Subject: Italian Coaches World Cup

Starting next week a tournament between italian coaches in the world. The teams are Ireland, Brazil, Suomi (the world champion!!!), Italy, Israel, Malaysia and Colombia.

It's very difficult for us, but we want to surprise the world! :-)

The first match is against Brazil

We try a new defense but there was a red card after ten minutes....Sorry!

Next week we play with Suomi, the world champion!

Results
Suomi - Colombia 0-0
Italy - Malaysia 4-2
Ireland - Brazil 0-5

BRAZIL, ITALY 3 POINTS
SUOMI, COLOMBIA 1 POINT
IRELAND, MALAYSIA, ISRAEL 0 POINTS

Results
Suomi - Ireland 4-1
Italy - Colombia 0-1
Brazil - Israel 6-1

BRAZIL 6 POINTS
SUOMI, COLOMBIA 4 POINTS
ITALY 3 POINTS
IRELAND, MAlAYSIA, ISRAEL 0 POINTS

Good game against the world champion Suomi, after 70 minutes the result was only 2-1 and I hope to draw...
(edited)

Malaysia - Brazil 0-3
Italy - Ireland 7-1
Colombia - Israel 3-1

BRAZIL 9
COLOMBIA 7
ITALY 6
SUOMI 4
MALAYSIA, ISRAEL , IRELAND 0

to be honest, I'm not sure if playing matches against teams as Brazil, Italy, Suomi (and even Colombia and Israel) was such a great idea. Imo only Malaysia is player wise somewhat on the same level as Ireland.

Why? We know what we'll find next year when we qualify for the World Cup...

Because I don't think you learn much from getting beaten so many games with such numbers.
At WCQ you'll have probably 3 strong teams (Ireland being 4th seed). I don't know for sure, but imo you could reach 3rd seed if you'd picked the opponents a bit more carefully.
Whether you like it or not, the only chances for teams like Ireland, Latvija, ... to qualify is either some luck or one of the top seeds having a very week coach (as e.g. Portugal last WCQ season). And then it's better to have only 2 stronger teams than 3 to improve chances and minimize the need of the luck or noob factor :)

Mind, I do see it's nice to play with fellow Italians (every coach likes playing against managers from his country of origin). And "in se" it's not bad, but imo in Ireland's position, it's not advised.

After defeating teams from the level of Ireland, we also won against Poland. I was hoping for better results against Italy and Brazil, but see how the strongest team play need to be better (IMO)...Ireland's position is the same of the start of the season

I was thinking the same thing. Michele you have done well in your Irish job but we really need to improve ranking points and that means winning games. If you are up against Brazil, Italy & Suomi you are instantly reducing the likelihood of winning games. While we need to know how to beat the best teams I would not play more than 2 of those games a season.
(edited)

Now we have friendly with Kypros and then tournament with Malysia, Colombia and Israel. We can win these matches and the ranking points improves. But I think that number 52 or number 48 or number 44 in the ranking points is the same...It takes luck in the draw for the group (to qualify to world cup)

Results
Suomi - Italy 2-3
Israel - Malaysia 3-1
Colombia - Brazil 0-4

BRAZIL 12
ITALY 9
COLOMBIA 7
SUOMI 4
ISRAEL 3
MALAYSIA, IRELAND 0

Malaysia-ireland 1-2

:-))))

Results
Malaysia - Ireland 1-2
Israel - Suomi 1-6
Brazil - Italy 2-3


BRAZIL, ITALY 12
COLOMBIA, SUOMI 7
ISRAEL, IRELAND 3
MALAYSIA 0

Malaysia - Suomi 0-6
Israel - Italy 0-5
Ireland - Colombia 0-1

ITALY 15
BRASIL 12
SUOMI, COLOMBIA 10
IRELAND, ISRAEL 3
MALAYSIA 0

Irlanda - Israele 4-5
Brasile - Finlandia 6-0
Colombia - Malesia Nd 3-0

ITALY 15
BRASIL 15
COLOMBIA 13
SUOMI 10
ISRAEL 6
IRELAND 3
MALAYSIA 0