Quote from: Norgy on Today at 12:20:04 AMQuote from: Baron von Schtinkenbutt on December 08, 2025, 03:05:55 PMUnderstandable. Double elimination until they get down to 16 would still be an interesting alternative.
Let's not mistake FIFA for an organisation that actually gives a damn about quality and competitiveness. While I personally think it is a good thing for exposure that more national teams get a chance in a World Cup, it does make the WC a bit more bland.
Denmark arguably has a strong national team, but is staying at home next summer. The camel through the eye of a needle is quite harsh in UEFA qualifiers. Even the Euros competition is a bit bland because almost anyone qualifies with a whopping 32 teams competing. But most know that it will come down to Germany, the Iberian countries or Croatia at some point. Or France, if they can be bothered. Soccer really isn't that competitive, because there's been dominance from a few countries since 1930. Could Mexico win the World Cup? No. Norway? Definitely not. Sweden had a very strong 1994 tournament.
I see Norway's mostly playing on the east coast (Boston). We did that in 1994 too, and the summer heat almost knocked our players out.
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on Today at 03:40:44 AMI think the principal problem is that the rules were generated by a more robust generation than the ones living now. I have known many people, older than me (so mostly dead now), with debilitating conditions of one sort or another (mainly related to a lifetime wroking in coal mines) who would not have dreamed of categorising themselves as disabled. I also had several teachers who were quite mad/peculiar having served the full 6 years or more in the forces during WW2.
None of these people were "disabled" by their own lights. Whereas, nowadays, a spot of ADHD or autism and people want to claim extraordinary privileges. The problem with that is there are so few normal people; I met one once, back in the 80s, no physical or mental problems or peculiarities....she was so relaxing to hang out with![]()
...and I do know that I'm a grumpy old man now![]()



Quote from: Baron von Schtinkenbutt on December 08, 2025, 03:05:55 PMUnderstandable. Double elimination until they get down to 16 would still be an interesting alternative.
Page created in 0.018 seconds with 11 queries.