Macedonia was also looking for draw and they got... a draw in England.  With England form I'm sure they won't win both games.

Actually, I want Ukraine to qualify.

My prediction, I'll re-show it when the groups are over.

Englands group:
1. Croatia
2. England

Italy's group:
1. France
2. Scotland

You guys seem to be favouring the Frogs rather a lot. Do you really think they're that good this year? (Asking as I don't recall having actually watched any of their qualifying games and results can sometimes be deceiving).

My prediction, I'll re-show it when the groups are over.

Englands group:
1. Croatia
2. England

Italy's group:
1. France
2. Scotland

Scotland are very good at home, as France found out, as did Italy last time they played.

It would be a tragedy seeing Russia qualify. I still belive Isreal has a better chance.

Don`t forget you bet, Kurt...

Lampard is also out 

One?

Italy - Croatia 0:2
Italy - Lithuania 1:1
France - Italy 3:1
Faroe Islands - Italy 1:2
Hungary - Italy 3:1

He won 5/9 matches. Still over 50%. And yes, as soon as his rating reaches this limit, he should be sacked. That means probably after France.

lol i dont see how everyone thinks italy wont qualify. it's when it gets tough that they pull thru.

It's exactly the same with England!

"Haha, England won't qualify for the World Cup!" 

A month later we beat germany 5-1 in Munich. And once again we're suddenly crap again, we've played 7 games FIVE AWAY. 

But I really don't think Italy will qualify. Their defense isn't what it used to be, they haven't got the Vieri/Del Piero type guy up front they've had for the last decade. I hope they prove me wrong and get in, but I don't see it myself.

Anyone else with unfounded accusations!??

Diarra: You're all cheats!
Tuesday 4 September, 2007

After Raymond Domenech’s touchline ban, France midfielder Lassana Diarra accused Italy of being a nation of "provokers and cheats.”

The Arsenal player has cranked up the tension on an already boiling Euro 2008 qualifier at San Siro on Saturday evening.

Coach Domenech (pictured) will be in the stands after UEFA confirmed his one-match touchline ban for falsely accusing Italy of “buying the referee” in a 1999 Under-21 encounter.

“The matter is closed as far as I am concerned,” noted the tactician after today’s verdict. “I will be in the stands and have no further comment to make. In England the managers are often in the stands, although I’ll be a bit higher up…”

The searing rivalry between the two nations hit new levels this evening, as France and Arsenal midfielder Diarra launched a stinging attack on the World champions.

“Everyone knows the reputation the Italians have is of cheats and provokers,” he was quoted as saying in the ‘Gazzetta dello Sport.’

“The important thing is not to fall into their traps. I am a black man and in Italy we often get insulted, not just by the fans, but also by the players. Having said that, the situation does seem to be improving.”

Diarra may well be referring to the incident several years back when Patrick Vieira had a furious row with Lazio’s Sinisa Mihajlovic.

The two men have put it behind them now and work together at Inter, where Serb Mihajlovic is now Roberto Mancini’s assistant manager.

The former Chelsea midfielder, now at Arsenal, continued his incredible attack on Italian football.

“It doesn’t matter if Domenech won’t be on the bench, because he will follow us until the last minute and then his staff knows what to do,” added Diarra.

“Italy have Gennaro Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo, but we have Claude Makelele and Vieira. I really don’t think the Azzurri have the stronger pairing.”

The final moment of the interview set to raise eyebrows in the peninsula seemed like a self-fulfilling prophecy.

“It will be difficult at San Siro, because the atmosphere will be very tense.”


::channel4::

DISGRACEFUL!!

What a pathetic statement! What was Mido being attacked?? What was United fans singing "Vieira, Vieira he comes from Senegal, his dad's a cannibal"!??

Loser...

What's that got to do with what Diarra is saying?

A spat between Italy and France, it's obviously Englands fault.

Just a stupid c*nt that knows sh!t. Maybe he has never been to Italy.

French = C*nts. Funny they're always the first to provoke.

In that Mihajlovic-Vieira situation was that. Vieira called him "gipsy sh!t"... and what do people what Mihaj to do? Stay quiet? No. Obviously he called Vieira "black sh!t" after.

And I am totally with Sinisa in that. Those french pr*cks are all the same. From their coach, to Vieira, with the likes of Lassana Diarra and Gallas in the middle.

Y'know,  I don't think we can really blame this one on England. Diarra is, after all, a French player playing for a French team.

(FYI, there's an interview with Wenger out today in which Wenger condemns Domenech for his actions. So not all Frenchmen are bad).

Thank you!

I wouldn't mind, but with anything negative, people always tend to use England as an example, I just hate that!

I do think it's wrong blaming it on foreign players, I'd blame the managers who bring them in. Instead of 'growing' their own players, the big teams just buy somebody internationally as a 'quick fix'.

United are a good example of this. 15 years ago they had Beckham, Butt, Scholes and the Neville brothers all come through. They were what the teams succes in the 90s was built on. Nowadays the only United youth product is Chris Eagles, people may disagree, but he will grow into a decent player. But that's one guy, it's not enough.

Stuart Pearce, the England Under-21 coach, also made a good point. Previous U21 managers used to go to Liverpool, United and Arsenal to pick their teams, the best of the young English talent. Now, Theo Walcott and Chris Eagles are the only two England U21 hopefulls from all 3 of those squads. Pearce has to make his team up of mainly Villa, Newcastle and Spurs players, in my view we're lacking because the big teams aren't too worried about bringing their players through properly when they can just spend on youth. Instead of United having the new Scholes, Becks and Butt they've bought in Nani, Anderson and Cristiano. Why? Because it's easy, and takes no effort.

In the future we'll be seeing Spurs, Villa and Newcastle filling up the England squad, a very scary thought.

On a personal note I have nothing against foreign players coming in. Guys like Henry, Zola, Bergkamp and van Nistelrooy have helped make the Premier League what it is, so I think it's shameful to then critisice them for being here.

That's a real problem in every big football nation. Cheep players from eastern europe and lots of south americans are playing in the big leagues teams. Some clubs in Germany don't even have german players in their first XI. The DFL (Association of the Bundesliga clubs) now adopted the so called "local player" regulation, which means 1. No more limited spots for non europeans, but 2. There have to be at least 3 players which have been trained by the club (meaning their youth teams) and 3 players trained by a DFB club. I think that's a pretty good idea to force the big clubs to work on their youth squads. And it's working here, especially Bayern have a very strong youth programm: Schweinsteiger, Lahm, Lell...all players trained by the club, with their biggest prospect Toni Kroos (17yo) yet to make an impact.
About the french. Don't like them either but some of you guys are being to harsh on this IMO. Many of them are arrogant but can't blame THE FRENCH for something one or two french said...

What's that got to do with what Diarra is saying?

A spat between Italy and France, it's obviously Englands fault.

Fair enough. I'm not sure if Diarra's been called up? But I'm certain the likes of Rino will let him know just how the Italians feel about what he said. Saying it is going to be one of the worst mistakes he made!

He's jut a kid who don't know what he's talking about, but there is no need to generalize.

Can I still say Domenech is a *******? And Vieira too?