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Four Associations Cup – a Missed Opportunity

   

So the Four Associations Cup is go for 2011. Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland will compete in a round robin league format with two matches in February 2011 and the rest in May. All games will take place at a (by then) refurbished Lansdowne Road in Dublin.

So it’s basically the old Home Nations tournament (dead since 1984) but with Ireland taking the place of England. Which is why some are calling it the Celtic Cup.

Why no England? Here’s the impossibly dull official reason:

As there are limited international dates for opportunities to play nations from outside Europe, we like to use several dates to play teams from South America, Africa and Asia,” explained a spokesperson for the English FA.

“We have played several fixtures against the home nations since 1999 and our preference is to play one-off games rather than a tournament – if they fit in with the manager’s plans.”


What total bullshit. In an age where England friendlies are struggling to stir public interest (or sometimes player interest) this tournament would have been perfect. Lots of pride at stake and the all important factor of something at stake.

It would have been a perfect opportunity to give players a taste of tournament football and to see how certain untested players react to playing for England in a big game.

You can’t tell me that England players get more out of a dull Wembley friendly against say Japan or Ecuador than they would out of a competitive game where the opposition is gunning for you.

Not only that, it would likely have been a money spinner for the English FA, particularly if they were ever to host the event. So I suspect they’re not being entirely honest with us.

My guess is that the decision not to get involved is more to do with a fear of trouble than anything else. For multiple historical reasons, there’s a definite potential for crowd violence in games between England and any other team from the British Isles. Sad but true. And maybe the FA are doing everyone a favour by not pointing that out and making a big deal out of it.

But here’s hoping that at some point in the future the Four Associations Cup can become the Five Associations Cup and England can get involved without any problems.


  • http://epl.theoffside.com Rob

    I would imagine they didn’t want us to be honest – which is ironic as this only came up because we didn’t qualify for the Euros.

  • http://www.worldcupblog.org Daryl

    Ouch. Hadn’t even thought of that – I was thinking that the commercial appeal alone would mean they’d want England involved – but can definitely see how that’s possible.

    Do you think because of potential crowd trouble, or just because we’re not all that popular in general?

  • http://mundoalbiceleste.blogspot.com John From Mundo

    Would there be a team GBR for 2012 London Games?

  • http://wales.worldcupblog.org j

    The debate over a GBR team is still be debated although it is leaning that way.

    Corporate sponsors who pull the strings of the FA didn’t want it. The “Home Nations” tournament would have been great but like the Premier League and the domestic game, the FA cares little of truly ensuring the success of the Three Lions.

    (please delete last post as inaccurate website listed)

  • ghost of steve finnan

    rankings of the 5:

    1. England

    2. Scotland

    3. Ireland’

    4. Wales

    5. Northern Ireland

  • http://olivierdems.blogspot.com/ Michel-Olivier

    my idea
    The British Cup: 12 teams format, no group stage only knockout rounds.
    teams:
    England
    New Zealand
    Scotland
    Canada
    Grenada
    Wales
    Saint Kitts and Nevis
    Northern Ireland
    Australia
    Jamaica
    Ireland
    The Bahamas

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