PastyHusty

We're not even sure of all the teams that will be taking part in next years World Cup, but this hasn't prevented the pots for Euro 2008 Qualification being announced!

Pot 1
Greece, Holland, Portugal, England, Czech Rep, France, Sweden

Pot 2
Germany, Croatia, Italy, Turkey, Poland, Spain, Romania

Pot 3
Serbia, Russia, Denmark, Norway, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Slovakia

Pot 4
Bosnia, Ireland, Belgium, Latvia, Israel, Scotland, Slovenia

Pot 5
Hungary, Finland, Estonia, Wales, Lithuania, Albania, Iceland

Pot 6
Georgia, Macedonia, Belarus, Armenia, N.Ireland, Cyprus, Moldova

Pot 7
Liechtenstein, Azerbaijan, Andorra, Malta, Faroe Islands, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, San Marino

We're going to end up with some fantastic qualification groups! With 8 teams in Pot 7, I think we'll end up with an 8-team group, which will feature 2 minnows .. and some points for at least one of those teams! (when they play each other of course. )

Austria and Switzerland are automatic qualifiers.

The draw takes place on January 27th - which is one reason why I don't understand why they decided on the pots now. There are important matches between now and then, specifically the play-offs.

DrTagnian

Seeing as we're currently second on the FIFA World Ranking, I expected Holland to be in pot 1.

This list has been put together with help of that same FIFA ranking and I don't think the 2 remaining play-offs in November will cause a drastic change in the top. The WC still seems away pretty far, but before we know it, June 9th arrives ...

PastyHusty

Maybe the play-offs won't have a massive effect, but in might be enough in some cases, as may the friendlies between now and the end of the year! IMO it seems a little odd to announce the pots now and then wait 3 and a half months until the draw is made. They won't be doing that with the WC Group draw!

ElectronicWorm

I dont get it... (sorry )
Why these new groups if they are all qualified already? These arent the final groups right? Cuz if so.. WHY does Holland always end up with Czech rep. in their group.. Euro 2000, qualification WC 2002, euro 2004, qualification WC 2006... its getting annoying


EDIT: PFFFFFFF reading should be my new hobby! haha 2008... are you freaking serious.. again the stupid czechs. Its like we're handcuffed with them 24/7

Riapanonias

Its Pots, as in seeds, not groups.

PastyHusty

*pets you*

These are the pots from which they make the draw, Lizzy! Group 7 would look just a little bit weird, wouldn't it!?

Holland and the Czechs can't meet in qualification.. but I'm sure they could meet each other in Euro 2008.

ElectronicWorm

Pots.. groups..i dont see the difference. But anyway, thank you for the explanation

PastyHusty

You're welcome. Pots is the name always used in Football to tell you how the teams will be drawn.

Watch out for Germany and Italy!

DrTagnian

We won't get Czech Republic during the EC 2008 qualification, that's for sure.

Germany & Italy, no problem. Spain, bring them on. Kazakhstan is the country to look out for.

DobeX

OH GOD!! Italy with Spain ??!??! NO kidding !! I cant wait till that lOL