Football WC 2018

taipan wrote:

embee wrote:

JGK wrote:

skully wrote:Saw some interesting stats today.

Croatia has a population of 4 million and has 140,000 registered footballers. Aus has a population of 25 million and over 1 mill register football players.

What is Croatia doing right that we aren't??

They don't have AFL.

 or Leeg , Union and cricket 

plus our players get scattered globally chasing dollars and better leagues than the Midweek pub league equivalent that starts with an A

I think only 2 of the Croatian players play in their home league.

Sensible really given the grim history of that joint. At least they unlike the pomgolian players have moved on from a rancid culture

Anywho, come on England!!!!!

Here's a very interesting table that ranks international football teams based on FIFA performance and their population. Of the teams in this year's WC, Iceland (2), Uruguay (17), Croatia (21), Costa Ric (22) and Panama (24) rank the best per capita.

Aus comes in at 75th.

Interestingly the final WC2018 4 are France (90), Belgium (32), England (87) and Croatia (21).

It's a little out of date and means absolutely nothing, of course.

How many Aussie players were of Croatian descent?

Skully, dodgier stats than a dodgy skully triv ...

One in 25 of us are registered football players??

Just no.

skully wrote:

JGK wrote:

skully wrote:Saw some interesting stats today.

Croatia has a population of 4 million and has 140,000 registered footballers. Aus has a population of 25 million and over 1 mill register football players.

What is Croatia doing right that we aren't??

They don't have AFL.

So how does AFL stop a chunk of the million players developing into World Cup competitive class?? Is it because the crowds are siphoned off to AFL, thus depriving football (soccer) of the energy and crowd support to become a great league? Do those "left over" football players after AFL take their share not have the talent to be great footballers? What, what, what?????

Any half decent soccer player doesn't base himself here which detracts from the quality of the A League. Additionally it's often been shown on Fox which minimises the viewing audience and is a recipe for disaster in terms of promotion. Cricket better watch out.

The AFL whatever one thinks, is very good at promoting its code and the media focusses more on AFL and the rugby varieties than soccer. So it's hardly surprising.

In reality many people find AFL more entertaining raised on a diet of big scores.

Like basketball?

nobody finds basketball entertaining

Not my favourite sport but a paid up taipan's member, which is like being a spurs supporter except with some vague chance the might go all the way.

lardbucket wrote:nobody finds basketball entertaining

According to Red’s logic you should

Bradman wrote:Not my favourite sport but a paid up taipan's member, which is like being a spurs supporter except with some vague chance the might go all the way.

Thanks for that mental image...

And didn't expect jgk to pick up on the obvious. On the turps man.

Link to why Aussies should be supporting Croatia

taipan wrote:

lardbucket wrote:nobody finds basketball entertaining

According to Red’s logic

that's the issue right there

taipan wrote:

lardbucket wrote:nobody finds basketball entertaining

According to Red’s logic you should

Except we were talking football codes.

Red wrote:

taipan wrote:

lardbucket wrote:nobody finds basketball entertaining

According to Red’s logic you should

Except we were talking football codes.

Your contention is that high scores make one sport more attractive than another

taipan wrote:

Red wrote:

taipan wrote:

lardbucket wrote:nobody finds basketball entertaining

According to Red’s logic you should

Except we were talking football codes.

Your contention is that high scores make one sport more attractive than another

We were discussing footy codes, i.e. what makes AFL more popular in oz than soccer.

Basketball is not analogous to the discussion. It's popular as a participant sport, but save for a brief flurry in the eighties, has attracted fewer people than its footy cousins because it's a borefest.

OZ Soccer is as low on the totem pole as you can get. B/ball and hockey are ahead in terms of skill at the local level.

I feel sick.

If there is a similar gap between semi finals then I'll be in my 60s the next time we get this far.

Have you got your waistcoat on, vilks?

Good luck, son.

skully wrote:Saw some interesting stats today.

Croatia has a population of 4 million and has 140,000 registered footballers. Aus has a population of 25 million and over 1 mill register football players.

What is Croatia doing right that we aren't??

Actually Red, going back the original post we were discussing population vs registered players.

When the hole keeps getting bigger, stop digging.

England 1-0 up courtesy of a lovely Trippier free kick in the 5th. Kane and Lindgard should've scored but wasted gilt-edge chances. Croatia have largely been restricted to long shots but showed enough to suggest England clearly need another goal to ease the tension.

Sterling is tormenting Vida with his speed, and England's height in attack and defence is troubling Croatia.

All Croatia in the 2nd Half. I thought England were guilty of sitting on their lead and letting Croatia play. It was only when the Croats scored did Blighty start to show intent.

1-1. Extra time.

Very anemic 2nd Half + Extra Time effort by England.

Congrats to Croatia on making their first WC Final. A gutsy and committed effort to beat a timid England 2-1.

England should have been 3-0 up at half time really, the chances were there we just didn't put them away.

Croatia were by far the better team for the rest of the match and deservedly in the final. Hope they beat the French.

First tournament since 1996 that I've felt proud of the England football team and there hasn't been any anger or controversy about the manner in which we've gone out. Beaten by the better team, can't grumble.

Wonderful tournament for us, far exceeded anyone's expectations. Roll on 2020!