Cheerio 0 Posted February 11, 2008 http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/7239653.stmSouth Africa is going to be a disaster if we''re lucky, a bloodbath if we''re notFIFA, The FA, The Premiere League. All as bad as each other Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yellow hammer 0 Posted February 12, 2008 All a bit academic really as we''re unlikely to qualify Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The ghost of Michael Theoklitos 0 Posted February 12, 2008 [quote user="yellow hammer"]All a bit academic really as we''re unlikely to qualify[/quote]Speak for yourself! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Walking Man 13 Posted February 12, 2008 Plastic pitches and Blackouts. A great advertisment for the first African world cup. A becon of Hope for Africa! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yellow hammer 0 Posted February 12, 2008 [quote] [quote] All a bit academic really as we''re unlikely to qualify[/quote]Speak for yourself![/quote]Ok. All a bit academic really as I''m unlikely to qualify Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Warminster Yellow 0 Posted February 12, 2008 It sounds like a disaster but there is time yet. Greece got the Olympics sorted despite many doubters. As for qualifiaction, England will be there, no doubt whatsover. Capello will not fail on that one, will he take us on to win it? I wouldn''t rule it out. OTBC Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The ghost of Michael Theoklitos 0 Posted February 12, 2008 [quote user="yellow hammer"][quote] [quote] All a bit academic really as we''re unlikely to qualify[/quote]Speak for yourself![/quote]Ok. All a bit academic really as I''m unlikely to qualify[/quote]Sorry, perhaps the correct grammar is "speak for yourselves". Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Citizen Journalist Foghorn 0 Posted February 12, 2008 [quote user="Warminster Yellow"]It sounds like a disaster but there is time yet. Greece got the Olympics sorted despite many doubters. As for qualifiaction, England will be there, no doubt whatsover. Capello will not fail on that one, will he take us on to win it? I wouldn''t rule it out. OTBC[/quote]Looking at the quality of younger English players, I don''t feel it is cut and dried as yet. Is it just the top finisher and then play-offs for the second place teams?FIFA World Cup European Qualifying : Group Six Table25 November 2007 16:50 PWDLFAGDPTS1Andorra000000002Belarus000000003Croatia000000004England000000005Kazakhstan000000006Ukraine00000000 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
we8wba 0 Posted February 12, 2008 we all know what will happen, england will get through group stage on 7pts we have one half decent draw, one solid win, one uneasy but ok victory we will win the last 16 match vs someone like australia, japan, morocco then 1/4s we go 1-0 upwe believe its our yearthen our striker become injured/sent off or just turn utterly cr@pwe then go into extra timesol campbell will pop up with a legit goaloh no ref blows, no goalpenswe misswe in tearswe await 2012 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
we8wba 0 Posted February 12, 2008 on to the matter its somewhat of a discracesome scottish team were told the other year to play on astro then when in uefa told astro couldnt be played on1year down line england HAVE to play on astro, which was somewhat unfair, although im not counting this for reason we went out, but russians play on it regularly we dont. it wasnt really right conditions for astro either in the winter in russiaoh now fifa allowing s.africa to have it. which seems even more a jokeso how come that little scottish team couldnt (no offence) my guess is money talks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Syteanric 1 Posted February 12, 2008 someone should point out that Rugbys played in South Africa.. and played on Grass too.. to fifa...they dont need artificial pitches jas :) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The ghost of Michael Theoklitos 0 Posted February 12, 2008 [quote user="Citizen Journalist Foghorn"]Is it just the top finisher and then play-offs for the second place teams?[/quote]I believe first qualifies outright, second has to play a 2 leg home and away playoff with another second finishing team. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steve in Holland 0 Posted February 12, 2008 I assume they are referring to 3rd generation turf, similar to that used by Russia ?That''s fine. Nothing like the astroturf you remember from the old Luton days. This new stuff is fantastic. We have it at my American Football club''s practice facilities and it is as good as, if not better than grass. Similar comments were made by England''s footballers after they had trained on it before the Russia game.In fact, isn''t Carrow Road''s surface a hybrid these days ?Steve Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snuggles 0 Posted February 12, 2008 [quote user="jas the barclay king"] someone should point out that Rugbys played in South Africa.. and played on Grass too.. to fifa...they dont need artificial pitchesjas :)[/quote]There is a evidently a political need to ensure that SA don''t lose the world cup, even if that means letting them use plastic pitches. But this begs the question - if they can''t afford the little it takes to produce a decent grass pitch, where''s the guarantee they''ll install a decent plastic pitch? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Syteanric 1 Posted February 12, 2008 they hosted the 1995 Rugby World cup... why then, is there such a problem with Growing grass now? if its that much of a problem cant they play some of the games in the Rugby stadiums? whats the capacity 40-50,000? more than big enough for majority of games...jas :) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Panic 0 Posted February 12, 2008 [quote user="Steve in Holland"]I assume they are referring to 3rd generation turf, similar to that used by Russia ?That''s fine. Nothing like the astroturf you remember from the old Luton days. This new stuff is fantastic. We have it at my American Football club''s practice facilities and it is as good as, if not better than grass. Similar comments were made by England''s footballers after they had trained on it before the Russia game.In fact, isn''t Carrow Road''s surface a hybrid these days ?Steve[/quote]Agree. I played on this ''3rd Gen'' stuff in Spain once and it''s just as good as grass. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
we8wba 0 Posted February 12, 2008 qualification for world cup in europe istop teams qualifythe best 2nd place team qualifies (how england did last time with poland in our group)then the remaining 8 teams have a playoffim pretty sure thats how it goesone 2nd place team may miss out on playoffs as well for worst record, im may dreamt it but didnt this happen to ireland or scotland? prob wrong Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cheerio 0 Posted February 12, 2008 [quote user="jas the barclay king"] if its that much of a problem cant they play some of the games in the Rugby stadiums? [/quote]Safety I would imagine. I worked at the First National Bamk stadium when SA played Congo for a world cup qualifier in 1997 I think it was. It was terrifying. Crowds were controlled with miles of razor wire, as kick off approached they rushed the gates and a wall collapsed allowing them free entry into one side of the ground. Although SA won 1-0 the crowd were extremely hostile. They may (though knowing the country quite well I doubt it) have improved things since, but it will not be to the standard needed to control the fans, nor keep them safe. Its an extremely violent country, the transport system is such that fans will mix, get lost, never arrive..... The locals are going to have a field day.I''m going to pass on that one - grass or no grass. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
