The Road To Germany 2024

[Deutsch Wolf]

Kazakhstan a country I’ve spent a lot of time in could just do it.
It’s blatantly not in Europe but always enjoyed my time there people are fantastic and very welcoming and generous do for them I’d be delighted.

Think when the USSR fell apart everyone was given their own choice which federation to join, which is a bit odd I suppose but can't blame Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan for taking the massively higher revenues you get through UEFA if they're on offer.

Northern Ireland have fallen right off a cliff, not surprised they lost today.

 

[AndyWolves]

I do think there is a rivalry between us and Scotland but certainly it's more keenly felt in Scotland.

 

[jd1981]

Yep Kazakhstan initially started playing in Asia but made the move in the early 00’s.
Boxing by far is the number one sport but absolutely have no problem with them being part of UEFA and qualifying on merit.
To sum up how far from Europe it is when I was in Almaty we were only 80 miles from the Chinese border.

 

[jd1981]

I do think there is a rivalry between us and Scotland but certainly it's more keenly felt in Scotland.

There’s a rivalry but it’s very weird, to sum up it’s one England probably can’t be arsed with.
Not quite Wolves v Walsall. Probably more Villa v Blues, Villa happy just to beat them to keep them quiet.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Germany don't really give a crap about playing England.

Their rivalry with the Netherlands is definitely two way but not as fierce as it was in the 80s/90s.

 

[jd1981]

Germany don't really give a crap about playing England.

Their rivalry with the Netherlands is definitely two way but not as fierce as it was in the 80s/90s.

Totally agree in fact Germany find England far agreeable than Netherlands and France from experience. Not once on my travels have I felt any animosity for being English in Germany.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Looking at Group H, it's all up for grabs:

Denmark 13
Finland 12
--------------
Kazakhstan 12
Slovenia 10 (game in hand)

Finland:

Slovenia (A)
Kazakhstan (H)
Northern Ireland (H)
San Marino (A)

Kazakhstan:

Denmark (A)
Finland (A)
San Marino (H)
Slovenia (A)

Slovenia:

San Marino (A)
Finland (H)
Northern Ireland (A)
Denmark (A)
Kazakhstan (H)

Wouldn't like to call it!

(You'd imagine Denmark will win it with their only two away games being San Marino and Northern Ireland)

 

[jd1981]

Looking at Group H, it's all up for grabs:

Denmark 13
Finland 12
--------------
Kazakhstan 12
Slovenia 10 (game in hand)

Finland:

Slovenia (A)
Kazakhstan (H)
Northern Ireland (H)
San Marino (A)

Kazakhstan:

Denmark (A)
Finland (A)
San Marino (H)
Slovenia (A)

Slovenia:

San Marino (A)
Finland (H)
Northern Ireland (A)
Denmark (A)
Kazakhstan (H)

Wouldn't like to call it!

(You'd imagine Denmark will win it with their only two away games being San Marino and Northern Ireland)

Kazakhstan probably need something in Slovenia and Finland to go through.
Money still on Denmark and Finland, nevertheless whilst a 24 team format is floored I do like seeing new nations rock up.
Since 2016 Iceland, Albania, N Macedonia have made an appearance not their fault more an organisation fault however is it a bit arrogant to want the closed club of just 16 teams at the euros?

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

I just think 16 teams tends to give you a real elite feel to it, no matter who you draw, they'll be at least decent.

It's more the 3rd placed teams in groups going through that annoys me, rewards failure and promotes negative football. Actually didn't end up impacting on too much last time but in 2016 it absolutely wrecked the tournament. To the point Northern Ireland actively aimed for a 1-0 defeat vs Germany once they conceded early. Portugal winning the whole thing having won 0 group games was a shambles too.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

 

[Sniffer]

Loving the specialist left backs in the squad. I guess that Chilwell is still injured?

Bowen isn't good enough to get a look in when you have Foden/Grealish/Saka and Rashford for the wide forward areas. A waste of a space in the squad.

 

[Jack Regan]

Central midfield including TAA shows how inadequate we are there Rice and Bellingham aside.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Maguire and Henderson aside (who both bring untangible qualities to the squad that we can't be sure of) that looks a decent/fair squad.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Loving the specialist left backs in the squad. I guess that Chilwell is still injured?

Bowen isn't good enough to get a look in when you have Foden/Grealish/Saka and Rashford for the wide forward areas. A waste of a space in the squad.

Chilwell is out until December, Shaw still out too.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Bowen isn't good enough to get a look in when you have Foden/Grealish/Saka and Rashford for the wide forward areas. A waste of a space in the squad.

Gets criticised for not rewarding form, rewards form and then gets criticised.

 

[Tredman]

Central midfield including TAA shows how inadequate we are there Rice and Bellingham aside.

TAA has been great in CM for England. Much rather have him than Henderson

 

[Sniffer]

Gets criticised for not rewarding form, rewards form and then gets criticised.

I missed Maddison from the four I mentioned in my last post. He may be in form but do we need 6 players who are comfortable in wide forward roles in the squad?

 

[Sniffer]

I've not seen a Newcastle game this season but can Sean Longstaff be disappointed not to be called up?

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Think he works great for Newcastle in their system, not so sure he'd look especially good for anyone else. Pretty limited technically.

 

[Jinky]

No issues with Bowen getting a call up. Bloke has been consistent for ages now and always seems to be involved in anything positive West Ham do. If he played for a 'sky 6' side, he'd be an automatic pick in every squad. Also no issues with Phillips being in there, as he has always played well for England and it's a position we don't have masses of quality & depth in. Henderson & Maguire, I just don't get at all. Keeping Maguire in there seems to be more about helping the guy mentally by including him, rather than actually choosing the best option.