Ireland to stage three group games and a round of 16 game at Euro 2020

[Stuttgart88]

I was watching the European qualifiers roundup on Sky and was very envious of the number of compact 30k seater purpose-built footy stadiums in use, with every seat close to the pitch.

[Crosby87]

Personally, I think the further you are away from the action, the worse the view.

No kidding, Charlie? Any other thoughts today?

[ArdeeBhoy]

Next week Chas switches his attention to, er, rocket science.

[Crosby87]

No, that new surgery at the Mayo Clinic where they can take part of the brain out of you (hopefully not TOWKS) and get rid of cancer and put the brain back in. (Hopefully not TOWKS). Thats poor Charlie. Whom I Love.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Yer posts are beyond abstract...

[gastric]

Yer posts are beyond abstract...

However, in relation to TOWK, it would be a good thing!

[Charlie Darwin]

No kidding, Charlie? Any other thoughts today?

It's a serious point Sometimes your view gets better as you move away from the action.

[jbyrne]

Loved the old ground, but the new one has a rank 'atmosphere', in the main.

thats more to do with the fans / lack of fans these days than the stadium. the poles created a super atmosphere last year and that was only a friendly

[NeverFeltBetter]

Was in Aviva for the FAI Cup Final last year, half-empty or more, but the atmosphere was great, largely thanks to the Sligo fans. It can be done.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Actually alot more to do with poxy all-seaters, but credit to the Poles & Sligo fans. But 2 out of around 50 teams that have played there is pretty fecking poor.

[jbyrne]

Actually alot more to do with poxy all-seaters, but credit to the Poles & Sligo fans. But 2 out of around 50 teams that have played there is pretty fecking poor.

the only team that really counts is our own though.
the old stadium was all seater also for qualifiers and was open at both ends yet it didnt stop us creating a good atmosphere most of the time.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Regardless, it means nothing in the context of hosting EURO 2020 games, which will probably be sell outs anyway (or close enough to it).

[ArdeeBhoy]

Unless it's say, Albania v.Norway?

Still no-one on here ever complains about 'event junkies'. UEFA still have more negatives than pluses IMO.

[NeverFeltBetter]

I had no idea you felt that way.

And you know, I do think Norwegians like football. Albania too.

[Stuttgart88]

I think UEFA probably has more pluses than negatives. I think they're in a tough position. TV stations want to dictate the football landscape and UEFA has constructed a credible compromise between what the big clubs and big TV stations want, and what the whole game wants and respecting traditions. Complying with EU labour law (Bosman) put UEFA in a tough position too.

What is your particular beef with UEFA?

Qatar support and Platini family link via PSG? Disgraceful.
FFP? Great idea, 15+ years too late.
Champions League? Good competition. UEFA had to bend to big clubs' demands for more rounds.
Europa League? Bit of a joke, too many teams. Same root cause though.
Expanded Euros? Bad idea, tolerable as a one off though.
Multiple hosts for 2020? I think this is a great idea. I don't see why so many writers dislike it.
Refusal to allow cross border leagues? I can see their position but think they could explore more options, some of which I have mooted on other threads.
Relationship with FIFA? I think UEFA is the only place showing any ability to encourage debate. Every other continental confederation is eating of of Blatter's hands.
They are taking a tough stand on third party ownership, but are fighting a really tough battle.
Other issues?

[jbyrne]

Other issues?

the €25,000 watches that some UEFA delegates received in Brazil during the WC and accepted until a british newspaper highlighted it was against FIFAs own rules and they will now return them. not sure of the full story but its along these lines.

[Stuttgart88]

the €25,000 watches that some UEFA delegates received in Brazil during the WC and accepted until a british newspaper highlighted it was against FIFAs own rules and they will now return them. not sure of the full story but its along these lines.

That was FIFA delegates, not UEFA, no?

[DeLorean]

And they were only worth $25,000, not euro

[NeverFeltBetter]

Apropos of nothing, I can only assume that if 2020 is a success, this will be how UEFA does the Euros from then on, unless they alternate between that and the bigger nations (Germany, Spain, Italy, England) that are capable of hosting it without bankrupting themselves. Think recent tournaments have made clear that even co-hosting has limited benefits for countries.

[ArdeeBhoy]

I think UEFA probably has more pluses than negatives. I think they're in a tough position. TV stations want to dictate the football landscape and UEFA has constructed a credible compromise between what the big clubs and big TV stations want, and what the whole game wants and respecting traditions. Complying with EU labour law (Bosman) put UEFA in a tough position too.

What is your particular beef with UEFA?

Qatar support and Platini family link via PSG? Disgraceful.
FFP? Great idea, 15+ years too late.
Champions League? Good competition. UEFA had to bend to big clubs' demands for more rounds.
Europa League? Bit of a joke, too many teams. Same root cause though.
Expanded Euros? Bad idea, tolerable as a one off though.
Multiple hosts for 2020? I think this is a great idea. I don't see why so many writers dislike it.
Refusal to allow cross border leagues? I can see their position but think they could explore more options, some of which I have mooted on other threads.
Relationship with FIFA? I think UEFA is the only place showing any ability to encourage debate. Every other continental confederation is eating of of Blatter's hands.
They are taking a tough stand on third party ownership, but are fighting a really tough battle.
Other issues?

Fair points you raise, but could point out just as many negatives as positives in general. Mainly that like FIFA, they seem too corrupt and their vision of the sport is too detached from a significant minority of fans...