UEFA 2016

[paultheroyal]

UEFA tonight have announced that hosts France will play in the qualifiers but no points at stake.

How utterly pointless is that?

[From Despair To Where?]

Glorified friendlies then.

As you say, what's the point, unless it's some sop to the FIFA Rankings where a host nation always falls down the rankings because they only play friendlies, which in itself is pretty pointless because the host gets seeded anyway.

[Royal Ginger]

Meh, at the same time I don't see any real problem with it. Generates some TV money and gives the fans a day out.

[genome]

How utterly pointless is that?

That's the idea, isn't it?

[The Real Sandhurst Royal]

Michel Platini's idea no doubt

[TBM]

I dont see a problem with it

Now means there are 9 groups of 6 rather than 8 of 6 and 1 of 5......

[soggy biscuit]

Was a shit situation having to have 2 years of organising friendlies with nations in preparation for the tournament. This is just a slightly less sh*t alternative.

[TBM]

Was a shit situation having to have 2 years of organising friendlies with nations in preparation for the tournament. This is just a slightly less sh*t alternative.

Exactly - plus it'll give them that competitiveness and feeling of being involved, rather than just rocking up when the tournament starts

[Four Of Clubs]

"... Far Quenelle..."

- I did a double take last night too: as I glanced at Sky Sp News - inbetween the variety of blousy eye-candy they stick behind a desk - BUT was sure I misread the sub-titles or else it had suddenly become April 1??

What about injuries/suspensions - though admittedly you could get the former in friendlies.....

... and potential for dodgy Gallic Goal Difference shenanigans too ie say the Frogs last 'group' match is away vs remotest Outer Dubrovia with positions elsewhere relying upon the result - what's the chance of them sending out a load of kids cos they can't be @rsed and Platini wants to try and f£ck up someone's chances of qualifying ?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
...on another slant my Sis-in-law is still resident over there, so me and the youngest are beginning to subtly guide the family hols in that direction for 2016 .... no objections from anyone yet!

...trouble is my dearest S-i-L is a right pain in the proverbials to be around (has a lot of my other half's least endearing qualities but in Spades! ) - probably worth putting up with it for a week or three though?

[TBM]

"... Far Quenelle..."

- I did a double take last night too: as I glanced at Sky Sp News - inbetween the variety of blousy eye-candy they stick behind a desk - BUT was sure I misread the sub-titles or else it had suddenly become April 1??

What about injuries/suspensions - though admittedly you could get the former in friendlies.....

... and potential for dodgy Gallic Goal Difference shenanigans too ie say the Frogs last 'group' match is away vs remotest Outer Dubrovia with positions elsewhere relying upon the result - what's the chance of them sending out a load of kids cos they can't be @rsed and Platini wants to try and f£ck up someone's chances of qualifying ?

You do know that the games france play will still be friendlies and will have no baring on the group - it just means they will have a group of teams to play against for 2 years, rather than trying to find games against nations elsewhere in the world...

[Four Of Clubs]

You do know that the games france play will still be friendlies and will have no baring on the group - it just means they will have a group of teams to play against for 2 years, rather than trying to find games against nations elsewhere in the world...

... Yeah - like I said I didn't really catch the gist of the text feed - but evidently then missed the point about points (& goals) 2nd time around when I posted

... I'd prefer them to have to qualify as well and have an outside chance of them not making it for their own tournament - the whole country could pull a collective 'Le Sulk' then !

[Wax Jacket]

I think this is quite a good idea. gives the smaller teams in the group a chance to play another of the big boys as well.

[Brum Royal]

I'm inclined to think this is a good idea too. The host nation gets to play "competitive" fixtures against teams at the same time as everyone else playing, and I guess it stops the host nation (like Brazil) dropping to a silly ranking overall because they're only playing friendly matches.

UEFA may have this one right.

[Deadlock]

Not convinced. Playing friendlies can actually lower a country's ranking, even if they win.

[TBM]

Not convinced. Playing friendlies can actually lower a country's ranking, even if they win.

But wont this mean the ranking points are the same - just they dont have any "league position"

[soggy biscuit]

can see some drama taking place when next best team in group play against full strength France and draw only for 2nd next best team in group play against not full strength France (because clubs have important games coming up and hey, it's only a friendly for France anyway) and win

[SPARTA]

UEFA tonight have announced that hosts France will play in the qualifiers but no points at stake.

How utterly pointless is that?

Yet another reason why I don't bother watching international football any more.

[TBM]

can see some drama taking place when next best team in group play against full strength France and draw only for 2nd next best team in group play against not full strength France (because clubs have important games coming up and hey, it's only a friendly for France anyway) and win

Why can't people understand that NO POINTS are at stake......the games that France play won't mean anything, other than them being a friendly.

[Barry the bird boggler]

France would qualify anyway, even if points were at stake, through the usual handball or miles offside goal.

[Stuka]

When are groups announced?