Does politics ruin the World Cup?

[Guest Kaizer]

I have been thinking about this topic for a while because I dont think the World Cup we witness today tells the truth about what are the best teams in the world.

 

Have politics ruined the World Cup for some of the European teams that should have been here because of their qualities compared to some of the teams we have witnessed so far in this WC?

 

Europe have lost some of their places in the WC to African, Asian an teams from Central and North America in the last World Cups, my question is if this is the right thing to do, or if this actually reduces the quality of the WC?

 

Teams like the Ivory Coast, Angola, Ghana and Togo have all lost their first matches in the WC, Costa Rica, USA, Iran and Japan have expirienced the same faith.

 

I think it is a good thing we get teams from all around the world in the WC, but has it gone too far?

 

In my opinion it has, I think teams such as Ireland, Turkey, Norway, Belgium, Denmark, Romania all should be sorry they have been left out, because the reason they did not qualifiy was not because they was not good enough, but because of politics.

 

Is it time to make a change, and give Europe back some of the places that has been taken away from them in the last couple of years?

[Des]

Why would you vote if you don't have an opinion?

[Knox_Harrington]

Why would you vote if you don't have an opinion?

David Cameron.

[Guest Kaizer]

Why would you vote if you don't have an opinion?

 

Because you are clueless

[Des]

I hope "I don't have an opinion" wins the poll.

[Ostrich Man]

I hope "I don't have an opinion" wins the poll.

i dont.

[R A Softlad]

It ruins Eurovision...

[Guest Si]

Europe hasnt lost places at all.

 

There were always 4 African/Asian teams during the old 6 groups day (82,86,90 etc)

 

When the WC went to 8 groups in 98 the African/Asians had 8 representatives but there is also 4 more openings for teams from the other federations.

 

I welcome the inclusion of so called lesser nations especially considering they now provide players for the World top clubs.

 

Sissoko, Drogba, Eboue, Toure the list goes on.

 

The reason Ireland and Turkey are not in 2006 is because they didnt qualify not politics.

[Guest Scot]

Europe hasnt lost places at all.

 

There were always 4 African/Asian teams during the old 6 groups day (82,86,90 etc)

 

When the WC went to 8 groups in 98 the African/Asians had 8 representatives but there is also 4 more openings for teams from the other federations.

 

I welcome the inclusion of so called lesser nations especially considering they now provide players for the World top clubs.

 

Sissoko, Drogba, Eboue, Toure the list goes on.

 

The reason Ireland and Turkey are not in 2006 is because they didnt qualify not politics.

 

I agree, but it's certainly harder to qualify out of Europe than from some other areas.

[Guest Si]

I agree, but it's certainly harder to qualify out of Europe than from some other areas.

 

Oh yeh undoubtedly but I think part of the World Cup magic is the big boys coming up against the minnows.

[Guest JamesA]

I think the World Cup should only be for European teams, and we should open up the European Championships to any country that can qualify for the final of Eurovision.

 

That should pacify Sepp.

[Crazy Horse]

Oh yeh undoubtedly but I think part of the World Cup magic is the big boys coming up against the minnows.

 

That was only good when the minnows were s****. Now the minnows play creditably and usually have at least one player who's been signed by Arsene Wenger. Makes it boring. f*** the minnows.

[Guest Si]

That was only good when the minnows were s****. Now the minnows play creditably and usually have at least one player who's been signed by Arsene Wenger. Makes it boring. f*** the minnows.

 

Scotland?

[Guest Kaizer]

Europe hasnt lost places at all.

 

 

There used to be 16 European clubs that could qualify to the World Cup through the qualifying groups, earlier you qualified if you finished second in your group, not any more because Europe has lost places to other Federations with lesser quality teams.

[Ginu]

an Iranian friend told me that reports out of Iran stated that the Sheikhs ordered the team to tank it in the second half when they were tied 1-1... apparently there were 3 million people in the streets and the Sheikhs didn't want to take the chance of a riot... politics don't ruin the World Cup, idiots in power ruin the World Cup... Iran showed their worth in their first game

[Guest Si]

There used to be 16 European clubs that could qualify to the World Cup through the qualifying groups, earlier you qualified if you finished second in your group, not any more because Europe has lost places to other Federations with lesser quality teams.

 

Rubbish.

 

1990 - 14 places to European teams

 

1994 World Cup - 13 places

 

1998 world cup - 15 european teams

 

2002 World Cup - 15 went to European teams

 

and now in Germany we have 14 European teams.

 

Dont let the facts get in the way of a good argument.

 

and in 1986

 

The 24 spots available in the 1986 World Cup would be distributed among the continental zones as follows:

 

* Europe (UEFA): 13.5 places, 1 of them went to automatic qualifier Italy, while the other 12.5 places were contested by 32 teams. The winner of the 0.5 place would advance to the Intercontinental Play-offs (against a team from OFC).

Edited June 13, 2006 by Si

[Guest Kaizer]

Rubbish.

 

1990 - 14 places to European teams

 

1994 World Cup - 13 places

 

1998 world cup - 15 european teams

 

2002 World Cup - 15 went to European teams

 

and now in Germany we have 14 European teams.

 

Dont let the facts get in the way of a good argument.

 

and in 1986

 

The 24 spots available in the 1986 World Cup would be distributed among the continental zones as follows:

 

* Europe (UEFA): 13.5 places, 1 of them went to automatic qualifier Italy, while the other 12.5 places were contested by 32 teams. The winner of the 0.5 place would advance to the Intercontinental Play-offs (against a team from OFC).

 

I agree I could have researced this a bit better, but earlier you qualified if you finsihed second in your group in Europe.

 

There has been a lot of changes and the percentage of European teams was higher earlier, even with lesser Federations in Europe, so I guess I can still argue for my view

 

But things have changed, earlier the WC winner qualified automatically, now you dont.

 

Germany qualifies automatic as host nation, but my point is that you should be able to qualify if you finish second in your group in the European qualifications groups.