Men's Soccer (Football) Thread [Archived] Soccer • Page 666

They'd rather be autonomous (and operate as such within Spain to a certain extent), but in the end the King of Spain is their nominal ruler much like the Queen of England is the nominal ruler of the others. They're very similar situations to my eyes/understanding so I'm not sure what the differences come down to as to why they're not treated the same.

Maybe because Wales and Scotland are recognized as countries by the Queen of England and the two regions in Spain are not by the King of Spain. But while Wales, et al are recognized as countries in the larger UK, they're still not represented in the UN as a sovereign state. So I guess it's because England recognizes them as separate whereas Madrid does not that allows FIFA to give the British Isles teams separature?

that's what i thought was the case re: the two Ireland teams and knew you'd have the answer, haha.

 

I think the reason they have separate teams is because England, Wales, Scotland were all playing football separately under those names way before FIFA existed. So when FIFA came into being, they couldn't exactly just stop them from playing.

It's the same reason that the Home Nations all get a bit squeamish about playing Olympic Football under the Team GB banner, because they think it will put their individual status with FIFA under threat, though they were given special dispensation to do so for the home Olympics of 2012.

 

This set of comments has left me realising how peculiar Britain is as a concept.

 

There is just something about Scotland losing and their continual dismal failure that is just so... funny.

Like, I don't even dislike them, it's just really funny.

 

Can’t wait to get beaten tonight and go out unceremoniously.

 

Was a bit gutted for Bannan and Fletcher yesterday. Other than them, Scotland going out was funny.

 

Big Dave is up for the Balon D’Or

 

#CONCACAF

 

As if some of the players got carried across by staff, rather than taking their shoes off, grabbing a towel and just walking through it. Get your big boy pants on lads, for goodness sake.

 

That being said, that pitch is going to be terrible...

 

What a finish LAD!

 

Trinidad’s official response to the US complaining about the state of the pitch was to submit a picture of the Snow Clasico

To which Bruce responded:

 

This is some of the most bizarrely inconsistent refereeing

 

ICELAND! YES! They were the best part of the Euros by far

 

YEOW GOODBYE WALES!!!

 

Fuck that referee by the way. Shocking homer.

 

How did Wales manage to fuck this up more than us lol

 

So pleased for Ireland. Glad it was McClean too after the boo-boys of Wales. Boo-hoo Welsh boys.

 

Damn, wanted Wales to win that

 

STICK YER POPPY UP YER...

 

WE'RE ALL PART OF MARTIN'S ARMY WE'RE ALL OFF TO SOCHI AND WE'LL REALLY SHAKE THEM UP WHEN WE BLOW BRIGHTON HOTEL UP BECAUSE GARETH BALE IS A TINPOT JAMES MCCLEAN

 

REALLY curious to see these play off draws for uefa

 

We'll get Italy or Portugal no doubt

 

This qualifying cycle is nuts. International football is still a ton of fun.

 

Imagine losing after your fans sang like this.