sure we'll just ignore the group stage exit in 02, loss to Greece in 04, group stage loss in 08, group stage loss in 2010

I said they flopped in plenty of majors recently, which they have

In fact they've beyond the quarters once in the last 7 majors, which is a horrendous record given the playing pool they have

they were awful in qualifiers though by their standards. Looked clueless in a few matches

Must be very hard to muster up enough hunger to go again tbh after winning a World Cup after so long. I could see a 1/4 or semi loss

I'd probably make Spain favourites if I really had to but honestly someone could nearly end up accidentally winning it, by grinding out wins and sneaking a few on pens

The eventual winners?

In all honesty I didn't actually remember much about what happened to them inbetween those triumphs, your characterisation, or rather focus on their failures, just seemed a tad unfair. If we had won two major tournaments, and made it to the final of a third, in these past two decades we would have been talking of a golden era.

If we had done it in the last half a century, we would be talking about a golden era!

Lets be honest though only the last two majors will be in anyway relevant (three max!), given there'll still be similar squad players. I mean 98 and 00- there'll probably be players in this Euros who were born in 98! you may aswell go back to the 80s, as they're completely irrelevant to this current squad. I mean even 06 is, no-one is still around!

So in the last 3 they have pretty much failed lets be honest. They were very underwhelming and while they might have made the last two quarters they hardly beat much to get there. So I can only focus on failure I'm afraid

So understandably there'll be plenty not rushing to throw the house on them. It doesn't help France seem to produce some of the most notorious chokers in Sport either!

I'd sooner put my faith in a more 'sticky', 'dogged' team a la an Italy in 06 but there ain't a whole pile of them around this time in fairness.

very open tournament

Oh yeah, I myself am not a big fan of all the 'traditionally team x do this and team y do that'. Spain were dogshit at majors before they became utterly dominant.

French squad is mouthwatering and they have home advantage, that's why people will be whacking the £££ on them. Usual suspects will be there or thereabouts, Germany, Spain and, as you say Italy.

Yeah that's very true.

USA loses to Guatemala in a tepid 2-0 performance. First time they've lost to Guatemala since 1988. Currently would be OUT of World Cup qualifying as it stands after 3 matches. Still have the return legs against Guatemala and Trinidad and Tobago at home, plus an away game against mighty St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Hard to see Klinsmann surviving much longer. Another embarrassing defeat.

Wow that'd be a disaster surely. I'd imagine WC 2014 did a lot to raise the profile of the game stateside? real pity if they don't even make the next one

International football really can be funny. No team is ever "safe" for qualification so to speak!

I don't follow them closely but apparently Klinsmann is well past his sell By date with them now.

We bought the hype over some friendly wins in Italy, Germany, and Holland, but within the CONCACAF region it's been brutal post-World Cup. Lost to Jamaica last year at home, ditto Panama, failed to qualify for Confederations Cup having lost to Mexico in a one-game playoff, and now they're one defeat away from bungling this qualification phase up.

So many players starting out of position and too many players who don't belong on the squad anymore. Tim Howard shouldn't be getting any minutes as #1 goalkeeper in 2016, and Jozy Altidore remains one of our deadliest striking options.

IS there (relative) strength in depth in terms of alternatives, in terms of a new coach/manager and alternative players?

Is Hamid still injured? Guzan would hardly fill me with confidence either.

Upfront you just don't have the quality.

Matt Miazga is certainly a future defensive star for the US but he was in the Olympic squad yesterday. Would like to see Bill Hamid (from DC United in MLS) get more caps as goalkeeper as Howard is past it and Guzan is having a bad run of form. Striking depth is underwhelming against any half-decent side. Bobby Wood is probably the one with the brightest future, and Jurgen called him up through Wood playing in Germany.

It's not necessarily all on Klinsmann, but his shine has worn off. His defenses are beyond disorganized and last night he picked a back-four which had never played together, and he had Geoff Cameron as RB even though he's best suited centrally.

Also must be said, rest of CONCACAF has strengthened considerably. Panama has improved, as has Jamaica, Costa Rica obviously made QFs in the WC, Haiti is reasonably competitive, so USA and Mexico no longer have free passes to the World Cup as has been the case in recent qualification trips.

Used to have the odd US player dotted around in the top leagues on Europe, not so much anymore right?

Partly because the money to be earned by staying MLS has gone up or because the top players arent as good and desirable for top division european clubs?

For context (don't know if it'll be geoblocked), but first goal almost certainly would've been saved by someone better than 2016 Howard, and second goal was off a goal kick and straight to their forward Ruiz.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GceEXmmKx8Y


Rest of CONCACAF saw Mexico beat Canada 3-0 and Jamaica and Costa Rica draw 1-1.

The Romanian national team are said to be wearing mathematical equations on their kits in the friendly against Spain. Said to be an effort to promote teaching maths to children.

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/artic...aths-equations

Good luck to the ref booking the Romanian players.

The players should say when called over, to the usual "what's your number?", "You work it out ref, the equation is there plain and clear!"

If it helps it's not geoblocked, and yeah, that was poor, but like I said, would Guzan be any better?

Hamid and Rimando seem to be the better performers in MLS but are they available/international standard?

Didn't want to start a new thread but does anyone else have this blip on their Sky Sports Football app for tomorrow's Asian World Cup qualifying games:

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...468da36163.jpg

What have the Palestine national football team done to upset Sky?

Think Milner tomorrow suggests that despite the great result the other day still suggests there will be a lot of better the devil you know by the time of the opening game against Russia .

Just wonder if Milner captain is because of his statement about his future international career.

No need to step back to the likes of Milner should have stayed with the positivity of Saturday .

I can't help but think about that "Boring James Milner" twitter handle whenever he is mentioned now, the two go hand in hand, even though I know that they ate not the same person!

I don't really see what he has done to deserve or warrant a place in the squad, nevermind being captain, if only temporarily.

he has done nothing worthy of warranting a place in the squad.

unfortunately it is a throw back of Hodgson picking players through their "name" and what PL club they play for instead of form. Its why I stopped watching.

its why rooney will also be picked and play in the first game

Are you suggesting Milner is a cannibal?

I don't think it matters what you've seen. Hodgson is the one picking the team. He's probably done this really strange thing called watching the players in training.

Milner will never be spectacular, but he's solid, reliable, consistent and does the job he's asked to do.

Who would you pick ahead of him in the role he plays?