My question is which team will recover the fastest and which team might not

Italy
Italy had difficulties winning against Estonia. They are in transition as some good players have retired playing for the national team. Prandelli is now in charge and it might take a while for him to get the best out of his team.

+
- Have a good coach (Prandelli), who did well with Roma and Fiorentina
- Have some good players: Chiellini, Cassano, Quagliarella, De Rossi…
- They have lots of injured players that will come back and the team will look better.
- They will be back as they always do.
- Fiorentina, Roma and Milan Ac have lots of Italian players in their team

-
- They had a shit World Cup
- The new generation is not as good as old ones
- It’s Prandelli’s first job as national coach
- The state of Italian football doesn’t look too good. Inter are great, but Juventus, Roma, and Milan have been rather disappointing these years. But there not enough Italian players playing for Inter.

France

France are utterly crap and they lost at home against the 78th nation in the world Belorussia. Their 4th defeat in as many games. The worst results in 1265 years. Like Italy, they are in transition. Laurent Blanc has tried with different players but nothing has worked so far.

+
- Blanc can’t be worse than Domenech
- Some players were never given their chance to play for France: Ben Arfa, Benzema, Nasri, Menez, Mexes, etc and will have their chance with Blanc
- Lots of players are injured or suspended Ribery, Toulalan, Evra…) and play some of the best clubs in Europe.
- Lyon have done quite well last in the C.L and with Gourcuff they will be as dangerous. Marseille have bought Remy and Gignac who will learn a lot playing C.L games.

-
- France have been playing poorly for 4 years now and had a terrible World cup.
- Blanc did shit with Bordeaux last year (last 6 months) and is already under a lot of pressure with these two defeats.
- Blanc only has two years experience at the highest level. Is that enough?
- The FFF did some drastic work and it will take time to clean up this mess.
- Most of the young players play in France (Gameiro, Remy, Hoarau…) and don’t have the experience at the highest level.

Portugal

Portugal won't have their coach for six months and drew against Macedonia 4-4 at home. Will Agostinho Oliveira, the former assistant deliver?

+
- Have some great players (CR7, Alves, etc)
- The Portuguese Liga looks as good as ever (Porto, Benfica, Braga)
- They only lost 1-0 against Spain during the W.C & their W.C was relatively good.
- Portugal always have great results with youth teams. Year after year big clubs are after them.

-
- Does the team depend too much on Ronaldo?
- Except Ronaldo there aren’t many great goal scorers
- Porto will not play C.L games this year, Danny as well.
- Braga have too many Brazilian players
- Is Agostinho Oliveira the right man for the job?

Italy seem to be improving and Portugal are just not expected to perform at the same level as Italy and France (plus they had an ok world cup).

France, on the other hand, seems to be getting worse. Poor play, lots of internal fighting and no magic youngsters able to perform at international level.

simply every nation is light years behind spain and germany^^

italy lack attacking midfield talent

http://www.goal.com/en/news/1717/editorial/2010/09/06/2105376/euro-2012-special-how-do-italys-worrying-lack-of-attacking

Macedonia = Cypress

Italy seems to recover the sooner than the otheres but I can't see one of them shine at the euro's in poland and Ukraine

Where are England in this!!

Italy just lack talent atm but will recover soon once Juventus will recover, France are only great when they have a Platini or a Zidane they still lack the white leader these days now its the French foreign legion again and Portugal are just punching above their weight. Just because they did a decade well doesnt mean you can expect such results forever.

Germany are just facking gay. And has become a proper semi-final nation!

where is england indeed

+
- have one world class player
- have one of the best leagues in the world
- has a very experience coach
- have a new generation of young players coming through
- excellent young keeper

-
- have a media who constantly overhype the team, hence putting too much pressure on them
- their one WC player has fail to put in a half decent performance at any major international tournament.
- inexperience manager at international level whose last cup win was over a decade a go.
- a forever malfunctioning midfield.
- new group of players aren't anywhere near international class
- John terry, Frank lampard,Steven Gerrard,Walcott,G,Johnson,Milner

Surely Rooney's performances at Euro 2004 were more than half decent.

Hlebagone wrote:Surely Rooney's performances at Euro 2004 were more than half decent.

was it I honestly don't remember.

I do recall him being called zeroney back then

France's problems seem deeper-rooted than any of the others. Italy are now in a re-building phase, but I'd expect them to be competitive at tournaments again before too long (if not 2012, then 2014). Portugal - Quieroz seems a total disaster (why have they not just sacked him?), but player-wise they've still got talent.

France, though, you just wonder whether those who've been suspended will ever care about performing for their national team now. And while there are some good players who weren't part of the whole 2010 calamity, it's going to be quite a big leap to start an entirely new team, especially if it's being built around a group of young, inconsistent players. I think we could see them missing qualification for a tournament or two.

England won 4-0 the other day, so clearly all problems are solved

Messiah wrote:

Hlebagone wrote:Surely Rooney's performances at Euro 2004 were more than half decent.

was it I honestly don't remember.

I do recall him being called zeroney back then

No that was more around world cup 06. He could hardly be called zerooney when he scored 4 goals in 4 games in euro 2004. I think it's beyond question that we would've won that tournament had he not got injured vs Portugal

Tim vickery made a good point about france they other day, saying how International teams who were defined by one particular player ofter times struggle after that player leaves the scene

sighting how it took brazil 24 years after pele to win the WC and its now been 24 years since maradona's Argentina days and it took france 14 years after platini to win something again.

so maybe france just needs that next great player, like brazil found in romario and france did in zidane, before they can get back to winning ways.

Portugal overachieved a few years a go, despite having ronaldo and good defense, their midfield is average at best and they have no striker worth mentioning

Italy are going through a transitional period right now a could be good again by 2014, probably won't win but will be more competitive.

debaser wrote:

Messiah wrote:

Hlebagone wrote:Surely Rooney's performances at Euro 2004 were more than half decent.

was it I honestly don't remember.

I do recall him being called zeroney back then

No that was more around world cup 06. He could hardly be called zerooney when he scored 4 goals in 4 games in euro 2004. I think it's beyond question that we would've won that tournament had he not got injured vs Portugal

OK, it makes sense, guess that where the 10 WC player,plus wayne rooney game from

i wouldn`t say there only WC player ashley cole made a bad tournament, only raped by OZIL

Messiah wrote:Tim vickery made a good point about france they other day, saying how International teams who were defined by one particular player ofter times struggle after that player leaves the scene

sighting how it took brazil 24 years after pele to win the WC and its now been 24 years since maradona's Argentina days and it took france 14 years after platini to win something again.

so maybe france just needs that next great player, like brazil found in romario and france did in zidane, before they can get back to winning ways.

Portugal overachieved a few years a go, despite having ronaldo and good defense, their midfield is average at best and they have no striker worth mentioning

Italy are going through a transitional period right now a could be good again by 2014, probably won't win but will be more competitive.

Zidane's kid is 15 years old, we just have to wait 8-9 till he matures, cuz there's no one else. And he might even take the Spanish nationality. lol

Messiah wrote:Tim vickery made a good point about france they other day, saying how International teams who were defined by one particular player ofter times struggle after that player leaves the scene

sighting how it took brazil 24 years after pele to win the WC and its now been 24 years since maradona's Argentina days and it took france 14 years after platini to win something again.

so maybe france just needs that next great player, like brazil found in romario and france did in zidane, before they can get back to winning ways.

Portugal overachieved a few years a go, despite having ronaldo and good defense, their midfield is average at best and they have no striker worth mentioning

Italy are going through a transitional period right now a could be good again by 2014, probably won't win but will be more competitive.

so when is argentina's next great player coming along then?

110% wrote:

Messiah wrote:Tim vickery made a good point about france they other day, saying how International teams who were defined by one particular player ofter times struggle after that player leaves the scene

sighting how it took brazil 24 years after pele to win the WC and its now been 24 years since maradona's Argentina days and it took france 14 years after platini to win something again.

so maybe france just needs that next great player, like brazil found in romario and france did in zidane, before they can get back to winning ways.

Portugal overachieved a few years a go, despite having ronaldo and good defense, their midfield is average at best and they have no striker worth mentioning

Italy are going through a transitional period right now a could be good again by 2014, probably won't win but will be more competitive.

so when is argentina's next great player coming along then?

I have high hopes for Aguero in the next couple of years.

Messiah wrote:Tim vickery made a good point about france they other day, saying how International teams who were defined by one particular player ofter times struggle after that player leaves the scene

sighting how it took brazil 24 years after pele to win the WC and its now been 24 years since maradona's Argentina days and it took france 14 years after platini to win something again.

so maybe france just needs that next great player, like brazil found in romario and france did in zidane, before they can get back to winning ways.

Portugal overachieved a few years a go, despite having ronaldo and good defense, their midfield is average at best and they have no striker worth mentioning

Italy are going through a transitional period right now a could be good again by 2014, probably won't win but will be more competitive.

Wrong. Portugal midfield have always been their strongest asset

Tiago,R Meireles, Nani,Ronaldo,Quaresma, J Moutinho, C Martins, Amorim, M Fernandes, to name the more regular ones.

Problem with Portugal is the management. Pure and simple. We regressed 20 years when Queiroz arrived. There is no magical formula. The guy is clueless.

Playing 2 DM against Cyprus, and today 3 DM, with only H Almeida up front.....

It's going to be a long walk in the desert form now.

lampiao007 wrote:

Messiah wrote:Tim vickery made a good point about france they other day, saying how International teams who were defined by one particular player ofter times struggle after that player leaves the scene

sighting how it took brazil 24 years after pele to win the WC and its now been 24 years since maradona's Argentina days and it took france 14 years after platini to win something again.

so maybe france just needs that next great player, like brazil found in romario and france did in zidane, before they can get back to winning ways.

Portugal overachieved a few years a go, despite having ronaldo and good defense, their midfield is average at best and they have no striker worth mentioning

Italy are going through a transitional period right now a could be good again by 2014, probably won't win but will be more competitive.

Wrong. Portugal midfield have always been their strongest asset

Tiago,R Meireles, Nani,Ronaldo,Quaresma, J Moutinho, C Martins, Amorim, M Fernandes, to name the more regular ones.

Problem with Portugal is the management. Pure and simple. We regressed 20 years when Queiroz arrived. There is no magical formula. The guy is clueless.

Playing 2 DM against Cyprus, and today 3 DM, with only H Almeida up front.....

It's going to be a long walk in the desert form now.

No their strenght as always been wingers

See, nani,ronaldo and Quaresma

Thats leave you with what

Tiago,Miereles,Moutinho, ...

good, but not good enough

Alive and Kicking wrote:My question is which team will recover the fastest and which team might not

Italy
Italy had difficulties winning against Estonia. They are in transition as some good players have retired playing for the national team. Prandelli is now in charge and it might take a while for him to get the best out of his team.

+
- Have a good coach (Prandelli), who did well with Roma and Fiorentina
- Have some good players: Chiellini, Cassano, Quagliarella, De Rossi…
- They have lots of injured players that will come back and the team will look better.
- They will be back as they always do.
- Fiorentina, Roma and Milan Ac have lots of Italian players in their team

-
- They had a shit World Cup
- The new generation is not as good as old ones
- It’s Prandelli’s first job as national coach
- The state of Italian football doesn’t look too good. Inter are great, but Juventus, Roma, and Milan have been rather disappointing these years. But there not enough Italian players playing for Inter.

Italy are in shite. And all your points make sense (except for Prandelli's first NT job, thats true for most Italy NT coaches... its not like the ones who try a second innings fare any better!). Prandelli is one of the finest Italian coaches at the mo, and is a great choice for NT in this rebuildng phase... he has always been excellent with youth, and his approach is usually like a breadth of fresh air - both are attributes that will hold him in good stead for the NT job.

Which is why I believe that Italy's worst is behind them... Prandelli's selections so far suggest a very bold and progressive revolution, exactly what teh azzurri need... most of his players are young and/or inexperienced at intl level... so it will take time, the road for Italy will not be as easy one in the next 2-3 years.... there will be some or even many setbacks (read: learning experiences).... but recover they will. Italy are finally moving in the right direction.... so they are already on their way out of the deep end of shite....

After two years of extreme pessimism, I am optimistic again...

Fey wrote:Where are England in this!!

Italy just lack talent atm but will recover soon once Juventus will recover, France are only great when they have a Platini or a Zidane they still lack the white leader these days now its the French foreign legion again and Portugal are just punching above their weight. Just because they did a decade well doesnt mean you can expect such results forever.

Germany are just facking gay. And has become a proper semi-final nation!

Zidane is not white mate, neither was Makelele or Thuram.

Cheb Hamouda wrote:...Zidane is not white mate....

Blue?? Pink?? Green??

lampiao007 wrote:...
Wrong. Portugal midfield have always been their strongest asset

Tiago,R Meireles, Nani,Ronaldo,Quaresma, J Moutinho, C Martins, Amorim, M Fernandes, to name the more regular ones.

Problem with Portugal is the management. Pure and simple. We regressed 20 years when Queiroz arrived. There is no magical formula. The guy is clueless.

Playing 2 DM against Cyprus, and today 3 DM, with only H Almeida up front.....

It's going to be a long walk in the desert form now.

Agree on the midfield subject.

As for the rest, the Seleção looks different now, with Paulo Bento. I think he can do great things. He knows really well every player in there. Played with some, coached others.
Only a few understood what Mou ment when he said "Portugal has now a coach...". A "COACH", as oposed to an assistant coach.

Lusitan wrote:

Cheb Hamouda wrote:...Zidane is not white mate....

Blue?? Pink?? Green??

not white as in aryan, he is north african (berber).

He definitely isn't white.

Duh...

Also Arabs and Berbers and even Indians belong to the "white" (Caucasian) race...

so "officially" Zidane is "white"...

Cheb Hamouda wrote:

Lusitan wrote:

Cheb Hamouda wrote:...Zidane is not white mate....

Blue?? Pink?? Green??

not white as in aryan, he is north african (berber).

Aryan, i understand now your mistake.
Avoid mixing both things. I'm not aryan either but i don't see myself less white than any swede. Maybe less blonde, more tanned......

Lusitan wrote:

Cheb Hamouda wrote:

Lusitan wrote:

Cheb Hamouda wrote:...Zidane is not white mate....

Blue?? Pink?? Green??

not white as in aryan, he is north african (berber).

Aryan, i understand now your mistake.
Avoid mixing both things. I'm not aryan either but i don't see myself less white than any swede. Maybe less blonde, more tanned......

Officially... Aryan is a linguistic denotation (Indo-European) instead of a physical denotation... So Aryans are "blonde" and non-Aryans are "tanned" is bullshit...

Ricardo Wetzel wrote:...

Officially... Aryan is a linguistic denotation (Indo-European) instead of a physical denotation... So Aryans are "blonde" and non-Aryans are "tanned" is bullshit...

Never cared about it, thanks for the info.

I'm still more tanned than the average swedish person.

I'm just pleased to find out that i'm one of the few proper white people.