Uefa Should Sort Out Euro Footie........

[London Calling]

With France going out last night, the nations with the five strongest leagues:

England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain* have now all been knocked out.

Performances from these nations have looked lacklustre and at times LOOKED AN REAL effort from the players.

Is this because these players are playing too many intensively competitive matches and I really mean here the Champions League.

I would imagine that most players in these national sides are in the Champions League.

Plus they are in sides which have competed for most honours in their league set up's.

In contrast the smaller nations and teams from these countries have not been in a position over the last few years to pick the "best players" and put themselves through the constant slog of games.

I know not everyone plays in their own national leagues, but nearly all players from the above five, play within these five contries.

I have been impressed with the energy of Greece, the Czech's, and even Portugal.

Following the World Cup this Championship is to me, again showing, these players are knackered and lethargic.

This Championship is about the best nations and the best players.

UEFA MUST START STANDING UP TO THE BIG BOYS. THE DRIVE FOR MONEY, MONEY, MONEY IS KILLING THE SPECTACLE OF FOOTBALL!!!

*Portugal could be the exception here.

Is there any one out there who thinks I am talking b*llocks?


LC

 

[Knightsworld]

no

 

[Gwylan]

Ahem..the winner of the Champions League, and the side that played the most games, is Porto. There were plenty of Porto players in the game on Thursday who didn't look too knackered to me.

 

[Wozza]

Is there any one out there who thinks I am talking b*llocks?

Yep.

Shed load of Portugese, Dutch and Czech players in the top leagues and playing in the Champions League.

 

[Charlies Shinpad]

It must be hard playing for 180 minutes a week!!

I wouldnt mind working 180 minutes a week and getting paid Mega Bucks for it!!

For the most part they are a bunch of over paid prima donnas

 

[Gully]

But Gwylan, how many games do they play in the Portuguese league, do they have two national cup competitions and what is the level and intensity of their domestic football.

Look at England, Frank Lampard went into Euro 2004 having played over 60 games during the last season, that is a hell of a lot even for a fit young chap like him, he did look a bit jaded against Portugal, I for one am not at all surprised.

We are the only country in Europe that takes its domestic cup competition really seriously, most other nations only consider the league worth winning as it guarantees Champions League football. I think the best thing we could do in the UK is to get rid of the league cup, that does impinge slightly on what LC says about the money issue as I believe that most of the top teams treat this competition with contempt, until the latter stages anyway...

 

[Gwylan]

Portugal play 34 games in their national league, so they do play fewer, but not that much fewer over an 8-month period. I don't think that the League Cup argument holds as the top clubs use the LC to play their juniors.

And how do you explain Beckham's performance. He played in the Spanish league which plays fewer games than the Premiership, didn't even reach the semi-final of the Champions League and looked one of the most knackered of all the England players.

I agree with Charlie's Shinpad. We're not talking about people working day in, day out on a factory floor. 180 minutes a week, tops, shouldn't be that demanding.

 

[Kylies Stunt Arse]

With Beckham I think it simply comes down to training. At Real Madrid the style of football that they play is so different to that played here that the training isn't so fitness intensive. It was reported that when the England squad first got together and they did the initial bleep fitness tests that Beckham was one of the least fit players there and he'd previously been one of, if not the, fittest in the squad.

For him to try and make up the fitness levels needed in the time he had was never going to be likely. I'm not trying to make excuses for him, because I think his form was terrible throughout the competition, but this may explain his apparent lack of fitness.

 

[Bwian]

UEFA MUST START STANDING UP TO THE BIG BOYS. THE DRIVE FOR MONEY, MONEY, MONEY IS KILLING THE SPECTACLE OF FOOTBALL!!!

Aren't those muppets in charge of UEFA responsible for the scramble for money? It was they, after all, who devised "The Champions League" for champions and down to fourth place finishers so they could have games almost every week?

Then they introduce stupid rules that referees have to follow which rewards divers and cheats. all of their regulations have done nothing for the likes of England who still believe that football is a man's game with a certain amount of contact and sportsmanship.

 

[The Large One]

I can't accept the argument that some of the so-called big countries' failures are down to hectic league schedules. Only Italy had an entire squad of home-based players. All other countries had players based at 'home' and 'abroad'. Greece has players playing in the 'big' countries, playing in very competitive leagues, as does Portugal. FFS Portugal's first goal on Thursday was scored by a paraplegic donkey who couldn't hit an elephant's arse with a shovel in the Premiership.

Ignoring any dodgy refereeing decision (mainly because they tend to stupid for both sides) Greece and Portugal are in the semis on merit - one, because they worked harder, possibly therefore making up for their deficiancies, and two, because England, Spain, Italy, Germany and France possibly thought that because they were the faves to reach the last four (or at least certainties for the last eight), that all they had to was turn up, ponce around for a bit and 'pick off' the lesser teams at will.

There is also the fact, so far overlooked, that at present, Italy and Spain, depsite having technically gifted individuals, have extremely deficient tactical know-how. Both sides were very poor. Added to that, Italy had their squad morale blasted by Totti's Spit Roast.

As for Germany, they lack the basic quality in their squad, and despite getting to the World Cup 2002 final, are actually are very mediocre side. They didn't beat any European sides getting to that final, and those 'lesser' nations they did beat were only 1-0. (Look it up.) Schadenfrude aside, it really was no surprise that Germany went out in the first round. German football, both domesitc and international is in poor shape.

However, I do agree with the notion that UEFA is one large money-grabbing mega-conglomerate out to get rich on the back of other people's hard work. Greece getting to the semis is one massive V-sign to the sponsors. Good on them.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

I've already posted this thought on Lush's thread about what Real Madrid does to players. But it seems just as valid here:-



One thing seems clear to me.

A lot of players seem to think that the BIG games these days are Champions League matches and major domestic games. You know ... the ones that are worth winning because they earn big money for the clubs and players "next season".

Piddling little international tournaments? What's the point? You win them, you lose them. What difference does it make to a player?



It all comes down to motivation. Portugal are motivated because it's a home tournament. Greece are motivated because it's a big year for Greek sport. England, Spain, Italy, Germany and France are demotivated, because this tournament is nothing much more than an interruption to the summer holidays.

 

[The Large One]

Added to that, players like to put themselves in the 'shop window'. Look out for a few more Greek and Czech players in Germany, Spain, Italy and England next season.

Those at Real Madrid, Manchester United, Barcelona, AC Milan et al don't have to try too much harder.

 

[Gwylan]

I think what Lord B is saying is absolutely right. You could see how much the Greek victory over France meant to the players. Too many of the big name players from the major countries probably regard the tournament is too much of a distraction.

 

[London Calling]

I think what Lord B is saying is absolutely right. You could see how much the Greek victory over France meant to the players. Too many of the big name players from the major countries probably regard the tournament is too much of a distraction.

There were also other great occasions when Latvia held Germany (and should have beat Germany). They were certainly cheated on 3 occasions by the dodgy refereeing.

Perhaps it is because I support a "small" club, but the balance and the emphasis between National and the "Super" clubs is now wrong.

Why should Fergusson, Wenger and Chelski give a f*** about about England?

But the fans should but all too often we hear "we can't afford xxxx to play in an international".

Why bloody not.

I want to see the best England side playing the best football, with passion like the Greeks and Latvians.

I still think fatigue is a problem, as I said earlier go back to the World Cup, look at South Korea, their players only played Internationals. They were like Duracell rabbits on speed.

Plus top runners only do a maximum number of events a year to save burn out. I imagine the same issues can apply to our players.

LC

LC

 

[Charlies Shinpad]

The last World Cup started only 3 weeks after the end of the season.

Euro 2004 stated 6 weeks after the season ended.

So why are they so lethargic??

Because they cant be arsed!

It used to be an honour to play for your Country and a lot of the older players ie,Greaves,Charlton,Gascoigne to name a few would have played for nothing.

Todays players mainly seem to treat it as a chore

 

[graz126]

the biggest under achievers of all spain and england do play a lot more games than any other nations leagues.
the more french players move to the premiership the worse they will get aswell.

i just dont think the germans and the italians have great talent coming through the ranks at the mo.

 

[Yorkie]

It used to be an honour to play for your Country and a lot of the older players ie,Greaves,Charlton,Gascoigne to name a few would have played for nothing.

Todays players mainly seem to treat it as a chore

The world's my football pitch by Billy Wright 1953.
Written specifically about his time with England.
Chapter eleven extract - Sharing his thoughts on footballers' wages and in particular the idea that playing for England should carry a 100.00 payment

..........................................................................................


Only a short time ago I was visited by a newspaper reporter who told me that a leading personality had come forward with the suggestion that in future every man who played for England should receive a match fee of 100.00.

'I suppose you agree, Mr Wright?' he asked with a smile. I didn't. In fact I told him I thought the idea was ludicrous. To receive 100.00 for playing ninety minutes football sounds crazy to me.

I do not know of one England player that would put financial reward before the honour of appearing for his country. To be perfectly candid if there was nothing else but the inducement of an International cap I would be just as eager to play for England.

Once a footballer begins to think in terms of cash, instead of soccer, the time has arrived for him to hang up his boots...

In the meantime let's hear a little more about what players are prepared to put into the game and less about what they are prepared to take from it. Then perhaps we can start thinking about those 100.00 per match fees...

 

[itszamora]

If only the same could be said today

 

[Wilts]

.... In the meantime lets hear a little more about what players are prepared to put into the game and less about what they are prepared to take from it.

That pearl of lexical wisdom needs to be disseminated among the whole of the industry. Top to bottom. Officials, coaches, players (especially), agents, and to some degree fans too.

 

[Yorkie]

This is a player who used to catch the bus to play at Molineux alongside the fans.

Too much money in football nowadays.