England match / Internationals on Wednesday

[sean]

:applause:

 

They have seven groups from each of which 2 teams qualify for Euro 2008 - with 7 or, in one case, 8 teams in each group. That means 12 or even 14 matches have to be played.

 

If, instead, they had 14 groups from each of which 1 team qualified they could play far fewer games.

 

Although, I'd rather they just scrapped international football altogether.

 

 

I feckin' don't. It's a rarity we get to see some decent football on our doorstep without having to travel. Apart from the Dubs that is. My closest club is St. Pats and they're pitiful.

[Boca]

I bet West Ham are delighted about this friendly now.

 

From Sky Sports

 

Dean Ashton is unlikely to make his England debut against Greece at Old Trafford after suffering an ankle injury during training.

 

The West Ham ace was all set to make his international debut against the European champions, however he is now set to miss out.

 

Ashton damaged an ankle during Tuesday's morning training session and has been swiftly taken to hospital to undergo scans on the knock.

 

New England boss Steve McClaren has bemoaned the timing of the injury as the former Norwich man was all set to make his international bow.

 

"He's having a scan at the hospital now. It's clouded the morning," explained McClaren.

 

"It's difficult when a young player goes down with injury. These things happen and we're all sorry to hear it happen."

[charlie clown]

International friendlies are incredibly pointless.

 

The sooner they are rid of the better - I'm sure our FA make inordinate amounts of money by other means anyway so its not like the gate receipts are needed...

 

they need to recoup the losses made when Chelsea don't sell their ticket allocations

[sutty]

they need to recoup the losses made when Chelsea don't sell their ticket allocations

 

 

I knew that this was somehow Kenyons fault.

[crisps]

Well Ashton's broke his ankle.

[McBain]

Who ya gonna call? Step up Theo

[RP]

That's West Ham's season f***ed.

[Andy @ Allerton]

And all for a f***ing waste of time game - the FA should be sued for this.

 

w*****s.

[Bootle Buck]

It's time for UEFA to stop this silly s***. The same teams qualify for the Euro Finals every tournament. Why put teams through all these games and friendlies. Why not just rank the top 32 teams and invite them to the tournament. The likes Latvia, Moldovia, The Faroes Islands and Malta have no fecking chance so why chance injuries playing against them.

[Gilps]

That's West Ham's season f***ed.

 

They'll certainly miss him badly alright.

 

Stupid bloody match this is.

[RP]

I reckon Ashton was going to get a start and now Crouch has been put in. So now he is 'at risk', all for a f***ing pointless friendly.

[Stevie H]

I reckon Ashton was going to get a start and now Crouch has been put in. So now he is 'at risk', all for a f***ing pointless friendly.

that's about right.

 

plus it's apparently a chance for mclaren to have a look at gerrard on the right of midfield. not like he played there all last season or anything.

[Bootle Buck]

I have a bad feeling about tommorow's friendlies. The thought of Bellamy, Gerrard, Crouch et al at risk three days before the season kick off is enough to give manager's and fans a heart attack. All so the managers of underacheiving international teams can spend more time getting nothing out of gifted players.

 

Fecking Stupid!

Edited August 15, 2006 by Bootle Buck

[sutty]

That's West Ham's season f***ed.

 

That could really affect your libido.

Edited August 15, 2006 by sutty

[floyd]

I have a bad feeling about tommorow's friendlies. The thought of Bellamy,

Just thought so you could get your fix of our latest saviour, he's playing tonight. Sky Sports 1

[RP]

That could really effect your libido.

 

 

Sabre has asked me to point out that it should be "affect" not "effect".

 

No wonder you didn't get your promotion.

[Paddy 66]

It is ridiculous to have a friendly at this stage of the (non) season. But you can't blame it on the FA. Every country has a friendly tomorrow don't they?

Spot on, a lot of countries have organised friendlies for this week. Think the only ones who have probably got it about right is Scotland, as much as i hate to say it. They have got a two day get together rather than an international, so less risk and less time for the players away from their clubs.

[Will]

Whinge whinge moan moan

 

A couple of facts to bear in mind:

 

- it is traditional for their to be an international weekend at this time of year - there certainly has been for at least the last decade

- it is logical for there to be a warm-up game or get together between the end of a major championship and the start of qualifying for the next one

 

I am not remotely bothered about any of these games (apart from a sad statto point of view), but I fully understand why they are being played