article, maybe not as funny on it's own, but with folk taking it for real, it's a treat. :drinkbeer

[Stone_Monkey]

England should get automatic qualification just because they invented football.

Americans should stop moaning because they don't know how to play football.