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GIMH · 30-06-2006, 03:24 AM

And to further Goughy's point:

When Denmark won Euro 92 they had not even qualified for it, but went because they had finished second behind Yugosslavia, who were in the midst of war
Holland failed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup after reaching the semis in 98, missing out at ireland's expense
France have just knocked out one of the favourites, Spain, yet they scraped through qualifying, finishing neck and neck with Switzerland, Israel and Ireland
I will put good money on Greece not even qualifying for Euro 2008 despite being the defending champions
With holders no longer qualifying by right, it is forseeable, with the strength of the European qualifying groups, that soon enough a European World Cup winner will not appear at the next tournament. As I have said previously, if places are going to be re-allocated, I would take away the Asia-Concacaf play-off and replace it with an automatic place for the holders. This would have meant Uruguay featuring in this tournament I think, and Australia would probably have had to beat Peru in the play-off game.

30-06-2006, 03:24 AM	#37 (permalink)
GIMH Eternal Optimist Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Shake my tree where's the apple for me? Posts: 43,621	And to further Goughy's point: When Denmark won Euro 92 they had not even qualified for it, but went because they had finished second behind Yugosslavia, who were in the midst of war Holland failed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup after reaching the semis in 98, missing out at ireland's expense France have just knocked out one of the favourites, Spain, yet they scraped through qualifying, finishing neck and neck with Switzerland, Israel and Ireland I will put good money on Greece not even qualifying for Euro 2008 despite being the defending champions With holders no longer qualifying by right, it is forseeable, with the strength of the European qualifying groups, that soon enough a European World Cup winner will not appear at the next tournament. As I have said previously, if places are going to be re-allocated, I would take away the Asia-Concacaf play-off and replace it with an automatic place for the holders. This would have meant Uruguay featuring in this tournament I think, and Australia would probably have had to beat Peru in the play-off game. __________________ Watch out, for as soon as it pleases them they’ll send you out to protect their gold in wars whose weapons, rapidly developed by servile scientists, will become more and more deadly until they can with a flick of the finger tear a million of you to pieces RIP Craigos. A true CW legend. You will be missed.