International Matches

[BlueinBosnia]

A few international matches played last night.

Bosnia beat Israel 3-1 to possibly resurrect their qualifying campaign. One interesting bit of trivia from this game is that Israel fielded two people with exactly the same name (Tal Ben Haim). I don't think I've ever seen that before...

Wales beat Belgium 1-0, and could possibly overtake England in the FIFA rankings for the first time ever.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

A few international matches played last night.

Bosnia beat Israel 3-1 to possibly resurrect their qualifying campaign. One interesting bit of trivia from this game is that Israel fielded two people with exactly the same name (Tal Ben Haim). I don't think I've ever seen that before...

Wales beat Belgium 1-0, and could possibly overtake England in the FIFA rankings for the first time ever.

So many are going way way OTT about Wales

[Bianchi on Ice]

A few international matches played last night.

Bosnia beat Israel 3-1 to possibly resurrect their qualifying campaign. One interesting bit of trivia from this game is that Israel fielded two people with exactly the same name (Tal Ben Haim). I don't think I've ever seen that before...

Wales beat Belgium 1-0, and could possibly overtake England in the FIFA rankings for the first time ever.

So many are going way way OTT about Wales

True, but the best a country that size can do is get the best out of the players they have. Can just imagine if Bale was English, Woy would have him at left back again, or on the right hand side, or some other permutation designed to stifle his game.

[Mikhail Chigorin]

A few international matches played last night.

Bosnia beat Israel 3-1 to possibly resurrect their qualifying campaign. One interesting bit of trivia from this game is that Israel fielded two people with exactly the same name (Tal Ben Haim). I don't think I've ever seen that before...

Wales beat Belgium 1-0, and could possibly overtake England in the FIFA rankings for the first time ever.

So many are going way way OTT about Wales

True, but the best a country that size can do is get the best out of the players they have. Can just imagine if Bale was English, Woy would have him at left back again, or on the right hand side, or some other permutation designed to stifle his game.

Or as a defensive midfielder alongside Cleverley, which would allow Tommy boy to then push forward with glorious abandon and control the game with his silky skills.

With regard to Wales overtaking England in the world rankings, as much of a joke as they (the rankings) are, I think it's a racing certainly that the Principality will soon be ahead of us, especially bearing in mind the duffer and FA sycophant that Woy Hodgson is.

[Ted Hughes]

When you look at the team Belgium had out, but look at what they actually produce, it just shows how shit international football is imo.

Because international sides can't sign players. If you have two lumbering shite fullbacks & two great big clumsy cfs, that's what you're stuck with.

Belgium with Danny Alves & Aguero, would put 6 past Wales, but when you have a 6ft lump, charging forward leathering the ball into the stand, or a cf who can't trap a bag of fucking cement, all the clever passing in the world can still get you nowhere.

[mr_nool]

A few international matches played last night.

Bosnia beat Israel 3-1 to possibly resurrect their qualifying campaign. One interesting bit of trivia from this game is that Israel fielded two people with exactly the same name (Tal Ben Haim). I don't think I've ever seen that before...

Wales beat Belgium 1-0, and could possibly overtake England in the FIFA rankings for the first time ever.

Sweden once fielded a team with five Anderssons: Patrik, Daniel, Andreas, Anders, and Alexandersson.

[iwasthere2012]

When you look at the team Belgium had out, but look at what they actually produce, it just shows how shit international football is imo.

Because international sides can't sign players. If you have two lumbering shite fullbacks & two great big clumsy cfs, that's what you're stuck with.

Belgium with Danny Alves & Aguero, would put 6 past Wales, but when you have a 6ft lump, charging forward leathering the ball into the stand, or a cf who can't trap a bag of fucking cement, all the clever passing in the world can still get you nowhere.

That's quite true Ted. For all their pretty passing around midfield, Belgium just lack that cutting edge that would take them onto the next level. But at International football level you are very much curtailed by the panel of qualified players.
I'm genuinely chuffed for Wales. They weren't exactly pretty to watch but the made the best of what they have. I'm used to that, from watching our lot. If Ireland don't beat Scotland today, then I'd genuinely want to see the Scots qualify, for the same reason. What it would mean to them.
I've had the argument many times with mates about whether it's better not to qualify than to be humiliated at a finals when you get there. I think for the likes of us Scotland, Wales and NI, it is always better to qualify. It boosts football in the country. It just lifts the country in general.

[mr_nool]

I hope Iceland will keep the good work up and qualify for a major tournament for the first time.

Lagerbäck is a great coach for limited sides and would've been great for a mid-table PlL side. The Swedish national team is utter crap since he left.

[DoomMerchant]

I hope Iceland will keep the good work up and qualify for a major tournament for the first time.

Lagerbäck is a great coach for limited sides and would've been great for a mid-table PlL side. The Swedish national team is utter crap since he left.

No idea that John Lydon even had a football league, but he is very commercially focused these days.

You wouldn't want Jah Wobble in goal, would you?

Cheers

[Cocacolajojo1]

Lagerbäck is a great coach for limited sides and would've been great for a mid-table PlL side. The Swedish national team is utter crap since he left.

The team was crap while he was in charge as well.

[mr_nool]

Lagerbäck is a great coach for limited sides and would've been great for a mid-table PlL side. The Swedish national team is utter crap since he left.

The team was crap while he was in charge as well.

They got the results though...
But, yes, it's also down to Sweden having a poor generation of players at the moment.

[MilnersJaw]

it makes me laugh israel is even in this competition, the country is not even in europe remotely.

[Tokyo Blue]

it makes me laugh israel is even in this competition, the country is not even in europe remotely.

So do you think it's a good idea to have them competing against Lebanon, Syria, Iran and Iraq?

And it is actually not that far from Cyprus. 300 miles-ish.

[iwasthere2012]

Hoping for a 1-0 to Ireland, but not that optimistic.

[iwasthere2012]

Goal. 1-0 Ireland. First decent cross, from a corner.

[iwasthere2012]

Very nearly a second from the exact same kind of corner.

[iwasthere2012]

Just looking at the replay of the goal. Walters looked offside.

[iwasthere2012]

Ireland have made a war of this from the start. Scotland aren't up to the passion of it yet and are losing the battles. I hope we don't run out of steam with 20 minutes to go, because I still think Scotland have more quality than us, if we allow them play.
45 mins, all to play for.

[Dameerto]

I hadn't realised this was being played - I'm in time for the second half at least.

[Ted Hughes]

Good to see a few tackles going in but it's really annoying to see such ineptitude from a lino in any game.