UEFA Move The Goalposts
By Ade O`Connor August 30 2003
The qualifying procedure for European Championships and World Cups will be altered, and the amount of friendlies significantly reduced under new UEFA plans. Many club managers had been reluctant in letting key players go on international duty in recent years; the changes are felt to be necessary.
By Ade O`Connor August 30 2003
The qualifying procedure for European Championships and World Cups will be altered, and the amount of friendlies significantly reduced under new UEFA plans. Many club managers had been reluctant in letting key players go on international duty in recent years; the changes are felt to be necessary.
However, the new system will see more competitive qualifying matches with bigger groups, to avoid strong groups and weak groups, allowing more chance for the best teams to progress.
For the World Cup 2006 qualifying, there will be three groups of seven and five groups of six, with the group winners qualifying automatically, along with the 2 best runners up, all other runners up will play off for a place in the finals.
In order to qualify for Euro 2008, to be held in Switzerland and Austria, there will be one group with eight teams and six groups with seven teams. Both first and second places in the group will automatically progress to the finals.
The plans for Euro 2008 qualification will not involve any play-offs, which have cost Ireland a number of times over the years, before success against Saudi Arabia in World Cup 2002 qualifying.
Ireland will hope that this will increase their chances of progressing, and avoid near on impossible groups, such as when drawn with Holland and Portugal.
Meanwhile, Israel’s home games will not be played inside the country until the security situation improves. UEFA will be reviewing this on October 19, but with a positive outcome unlikely, Israel will compete at a neutral venue such as Nicosia, Cyprus.
For the World Cup 2006 qualifying, there will be three groups of seven and five groups of six, with the group winners qualifying automatically, along with the 2 best runners up, all other runners up will play off for a place in the finals.
In order to qualify for Euro 2008, to be held in Switzerland and Austria, there will be one group with eight teams and six groups with seven teams. Both first and second places in the group will automatically progress to the finals.
The plans for Euro 2008 qualification will not involve any play-offs, which have cost Ireland a number of times over the years, before success against Saudi Arabia in World Cup 2002 qualifying.
Ireland will hope that this will increase their chances of progressing, and avoid near on impossible groups, such as when drawn with Holland and Portugal.
Meanwhile, Israel’s home games will not be played inside the country until the security situation improves. UEFA will be reviewing this on October 19, but with a positive outcome unlikely, Israel will compete at a neutral venue such as Nicosia, Cyprus.
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