bigfluffylemon wrote:Also, could someone please explain to me why Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Israel are members of UEFA rather than the Asian conference, and why the heck Gibralter has its own football team, given it's a non-self-governing territory?
sussexpob wrote:bigfluffylemon wrote:Also, could someone please explain to me why Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Israel are members of UEFA rather than the Asian conference, and why the heck Gibralter has its own football team, given it's a non-self-governing territory?
Well Israel is easy - no one is mad enough to ever put in place a system that makes Israel travelling to places like Iran, UAE or Palestine for a game. There was (not sure now) fairly recently about 30 nations that banned Israeli's from entry, UAE I know still does, most of them would be AFC teams. So rather than face logistical, political and possible military disasters over football, it was thought best to put Israel with Europe.
sussexpob wrote:bigfluffylemon wrote:Also, could someone please explain to me why Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Israel are members of UEFA rather than the Asian conference, and why the heck Gibralter has its own football team, given it's a non-self-governing territory?
Well Israel is easy - no one is mad enough to ever put in place a system that makes Israel travelling to places like Iran, UAE or Palestine for a game. There was (not sure now) fairly recently about 30 nations that banned Israeli's from entry, UAE I know still does, most of them would be AFC teams. So rather than face logistical, political and possible military disasters over football, it was thought best to put Israel with Europe.
sussexpob wrote:Azerbaijan while being in Asia, argued that the distances involved with matches in Asia meant more sense for them to play in Europe, which tbf is true. Its 4 hours to London by flight, and about 10 to Indonesia on the other side of Asia. Added to that you could make a case that if the Caucasus mountains are the border with Europe, then most of the North of the country is those mountains, so Azerbaijan could be considered partly in Europe with a bit of creativity and an ill defined, non exact border between continents.
sussexpob wrote:As for Gibraltar, they have as much right as England to have a team - England, Scotland, N.Ireland and Wales all do not satisfy the independent, sovereign nation test and should not be recognised by FIFA. Its only because Britain dominated FIFA governing for decades that its historically been allowed to happen.
bigfluffylemon wrote: So why Gibraltar and not Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey and the Falklands? And why not Monaco?
bigfluffylemon wrote:I realise you have to draw the line somewhere, but it doesn't make much sense to me.
sussexpob wrote:Dante got on for Belgium v Wales..... come on my boy! Score the winner!!!
Gingerfinch wrote:sussexpob wrote:Dante got on for Belgium v Wales..... come on my boy! Score the winner!!!
How did he play?
sussexpob wrote:Gingerfinch wrote:sussexpob wrote:Dante got on for Belgium v Wales..... come on my boy! Score the winner!!!
How did he play?
Wales played 11 deep and Belgium couldn't create chances. As a centre forward he hardly got the ball, and had one opportunity in a decent position where he got off the shoulder off the defender, but the defender took a dive after some contact as Dante went through on goal, and the ref gave a foul (never was).....other than that he didn't do anything of note, neither bad or good.
But buzzing for him tbh. He has a cap he can remember forever, so I'd like to hear about it whrn I see him about next.
I'd happily retire sharing a pitch with Kevin De bruyne
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