View Full Version : Liverpool Cannot Defend Title
Uefa has insisted it has no plans to change its rules to allow Liverpool to defend their Champions League crown.
The Reds finished fifth in the Premiership - a place outside automatic qualification for the Champions League.
"I fully sympathise with the club and I would love to have them in there - but we have rules," Uefa spokesman William Gaillard told BBC Radio Five Live.
"We can't change them in the middle of the season. The FA has said Everton are the fourth English club to qualify."
Gaillard insisted that the precedent set in the 2000-01 season, when Real Madrid defended the trophy despite finishing fifth because the Spanish football federation decided to hand them Real Zaragoza's place, would make no difference.
We believe there is widespread support for Liverpool to be involved and we intend to keep lobbying and campaiging
FA spokesman David Davies
But the English Football Assoctiation has pledged its support to Liverpool's quest for a Champions League place after the breathtaking win over AC Milan in Istanbul.
"We think there should be a place for Liverpool in next season's Champions League for sporting reasons - and also in the wider interests of European football," said the FA's David Davies.
"This is a case we've been arguing for some time and we'll go on raising it. I'm quite optimistic that over the next few days you will see a significant number of influential, non-English figures speaking out on Liverpool's behalf.
"We believe there is widespread support for Liverpool to be involved and we intend to keep lobbying and campaiging.
"There is a significant meeting of the Uefa committee on 17 June which just happens to be taking place in Manchester," added Davies.
It is called the Champions League so the champions should be able to defend it Steven Gerrard
And Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez insisted his team should be allowed back into the Champions League next season.
"We have won the trophy. It is common sense that the winner should defend the title," said Benitez.
"It's quite unbelievable to even consider that a side who will play in the European Super Cup as well as the World Club Championship next season should not be allowed back into the Champions League."
Meanwhile, Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry has also made his own plea to Uefa: "Look at the support, the worldwide audience and the game.
"I think we have to be given a shot. We are worthy champions and I think that's what the world will say."
Liverpool get to keep the European Cup trophy after winning it for the fifth time by beating AC Milan on penalties.
But their participation in the competition has been in doubt since the Football Association decided that the top four in the Premiership would take up England's places next season.
Parry added: "At least we get to keep this one so they can't take it back off us if nothing else.
"You wouldn't have given a lot for our chances at half-time but the boys were absolutely magnificent.
"It's good to win it for the supporters because they were magnificent."
And Reds skipper Steven Gerrard added: "It is called the Champions League so the champions should be able to defend it."
AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said: "Yes, I think they should be allowed to defend the title."
sehnsucht79
26-05-2005, 08:36
Im sorry but I think its fair that 'Pool will not be able to defend their title. The CL next year will be a whole new season with new champions with some teams with different squads from this year.
Liverpool knew what was at stake - finish top 4 in England or you're out. To win the CL and maintaining top 4 in the league might be slightly difficult but 'Pool knew they had to do it or else. And they didnt. It was their own undoing.
even the world cup champions cannot defend their crown without qualifying now. Brazil has to go through a qualifying process even though they won last time.
Bigsheva
26-05-2005, 08:50
Thats the best way.
maybe next year liverpool will not be the same as this year.
You saw what happened to FcPorto last year champion,inter beat them so easy
as i said earlier, liverpool, and fc porto, will not win an CL trophy for at least another 10-20 years. they jost got extremely lucky.
sehnsucht79
26-05-2005, 09:42
In this programme "Football Crazy" today nearly 20 people sent messages of things like "Liverpool rocks" etc etc, but ONE fan said - "The CL is for champions. Liverpool are not champions. We wont see you next year" I thought that was hilarious
No, I dissagree. Milan and United won the Champions league without being champions of Italy. Now the Champions of Europe cant defend thier title. Its a joke. The whole point of the CL is to field the elite of Europe. Obviously you have to deserve it, but Liverpool have won the hardest club trophy there is. They deserve it.
as i said earlier, liverpool, and fc porto, will not win an CL trophy for at least another 10-20 years. they jost got extremely lucky.
Dont bet against Liverpool my friend, they share a simillar history to Milan are a great club who can attract real players. They are no FC Porto.
I don't care, honestly. They were helped by some mysterious force this year. They won't win next year, they may not pass the group stage, as wonderful their coach is.
We cant call it a mysterious force anymore. We seem to be meeting it quite often and we almost on first name terms with this force.
Dont bet against Liverpool my friend, they share a simillar history to Milan are a great club who can attract real players. They are no FC Porto.
trust me on this one. yes they have a pedigree but unless they can really mount a challenge in the EPL, nobody is going to come to them. and a team like juve will slaughter them the next time around. i am not so sure about milan because milan just play half a game these days lol.
well they will struggle to sign players if they dont qualify for the CL, but I have a feeling they will be let in. They have a manager who seems to be following mourinhio. Both won the Uefa Cup followed by the CL. There are some class players to. Risse, Gerrard, Alonso, Garcia, Barros, Cisse, Morientes
and surely some more to come. Anelkas already asking to go back
well they will struggle to sign players if they dont qualify for the CL, but I have a feeling they will be let in. They have a manager who seems to be following mourinhio. Both won the Uefa Cup followed by the CL. There are some class players to. Risse, Gerrard, Alonso, Garcia, Barros, Cisse, Morientes
and surely some more to come. Anelkas already asking to go back
From what I have heard, Baros will be allowed to leave at the end of the season. If they can get Morientes and Cisse fit and playing together, they could be a dangerous partnership, but I can't see them repeating this CL campaign again next year. As for Anelka, if he did ever return to Anfield, he would probably be chased out of the city - I hear he's not the most popular player amongst their fans.
trust me. even if they make it into the CL, they won't go very far. they just got lucky. 9/10 times they won't beat juve in a 2 legged game. they were very lucky to get to the finals. and they were lucky to face a team like milan (who stop playing after they take the lead).
The FA is being hypocritical, IMO. UEFA sets an upper limit of four participants per country, but it's the leagues that decide how those places get allocated. All the FA has to do is tell Everton to drop down to the UEFA Cup and send Liverpool into CL qualifying, but it's too gutless.
Milanfan_86
26-05-2005, 11:41
I think UEFA are quite right on not letting Liverpool defend their title. They had to finish fourth and they didn't. Tough luck Liverpool enjoy the UEFA cup next season.
Well I think they should be in it, the winners deserve it, but I'm not going to go campaigning for it. If they don't get in they can go **** themselves.
Stezagud
26-05-2005, 12:00
The FA is being hypocritical, IMO. UEFA sets an upper limit of four participants per country, but it's the leagues that decide how those places get allocated. All the FA has to do is tell Everton to drop down to the UEFA Cup and send Liverpool into CL qualifying, but it's too gutless.
Its more difficult than that, Everton are in the Champions League by right and would lose out massively if they dont get in through loss of potential earnings and the level of players they can attract to the club.
I do agree that Liverpool should be allowed to defend their title though. I've seen the Welsh Champions have offered to stage a playoff between themselves and Liverpool and i think this is a good idea.
TNS are champions of Wales but they arent serious challengers for the trophy, they only want to face a big team to give them a financial boost and a present for their supporters. So they would be happy even if they lost to Liverpool, who would then take their place in the first knockout round and have to earn their way into the Champions League proper.
Milanfan_86
26-05-2005, 12:01
Well I think they should be in it, the winners deserve it, but I'm not going to go campaigning for it. If they don't get in they can go **** themselves.
Right what game would of been better Liverpool vs AC Milan, or Chelsea Vs AC Milan? I think Liverpool where lucky to get there.
Right what game would of been better Liverpool vs AC Milan, or Chelsea Vs AC Milan? I think Liverpool where lucky to get there.
to be fair mate, from a neutrals point of view I'm pretty sure a 6 goal thriller would have been hard to beat. The alternative to Liverpool is Everton anyway, it's weaker tournament for Liverpools exclusion. The winners should defend it but I'll be quite happy if they get screwed over and can't.
They probably won't even be able to win the UEFA.
liverpool should be allowed to defend title simple as that.
real madrid were allowed in 2001 when they only finished 5th. the 4th placed team was nt which should happen again
I know you dislike Liverpool Nadir, but you come up with some boll*cks. How can you be lucky over 15 matches ? In the Premiership, they've been awful. One moment they can sweep aside Arsenal, next minute lose to Southampton and look very bad. But in Europe they've coped with everything that was thrown at them. How can you talk about luck when Milan had alot of luck in beating PSV ? Why would people want Chelsea in the final when they could hardly muster a shot over 180 minutes against Liverpool ? Chelsea v Milan would have been boring, at least Liverpool knew they had to go for it. You might not like them, but credit where it's due. They got to the final because they beat the teams in front of them and that's the end of it.
What happens to them now is anyone's guess. Maybe they won't get to another final for 10 years or maybe they'll win everything next year. How can you be sure they can't win the league when it looked like they didn't have a hope of winning the CL ? Nothing in football is certain. For all we know Milan might not make the final again for 5 or 10 years, just like the period between the loss to Ajax and the win against Juventus.
They have the basis of a good team, they don't have many star players, just gerrard, carragher and alonso. The likes of cisse, morientes, riise and hyppia are good squad players. But if Benitez can turn traore and biscan into compotent players, then what he could do with skilled players will be amazing ! Liverpool have money, they will attract better players, it's as simple as that. Maybe they won't be world beaters but Benitez will turn them closer to being a dominant force given enough time.
As a Milan and Liverpool supporter this past week has been the absolute worst for me, i can't celebrate a win when it was against a club i love. But i don't think they should be allowed into the competition, no special arrangements should be made because once you do it once, other teams will want to follow suit.
i would like to see liverpool defend their title but at the same time id feel very sorry for everton, they got 4th spot and they deserve to be there... put urself in their position, liverpool are in the state of re-birth, everton need money badly and by going to europe they can acheive that plus they can come back to being a british force they once were... therefore i think liverpool should settle for the UEFA cup in the meantime... it might be for their own good maybe they can win the double and then they can show their true worth in the CL the following season
I know you dislike Liverpool Nadir, but you come up with some boll*cks. How can you be lucky over 15 matches ? In the Premiership, they've been awful. One moment they can sweep aside Arsenal, next minute lose to Southampton and look very bad. But in Europe they've coped with everything that was thrown at them. How can you talk about luck when Milan had alot of luck in beating PSV ? Why would people want Chelsea in the final when they could hardly muster a shot over 180 minutes against Liverpool ? Chelsea v Milan would have been boring, at least Liverpool knew they had to go for it. You might not like them, but credit where it's due. They got to the final because they beat the teams in front of them and that's the end of it.
i don't dislike liverpool at all. i just think they were lucky. i have nothing against them. it's just an opinion from the liverpool games that i saw. i have a right to an opinion you know :)
UBigBobby
26-05-2005, 23:24
I've always like liverpool...but they SHOULDN't be able to defend their title. Every year is different, and you must earn the right to play by preforming in your domestic campaign. Liverpool came up short and didn't earn a sport. Those are the rules. They're there for a reason. UEFA is right not to go back on their rules, and Everton should not lose their spot. Everton earned it, why should it be taken away from them? I highly doubt it will be taken from Everton. They would go crazy, and I'm sure alot of other english teams would also with the theory of...what's to stop this from happening to me next time? It would set a bad precedent in that if you do great/win the CL, but don't finish top 4 EPL...a top 4 team can be bumped. That would be terrible and would be a victory for no one but Liverpool.
Sheva7_Evo
27-05-2005, 01:31
bad luck for liverpool...but rules are rules.
maybe they can give them Inter's spot.
Liverpool were lucky to win CL this year but they won it fair and they deserve to defend it.It would be the first time in any sport that champions won't defend their tactics.
But,I think UEFA is looking more into the future.Greece are European champions and there is real possibility they won't qualify for EURO2008.If they let Liverpool in CL next year then Greece should get automatic place in EURO2008.
Melbourne_Milan
27-05-2005, 02:39
It would be better for the game if Liverpool were allowed to defend their trophy. they would provide the champions league with more than Everton can.
who shares my vision of Everton making the group stages, getting thumped by a team like Barcelona, extra fixtures taking a toll on the squad and finishing 12th-15th.
but rules are rules and as much as it would be good for Liverpool to defend their title, they can't.
They should concentrate on at least challenging the top three in England, not to forget to qualify for europe before Everton.
sehnsucht79
27-05-2005, 06:20
The FA is being hypocritical, IMO. UEFA sets an upper limit of four participants per country, but it's the leagues that decide how those places get allocated. All the FA has to do is tell Everton to drop down to the UEFA Cup and send Liverpool into CL qualifying, but it's too gutless.
It will also be unfair to Everton.
Times have changed. Rules are set. Again, Liverpool KNEW what was at stake. They know they need to finish top 4 to be in CL. And they didnt. Its their own undoing really.
Its more difficult than that, Everton are in the Champions League by right and would lose out massively if they dont get in through loss of potential earnings and the level of players they can attract to the club.
I do agree that Liverpool should be allowed to defend their title though. I've seen the Welsh Champions have offered to stage a playoff between themselves and Liverpool and i think this is a good idea.
TNS are champions of Wales but they arent serious challengers for the trophy, they only want to face a big team to give them a financial boost and a present for their supporters. So they would be happy even if they lost to Liverpool, who would then take their place in the first knockout round and have to earn their way into the Champions League proper.
I don't think that should be allowed, you shouldn't be allowed to buy CL spots, the competition is money orientated enough as it is. The problem is, if Liverpool get in, someone else (likely a smaller team) suffers financially, say Liverpool draw Prague or Donestk or any number of the teams from european countries that don't have the money the big wetern ones too, they would likely beat them and take all the profits where they would have probably beaten TNS.
The only fair way is for the FA to pick over Everton and Liverpool. Yes Everton would be the team to suffer, however as Englands last CL qualifier that is the position they're in.
UBigBobby
27-05-2005, 10:41
It's great that Liverpool won the Cl, good job...but if you can't finih top 4 in the EPL over Eveerton who got thrashed 7-0 by Arsenal...you don't deserve to be in it next year. Each season is a clean slate, and to play with the best in the CL, you have to finish with the best in your own league.
I'm sorry if i over reacted Nadir and of course your entitled to your opinion ..... everyone is. I just felt some of your views weren't totally justified.
Anyway.
I would be amazed if Uefa let Liverpool defend the trophy, i mean what if the same thing happens next year. Once you let one team break the rules, then everyone will want to do it. Everton were the 4th best team in the league, so they should be in the CL. Although i still think it should go back to being the winners of each league, or the winners and 2nd place teams.
I can't see what's wrong with Liverpool playing in the Uefa cup, yeah it's not what it was. But if Benitez wants to challenge for the league, he has to have less distractions. Let a youth/squad team play in the Uefa cup and concentrate on the league. That is a possibility.
I do like the way the English F.A. have just done a complete U-turn and now support Liverpool defending the trophy, yet before the match they were dead against it. Bunch of cowards, they have no idea what to do.
I have to be honest I think the only reason the FA won't kick Everton out is because they did so well to finish 4th, not a good enough reason. I think Moyes is fantastic and it would be heartbreaking to see them not get a chance at europe but that's football, if it had of been Newcastle or Another bigger team then I reckon Liverpool would have been faster than you can blink.
Everton out, Liverpool in, it's the only fair way. If CL spots can be auctioned away by small welsh teams, or UEFA let 5 teams from one country in it's just diabolical for football and discredits the competition (though only marginally more than Dudeks carry on). Sure it will feel like shooting a puppy but that's what needs to be done.
sehnsucht79
28-05-2005, 08:58
How is choosing 'Pool over Everton fair? Everton won their place fair and square. What would football be if we didnt give Everton credit for that and give them a chance in CL? They are after all amongst the "champions" in their league this season, which is what CL 05/06 is about. Kudos to 'Pool for winning the CL and its sad they wont be able to defend it but hey. Life goes on. No fourth place, no CL. 'Pool shouldnt be allowed in ESPECIALLY if its at Everton's expense. If they are then smaller teams in every league will never get the breakthrough to make it big.
Justice96
30-05-2005, 09:55
I think no matter who the team is, they should defend their title, irrspective of their position in their domestic league.
I want Liverpool to play a part in next season's compitition, they were great to watch from a nuetral point of view. In the group stage against olmypicos, olmypicos were winning 1 nil at half time, liverpool needed 3 goals to advance through the group stage, they got 2 then with 4 minutes to go in comes Gerrard with a super strike that sent them in to the knock-outs. No-one thought they would beat juventus, they hit them with 2 quick goals at anfield. Juve got 1 back. Then when Liverpool went to juve, they defended for their lives and they did a great job in doing so. Chelsea, everyone wrote them off there to, they stoped chelsea having a shot on target for the whole 2 legs. Maybe it wasn't a goal from garcia, but in my opinion and the ref's cech brought down baros, and would of been sent off in garcia did not put the ball across the line.
The final.
before the match people said no chance not against milan. liverpool looked shaky in the first half and I think they showed to much respect. But all the kopite's in the ground at half-time were still singing loud and proud "You'll Never Walk Alone" and "4-3". Liverpool players heard this along with milan's celebrations and it inspired them. 6 minutes of madness made the best european cup final that has ever been seen. Dudek save against sheva made me think Liverpool's name has been written on the cup from the start. Any other team that day milan would of tore to pieces, liverpool desired the cup more because they had not won 1 for 21 years.
LET LIVERPOOL IN.
Also if Liverpool do get in, it will not be a one off, the rules will change competely which will let the winners defend the tropy no matter what.
Even Brazil has to qualify for next year's World Cup. Why should Liverpool get special privileges? All they had to do was finish above Everton.
I think the limit of four teams per country is fine. However, if the English FA want to allocate one of their four CL places to Liverpool, that's fine by me.
Justice96
30-05-2005, 11:04
The english F.A had a rule on their website when Chelsea played Arsenal in last years champs league (the one porto won).
If the winners of the champions league comes from england and does not finish inside the top four, the 4th placed team will go into the uefa cup.
I dont know what changed.
I would be amazed if Uefa let Liverpool defend the trophy, i mean what if the same thing happens next year. Once you let one team break the rules, then everyone will want to do it. Everton were the 4th best team in the league, so they should be in the CL. Although i still think it should go back to being the winners of each league, or the winners and 2nd place teams.
yes i would love for the CL going back to being just for champions of their countries. That is why it was so hard for teams to with the champions cup before 1995 - so much more respect :)
Justice96
30-05-2005, 11:55
Its strange isnt it back in the day when only champions of a country played in the comp it was called "European Cup". Then when more team that weren't champions were let in it was called "Champions League"
This Whole debate is a Shame, and it is all UEFA's fault, they should just let everton play and liverpool out of CL, rules are rules and they should abide by it. :hmm2:
Maradona (10)
30-05-2005, 15:08
i havent read previous posts, but I will give my 2 cents:
They shouldnt allow Liverpool to take part of the competition next season because rules are rules. They should stick to them.
I feel that rule stinks, because every champion should be able to defend its trophy, but dont come to change this now to help Liverpool.
How is choosing 'Pool over Everton fair? Everton won their place fair and square. What would football be if we didnt give Everton credit for that and give them a chance in CL? They are after all amongst the "champions" in their league this season, which is what CL 05/06 is about. Kudos to 'Pool for winning the CL and its sad they wont be able to defend it but hey. Life goes on. No fourth place, no CL. 'Pool shouldnt be allowed in ESPECIALLY if its at Everton's expense. If they are then smaller teams in every league will never get the breakthrough to make it big.
because that's the way it's always done, I think winning the CL merits a spot far more than finishing 4th, 4th in some countries means you don't even make the UEFA. I love love everton, they have more scottish players than anyone else in their team in england and have a fantastic scottish manager who defied the odds (i'm scottish), I think it's a damn shame to put them out, but thinking objectively as I can it's only right that Liverpool go in and Everton go out.
as i see it these are the facts:
Liverpool should be defending the title.
England must not have more than 4 entries.
Entries must NOT be auctioned off by other leagues like TNS wants to do.
the only way to do this put Everton in the UEFA
Like I have said in this thread before, this is what I believe, however should the FA decided liverpool go into the UEFA I will not kick up a fuss, I'm obviously a tad bitter about the final and I would enjoy seeing them not get in. Just like when perfeclty good goals are disallowed for Inter or we get dodgey penalties, it's not right but I'm not going to protest.
Talking about rules, I am just curious about what happened in 2003. Milan finished 3rd in serie A, earning a spot in the 03/04 CL PRELIMINARY ROUND. But Milan won the 2003 CL, and they went straight into the group phase for the 03/04 CL campaign. So, were they in because they were defending champs, or because they were in because they were 3rd in serie A? If defending champs are not allowed to defend their titles, and Milan qualified as #3 in serie A, how come they didn't have to play the preliminary round as per the rules?
sehnsucht79
30-05-2005, 20:11
It would've been different Meazza if they hadnt set this bloody rule. But they have set it and I am only content if all clubs abide by it. Besides for all you know 'Pool wont be the same team they are next season as they are now (summer transfers etc). They're a club with a history to be proud of and comparing them to teams like Porto is a bit degrading, but it can happen.
In this programme "Football Crazy" today nearly 20 people sent messages of things like "Liverpool rocks" etc etc, but ONE fan said - "The CL is for champions. Liverpool are not champions. We wont see you next year" I thought that was hilarious
If the CL is for champions, how come we won it this year but were not champions of our own league? In fact, you can win it these days even if you loose several games in the group stages.
I think it was a far better and more prestigious competition when it was a knock-out tournament!
The UEFA champions league should be renamed the European cup, precisley because you do NOT have to be champions to qualify.
And for the record, I believe UEFA will bow to popular demand and allow Liverpool to enter next years competition. But if they do not then I can have no complaints.
...no special arrangements should be made because once you do it once, other teams will want to follow suit.
UEFA have egg on the're faces and will change the rules, so that should any team win the competition and not qualify through their domestic league they will take the place of the lowest qualifying team.
Everton should play, Liverpool should not. Their punnishment for being woeful in the league.
The last time Everton qualified for the European Cup they were not allowed to play as Liverpool got everyone banned. Payback is a b!tch.
Also if the FA have to make a decision why not give them Arsenals spot? The tedium of seeing "the worlds greatest team ever" get humiliated year in year out is loosing its appeal. Also as Wenger said in december: "Liverpool should not be in this competition as they are not champions" Live by the sword die by the sword Arsene, your not champions so dont enter it!
ac_milan_foreva
10-06-2005, 15:13
what about everton? how should they feel? they think they are through and have worked so hard and now uefa says they are out. no way. everton worked for it.
ac_milan_foreva
10-06-2005, 15:15
however when depor beated us they were never the same.... also few years back.... when galta beated us in the 2001-2002 season i think they were never that good and same goes for leeds and psg... wonder what will happen with liverpool now...
Maradona (10)
10-06-2005, 15:18
however when depor beated us they were never the same.... also few years back.... when galta beated us in the 2001-2002 season i think they were never that good and same goes for leeds and psg... wonder what will happen with liverpool now...
Liverpool was a one tournament wonder, a soccer miracle. They wont be in position to repeat, Im sure.
So now when Malta wins the World Cup they are going to allow them to defend their title? This su**s. Why even bother to make rules?
Maradona (10) is so right, no team can ever win the cup like Liverpool did and be a possible threat again the season after.
What he says must be true.
zlatanov
10-06-2005, 16:01
I don't know if you heard the latest news but Liverpool will be able to defend their CL title. However, they will have to play 3 preliminary legs in order to get to the CL groups.
IMO, UEFA took the best possible decision for they give Pool the chance to defend their title without this affecting another club participating in the tournamnet.
From next season, should this situation occur again, the CL champs will take the place of the team who finished fourth in their respective league.
Everton got lucky, at least for now :)
i dont think liverpool shouldve been allowed to defend the title... i have no problem if everton accepted to allow liverpool to do so but its not fair for others ... i dont even think 5 english teams should have the chance to participate in europe... rule says 4 from the major leagues and god knows how much from others .. why should others suffer for liverpools benefit, if say inter knew this could be done then they couldve won something for once.. maybe they couldve concentrated on the CL while fielding their youth team for the scudetto since they cant win it... rules say u have to finish 4th to qualify for europe and liverpool knew that all along, maybe theyre not worthy CL champs if they cannot win a top 4 spot in that overrated league, its not fair for alot of people, for everton for the slovak champs their gonna play and for teams liverpool knocked out during the CL campaign this year who couldve done the exact same thing they did.
besides i think it wouldve been to their benefit to play the uefa cup, maybe they could win the EPL this year if not the uefa cup as well and qualify to the CL the following year with a stronger team with a more successful present
Maradona (10)
10-06-2005, 19:25
Liverpool was lucky to advance from day one, they wont be able to come close to it again next season. I guess we will have to wait as far as to know who is right. And many of the top teams, including Real Madrid, Juventus, Barcelona, maybe Milan, will have improved by then. Its Liverpool after all.
however when depor beated us they were never the same.... also few years back.... when galta beated us in the 2001-2002 season i think they were never that good and same goes for leeds and psg... wonder what will happen with liverpool now...
I hope the same thing. Now they face 6 games to qualify and if they get through that they will have major fixture congestion in December. They used up 20 years of good luck to win the EC.
i wonder why the WC winners have to qualify now. Can't the holders automatically qualify? it makes no sense.
sehnsucht79
11-06-2005, 00:24
God, UEFA are such hypocrites.
zlatanov
11-06-2005, 07:04
i wonder why the WC winners have to qualify now. Can't the holders automatically qualify? it makes no sense.
agree. I would rather have the home team play to qualify than the champs. And when you think that win Korea and Japan it was two, rather average teams, that got a free-ride ...
Maradona (10)
11-06-2005, 12:51
IMO the Home team + defending Champ are a must. Theres no need to give CONCAFAF, for example, more than 2 spots. I think its common sense.
This being said, I like to have Brazil (for example) battling for their spot in Germany 2006. Not having them would be boring.
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