The Road to World Cup 2026 and UEFA Nations League

[jd1981]

I think it was Nemanja Matic (not sure where the diacritics in his name should be) who has come out and said he won't let his kids go to Italian academies because they suck shit.

Paraphrasing obv. But a damning indictment of the football culture there.

State of the club and international football is an absolute mess. Just 2 clubs represented from possible 24 in all European competitions QF and none in the CL.

 

[jd1981]

To add no CL winner since 2010, only 2 European trophies in 16 years.
All leagues around Europe have issues though. PL is packed full of good sides but none that are top level.
Germany is mainly just Bayern and the rest unless they have a year off.
France is PSG and the rest.
Spain is Real and Barca with Athletico hanging on and Italy is frankly just not very good full stop.

 

[Tredman]

Stop kicking @Lupo, the guy's already down.

 

[Alan]

It's just sad and a little unbelievable to see how badly they've lost the plot. If it's really rotten all the way into the club academies, there's no telling how long it will be before they reclaim some of the old stature.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

They would have had a pretty kind group too with Canada Qatar and Switzerland.

 

[Alan]

Two of those are better on paper than Italy.

 

[Tredman]

Poor Canada

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Doctor Congo vs Jamaica is on FIFA+ if you're so inclined.

And I am.

 

[Tredman]

Doctor Congo vs Jamaica is on FIFA+ if you're so inclined.

And I am.

So many questions about Doctor Congo.

Great beer though.

 

[jd1981]

Setting your alarm for Iraq v Bolivia at 0400

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Setting your alarm for Iraq v Bolivia at 0400

I genuinely am tempted

 

[Alan]

DOCTOR CONGO

 

[jd1981]

Looking at the WC schedule I can at least enjoy the first 6 days before getting depressed about England

 

[jd1981]

I genuinely am tempted

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Rachie and I went to watch Saipan a few weeks ago.

I regaled her with the tale of me sacking off work in November 2001 to watch Iran vs Ireland (was when I lived in Hamburg).

I told her she wouldn't have liked me very much then.

 

[Alan]

Joking aside, football is massive in Iraq. I hope they pull it off.

Bolivia are weird; they're not awful but they only ever win at home, because they play at fucking jetliner cruising altitude.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Goal for Doctor Congo. Tuanzebe.

 

[Mel Evo]

Clearly I’ve watched a fair bit of Bolivian club football. It’s still hard to do justice to it in words. But at the most basic level, the ball moves incredibly fast and far. The players incredibly slow and little. And La Paz is pretty low level compared to some grounds…

 

[Alan]

Goal for Doctor Congo. Tuanzebe.

Tuanzebe, PhD after that

 

[Alan]

Shit man I forgot fucking Bob the Builder Martínez is managing Portugal.