Conference trucks::football;1

    
    My predictions for this  bl*&^&@#@$  group :
    
    	- San Marino first
    	- all the others 2nd 
                                                

    Belgium will not qualify because
    
    1. the players are not motivated enough to play against small football
    countries and loose vital points against them. ( Cyprus, Macedonia...) 
    2. the players are not good enough against strong countries.
    3. the coach is not able to make the players forget point 1 and 2.
    
    So please, get rid of Van Himst and replace him by a decent coach (e.g.
    Gerets)

    Holland and Belgium phew well should be easier than Albania, Moldova
    etc (:==:) and whoever we got in european championship.
    
    Regards
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    Hi all,
    
    I'm pretty sure that Holland will do well in this group, but
    can someone tell me the "scouting reports" on the other 4 teams,
    in particular Turkey. And is Holland planning on adding new faces
    to the national team? If so, any idea who? I realize that there is
    a long way to go until 1998, but perhaps some of the present members
    of the team will stay on. Maybe guys like Overmars? Dennis Bergkamp?
    Up hear in Canada, when the snow starts to fall, the information about
    soccer becomes non existent, unless you have a satelite dish. Any
    information on the possible make up of the Dutch national team would
    be appreciated.
    
    			Cheers,(chosen frozen) Rob.    

Last Night's team.....

Van der Sar (Ajax)
Reiziger (Ajax)
Seedorf (Sampdoria)
Blind (Ajax)
Bogarde (Ajax)
R de Boer (Ajax) [His twin brother was suspended]
Bergkamp (Arsenal) - subbed by De Kock (Roda JC)
Davids (Ajax)
Overmars (Ajax)
Kluivert (Ajax)
Helder (Arsenal) - subbed by Winter (Lazio)

And absolutely stunning the team looked too, total football returns with a 
vengence

Paul

>And absolutely stunning the team looked too, total football returns with a 
>vengence
    
    Agreed. And I don't think the author of .4 need worry too much about
    this team staying together. Most of the players are very young (I doubt
    if the average age is above 25); if I'm not mistaken, the only veteran
    is Blind.
    
    Dom

    Thanks for the info gents,
    
    Looking forward to keeping up to date on things in these notes.
    I guess as long as I can hold on to this job i'll know what's 
    going on. By the way, when are the games going to begin and what
    are the match ups that are coming up. I think TSN shows soccer 
    highlights on Saturday mornings. Perhaps I can talk my daughter
    into watching sports instead of cartoons!
    
    			Cheers, Rob.

All of the teams have to get together to sort out the dates for the games, 
but recently qualifying games have been starting before the previous major 
championship (in Europe). So they may start as early as April, I'd guess.

Turkey have been threatening to become a decent side for a couple of years. 
They've just qualified for the European finals (first time?), and are 
finally winning the odd away game. They could be a danger to the big names.

grahame

    
    Nice one from Russ and Jono this morn.
    
    Bobby Gould (Welsh Manager) says his preperation for the 
    World Cup finals are well underway.
    
    He's bought a crate of lager and a new TV.
    
    Well it made me laugh !!!!
    
    Pj

    Hi all,
    
    I noticed in the paper that group nine has some games scheduled
    for WC 98 preparations. Can somone tell me if group seven has a
    schedule out yet?
    
    Cheers, 
    
    Rob
    

    Goodday eh,
    
    Any scheduling news yet?
    
    Rob

San Marino 0 Wales 5

Who scored?

g

    2 for Hughes, 1 for Giggs, 1 for Melville and 1 for Pembridge
    
    Regards
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks
    
    P.S didn't see the game as I was in the hook'n'Tackle instead!
    

>    2 for Hughes, 1 for Giggs, 1 for Melville and 1 for Pembridge
    
Thanks Andy - seems there's been no big changes in the team then?

>    P.S didn't see the game as I was in the hook'n'Tackle instead!
    
Under a table already?!

    GASH,
    
    With it being a Sunday not too much beer was consumed but hopefully
    more rest of week.
    
    Regards
    
    Andrew.D.wicks 
    (upstairs in DPII, drinking coffee and readung Guardian in 96 just like
    86)
    

    
    Saturday, August 31
    
    Wales 	 6 - 0 	 San Marino 
     Giggs, Hughes and co
    
    Belgium	 2 - 1	 Turkey
     De Grijse (PSV),     Ecren (?)
     Oliveira (Fiorentina) 
    
    Good result, but very tough game for Belgium. Turks play good football
    but as in Euro '96 they lack a topscorer.
    
    			Pl W  L  D  G+  G-  Pt
    1. Wales 		2  2  0  0  11   0  6
    2. Belgium 		1  1  0  0   2   1  3
    3. Holland		0  0  0  0   0   0  0
    4. Turkey		1  0  1  0   1   2  0
    5. San Marino	2  0  2  0   0  11  0
    
    Next games somewhere in October: 
    
    	Holland - Wales or vice versa
    	Belgium - San Marino or vice versa