Boards
Surrogate nationality thread
After the debacle that was last night's dreadful match (honestly, I'd have taken 2-4 if England had looked at all good in the last 10) we're now faced with three options. Either we abandon football next summer, always back the underdog OR pick a surrogate nation for the tournement.
Is this too soon? If not, here's a list of the qualifiers. Who do you want? Grandparent qualification is acceptable, as is "well, they have the best kit/national anthem/tax rate in the competition"
Austria Co-hosts December 12, 2002 0 (debut appearance)
Switzerland Co-hosts December 12, 2002 2 (1996, 2004)
Poland Group A winners November 17, 2007 0 (debut appearance)
Portugal Group A runners-up November 21, 2007 4 (1984, 1996, 2000, 2004)
Italy Group B winners November 17, 2007 6 (1968, 1980, 1988, 1996, 2000, 2004)
France Group B runners-up November 17, 2007 6 (1960, 1984, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004)
Greece Group C winners October 17, 2007 2 (1980, 2004)
Turkey Group C runners-up November 21, 2007 2 (1996, 2000)
Czech Republic Group D winners October 17, 2007 6 (19601, 19761, 19801, 1996, 2000, 2004)
Germany Group D runners-up October 13, 2007 9 (19722, 19762, 19802, 19842, 19882, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004)
Croatia Group E winners November 17, 2007 2 (1996, 2004)
Russia Group E runners-up November 21, 2007 8 (1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2004)
Spain Group F winners November 17, 2007 7 (1964, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1996, 2000, 2004)
Sweden Group F runners-up November 21, 2007 3 (1992, 2000, 2004)
Romania Group G winners October 17, 2007 3 (1984, 1996, 2000)
Netherlands Group G runners-up November 17, 2007 7 (1976, 1980, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004)