2014 WC Qualifiers - Europe

[Galning]

impossible to do that again.

 

[mixer]

Welcome to Poland

 

[Cruijffista]

The double pivot is still a 4-3-3, though? Just for clarification's sake.

As far as Tito taking note, I'd definitely like to see more of Busquets+Song or even Busquets+Mascherano, but only to protect an existing lead. Iniesta-Busquets-Xavi (or Fabregas somewhere in there) to start with, then rest Xavi or Iniesta once we're in a comfortable lead.

I've been saying this for awhile now, I think the double-pivot would work great for Barca to protect a lead.

 

[Stric]

I've been saying this for awhile now, I think the double-pivot would work great for Barca to protect a lead.

And to rest a 32-year-old Xavi.

 

[Jenks]

Apparently the Wales squad that faced Scotland had 13 English players in it

 

[Deco 20]

Apparently the Wales squad that faced Scotland had 13 English players in it

But we all know you're a die-hard Wales fan, amirite? :Smile:

 

[Yugo Count Dante]

;]

 

[Stric]

New FIFA rankings, Aprill 11th. Interesting, yet laughable.

1 Spain 1538
2 Germany 1428
3 Argentina 1292
4 Croatia 1191
5 Portugal 1163
6 Colombia 1154
7 England 1135
8 Italy 1117
9 Netherlands 1093
10 Ecuador 1056
11 Russia 1052
12 Côte d'Ivoire 1008
13 Greece 986
14 Mexico 971
15 Switzerland 967
16 Belgium 953
17 Uruguay 932
18 France 914
19 Brazil 909
20 Denmark 900

 

[Semi-Neutral]

Croatia? Italy in 8th? Portugal drew Israel, yet are in fifth? Greece ahead of Mexico, Belgium, France!, Brazil!?

 

[BerkeleyBernie]

Yeah, that's pretty whacky.

 

[Stric]

As a Croat, I can't help but feel kind of proud to see this, at least for a second, but I know that it's ridiculous. Our team hasn't gone further than the group stages in any of the last several competitions they've taken part in, yet somehow they manage to have a higher overall score than some very successful teams.

 

[Semi-Neutral]

Sorry if I'm offending you, but who does Croatia even have besides Modric? Who have they even beaten that's good?

 

[MVBarcaFan]

As a Croat, I can't help but feel kind of proud to see this, at least for a second, but I know that it's ridiculous. Our team hasn't gone further than the group stages in any of the last several competitions they've taken part in, yet somehow they manage to have a higher overall score than some very successful teams.

As half-Croat, I'm kinda happy to see this too though my other Bosnian half still hasn't cracked the top 20.

 

[Barcaman]

Sorry if I'm offending you, but who does Croatia even have besides Modric? Who have they even beaten that's good?

Only shows your lack of knowledge in football. What does it matter who we have? Football is a team sport last time I checked not set of big names thrown to make 11.

Having said that, I don't think we are 4th. I don't think Argentina should be 3nd either.

 

[Stric]

Sorry if I'm offending you, but who does Croatia even have besides Modric? Who have they even beaten that's good?

We have several really good players. Mandžukić? Bayern's main #9 this season? Srna, Olić, Jelavić, Perišić, etc. etc. Plenty of good players, although Modrić and Mandžukić probably stand out at the moment.

I'm not saying they're playing badly or anything like that, I was really satisfied with our performances at the EC (hell, we managed to hold 0:0 against Spain until the very last minutes), but our results (as unlucky as they are sometimes), don't really warrant us being at 4th place in international football.