So yesterday, I was discussing Qatar's ability to host the WC with friends .. We laughed about the situation that come 2022 Qatar might not even be in existence.

Anyways, we went back to the 1982 WC in Spain where Kuwait made a showing ... Then further talked about this incident:



Highlighting something crucial in that the president of the FA was interviewed during the late 80's to reveal what had happened ... In the interview (on youtube, but in arabic), he hinted that there was an understanding before the match that Kuwait was to loose 3-1 against France (meaning there was an agreement with FIFA) ... He then claimed that he had discussed with the Kuwaiti coach and that they agreed on some issues prior to the match.

During the match when France scored the 4th goal .. The president of the FA rushed to the field and demanded that his team withdraw from the game (because the agreement was not honored) ... FIFA intervened and cancelled the goal.


-----------

Not many documented this in fine detail .. And the President of our FA gave hints to the above, but never mentioned that there was something fixed with FIFA.

If anything ... This goes to support the voices that call FIFA a corrupt organization.

It's sad. I don't know what to say...


How come?

Long story Z ... But it was just for laughs, ie a joke

I think I remember reading about this vaguely! Wasn't there a time as well with some smaller National side under I'm guessing dictatorship and he said something like 'if you lose more than 4-0, well basically it's over for you' seem to remember there being a free kick for like Brazil or somebody like that. The defending team instead of making a wall one of them runs up and boots the ball away Madness.

FIFA IS a corrupt organization. If only half of what I hear on the Katar 2022 is true, it's the biggest case of corruption in the history of sports.

Agreed. The sad thing is that most fans know that FIFA is a corrupt organization. Even sadder is the fact that FIFA itself knows that the fans and media are aware of this fact. And the saddest part is that everything is laughed about and rolled under the carpet in the name of "conspiracy theories". Unless someone goes in FBI/CIA shtick on it, and tapes the phones and unearths the documents, this truth of ages (all the way at the start of the 20th century when this body was formed) will not come out.

It's sports, and the number one sports in the world, not war or healthcare, so not many people pay heed to all these corruption (and match fixing) incidents. For the general public it's all fun and games in the end, and they much prefer to watch these events as stupid sheeps (shout out to Kurt ). At least here in this forum most of us are knowledgeable, but people all over the world just turn off their TV and go to sleep after witnessing a surefire referring mistake or FIFA's inefficiency as a sports organization. The media company and FIFA itself, laugh all the way to the bank. And the never-ending circle continues. The under-the-table dealings go on and on, and on.

What is it you heard about Qatar 2022 ?

I know a journalist here in Germany who's an expert in sports politics. IOC, FIFA, DFB....he's knows lots of people and off-the-record there's lots of talk about massive corruption. Don't get me wrong: This is nothing that happened exclusively this time. Most likely corruption was one of the reasons, why Germany got the WC in 2006. But this time it seems to be on a new level.
Look, I know this is just rumours and I don't wanna accuse anyone in particular, since, well....in the end there's no proof.

Italy squad for the games against Estonia and the Republic of Ireland:

Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), Sirigu (Palermo), Viviano (Bologna)

Defenders: Astori (Cagliari), Balzaretti (Palermo), Cassani (Palermo), Chiellini (Juventus), Criscito (Genoa), Gamberini (Fiorentina), Maggio (Napoli), Ranocchia (Inter)

Midfielders: Aquilani (Juventus), Marchisio (Juventus), Montolivo (Fiorentina), Thiago Motta (Inter), Nocerino (Palermo), Palombo (Sampdoria), Pirlo (Milan)

Attackers: Balotelli (Manchester City), Cassano (Milan), Gilardino (Fiorentina), Giovinco (Parma), Matri (Juventus), Pazzini (Inter), Rossi (Villarreal)

Too bad Abbiati and Abate are not in.

Can't figure out why. Both deserved this call-up.

So Cassano is the only Milan player in. Pretty bad Abate is not in, but this was no surprise after the comments Prandelli made about him last week. Also Pirlo is in, but he isn't a Milan player now. Pretty dire situation, if you ask me. There used to be a time when at least 6-7 Milan players got called up, minimum.

true

I imagine no one on here will be that interested, but the Carling Home Nation Cup starts soon in the UK featuring Scotland, Wales, Rep Ireland and Norn Ireland. England declined to participate.

Abiatti and Abate should 100% be in that line up. Foolish, really.

What did he say??

Hasn't it already started? I remember some games a while ago.

I'm pleased we declined, mainly so we don't pick up unnecessary injuries, but after the other home nations decided to refuse to participate in the Olympics, I don't see why we should do this tournement a favour by dragging up attendances.

Did I mean resume...?



Don't really see what the olympics have to do with it.

Milan has to look at Italian players also. At this rate, we'll soon end up with one not-so sure Abate as a Milan representative in the NT. That's disappointing.

Nah...we have Cassano and Abbiati/Amelia.

Once upon a time Milan+Juve+Roma used to be the whole Azzuri!

One and a half - we still part own Astori But I agree, it's sad when merda has more players there than us.


http://www.acmilan.com/en/news/breaking_news_show/10333

Thanks, Jack Bauer. And yeah, never thought I'd see the day when inter would have 3 players to our 1. Or 1 and a half as you put it. Guys like Pirlo, Gattuso, Ambrosini, Nesta and Maldini in their prime were sure starters for NT. Oh, how the things have changed.

Still if Abate keeps his upwards curve for another year, he will be a shoe-in for the RB place in the Italian NT. As of right now he is just about there, only needs to improve his attacking sense. And there were times last season when members here used to dread him starting for Milan - I, for my part, always kept the faith, knew he had it in him. At least more than Antonini. Was a fan then, am still now. A lot of times he has been just alongside Nesta and Silva covering them and making vital tackles. But improve he must still.

4 Villa players and 5 former Villa players. I like. Although the squad overall is a little weak outside the starters except for the midfield.

I'd go..

No bias or anything. But I imagine it will be something like that. Walcott/Downing, Barry/Parker and Walker/Johnson are the only real questions I think.

That's pretty aggressive, doesn't England usually go 4-4-2? Or has Capello been experimenting?

We went 4-3-3 in our last qualifier and worked really well. Rooney - Bent - Young as the front 3 with Lampard, Parker and Wilshire in midfield, very attack minded.

What happened to Gerrard?

He's always injured lately, then Rooney is suspended for this I think.

Yeah, Gerrard got ruled out for the season a few weeks back.

Naah, Inter with 3 Italians...why don't we turn Pato, Thiago and Flamini into Italians. We may break some FIFA rules, but who cares, once upon a time...

#1. I had no idea Ciro was doing this well
#2. PALOSCHI!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4atVUHsl_8U...player_embedded

I'm excited to have Paloschi in the team. He seems like he could be a good partner to any striker we currently have and will surely benefit from practicing alongside Inzaghi.

Oh my, for a second I was shocked at how much Paloschi's looks has changed. and the way he scores like Pippo and celebrates like Pippo, it's uncanny!

rossi is the only player called up for italy's estonia game who does not play in serie a.

Italy team v Estonia: Buffon; Maggio, Ranocchia (Gamberini), Chiellini, Balzaretti; Pirlo; Montolivo, Marchisio; Aquilani; Cassano, Rossi

Wow, there is no steel at all in that midfield.

Gamberini was called up and Abate was not???

different positions but yeah FP material none the less

No Abate is horrible but I want to talk about midfield for a second.

I did not like Aquilani in the trequarista role last time we put him there, he just didn't look great at all. With 5 points and a game in hand, I wonder why not see if Pirlo is up to trying it out again? Literally switch their spots and we'd have Aquilani on the side with pirlo behind the strikers. thats where aqua is natural and while Pirlo has been playing in front of the Defense for a while now, to cover up for his pace along the edge and defensive weakness placing him back where he started behind the strikers I think would be a good move. Gives us a little bit more strength in the midfield, plus that creativity of Pirlo right there for Rossi to jump on.

Following that line of thinking, we would be able to pair Pazzini with Rossi up front and let Pirlo provide the magic instead of Cassano. Putting in an prima punta would be a big benefit. Personally I find this more appealing, and then Pirlo can leave after an hour for Cassano/Sebastian/Motta depending on what is needed at the time. Only Motta would be uncomfortable there but switching Aquilani with him could happen at that point. I think that this makes plenty of sense personally, what do you guys think?

Horrible? Come on, even the most skeptical football fan out there can't deny that he's improved hugely this season, and that he has great margins of further improvement. He's the future of our and Italy's right-back.

I mean having no Abate on the squad is horrible, sorry I should have phrased it better. I want him to be on the national side

ah the beauty of punctuation.

Oh, OK.

now that that's clear, what do you guys think of what I said about switching Pirlo and Aquilani though?

I'm against it. I think a trequartista must make of his speed one of his strongest traits, whilst Pirlo's slowness is his weakest point. I'd rather have Aquilani there, even though he's not a valid alternative either. In fact, what Italy lacks the most nowadays is a quality trequartista.

HT Italy 2 Estonia 0. Rossi & CASSANO

Italy looking really comfortable at the moment and playing really well.

Cassano & Rossi in particular are looking awesome, and deservingly have a goal each (but could have had even more)

Azzurri looking confident

Slovenian pride post:

Slovenia looks like they will qualify for the euros behind italy. They are up 2-0 albeit playing with 10 men to the Faeroe Islands. It looks like Matavz is the consistant forward we've needed opposite Novakovic. A great keeper, a strong defense and a great midfield (minus Koren) have been the reasons we've managed to place ourselves second after the AZZURRI. Here's a breakdown of the slovenian NT's starters, backups and prospects:

GK

-Handanovic has been the best PK keeper in serie A for the past 3 years IIRC, he is a true leader, a gentlemen and IMO the rightful captain of the Triglav.

-Between Seliga and J. Handanovic we are a little weak at backup keeper but Seliga has done well when called upon.

-We have got 3 hotshot prospects at GK with Belek(Inter), Oblack(Benfica) and Jug(Bordeaux) who are u-20 players with alot of promise growing in some big-name european clubs. Another hot prospect that recently got a callup was Jan Koprivec the 22 yo backup at Udinese who i haven't seen a lot of but he was rock solid for the U21s.
DEF

-In Suler and Ceasar we have two similar players. Both are fierce leaders and hard-nosed performers on the field and offer some aerial skills on set pieces. IMO. Ceasar is the better of the two and would be another better candidate for the captaincy then Koren. He is, not only one of the better CBs in Serie A but he has helped sign and develop Jokic both for the NT and with Chievo. While Jokic(LB) is developing into a more confidant player, Brecko(RB) has been struggling of late.

-As backups we have Andjelkovic (palermo) and Maroh (Nuremburg) that are our most solid u-25 players backups.

-Sadly, the youth at Def does not look as promising as other positions when it comes to young prospects. Slovenian fans will look to the ND Gorica defense as all 4 starters are u20 except for Zarifovic(23yo).


MID

- Our strongest and deepest position. Illicic, Bacimovic and Birsa are all amazing talents that posses speed, dribbling, crossing ability and a wicked shot. For reasons beyond me, our captain and forth mid is Koren, who possesses a lot more experience then ability. Despite being one of the oldest on the team (30yo), in the WC10, he was the most nervous.

-Kirm and Radosavljevic are average players that will have take a seat behind the 2 Palermo revelations but can sort of be relied upon to run around like headless chickens and lose the ball. Vrsic is a good Mid from olimpija Ljubljana who has been linked to Italy and is a very good AM.

-The prospects are Khrin (Inter), Vuckic (Newcastle), Rep (Maribor), Kampl (Leverkeusen), Kurtic(Palermo) Jelenic (genoa hijacked Chelsea's bid a month ago) and our very own Novinic (Campioni d'italia)

I'm tired so all write about the FWRDs later...

Italy 3 - 0 Estonia

Rossi
Cassano
Pazzini

I know it's against Estonia, but Italy looked good today. Both long-range and short-range passes were good. The interchange play between strikers and midfielders were delightful to watch. Rossi has truly developed into a mature and awesome player, it's no wonder Barca are willing to pay a fortune for him.

+1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzvD5D4aY48...player_embedded