Comments on: International Football Has Lost Its Appeal http://www.epltalk.com/international-football-has-lost-its-appeal/388 Daily News & Analysis of the English Premier League Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:03:19 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Anonymous http://www.epltalk.com/international-football-has-lost-its-appeal/388#comment-828 Anonymous Sun, 08 Oct 2006 16:53:00 +0000 http://www.epltalk.com/2006/10/04/international-football-has-lost-its-appeal/#comment-828 The stuff I saw was great. Italy-Ukraine game was very entertaining-good football. I read that Scotland got extremely lucky, and England were plain bad. I actually look forward to international breaks and qualifying games. Despite the big money of the domestic leagues and the Champions League, I still think playing for one's country still means something! Even if it is a meaningless game against Andorra or something like that. The stuff I saw was great. Italy-Ukraine game was very entertaining-good football. I read that Scotland got extremely lucky, and England were plain bad. I actually look forward to international breaks and qualifying games. Despite the big money of the domestic leagues and the Champions League, I still think playing for one’s country still means something! Even if it is a meaningless game against Andorra or something like that.

]]> By: The Gaffer http://www.epltalk.com/international-football-has-lost-its-appeal/388#comment-827 The Gaffer Sat, 07 Oct 2006 22:40:00 +0000 http://www.epltalk.com/2006/10/04/international-football-has-lost-its-appeal/#comment-827 Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to watch the matches yet, but yes - based on the scorelines today - this is pretty amazing turn of events.<br/><br/>Scotland's 1-0 win over France is one of their best results *ever* especially when you consider they're in the same group as Italy.<br/><br/>Ireland's crushing loss to Cyprus is embarrasing. So too was Wales's thrashing at home against Slovakia.<br/><br/>England barely survived what could have been a shock result against Macedonia. Why McClaren decides to play Rooney in the form he's currently in, I do not know.<br/><br/>I'll watch the matches later tonight on tape. Hopefully the action and drama is as thrilling as the results suggest!<br/><br/>Cheers,<br/>The Gaffer Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to watch the matches yet, but yes – based on the scorelines today – this is pretty amazing turn of events.

Scotland’s 1-0 win over France is one of their best results *ever* especially when you consider they’re in the same group as Italy.

Ireland’s crushing loss to Cyprus is embarrasing. So too was Wales’s thrashing at home against Slovakia.

England barely survived what could have been a shock result against Macedonia. Why McClaren decides to play Rooney in the form he’s currently in, I do not know.

I’ll watch the matches later tonight on tape. Hopefully the action and drama is as thrilling as the results suggest!

Cheers,
The Gaffer

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.epltalk.com/international-football-has-lost-its-appeal/388#comment-826 Anonymous Sat, 07 Oct 2006 22:22:00 +0000 http://www.epltalk.com/2006/10/04/international-football-has-lost-its-appeal/#comment-826 Gaffer, wrong again!<br/> A great day of football drama all over Europe! Shocking results for England, France, Ireland, Wales, Spain, etc. <br/> You've seen the scores, and I watched 4-5 games live or on tape. Quality stuff all around! Gaffer, wrong again!
A great day of football drama all over Europe! Shocking results for England, France, Ireland, Wales, Spain, etc.
You’ve seen the scores, and I watched 4-5 games live or on tape. Quality stuff all around!

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.epltalk.com/international-football-has-lost-its-appeal/388#comment-824 Anonymous Fri, 06 Oct 2006 22:23:00 +0000 http://www.epltalk.com/2006/10/04/international-football-has-lost-its-appeal/#comment-824 Actually, two teams from the ACC or Big East can't play each other until the Elite Eight. Actually, two teams from the ACC or Big East can’t play each other until the Elite Eight.

]]> By: PK http://www.epltalk.com/international-football-has-lost-its-appeal/388#comment-823 PK Fri, 06 Oct 2006 15:14:00 +0000 http://www.epltalk.com/2006/10/04/international-football-has-lost-its-appeal/#comment-823 Not only has international football lost some of its appeal, but the Champions League is losing its allure for me, too, for two reasons.<br/><br/>One, I hate the two-legged format. It encourages the away team to play for a 1-1 draw in the first leg, getting that vital away goal.<br/><br/>Two, the way the seeding is done for the groups is pathetic, as is the proviso that teams from the same association can't play each other until the Round of 16.<br/><br/>Can you imagine the NCAA men's basketball tournament if two ACC or Big East teams couldn't play each other until the Sweet 16? Ludicrous, just like<br/><br/>The Champions League would be much more exciting with a knockout format like the FA Cup and with better seeding and no matchup restrictions after the group stages.<br/><br/>I guess I'm in the minority: I much prefer the real drama and rivalries created by domestic league competition over the dull competition of the Champions League, Liverpool's march to the title two years ago notwithstanding.<br/><br/>It says something about the Champions League that teams are seemingly just as excited to qualify for it, due to the huge financial windfall, as actually competing for the title. Not only has international football lost some of its appeal, but the Champions League is losing its allure for me, too, for two reasons.

One, I hate the two-legged format. It encourages the away team to play for a 1-1 draw in the first leg, getting that vital away goal.

Two, the way the seeding is done for the groups is pathetic, as is the proviso that teams from the same association can’t play each other until the Round of 16.

Can you imagine the NCAA men’s basketball tournament if two ACC or Big East teams couldn’t play each other until the Sweet 16? Ludicrous, just like

The Champions League would be much more exciting with a knockout format like the FA Cup and with better seeding and no matchup restrictions after the group stages.

I guess I’m in the minority: I much prefer the real drama and rivalries created by domestic league competition over the dull competition of the Champions League, Liverpool’s march to the title two years ago notwithstanding.

It says something about the Champions League that teams are seemingly just as excited to qualify for it, due to the huge financial windfall, as actually competing for the title.

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