World Cup Qualification - Brazil 2014

[LUX]

I would love it, love it if Ukraine beat France.

+1

For all the criticism England get, it would be good to see England benchmarked against France a little more. For a supposedly big player on the international stage they've been pretty woeful in recent years. They got knocked out of Euro 2012 after finishing below England in their group, knocked out of the first round of the 2010 World Cup in the first round after basically cheating against Ireland to get there in the first place, and couldn't even get seeded for this play-off draw. And they finished bottom of their group at Euro 2008.

France are crap.

lol

1984 European Championships: winners (OK, that is old)
1998 WC winners
2000 EC winners
2008 WC runners up.

What are England's achievements over that period

[Big Foot]

^ 2006 WC m8, but still fair play

[3 veesinarow]

Head: Portugal, Greece, France, Croatia

Heart: Sweden, Greece, Ukraine, Iceland

Wanna see Ronaldo in tears, the French implode again and the Sig at a WC. Greece? Always liked it for holidays.

[genome]

I would love it, love it if Ukraine beat France.

+1

For all the criticism England get, it would be good to see England benchmarked against France a little more. For a supposedly big player on the international stage they've been pretty woeful in recent years. They got knocked out of Euro 2012 after finishing below England in their group, knocked out of the first round of the 2010 World Cup in the first round after basically cheating against Ireland to get there in the first place, and couldn't even get seeded for this play-off draw. And they finished bottom of their group at Euro 2008.

France are crap.

It basically all fell apart after Zidane's headbutt then

[Brum Royal]

Would love if it Iceland got through. I like Croatia, but I've not got the same enjoyment of them as when they were pretty awesome in the mid 00s.

A massive LOLathon at France if Ukraine beat them. I reckon they will too, given how many problems they caused England.

Whoever wins out of Portugal and Sweden will inevitably end up in England's group at the WC, so perhaps we'd have a better chance v Sweden.

Going to be in Greece for the first week of the WC (humblebrag ahoy) so would be better if they were there I guess.

[YateleyRoyal]

Would love if it Iceland got through. I like Croatia, but I've not got the same enjoyment of them as when they were pretty awesome in the mid 00s.

A massive LOLathon at France if Ukraine beat them. I reckon they will too, given how many problems they caused England.

Whoever wins out of Portugal and Sweden will inevitably end up in England's group at the WC, so perhaps we'd have a better chance v Sweden.

Going to be in Greece for the first week of the WC (humblebrag ahoy) so would be better if they were there I guess.

Fantastic use of ahoy

[Pepe the Horseman]

Might have a punt on our Icelandic brothers at 7/2.

[stealthpapes]

So the draw for the play-offs has been made:

Portugal v Sweden
Greece v Romania
Ukraine v France
Iceland v Croatia

My predictions are Portugal, Romania, Ukraine and Croatia to qualify.

Portugal vs Sweden will be a half decent game to watch. Two of the most talented players in the world against each other.

Oh yeah, Zlatan at the weekend.



Greece vs Romania - bit zzzz about that

Ukraine vs France - Ukraine plz

Iceland vs Croatia - they're not going to bring back Bryn, are they?

[just some bloke]

I would love it, love it if Ukraine beat France.

+1

For all the criticism England get, it would be good to see England benchmarked against France a little more. For a supposedly big player on the international stage they've been pretty woeful in recent years. They got knocked out of Euro 2012 after finishing below England in their group, knocked out of the first round of the 2010 World Cup in the first round after basically cheating against Ireland to get there in the first place, and couldn't even get seeded for this play-off draw. And they finished bottom of their group at Euro 2008.

France are crap.

lol

1984 European Championships: winners (OK, that is old)
1998 WC winners
2000 EC winners
2008 WC runners up.

What are England's achievements over that period

There was no World Cup in 2008. France, as I said, were busy coming bottom of their Euro group that year.

Since 2006 - and since I made the post about it I get to decide the cut-off point - France have been miserable. How many current French players survive from 2006?

[LUX]

you wanted to benchmark.

alright, they're rubbish. And football's been coming home every fcking year.

[just some bloke]

They've failed to get out of their group in two of the last three tournaments, and they may not even qualify for this one (they certainly made a big pigs ear of the last time they were in the play-offs). England have failed to get out of their group only three times in their history - The 2000 and 1980 Euros and (I think) the World Cup in '58.

Weird fact - both times England failed to get out of their Euros group, they managed to beat Germany. Which, as any Englishman knows, is as good as winning the tournament.

[stealthpapes]

Massive issues in the French 'camp' between different groups of players, iirc. Not necessarily on racial lines but 2010 saw players walking out in various strops.

But even since 2006, aren't they about the same as England?

2008 - England DNQ France Group stage
2010 - England 2nd round France Group stage
2012 - England 2nd round France 2nd round

If Bongo bleeding Khumalo can score against them, how rubbish must they be?

[Starfish]

They've failed to get out of their group in two of the last three tournaments, and they may not even qualify for this one (they certainly made a big pigs ear of the last time they were in the play-offs). England have failed to get out of their group only three times in their history - The 2000 and 1980 Euros and (I think) the World Cup in '58.

Weird fact - both times England failed to get out of their Euros group, they managed to beat Germany. Which, as any Englishman knows, is as good as winning the tournament.

If someone returned from the future with the information that the World Cup 2014 was won by one of either England or France, who do you think the majority of football fans would be putting their money on?

[Silver Fox]

England?

[LUX]

But even since 2006, aren't they about the same as England?

2008 - England DNQ France Group stage
2010 - England 2nd round France Group stage
2012 - England 2nd round France 2nd round

yep. There's your up-to-date benchmark jsb. Agreed, it's better to ignore everything 1998-2006.

I particularly enjoyed your 2008 benchmark exercise where France screwed up and England didn't even qualify.

No, they are not good at the moment/have internal strife, but they were in Spain's group in qualifying this time. I'm sure England would have sailed through.

[just some bloke]

They've failed to get out of their group in two of the last three tournaments, and they may not even qualify for this one (they certainly made a big pigs ear of the last time they were in the play-offs). England have failed to get out of their group only three times in their history - The 2000 and 1980 Euros and (I think) the World Cup in '58.

Weird fact - both times England failed to get out of their Euros group, they managed to beat Germany. Which, as any Englishman knows, is as good as winning the tournament.

If someone returned from the future with the information that the World Cup 2014 was won by one of either England or France, who do you think the majority of football fans would be putting their money on?

If it was today? With England already through and France facing a tricky play-off to even make the tournament? The smart money would all be on England.

[Starfish]

If it was today? With England already through and France facing a tricky play-off to even make the tournament? The smart money would all be on England.

Really? You see, I can imagine France winning a major competition. I don't think they will win the next World Cup, but I would not be totally shocked if I was told by someone coming back from the future that they had. I cannot say the same of England, however.

[just some bloke]

England vs France, overall record:

Head-to-Head Record

Played 29, England won 16, 5 draws, France won 8. England 58 goals, France 34

World Cups

England 13 appearances since 1950
France 13 appearances since 1930

England 1 win
France 1 win

France 1 runners-up
England 0 runners-up

England 3 first stage eliminations, none since 1958
France 7 first stage limitations, 2 since 2002

England 6 quarter finals
France 1 quarter final

England 1 semi-final
France 3 semi-finals

Euros

France 2 wins
England 0 wins

France 1 semi-final
England 1 semi-final

Champions League

English Clubs 12 times winners
French Clubs 1 time winners



I'd say England have it, over time.

[southbank1871]

No.

[LUX]

agreed on the clubs, but that wasn't your point.

look at the tournament wins, finals and semi finals. It really is no contest.