Is it just me or is the quality of international football pretty dire right now?

[fredthefan]

Aye mate, all gone to shit. Then again, I’m a jock.

 

[manamamackem]

I was talking more in general. The good morale of the team got them far at the World Cup (as well as a good draw). But the lack of true quality showed in the end.

They were a fairly young team, marra. They're all going thru the school of life. Experience as well as how skillful they are as players will make them a far better team as time progresses. Small steps

 

[DEfromBC]

Its just you

 

[manamamackem]

International football is ducking mince , utter pish , credit to the England for 2 fine wins but as I’m no English it doesn’t mean much to me

My own country is a fuvkin shambles run by idiots both in government and the football association , the players are guff , we have one decent player , Robertson , the rest are overrated pish

Most people I know don’t watch internationals anymore , even the World Cup lost its sparkle as it’s too many games with some really weak nations (how bad is mine when we can’t get there for over 20 years ??)

As for fifa , just ruin everything they touch now

Totally agree with your point that FIFA ruin everything they touch mate, and that is before we even get to the cluster that they call Qatar 22.

 

[Wearside Wanderer II]

Nope it’s been the same for the past 20 odd years

 

[RichD]

I think it's because the bigger footballing nations all play the same style of football now, plus the smaller football nations seem further away...

 

[Chop Buster]

You could probably take that argument, switch the countries and apply it to any World Cup in recent memory.

 

[vinegar hill]

Brexit

 

[naughtynose]

Nope it’s been the same for the past 20 odd years

It hasn't.

Then again, for Scotland it probably has.

 

[Parsoncross]

Nope it’s been the same for the past 20 odd years

Saw your flag Sunday as we got off Bologna buses.

 

[HABA87]

It's rarely been better, if at all.

Some of the great teams of yesteryear were full of blokes who didn't look after themselves playing against relative cloggers.

 

[Sharpshooter]

It's rarely been better, if at all.

Some of the great teams of yesteryear were full of blokes who didn't look after themselves playing against relative cloggers.

I'm not talking about the 1960s, but rather only 10-15 years ago, if that. I think the squads of the 1998 WC for example were stronger.

I didn't think France were all that great in the last WC, they were sort of the best of a bad bunch?

 

[HABA87]

I'm not talking about the 1960s, but rather only 10-15 years ago, if that. I think the squads of the 1998 WC for example were stronger.

I didn't think France were all that great in the last WC, they were sort of the best of a bad bunch?

I reckon a lot of it has to do with your age at the time when watching a World Cup. Chances are as a child/young person/teenager you'll have some idols and know each squad inside out. No denying there's been some great players mind.

Things look better through young eyes, and even better through a hazy memory harking back to youth. Most of my tournament memories aren't really tied to the football, rather what I was doing at the time.
Hence 98 is my favourite.

 

[Far Tibetan Mountain]

Strange you said that mate. My view at the moment is that the current lads playing for England are the first in a long time that actually care. I think that a lot of that is down to Southgate and his selection policy

I think southgate's policy of picking youth is unreal, but he is benefiting from having the largest pool of quality young players we have had for quite some time.

Even the teams of the 00s were pretty thin on quality when you got past the first 11 bit it seems like there is a massive pool of incredible players coming through at the moment.

 

[Wearside Wanderer II]

It hasn't.

Then again, for Scotland it probably has.

Hence why I sad that

Saw your flag Sunday as we got off Bologna buses.

Aye, was oppo the petrol station, must have seen a dozen lads get there photo taken with it.
Tartan Mackems everywhere

 

[manamamackem]

I think southgate's policy of picking youth is unreal, but he is benefiting from having the largest pool of quality young players we have had for quite some time.

Even the teams of the 00s were pretty thin on quality when you got past the first 11 bit it seems like there is a massive pool of incredible players coming through at the moment.

Certainly appears to be that way mate

 

[Parsoncross]

Hence why I sad that



Aye, was oppo the petrol station, must have seen a dozen lads get there photo taken with it.
Tartan Mackems everywhere

One extreme weather wise,-22 when we landed in Astana and +22 in Bologna.

 

[chriswallace85]

Whatever it is it's a welcome change from the shite we have to watch week in week out at the minute.

 

[Wearside Wanderer II]

One extreme weather wise,-22 when we landed in Astana and +22 in Bologna.

Rimini was canny, not a huge fan of the €5 a pint like.
Booked up for Paphos just waiting to see where the Russia game is as to whether we go.

 

[Parsoncross]

Rimini was canny, not a huge fan of the €5 a pint like.
Booked up for Paphos just waiting to see where the Russia game is as to whether we go.

Spent more while in Bologna for 36hrs than 4 nights in Astana.booking Cyprus later this week.Russia on hold till the venue is confirmed.