World Cup VS Champions League

**Pike B** · 13/02/2009, 7:49 AM

Originally Posted by bennocelt

ha ha ha Stok - thats a rare thing indeed!!!!!!

Guys dont get me wrong of course I love Int football too - but just prefer the club game

I especially enjoyed watching the African teams in the last world cup - much purer football than the cynical italians
And this years Euros were excellent ( that and the fat I made a killing in the bookies!)

But Ac Milan with the Dutch trio ?
Ajax
Celtic 67 team
various Man U teams down through the years
Clough (My all time fav manager)
Ferguson
Real Madrid
Barcelona (Barca 4 - Manure 0)
etc

Uruguay shocking 200,000 people in the Marecana in 1950.
Brazil 1958(17 year old Pele crying on his team mates shoulders).
Garrincha's magic in 1962.
The Russian Linesman in 1966.
The single greatest team ever in 1970.
Germany destroying Total football in 1974.
Argentina 1978, a military victory.
Paolo Rossi 1982.
Diego's Cup 1986.
Roger Milla, Carlos Valderama, and of course the boys in green 1990.
Jack's last big one, Baggio, Romario and again Valderama 1994.
Zizou's face on the Arc De Triomphe 1998.
Big Ronny's grin and 8 goals 2002.
United Italy wins for themselves 2006.....

You want Color? Memories? Characters? Legends?

You want The Fifa World Cup mon ami..

The prosecution rests...

**Bluebeard** · 13/02/2009, 8:47 AM

Originally Posted by Pike B

The single greatest team ever in 1970.

That was indeed a great Waterford team, but I don't really know how this is relevant to the current discussion, never mind in favour of your argument Pike B - try keeping it on topic next time.

**Pike B** · 13/02/2009, 9:12 AM

Originally Posted by Bluebeard

That was indeed a great Waterford team, but I don't really know how this is relevant to the current discussion, never mind in favour of your argument Pike B - try keeping it on topic next time.

Yes sir..

**bennocelt** · 13/02/2009, 10:35 AM

Pike - i was expecting that

but anyway Ac Milan were/are the best and most complete team I ever saw
I loved Franco Baresi - so effortless, and Van Basten up front with the odd scissors kick!

**Pike B** · 13/02/2009, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by bennocelt

Pike - i was expecting that

but anyway Ac Milan were/are the best and most complete team I ever saw
I loved Franco Baresi - so effortless, and Van Basten up front with the odd scissors kick!

Great team. I actually bought a retro trackie top in New York. The one those boys wore in 89-90 when warming up. It reminds me of one of the best teams I ever saw. I loved the Rossinieri back then. Still have a soft spot for them today. Champions League not the same without them.

**superfrank** · 13/02/2009, 12:51 PM

World Cup for me.

It's so much more exciting because it only happens for four weeks every four years instead of eight months every year.

You get to see how much it means to the smaller nations (like ourselves) who get there and how much it means to the large share of the fans who go to the games. It seems so much more colourful than any CL match will ever be. It also transcends club loyalties as you see players/fans from rival clubs all coming together for their country.

It always seems like the most famous/celebrated moments come from the WC. Ireland & Roger Milla in '90, Maradona in '86, Pel� in '58, Brazil in '70, Gemmill in '78, Bergkamp in '98, South Korea in '02, Italy in '06 & '82, NI in '82, England in '66, Houghton in '94, the list goes on forever. Moments from the CL aren't celebrated as much.

The difference in quality isn't really a big factor for me cos I don't really see one. There have been poor games and poor teams in both competitions and inevitably the top teams will get through.

That said though, I'd rather Wanderers qualify for the CL than see Ireland win the WC.

**Pike B** · 13/02/2009, 1:17 PM

Originally Posted by superfrank

World Cup for me.

It's so much more exciting because it only happens for four weeks every four years instead of eight months every year.

You get to see how much it means to the smaller nations (like ourselves) who get there and how much it means to the large share of the fans who go to the games. It seems so much more colourful than any CL match will ever be. It also transcends club loyalties as you see players/fans from rival clubs all coming together for their country.

It always seems like the most famous/celebrated moments come from the WC. Ireland & Roger Milla in '90, Maradona in '86, Pel� in '58, Brazil in '70, Gemmill in '78, Bergkamp in '98, South Korea in '02, Italy in '06 & '82, NI in '82, England in '66, Houghton in '94, the list goes on forever. Moments from the CL aren't celebrated as much.

The difference in quality isn't really a big factor for me cos I don't really see one. There have been poor games and poor teams in both competitions and inevitably the top teams will get through.

That said though, I'd rather Wanderers qualify for the CL than see Ireland win the WC.

You had to ruin it..

**stojkovic** · 13/02/2009, 5:51 PM

Originally Posted by bennocelt

Pike - i was expecting that

but anyway Ac Milan were/are the best and most complete team I ever saw
I loved Franco Baresi - so effortless, and Van Basten up front with the odd scissors kick!

Without doubt the Milan team 88-90 was a fantastic team (beat Real 5-0 in semis) and I loved watching them BUT the Liverpool team of that era was probably the best English side ever. Shame they never played each other because of the ban, I wonder what would have happened ?

Houghton-Whelan-McMahon-Barnes
Beardsley-Aldridge

**niallsparky** · 15/02/2009, 10:38 AM

I'd rather Bohs in the Champions League then Ireland winning the World Cup.

**DeLorean** · 16/02/2009, 4:00 PM

There is a much better buzz surrounding the WC or Euros. Basically you've month of solid football day and night and everybody is completely engaged in it. The Champions League is completely different in that it's stop start and games are only really discussed when they come up. I would prefer the WC and especially when it's held in Europe so the games are on at normal times.

**jbyrne** · 16/02/2009, 5:00 PM

the champions lge is a money making racket for the bigger teams untill the 1/4 finals. how often are there shocks??

the wc is miles better. the european (nations) cup is far better also

**Razors left peg** · 16/02/2009, 6:40 PM

Definately the World Cup for me. The group stages of the Champions league have been awful to watch for a while now, and even in the knock out stages I think too many teams play negative football away from home. I even enjoyed the Brazil against Italy friendly last week more than any group game of the Champions league this season

**Pike B** · 17/02/2009, 4:12 PM

Anyone got the current score??
I got sick of counting.
Think it's 27-3 to the World Cup or something like it!!

**Bluebeard** · 17/02/2009, 9:13 PM

Is it too late to say that the old European Cup, with two legged knock-outs the whole way along made the Champions League look like the First Division Shield in comparison?

**Pike B** · 17/02/2009, 9:21 PM

Originally Posted by Bluebeard

Is it too late to say that the old European Cup, with two legged knock-outs the whole way along made the Champions League look like the First Division Shield in comparison?

It would appear not sir..

**bennocelt** · 18/02/2009, 6:48 AM

Originally Posted by Pike B

Anyone got the current score??
I got sick of counting.
Think it's 27-3 to the World Cup or something like it!!

as i said before Pike lad, the score doesnt matter at all, its Ireland we are not exactly a hot bed of footbaLL, and have the most fairweather fans than any nation on earth

its also not about excitment, its quality, which league football has. Man Utd, Barcelona, Arsenal (when they get their act together), Inter, Lyon, etc etc.

**Pike B** · 18/02/2009, 3:02 PM

Originally Posted by bennocelt

as i said before Pike lad, the score doesnt matter at all, its Ireland we are not exactly a hot bed of footbaLL, and have the most fairweather fans than any nation on earth

its also not about excitment, its quality, which league football has. Man Utd, Barcelona, Arsenal (when they get their act together), Inter, Lyon, etc etc.

Brazil, Portugal, Argentina, Spain etc etc etc...

**hunt4the** · 18/02/2009, 3:07 PM

Originally Posted by bennocelt

as i said before Pike lad, the score doesnt matter at all, its Ireland we are not exactly a hot bed of footbaLL, and have the most fairweather fans than any nation on earth

its also not about excitment, its quality, which league football has. Man Utd, Barcelona, Arsenal (when they get their act together), Inter, Lyon, etc etc.

you go on about quality i've never seen any in the LOI,
and it's not about excitement are you an accountant by any chance,

Its all about Ireland, its about supporting your country and everybody getting behind the national team and in a perfect world qualifying for a world cup, It's 4 weeks of heaven every 4 years with or without us in it.

Since they introduced the groups the CL is way too predictable and boring IMO

**Bluebeard** · 18/02/2009, 3:40 PM

Be wary folks, you are on the verge of pushing this over the edge into a Club Vs Country debate, which as we all know was definitively and unanimously decided in favour of, of, ehm, I know this one, just give me a second...

**Pike B** · 18/02/2009, 4:14 PM

Originally Posted by hunt4the

you go on about quality i've never seen any in the LOI,
and it's not about excitement are you an accountant by any chance,

Its all about Ireland, its about supporting your country and everybody getting behind the national team and in a perfect world qualifying for a world cup, It's 4 weeks of heaven every 4 years with or without us in it.

Since they introduced the groups the CL is way too predictable and boring IMO

Beautifully put Sir..