England may miss out as a top seed

[BrightonBird]

Full story here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/england/3197754.stm

Seedings won't be confirmed until after the play offs.

It's expected to be hosts (Portugal), last years champion (France) and 2 other countries with the best qualifing records (Sweden and Czech Republic).

However, if Turkey were to qualify, England are unlikely to be paired with each other.

OK, what's the bet we have Germany or France in our group?

 

[Benny Seagull]

why not slap argentina in there for fun as well!!

 

[JJ McClure]

Won't have Germany as they'll be seeded in the same group as us (2nd).
England always miss out on being one of the top seeds so its nothing new. The Argies were top seeds in the last world cup and we beat them. If you want to win it you have to beat the best teams. Bring it on I say!

 

[BrightonBird]

We always seem to play better against the better teams. It's against the likes of Litchinstein that I worry.

 

[mk_bha]

seeding:

portugal (as hosts)
italy, spain, germany, checzs all are in front of us for seeding as it is done on a points system relating to last world cup and this qualifying.

 

[Bono]

Got to play them eventually. Top two to go through into knockout phase.

2nd seeds? England, Holland, Spain, Germany, Italy? That's five so one of these will then be a third seed. A group of death looms.

 

[CHAPPERS]

Doesn't matter who we play, why should we be scared of anyone. We are, in my opinion, the best team in Europe on our day and should win the championships without too many problems.

 

[BrightonBird]

Disagree there Chappers. If we were best team we would have won something by now, or at least looked a LOT better when we played Turkey.

 

[CHAPPERS]

BB - fact is the only team that have beaten us in competition under Sven is Brazil who went onto win the World Cup and we really weren't playing too well that day and it took a freak goal to win it.
The Turkey game was about the result not the performance, like when we got the draw in Italy.
We have shown that on the big occasion the current crop of players can turn it on (5-1 v Germany?).
Michael Owen is looking unstoppable and i think he can keep it going.

Think about the quality we have in our squad and find me a European team the has that amount of decent players that they can turn out for a game.

 

[BrightonBird]

France has good players - better than us.

IMHO we are too inconsistent. I hope you prove me wrong though.

I will give you a 50 pence bet that we will not win Euro 2004.

 

[CHAPPERS]

I'll take you up on that bet BB. The French have very bad defensive problems nowadays. If we play them Henry will be in Campbells pocket.

I think this team is going to realise its about time they really achieved something and next year will be that time.

 

[REDLAND]

I agree with Chappers, if we have evryone fit next summer we must have a great chance of winning it, its gonna be very exciting and I hope between now and then the Media/FA don't do too much to fu*k it up !!

Bring it on !!

 

[CHAPPERS]

Oh yeah, i was listening to the radio this morning and there was a guy on ther from UEFA saying that England could still be chucked out of the Championships if the fans do not behave in the build up.

I've been trying to ignore my feelings that we are being picked on but it's getting ridiculous now.

 

[BrightonBird]

Say goodbe to your 50p

 

[Yorkie]

Oh yeah, i was listening to the radio this morning and there was a guy on ther from UEFA saying that England could still be chucked out of the Championships if the fans do not behave in the build up.

I've been trying to ignore my feelings that we are being picked on but it's getting ridiculous now.

I agree. The authorities are trying anything to get us chucked out.

Turkey have had their wrists slapped and fined but no threats of expulsion.
Germany have their fair share of hooligans but it is always England who are held up as the bad guys, despite the success of the last Euro Championships

I, too, am sick of it

 

[CHAPPERS]

Even the Olympic Commitee are starting to take the piss. How long was Davids out for when he FAILED his test?

From the Sun:

RIO FERDINAND must be banned for at least SIX MONTHS if London is to have a decent chance of staging the Olympic Games.

Olympic chiefs say British sport must prove it takes drugs policing seriously.

The only way to do that, they claim, is to hand the Manchester United defender a lengthy ban.

London has bid to stage the 2012 Games, with a decision announced in two years.

Ferdinand failed to attend a routine drug test last month — the FA will announce next week what charges, if any, Alex Ferguson’s player will face.

One senior Olympic source said: “Rio Ferdinand is the world’s costliest defender and one of the most high-profile sportsmen in Britain.

“If the country wants to win the Olympic Games, it cannot be seen to be letting off athletes who evade drugs tests. He should be banned for at least six months.

“UK Sport, who carried out the random test, would do the drugs testing for the 2012 Games if London win the bid. They cannot be seen to be less than rigorous.”

Olympic organisers have already warned FIFA they must take a tougher line against drugs or risk having the sport kicked out of the 2004 Games in Athens.

World Anti-Doping Agency chief Richard Pound — who has a vote in the decision where to stage the 2012 Games — says Ferdinand should be banned for TWO years.

Pound said: “This is a serious matter. There has to be a compelling reason to have failed to take a test. Forgetting is not compelling.”

 

[BrightonBird]

I personally feel that he had taken drugs - you don't forget to make a test.

However, in cases like this, and Turkey, and other examples, I do seriously wonder why UEFA are like this with England. Why is it one rule for some, and another rule for others.

When those Leeds fans were killed in Turkey, nothing happened. If the situation had reveresed, then England would be out of all cups for a few years at least. I don't honestly understand why England get in trouble for things that other countries don't.

And what also irritates me is that it's ok for Police in other countries to hit fans with batons, but if we did it, there would be an outcry - and so there should.

 

[Reading Posh]

From the Sun:

Well if it's in the Currant Bun it must be true

 

[CHAPPERS]

Well if it's in the Currant Bun it must be true

So they made up the quotes?

 

[Yorkie]

All these organisations are made up of the same faceless bureaucrats who have their own agendas.

Nobody knows who they are to investigate their dealings although I do remember an African delegate getting done for taking bribes