Conference trucks::football;1

    
    Group contains
    
       Luxembourg         
       Malta                       
       Belarus                     
       Czech Republic      
       Norway                    
       Holland              
    

    Pred:
    1. Holland
    2. Norway
    3. Belarus
    4. Czech
    5. Malta
    6. Luxemburg
    
    Holland vs. Norway again :)

Luxembourg 0 Holland 4

crap game! nuff said

Norway 1 ???? 0



T_

Luxembourg 0 Holland 4

Norway 1 Belarus 0

    Extremely quiet in here.   Obviously the native Dutch are still
    recovering from last Wednesday's result:
    
    		Netherlands 0 Czech Republic 0
       
    I was there in the new (seemingly?) Feyenoord stadium.   Holland did
    alot of b*ggering about (as my father would say) but failed to deduce
    how to actually get the ball in the net.   Lots of nice passing (like
    Ajax) but the aim is to win (maybe).
    
    As an aside - the only gents toilet in the whole stadium was a
    miniscule portakabin near the entrance.   Consequently alot of gents
    relieved themselves against the perimiter fence.   Let's hope the new
    Ajax stadium is better equipped.
    
    Ray

Ray,

yes, it is very quite in here ! Seems like some of the enthusiasm went away
with the World Cup last summer.

Or is the rec.sport.soccer (see below) news group taking over for our internal
notes conferences ? Or the Web ?

But we ARE following the qualification, though ! Norway wants another
not_too_often qualification to the finals in '96.

This is from a (VERY) enthusiastic guy at one of our universities:

   
    
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From: [email protected] (Olav Burkeland)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.soccer
Subject: Norway top team in Europe!
Date: 24 Nov 1994 12:11:45 GMT
Organization: University of Trondheim, Norway
Lines: 86
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
NNTP-Posting-Host: flode.nvg.unit.no
Keywords: soccer, football, Norway, ranking, Europe
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2]


This is how FIFA ranks the top ten teams in the world as of November:

1. Brazil
2. Sweden
3. Italy
4. Germany
5. Spain
6. Holland
7. Switzerland
8. Ireland
9. Argentina
10.NORWAY

In all their corrupt wisdom, the federation has put Norway in 10th spot, 
behind such teams as Switzerland, Ireland, Italy and Sweden. 

What is going on inside FIFA's mind? How can anyone in their right frame 
of mind come to the conclusion that Switzerland, Italy and Ireland are all 
presently better teams than Norway? Oh my god. 

The bare facts prove FIFA dead wrong:

On the last night of European Championship qualification games, Nov. 17,
Norway stunned Belarus with a decisive 4-0 win away in Minsk. The 
Norwegians looked mighty strong in the game, controlling all aspects of 
the encounter. The win is most impressive considering that Belarus is not 
an easy team to beat. I am convinced no other team in that group, including 
Holland and the Czechs, will beat Belarus in Minsk.

On the same night, Holland struggle to tie the Czechs 0-0 in Rotterdam. 
From what I saw on Eurosport, the Dutch were the lucky side. Sad as it 
is, Holland's talented side sucks right now. They really stink.

Italy embarrased itself in front of the entire world soccer family by 
losing 1-2 at home for Croatia. Sure, Croatia is an exciting side, by 
c'mon... No way Italy should have lost at home. Then again, they suck too.

Sweden rehabilitated itself with a decent 2-0 win at home over a weak 
Hungarian team. In the light of their 2-4 crashing recently by 
Switzerland, however, the Swedes look shaky.

Ireland did well on the 17th by trashing their rivals Northern Ireland 
4-0. I was impressed by that. 

The Germans, at present just a mere shadow of itself, escaped from sad 
Albania with a fortunate 1-0 win. Bertie Vogts, what is up with the old 
masters?

Unfortunately I can't remember the final score in Switzerland on the 
17th, but as far as I know, they either lost or tied. 

This leaves me with no other option than to conclude that FIFA's world 
ranking is meaningless and corrupt. 

In their opening three games of the Euro qualification, Norway has 
beaten Belarus twice and tied Holland, and thus placed itself firmly 
at the top of the group. Teams like Italy and Holland, however, are 
struggling below qualification spots. Still, FIFA rank them higher 
than Norway.

This is how a World Top Ten of November *ought* to look:

1. Brazil
2. Spain
3. Norway
4. Argentina
5. Nigeria
6. Portugal
7. Sweden
8. Croatia
9. Bulgaria
10.Rumenia

In the game against Belarus, Norway's core midfield of Lars Bohinen, Erik 
Mykland, Oyvind Leonhardsen and Kjetil Rekdal showed terrific 
organization and drive. Their combination of superb skill (Bohinen and 
Mykland), and workmanship and organization (Leonhardsen and Rekdal) will 
guide Norway to the European Championship in England 1996. 
Where they will face Spain in a dramatic, intense final...


LENGE LEVE DRILLO!

Arne Morten Rolseth
Trondheim, Norway
[email protected]

    
    re: .6
    
    How did that rubbish get re-posted in here. Must be a bug in the
    firewall...

    
    While I would obviosly agree with Brasil being Numero 1, I would think
    the Number 2 spot being a toss up between Italy, Spain and Romania;
    favouring Spain slightly. Norway being in the top ten...I don't think
    so. Sweden, Nigeria, Holland, Argentina, Bulgaria and Germany would
    fill in the other places. 
    
    This is all very subjective BUT World Cup performance DOES stand out
    above friendlies and Early Autumn qualifiers.
    
    As for the countries who didn't even exist at the time of qualification
    for the WC, it seems Croatia are the best of a bunch.
    
    This FIFA list is a bit like the American Collegiate Gridiron Polls;
    where it doesn't mean very much but keeps a few people happy.
    
    Dezzz.
     

    ... and justifies their existance ... possibly ...

    Holland 5 Luxembourg 0
    
    Pretty one-sided affair with alot of singing by the crowd but not
    too much else to shout about.
    
    Ray

		Malta 0             Norway 1
                Netherlands 5       Luxembourg 0

                                P  W  D  L Pts
            Norway              4  3  1  0  10
            Netherlands         4  2  2  0   8
            Czech Rep.          3  1  2  0   5
            Belarus             3  1  0  2   3              
            Malta               3  0  1  2   1
            Luxembourg          3  0  0  3   0

    
    And of course no real surprises in this group either !!!!!
    
    Holland are struggling....
    
    

    .... and we're on our way to England
    
    
    Group 5
    
    Byelorussia, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands and Norway 
    
    94.09.06:  Czech Republic - Malta         6 - 1
    94.09.07:  Luxembourg - Netherlands       0 - 4
    94.09.07:  Norway - Byelorussia           1 - 0
    94.10.12:  Byelorussia - Luxembourg       2 - 0
    94.10.12:  Malta - Czech Republic         0 - 0
    94.10.12:  Norway - Netherlands           1 - 1
    94.11.16:  Byelorussia - Norway           0 - 4
    94.11.16:  Netherlands - Czech Republic   0 - 0
    94.12.14:  Malta - Norway                 0 - 1
    94.12.14:  Netherlands - Luxembourg       5 - 0
    95.02.22:  Malta - Luxembourg             0 - 1
    95.03.29:  Czech Republic - Byelorussia   4 - 2
    95.03.29:  Netherlands - Malta            4 - 0
    95.03.29:  Luxembourg - Norway            0 - 2
    95.04.26:  Byelorussia - Malta            1 - 1
    95.04.26:  Czech Republic - Netherlands   3 - 1
    95.04.26:  Norway - Luxembourg            5 - 0
    95.06.07:  Byelorussia - Netherlands      1 - 0
    95.06.07:  Luxembourg - Czech Republic    1 - 0 (!!!!!)
    95.06.07:  Norway - Malta                 2 - 0
    
    Norway                  7   6  1  0  16 - 1  19  ( 2) 
    Netherlands             7   3  2  2  15 - 5  11  (-2) 
    Czech Republic          6   3  2  1  13 - 5  11  (-1) 
    Byelorussia             6   2  1  3   6 - 10  7  (-5) 
    Luxembourg              7   2  0  5   2 - 18  6  (-6) 
    Malta                   7   0  2  5   2 - 15  2  (-8) 
    
    95.08.16:  Norway - Czech Republic
    95.09.06:  Czech Republic - Norway
    95.09.06:  Netherlands - Byelorussia
    95.09.06:  Luxembourg - Malta
    95.10.11:  Byelorussia - Czech Republic
    95.10.11:  Luxembourg - Byelorussia
    95.10.11:  Malta - Netherlands
    95.11.12:  Malta - Byelorussia
    95.11.15:  Czech Republic - Luxembourg
    95.11.15:  Netherlands - Norway
    
    
    Bjarne Mehl,
    
    SI Norway

    Does anyone know if Czech beat Belarus over the weekend? I believe that
    a victory was all they needed to eliminate Holland.
    
    Regards
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    Yep, the Czech Republic won 2-0. However, I don't think that
    *automatically* eliminates Holland, although they're as good as out.
    
    Dom

rep - few

Holland still got a small shot, they have to win their last two games,
tonight against Malta en the last game at home to Norway, if Holland
beats Norway than they have equal points (20 a piece) and then the results
of the two Holland Norway games will count wich will then be on favour of
Holland, a draw and a win.

To be honest, I can't see Holland winning against Norway, last couple of
games have been goalless draws or small wins for Norway.

A well time will tell.


gr

T_

    It will definitely be a strange tournament indeed without the likes of
    Belgium, Sweden, Holland and (maybe) France. I guess we'll pretty much
    know most if not all the qualifiers after tonights games.
    
    Andrew

    t
    
    well holland downed malta 4-0 but i think this still means that czech
    just needs a draw against luxembourg.
    
    regards
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

rep -1

Andrew,

there are still some options open, the table at the moment looks like this:

		Played	Points

Norway		9	20
Tsjechie	9	18
Holland		9	17

This means that if Tsjechie draws with Luxemburg they still will be second in 
the group and if Holland manage to beat Norway (difficult task) Tsjechie will
be number 3, ofcourse Tjechie can win (should be) and then the would be on
place 1. So you see all three countries still can do it with Tsjechie having
the best papers and Holland the worst.

T_

    well well well total football back from the dead as holland beat norway
    3-0 to steal the second place from norway on goal difference and now
    have a playoff against TGA and friends
    
    andrew

    Czech Rep.  3 - 0  Luxembourg
    Malta       0 - 2  Byelorussia
    Holland     3 - 0  Norway
    
    
    Final Table
    -----------
    
                 P   W  D  L  F   A   Pts
    Czech Rep.   10  6  3  1  21   6  21
    Holland      10  6  2  2  23   5  20
    Norway       10  6  2  2  17   7  20
    Byelorussia  10  3  2  5   8  13  11
    Luxembourg   10  3  1  6   3  21  10
    Malta        10  0  2  8   2  22   2
    
    
    Gary
    

    
    Calling the author if 343.14: Bunch of good players? Great coach? As we
    knew all along, when faced with real opposition, Norway don't have a
    clue.
    
    Not that I would gloat or anything. An apology will do.
    
    cheers,
    
    	Stefan

    >Calling the author if 343.14: Bunch of good players? Great coach? As we
    >knew all along, when faced with real opposition, Norway don't have a
    >clue.
    
    Meanwhile, Sweden are really running up a storm, aren't they? Maybe
    Norway should really start to panic when Turkey finish ahead of them in
    a qualifying round ;-)
    
    Sounds like you've got a bee in your bonnet.
    
    Dom

    
    Dom, 
    
    There's not a lot to prove really for a World Cup semi-finalist.
    
    The difference between Sweden and Norway in 1995 can be summed up in
    contemporary terrace speak:
    
    - "we're crap and we know it" 
    - "they're crap and they don't know it"
    
    Anyway, thanks for your comments, although they are irrelevant :-)
    
    See you in France 1998. Hope we draw Norway, if not I hope we draw
    England.
    
    cheers,
    
    	Stefan
    
    

    Hi all,
    
    Just wondering what the latest scoop is on that
    Holland vs Ireland match up. Any juicy rumors?
    
    
    			Cheers, Rob
    

>>  Just wondering what the latest scoop is on that
>>  Holland vs Ireland match up. Any juicy rumors?
  
    Ireland are going to win. Remember where you heard it first. Revenge
    for 88 and 94 and all that....  prediction?? 3-2 to the Boys in Green..
    
    Ray....

    
    	I predict Jack Charlton will resign after the game, win or lose.
    Either directly after the final whistle or in the seven days following.
    
    	Anybody like to give me odds ?
    
    Malc.
    

I was just telling Gary that I'll get good odds on Ireland losing by more 
that 2 goals and thought I'd let the people at large see what his response
to that was.

Maybe there's more than a little grain of truth in what he says!

                            James.

++

From:	VBORMC::"[email protected]" "GSPAIN.IE.ORACLE.COM" 11-DEC-1995 11:14:04.30
To:	[email protected]
CC:	
Subj:	Re: CHANTELLE: A but late but what the hey (includes WWW URL)...


James, 
 
I reckon it'll be a lot closer than people think.  If the Dutch were that 
good they wouldn't be at Anfield.  They're not Ajax.  England were crap 
when Liverpool and Forest ruled Europe.  I think we could force a 
penalty shootout. 
 
Gary. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
Gary Spain				European Porting Centre,	 
Internet: [email protected]		Oracle Corporation, 
Tel: (353) 1 2834700 ext 203		Maretimo Court, Temple Rd., 
Fax: (353) 1 2834732			Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland. 

    
    > penalty shoot out
    
    	Err, hang on a minute. A little bird told me that this will be the
    first match to be decided by the new "Golden Goal" rule. Which in
    school playground language means "Next Goal The Winner". Is this not
    correct ? And if it is how do the logistics work ? Do they play on and
    on and on until somebody scores ?
    
    	I have just this minute realised I will be out that night and shall
    miss it. Rats.
    
    Malc.
    

    Yes after 90 min first to score in extra time goes through if after 30
    mins still no score then a penalty shoot out.
    
    Heres the team that I would like Ireland to play against Holland on
    Wedenesday
    
    				KELLY
    
    	KELLY		MC GRATH	BABB		IRWIN
    
    
    	HOUGHTON	SHERIDAN	MCATEER		STAUNTON
    				TOWNSEND(c)
    
    
    				CASCARINO
    
    
    Jack Charlton said in an interview last night here in Ireland that he
    would probaly play Cascarino from the start of the game, he did not say
    whether or not Aldridge would partner him from the beginning or would
    they play 4-4-2 or 4-5-1
    
    GS

    the team is..(I think)..
    
    A. Kelly
    G. Kelly
    Irwin
    Ooh Aah
    Babb
    Phelan, (yes, Phelan!!)
    Kenna
    Sheridan
    Townsend
    Aldo
    Big Tony
    
    ....world-beaters one and all, I bet Holland are quaking in their
    boots..NOT. A midfield of Kenna, Phelan, Sheridan and Townsend. I hope
    I'm wrong but unless our midfield plays out of their skin we'll be
    over-run....It looks like we've reverted to good old fashioned route
    one as well....
    
    Ray....

    yes Ray thats the team for tonight GOD help us . We will need divine
    inspiration to enable us to win this game.
    
    GS UAS
    ** ***

Get your money down: Holland 4/5 to win in 90 minutes.  Steal of the season!

                             James.

    
    Good luck Holland, and goodbye Mr Charlton.....

Re: -1

Thanks for the kind words!  you shouldn't have bothered.

                          James.

    
    Thats O.K......

    reports reaching this far flung outpost indicate that Holland won 2-0
    but for some reason the ET page still has yesterday's back page and
    provides no further details...
    
    Regards
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    It finished 2-0 to the Dutch with Patrick Kluivert scoring both goals,
    however had it not been for the heroics of Kelly in nets it could have
    been a more realistic scoreline, perhaps 4 or 5.
    
    Kev..

    hats off to the Dutch. They were playing a different game to the Irish.
    As I thought, the Irish midfield was totally outclassed, Babb and
    McGrath were OK, Irwin had a nightmare of a game, Cascarino gave all
    for the cause, the rest were mediocre. We'll have to assume that this
    was Big Jack's last game in charge. Even though it was a defeat you
    still have to applaud his record of only 16 defeats in 93 games in
    charge, reaching 3 major championships in the process. I hope he leaves
    gracefully and doesn't hang around in order to promote his
    auto-biography or something like that....
    
    Ray....

 NETHERLANDS - IRELAND    2:0 (1:0)
 35.000; Kluivert (30., 88.)

 NL:  v.d.Sar - Reiziger, Blind,
 Bogarde, R.de Boer - Seedorf, Davids,
 Kluivert - Helder (Winter/78.),
 Bergkamp (de Kock/57.), Overmars

 Ireland: A.Kelly - G.Kelly, Irwin, Babb
 - McGrath, Kenna, Phelan, Townsend
 (McAteer/50.), Sheridan - Aldridge
 (Kernaghan/71.), Cascarino


It is a pity - Ireland not in England 1996.

Heribert 

    
    Ah well, that's the European chamionships for another 4 years...still I
    suppose the Dutch should bring plenty of colour to the championships.
    They play nice football as well.
    
    Dezzz.
    
    

    
    The second goal was astonishing.
    The Dutch kept passing the ball from one to another for a long period 
    without an Irishmen being able to even look at the ball from close. 
    And then a brilliant pass from my MOTM Ronald De Boer to wonderboy
    Patrick Kluivert, who ran off with it and cleverly lobbed Kelly, who was 
    IMO the best Irishman. However it was a setback for the Irish that
    there captain (Reynolds?) had to go off injured. After his replacement,
    the Irish weren't able to launch the ball to Cascarino and co.
    
    Great to see that such a superb team reaches the final competition of
    Euro 96. And this is said by a Belgian !
    
    JO^)

    re -1 and that for a belgian....;-)
    Yes, we won but I miss something very essential that happened around
    this game : the atmosphere was fabolous. The whole day Irish and dutch
    fans were drinking, singing and walking together. No riots, just fun,
    driendly behaviour and a hundred times saying ; what a pity that only
    one of us can go through.......This was a great day for football
    because it prooved that people can go together, as opponents, to watch
    a match. The dutch and the Irish teams didn't only go to their own fans
    but were also cheered by the others.
    Great performance, people ; Fans and players !! Maybe the dutch have
    won but the enthusiasm and fire were the Irish were playing with was
    great ! Playing with the heart as I would like to say !
    And Holland played for the first time as a team. No wonder, in fact it
    was Ajax playing in orange shirts !!
    
    John

I had the pleasure of being at the game last night, and it was a privilege to
sit and watch the Dutch play some wonderful football. Their second goal came 
after 27 passes without any of our team touching the ball. Super stuff. The
atmosphere was one of the best I have ever experienced. Last night, Football
was the winner. Let's hope for more of it in Euro 96'.

Regard's

B@

Last night I had the pleasure of drinking with three publicans who went to 
the game. I think I might have picked up a bit of an injury.


Stuart

    Word is Holland is playing in April against Germany?, is this
    part of the EC 96 run up?
    
    Just wondering
    
    Rob