Comments on: Semifinalists Show that There’s No Place Like Home When You’re Picking Your Team

By: Timba

Timba — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:41:50 +0000

Boycott the 2010 World Cup. Let your voice be heard! http://zimsolidarity.blogspot.com/

By: Daryl

Daryl — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:46:31 +0000

Jan, a whole post about that phenomenon is on the way later today.

By: Jan

Jan — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:15:27 +0000

To add to the noise: another theory is that all teams who rested their A-squad in the final group game struggled and lost their rhythm. Three out of four.

By: joejoejoe

joejoejoe — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:41:01 +0000

I don’t know if it’s anything other than statistical noise.

The World Cup ‘06 semifinals had France (12 players abroad), Portugal (15 players), Germany (2 players), and Italy (0 players abroad).

The Euro ‘04 semis had Portugal (7 players abroad), Netherlands (17 players), Czech Republic (18 players), and Greece (8 players abroad).

I think your evidence shows that the Russian league is underrated (UEFA Cup winners, Euro semifinalist), that the Bundesliga and La Liga are top quality leagues (no suprise), and Turkey is cinderella (they didn’t so much as qualify for the ‘06 WC or Euro ‘04).

Also arguing against your thesis is Croatia. I thought they played very much like a team in this tournament with lots of cohesion. They just came up empty in PKs in a crazy match.

My conclusion is good coaches with great young players succeed (Germany, Spain, Russia) and a gritty team playing hard can make it’s own luck in a short tournament (Turkey).

By: Tote Football Pro

Tote Football Pro — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:04:12 +0000

I think it’s true that having several players who play for the same TEAM xcan be an advantage. I don’t have any stats like youn to back me up, but it stands to reason that if your centre back pairing, or your strikers, play together week in week out then they will have a better understanding.

Oh and England are not an anomoly – we’re just plain rubbish!