Democracy

Googling for information on the New Zealand squad for South Africa, I was interested in several blogs debating whether the All-Whites should be there at all.

Their FIFA ranking, the lack of real competition in Oceania, and other arguments were offered supporting a qualifying re-think. One that would see the Kiwi’s sticking to Rugby, Cricket and Netball for their sporting glories, and the World Cup enhanced with one more “quality” team, presumably from Europe. Indeed some continued the argument, citing the poor World Cup records of the CONCACAF nations and those of Asia and Africa. Many claiming that the Euro’s are the pinnacle of Football, as the finals do not include such minnows. Many bloggers saw the number of teams in European World Cup Qualifying as a problem, and I followed the argument with interest.

“There is a case to say that a qualification process where success, (or play-off place) or outright elimination can depend on how many goals you managed to put past a San Marino or Andorra has a serious flaw in it”. www.fulhamfc.com/forum

Essentially, their argument was that we can no longer afford to be “fair and democratic” to the nations who for want of a better word are, crap. Europe is home to quite a list of “no-hopers” Andorra, Armenia, Faroes, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta.……San Marino, oh you know them all – and how long before Gibraltar, Greenland, Gozo, Monaco, Northern Cyprus, Kosovo, and God forbid (literally) Vatican City, join them? Assuming a European host for a World Cup, that means groups of up to eight teams – a fourteen match qualification campaign – six or more against teams simply trying to keep the score down - just too democratic.

It is time, many said, for pre-qualification. Perhaps 152nd ranked Lichtenstein can relieve the major football powers of having to play joint 202nd San Marino and Andorra. At 102nd Estonia could see off The Faroe Isles, Luxembourg and Georgia, all languishing between 120 and 149. In fact why not Wales and Scotland to do this job?

Perhaps a tournament with these “lesser” teams, where the prize would be a couple of places in the main qualification draw – Davis Cup style. The football would be competitive, it would reduce the demands on players. Managers wouldn’t have to risk their players’ fitness in fixtures against “hedgehog” teams who will roll into a defensive ball and hope to spike a couple of opponents.

Just as Arsenal were getting on a roll, just as meaning was being breathed into every fixture just as the shape of the season was being formed, international football got in the way.
http://www.onlinegooner.com/

Ah, now I see where this is coming from, so altruistic, so full of concern for the game. Let me help you. Just exclude all the no-hopers, from Asia, Africa and America, they’ll never win it anyway. Just let the UEFA and COMEBOL (S. America) teams participate. In fact forget all the other South Americans, just have Brasil and Argentina, the top ranked Europeans, and forget qualifying altogether. You might have what YOU consider the best teams in the world participating, but it wouldn't be the WORLD Cup

On top of the Hand of Frog, the last minute seeding of France, Portugal etc Sepp Blatter stated “…. if it comes down to one final playoff match to decide if you are in or out of a competition, this should not be the spirit behind the World Cup.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?!?!

What does he think the World Cup Semi-final and for heavens sake, final, are? No pressure lads, this is just another 90 minutes, oh and at the end of you can be World Champions if you like.
This man really should engage brain before operating mouth.

If Blabber and FIFA (Fools Indulging Fatuous Arguments) had got their fingers out with a valid extra official/decision referral system none of the furore would have happened anyway.

On the other hand (no pun intended, well a bit) the playoffs were great drama, and TV friendly - just like the seeding, kick-off times, various pots for groups, and even venues, “tweaked” to suit TV and advertising demands.

So we can see a possible future, the Marketing Man/FIFA World Cup, participation based on already being very good and on TV watching population. A competition where only the best get to compete, oh we have a few of those already, World Athletics, the Summer and all Winter Olympic sports, where even if you are your nation’s best - you don’t get even to try.

The important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle, the essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well –
Baron de Coubertain

Yes but not if you are a bit in the way and won’t help the ratings.
To quote Winston Churchill;
Democracy is the worst form of Government ……except for all the other forms"
I’ll take democracy thanks.