Euros 2016

[aka Dus]

La Corruption update.

 

France are going to be in one of the qualifying groups but they won't score any points, nor will the games against them count in the points tally of the teams they play against, who will be trying to qualify for the finals.

 

So one group will be effectively 5 teams with France getting high class 'competitive' friendlies for 2 years.

 

Will bookings or sendings off count if received by the oppo in these French games? [insert Platiniesque shrug here]

[Crazy Horse]

Should just make the hosts have to qualify. But I'm sure that's also a $$$-related issue, not a footballing one.

[dorgie]

This, effectively, is UEFA stepping in to organise friendlies for France rather than the French FA having to do so. Very strange move.

[libero]

Anybody who plays them should field a weakened team, if its Engurland Hodge could even call up PFK.

[Case]

Meh. Hope Ireland draw them then. Pick a few cloggers to knock seven shades of merde out of them. except Sakho, natch.

Edited January 24, 2014 by Case

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

La Corruption update.

 

France are going to be in one of the qualifying groups but they won't score any points, nor will the games against them count in the points tally of the teams they play against, who will be trying to qualify for the finals.

 

So one group will be effectively 5 teams with France getting high class 'competitive' friendlies for 2 years.

 

Will bookings or sendings off count if received by the oppo in these French games? [insert Platiniesque shrug here]

 

I mean, just what the f***?

 

Oppo should treat these games with the derision they deserve

[Cobs]

we should invite Qatar to play in it

 

 

 

 

for lots of money, obviously

 

 

 

[Nebraska Red]

La Corruption update.

 

France are going to be in one of the qualifying groups but they won't score any points, nor will the games against them count in the points tally of the teams they play against, who will be trying to qualify for the finals.

 

So one group will be effectively 5 teams with France getting high class 'competitive' friendlies for 2 years.

 

Will bookings or sendings off count if received by the oppo in these French games? [insert Platiniesque shrug here]

 

On the face of it, it's not a bad idea. The fact that it is France and involves Platini obviously taints it. Seeing Brazil trot all over the planet to play games against poor opposition has been a bit of a joke.

[aka Dus]

It's a crap idea and I hope the teams in their groups send second string teams to play them. If you are away to France on the second fixture of a double fixture week, why would you bring your top players and risk injury or pissing off their club to play a practice match. I'm all for friendlies and international teams getting opportunities to develop at the right times but this is fairly ridiculous. I wouldn't shell out to travel to such a game.

[drdooom]

Are they going to be seeded? You'd think not but you never know with UEFA.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

It's a crap idea and I hope the teams in their groups send second string teams to play them. If you are away to France on the second fixture of a double fixture week, why would you bring your top players and risk injury or pissing off their club to play a practice match. I'm all for friendlies and international teams getting opportunities to develop at the right times but this is fairly ridiculous. I wouldn't shell out to travel to such a game.

 

Exactly, I was thinking the other way around. If you are playing France 1st and then a competitive tie as the 2nd game that week, why would you risk your players ahead of a key game ?

[RP]

Meh. Hope Ireland draw them then. Pick a few cloggers to knock seven shades of merde out of them. except Sakho, natch.

 

 

Any Liverpool players in the Irish team?

 

France for me then.

[aka Dus]

Flanagan might be in the next Ireland squad.

[RP]

Flanagan might be in the next Ireland squad.

 

 

As if the England manager would be so stupid as to let him slip through his fingers.

[Hassony]

La Corruption update.

 

France are going to be in one of the qualifying groups but they won't score any points, nor will the games against them count in the points tally of the teams they play against, who will be trying to qualify for the finals.

 

So one group will be effectively 5 teams with France getting high class 'competitive' friendlies for 2 years.

 

Will bookings or sendings off count if received by the oppo in these French games? [insert Platiniesque shrug here]

 

don't think it's a bad idea

 

they do that in Africa already I think

[rednotdead]

What is the big deal with this and how is it corruption?

Due to the arithmetic of there being 53 teams in qualifying there was always going to be one group of 5 teams so it makes sense for the teams in this group to play decent friendly opposition on their bye weeks. They are effectively playing a glamour friendly against Frace on a week when they would instead be playing San Marino or the Faroes in a qualifier.

And considering Poland and Ukraine had such trouble finding friendly opposition for 2012 it makes sense for France to be playing European opposition rather than flying their players off to Qatar etc to play Brazil.

 

 

 

 

[Gunga Din]

they'd be a whole lot better off having a pre qualifying group, sticking all the s**** thats in pot 6 in a pre qualifying group with the winner of that getting into the main draw. its pointless having Andorra and Gibralter and San Marino in the main qualifying draw

[baz2107]

they'd be a whole lot better off having a pre qualifying group, sticking all the s**** thats in pot 6 in a pre qualifying group with the winner of that getting into the main draw. its pointless having Andorra and Gibralter and San Marino in the main qualifying draw

 

Would be tempted to do the same with pots 4 and 5, as well if there was any way of just having 9 or 10 groups of 4. Less qualifying games, but better competition

[aka Dus]

What is the big deal with this and how is it corruption?

Due to the arithmetic of there being 53 teams in qualifying there was always going to be one group of 5 teams so it makes sense for the teams in this group to play decent friendly opposition on their bye weeks. They are effectively playing a glamour friendly against Frace on a week when they would instead be playing San Marino or the Faroes in a qualifier.

And considering Poland and Ukraine had such trouble finding friendly opposition for 2012 it makes sense for France to be playing European opposition rather than flying their players off to Qatar etc to play Brazil.

 

 

No, as you say, it makes great sense for France.

 

More great French ideas: Monaco pay a one off €50m voluntary donation to the League and retain their right to play in the league without paying French tax.

 

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jan/24/monaco-50m-france-ligue1-tax-exempt

 

 

 

 

[Gravy]

Anybody who plays them should field a weakened team, if its Engurland Hodge could even call up PFK.

 

You really think he'll still be in the job by then and wouldn't have been found out??

[£440,000]

Anybody who plays them should field a weakened team, if its Engurland Hodge could even call up PFK.

Reckon he'll still be in the job?

[Gilps]

Well, he's already had one embarassingly awful tournament and survived that

[aka Dus]

So the draw is tmrw. UEFA will determine the fixture list later in the day. Matches will be spread out across the 'Week of Football' – games will take place over six days from Thursday to Tuesday. Eight to ten matches per day as opposed to 20–30 games on the same day. On double-header matchweeks, teams will play on Thursday and Sunday, or Friday and Monday, or Saturday and Tuesday.

 

Uefa hoovering up the cash but even more football on telly.

[Cobs]

Any games in Qatar?

[aka Dus]

You're thinking of Euro 2020.