Comments on: Oh, Franck. http://italy.theoffside.com/serie-a/oh-franck.html News from the Italian Serie A Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:30:56 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Linda http://italy.theoffside.com/serie-a/oh-franck.html#comment-22784 Linda Wed, 10 Oct 2007 00:54:33 +0000 http://italy.theoffside.com/serie-a/oh-franck.html#comment-22784 Depends on where you're from, I guess. I couldn't give a damn about the Euros, but that's because I support Argentina. It's fair enough for the Europeans to care about it. Obvious, no? (But that presumes that everybody keeps in mind that the world =/= Europe. :D) Depends on where you’re from, I guess. I couldn’t give a damn about the Euros, but that’s because I support Argentina. It’s fair enough for the Europeans to care about it. Obvious, no? (But that presumes that everybody keeps in mind that the world =/= Europe. :D)

]]> By: Marco http://italy.theoffside.com/serie-a/oh-franck.html#comment-22774 Marco Tue, 09 Oct 2007 21:26:50 +0000 http://italy.theoffside.com/serie-a/oh-franck.html#comment-22774 I guess we're gonna have to agree to disagree. Chris, I'm not even gonna touch your baseball argument, apples and oranges. Kevin, you may call Euro 2004 a fluke for Greece, hell you might even throw in Denmark's Euro 1992 for good measure... so what? It's still a competition with the top TOP teams in the World, not just Europe. You take the first round rejects of the tournament (those not making it past the group stage), and you put them against the best teams of the CONCACAF, CAF and CONMEBOL regions: tell me the UEFA teams wouldn't atomize them (Brazil and Argentina excepted). Let's be honest, nowadays no self-respecting soccer player gives a rat's ass about winning the UEFA Cup (I'm talking since the European Cups format change... post-2000 era). Not so for the Euro. I guess we’re gonna have to agree to disagree. Chris, I’m not even gonna touch your baseball argument, apples and oranges.

Kevin, you may call Euro 2004 a fluke for Greece, hell you might even throw in Denmark’s Euro 1992 for good measure… so what? It’s still a competition with the top TOP teams in the World, not just Europe. You take the first round rejects of the tournament (those not making it past the group stage), and you put them against the best teams of the CONCACAF, CAF and CONMEBOL regions: tell me the UEFA teams wouldn’t atomize them (Brazil and Argentina excepted).

Let’s be honest, nowadays no self-respecting soccer player gives a rat’s ass about winning the UEFA Cup (I’m talking since the European Cups format change… post-2000 era). Not so for the Euro.

]]> By: kevin http://italy.theoffside.com/serie-a/oh-franck.html#comment-22772 kevin Tue, 09 Oct 2007 20:43:13 +0000 http://italy.theoffside.com/serie-a/oh-franck.html#comment-22772 Milan are champions of Europe...Sevilla, uhh, UEFA Cup winners?? Milan are champions of Europe…Sevilla, uhh, UEFA Cup winners??

]]> By: kevin http://italy.theoffside.com/serie-a/oh-franck.html#comment-22771 kevin Tue, 09 Oct 2007 20:40:29 +0000 http://italy.theoffside.com/serie-a/oh-franck.html#comment-22771 Like it or not, the stars are earned in the WC, not Euro.. While Euro may hold some prestige and bragging rights, it is still peanuts in the whole scheme of things...Greece won Euro04, so what? The only reason I remember is because it was such a fluke..I can't even remember who played them in the final.. SO I think it is a fair comparison to CL and UEFA Cup.. Like it or not, the stars are earned in the WC, not Euro..

While Euro may hold some prestige and bragging rights, it is still peanuts in the whole scheme of things…Greece won Euro04, so what? The only reason I remember is because it was such a fluke..I can’t even remember who played them in the final..

SO I think it is a fair comparison to CL and UEFA Cup..

]]> By: Greg http://italy.theoffside.com/serie-a/oh-franck.html#comment-22769 Greg Tue, 09 Oct 2007 20:34:23 +0000 http://italy.theoffside.com/serie-a/oh-franck.html#comment-22769 less than the World Cup. You can argue that the talent level and concentration is higher in the Euro, certainly. However, the analogy of Euro is to the WC as the UEFA Cup is to the Champions League is way off, to me. However, unlike 75% of the commenters that have unfortunately found their way to a number of these blogs, I respect your opinions regarding how you feel about it and think you're all just swell individuals capable of forming rather intelligent arguments. In spite of the fact that I'm right and you're wrong ;-). less than the World Cup. You can argue that the talent level and concentration is higher in the Euro, certainly. However, the analogy of Euro is to the WC as the UEFA Cup is to the Champions League is way off, to me. However, unlike 75% of the commenters that have unfortunately found their way to a number of these blogs, I respect your opinions regarding how you feel about it and think you’re all just swell individuals capable of forming rather intelligent arguments. In spite of the fact that I’m right and you’re wrong ;-).

]]> By: Greg http://italy.theoffside.com/serie-a/oh-franck.html#comment-22767 Greg Tue, 09 Oct 2007 20:33:30 +0000 http://italy.theoffside.com/serie-a/oh-franck.html#comment-22767 But aren't the Euro and World Cup both international tournaments? Or are you considering the Euro a regional tournament, in which case, that region is massive. Semantics aside, athletes tend to want to be compared against the best in the world. Keeping with your baseball analogy, you think an athlete wants to win the World Baseball Classic (international) more than the World Series (regional/national)? There's no definitive, clear cut answer here. Yes, the Euro is But aren’t the Euro and World Cup both international tournaments? Or are you considering the Euro a regional tournament, in which case, that region is massive. Semantics aside, athletes tend to want to be compared against the best in the world. Keeping with your baseball analogy, you think an athlete wants to win the World Baseball Classic (international) more than the World Series (regional/national)? There’s no definitive, clear cut answer here. Yes, the Euro is

]]> By: chris http://italy.theoffside.com/serie-a/oh-franck.html#comment-22765 chris Tue, 09 Oct 2007 20:22:46 +0000 http://italy.theoffside.com/serie-a/oh-franck.html#comment-22765 Ask any athlete who has competed in a national/regional tournament versus an international one - Int'l >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Regional. Period. Take it first hand. No comparison, regardless of statistics or quality of opponents. The National League blows this year. Do you really think the Sox or Indians care just as much about winning the ALCS as the World Series? Start thinking like an athlete, not a fan. Ask any athlete who has competed in a national/regional tournament versus an international one – Int’l >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Regional. Period.

Take it first hand. No comparison, regardless of statistics or quality of opponents. The National League blows this year. Do you really think the Sox or Indians care just as much about winning the ALCS as the World Series? Start thinking like an athlete, not a fan.

]]> By: Ian http://italy.theoffside.com/serie-a/oh-franck.html#comment-22762 Ian Tue, 09 Oct 2007 19:52:22 +0000 http://italy.theoffside.com/serie-a/oh-franck.html#comment-22762 I have to agree with Marco. Winning the Euro is a huge deal, because of all the quality spread out around Europe. Granted, South America adds a great element to the World Cup. That being said, there is a lot of UEFA Cup bashing lately, mostly by clubs that are either virtually guaranteed a Champions League spot by the ridiculous four-team format of the top three leagues, or by clubs that have already been kicked out of the UC and now claim to not care about it. Greg had the right idea. Teams like Celtic talk about the UEFA Cup as if it's meaningless, but they didn't feel that way a few years back when they were in reach of taking it home. Sevilla certainly doesn't feel that way. I have to agree with Marco. Winning the Euro is a huge deal, because of all the quality spread out around Europe. Granted, South America adds a great element to the World Cup. That being said, there is a lot of UEFA Cup bashing lately, mostly by clubs that are either virtually guaranteed a Champions League spot by the ridiculous four-team format of the top three leagues, or by clubs that have already been kicked out of the UC and now claim to not care about it. Greg had the right idea. Teams like Celtic talk about the UEFA Cup as if it’s meaningless, but they didn’t feel that way a few years back when they were in reach of taking it home. Sevilla certainly doesn’t feel that way.

]]> By: Marco http://italy.theoffside.com/serie-a/oh-franck.html#comment-22759 Marco Tue, 09 Oct 2007 19:40:20 +0000 http://italy.theoffside.com/serie-a/oh-franck.html#comment-22759 Funny you guys should say that, Kevin and Chris, because the Euro usually contains a higher concentration of the World's top teams that the World Cup does. Let's face it, in terms of national teams, Europe is where the best soccer is played. You can add Brazil and Argentina to the lot, but everyone else will never be a serious contender for the World Champions title. In the <a href="http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/ranking/lastranking/gender=m/fullranking.html#confederation=0&rank=152" rel="nofollow">FIFA World Rankings</a> (and I can't believe I'm actually quoting them), more than half the teams in the Top50 are from the UEFA region. Sure, nothing compares to the prestige of the World Cup, but winning the Euro is a very close second, and in no way holds the Champions League-UEFA Cup comparison. Let's not mix towels and rags please. Funny you guys should say that, Kevin and Chris, because the Euro usually contains a higher concentration of the World’s top teams that the World Cup does.

Let’s face it, in terms of national teams, Europe is where the best soccer is played. You can add Brazil and Argentina to the lot, but everyone else will never be a serious contender for the World Champions title. In the FIFA World Rankings (and I can’t believe I’m actually quoting them), more than half the teams in the Top50 are from the UEFA region.

Sure, nothing compares to the prestige of the World Cup, but winning the Euro is a very close second, and in no way holds the Champions League-UEFA Cup comparison. Let’s not mix towels and rags please.

]]> By: Greg http://italy.theoffside.com/serie-a/oh-franck.html#comment-22757 Greg Tue, 09 Oct 2007 19:15:20 +0000 http://italy.theoffside.com/serie-a/oh-franck.html#comment-22757 Every tournament or cup competition is second-rate until your favorite club/country wins it or is hotly contesting for it. World Cup? Bah, it's got nothing on the U19 County Butter Eating Championship! Every tournament or cup competition is second-rate until your favorite club/country wins it or is hotly contesting for it. World Cup? Bah, it’s got nothing on the U19 County Butter Eating Championship!

]]>