Viking Supporters Co-operative

Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: Thorney on March 31, 2026, 09:49:16 pm

Title: Sweden
Post by: Thorney on March 31, 2026, 09:49:16 pm
Qualify for the world cup.

Finished bottom of their qualifying group on 2 points without wining a game.

Surely that makes a mockery of the process. What is the point in teams taking part in the group phase if you have an automatic pass to a play off because you topped a really poor group of teams 2 years ago
Title: Re: Sweden
Post by: Nudga on March 31, 2026, 09:53:57 pm
Haha its like the "Champions league" SIC
Title: Re: Sweden
Post by: Rupee92ONLY on March 31, 2026, 10:09:35 pm
I’m going the R32 if we get there (which we should) but it’s gonna be a b*llocks tournament. You’ve got to be properly properly shit to go out in the group stage now. FIFA need overthrowing.

UEFA have it right, they are keeping prices reasonable again for 2028. About £50 a ticket.
Title: Re: Sweden
Post by: donnyguy on March 31, 2026, 10:40:53 pm
Italy knocked out
Title: Re: Sweden
Post by: MachoMadness on March 31, 2026, 11:08:18 pm
Third world cup in a row without the Italians. How did we lose to them in that final man.
Title: Re: Sweden
Post by: Draytonian III on April 01, 2026, 12:37:34 am
Qualify for the world cup.

Finished bottom of their qualifying group on 2 points without wining a game.

Surely that makes a mockery of the process. What is the point in teams taking part in the group phase if you have an automatic pass to a play off because you topped a really poor group of teams 2 years ago


Didn’t they win their Nations League group ?
Title: Re: Sweden
Post by: ChrisBx on April 01, 2026, 06:49:11 am
Qualify for the world cup.

Finished bottom of their qualifying group on 2 points without wining a game.

Surely that makes a mockery of the process. What is the point in teams taking part in the group phase if you have an automatic pass to a play off because you topped a really poor group of teams 2 years ago


Didn’t they win their Nations League group ?

Yeah, against Slovakia, Estonia and Azerbaijan.
Title: Re: Sweden
Post by: OliPelc123 on April 01, 2026, 12:10:13 pm
As a Pole its a hard pill to swallow especially with how poor Sweden was last night, felt like I was rewatching the Donny Barnsley game from November...
Title: Re: Sweden
Post by: Draytonian III on April 01, 2026, 06:44:39 pm
Qualify for the world cup.

Finished bottom of their qualifying group on 2 points without wining a game.

Surely that makes a mockery of the process. What is the point in teams taking part in the group phase if you have an automatic pass to a play off because you topped a really poor group of teams 2 years ago


Didn’t they win their Nations League group ?

Yeah, against Slovakia, Estonia and Azerbaijan.


It’s not their fault they were drawn against them, good luck to them
Title: Re: Sweden
Post by: ChrisBx on April 01, 2026, 06:53:03 pm
Qualify for the world cup.

Finished bottom of their qualifying group on 2 points without wining a game.

Surely that makes a mockery of the process. What is the point in teams taking part in the group phase if you have an automatic pass to a play off because you topped a really poor group of teams 2 years ago


Didn’t they win their Nations League group ?

Yeah, against Slovakia, Estonia and Azerbaijan.


It’s not their fault they were drawn against them, good luck to them

Absolutely, however my personal opinion is that the expansion of major tournaments and the increased opportunities to qualify for them decreases the value in qualification. It will also reduce the quality of the final tournament (the group stages will probably be naff this year).

I think the same about the addition of the Europa Conference League and expansion of the Championship play offs too.
Title: Re: Sweden
Post by: BobG on April 01, 2026, 07:07:25 pm
Hear hear Chris!

The God Mammon has taken over football

BobG
Title: Re: Sweden
Post by: Thorney on April 01, 2026, 07:57:44 pm
Qualify for the world cup.

Finished bottom of their qualifying group on 2 points without wining a game.

Surely that makes a mockery of the process. What is the point in teams taking part in the group phase if you have an automatic pass to a play off because you topped a really poor group of teams 2 years ago


Didn’t they win their Nations League group ?

Yeah, against Slovakia, Estonia and Azerbaijan.


It’s not their fault they were drawn against them, good luck to them

Technically it was.

They performed so badly in the previous nations league and finished botton , thus being relegated to the piss poor level they found thenselves in.

Its a tactic many nations who struggle in qualifications groups could use to guarantee themselves at least a playoff spot no matter where they finish in the qualificatons

Drop down the nations league groups tier c,
Play poor teams and win at a canter
Struggle in the next euro/world qualification group
But save yourselves for the knockout playoff games that you are guarentee'd to have.


Stupid format