Marten

I believe the North Region clubs aren't keen on the idea of a joint superleague. As that's not happen, Midlands League clubs want to stay at 1 division for now. More clubs joining would make a split more likely.

Posted about it in the other thread already, but it's depressing...

The play-off draw has just been made. Finland were drawn out to go to path A. The play-offs are now: Path A: Poland v Estonia Wales v Finland (winner at home in the final) Path B: Israel v Iceland Bosnia and Herzegovina v Ukraine (winner at home in the final) Path C Georgia v Luxembourg (winner at home in the final) Greece v Kazakhstan

And even if he does manage to form a coalition, the question is whether or not it will last. Often which such parties, once you give them actual responsibility they will mess up. I could easily see another election in less than 2 years and if he is seen as the main reason for the coalition collapsing, he could easily nosedive in the next election.

Dutch result so far with nearly all votes counted, change compared to the previous election in 2021 (turnout 77.8%): PVV (far-right): 37 seats (+20) GL-PvdA (Labour/Green coalition): 25 (+8) VVD (Conservative): 24 (-10) NSC (Centrist): 20 (+20) D'66 (LibDem): 9 (-15) BBB (Farmers party): 7 (+6) CDA (Christian Democrats, right of centre): 5 (-10) Socialist Party: 5 (-4) FvD (far-right, pro-Putin, conspiracist): 3 (-5) Party for the Animals (environmentalists, animal rights): 3 (-3) ChristianUnion (left of centre, social conservatives): 3 (-2) SGP (Christian conservatives): 3 (-) Denk (pro-immigration, largely from Muslim community): 3 (-) Volt (pan-European centrists): 2 (-1) JA21 (right wing): 1 (-2) 50+ (pensioners' party) & Bij1 (far-left) both lost their only seat

Just a few years ago Marine Le Pen heavily criticised Geert Wilders. She distanced herself from him, saying he is too extreme... That says something.

Hopefully not, with the conservative VVD he'll "only" have 59 seats, while 76 are needed for a majority. That means he will need to get centrists or left-of-centre on board, which will be very difficult for him. Long negotiations ahead...

Exit poll (seats out of 150): PVV (far-right) 35 Groen Links - PvdA (Labour/Green coalition) 26 VVD (Conservative) 23 NSC (centrist) 20 Grim...

Yup, that's correct.

Yeah, last time it already took a long time, but I think we're after Belgium's record now.

Some parties say the standard thing that they don't want to rule anyone out, but with some of Wilders' red lines it will be very hard to reach any compromise so here is hoping that they will still stay out of any coalition.

I hope The Netherlands won't follow this tomorrow... Latest polls show that the "Freedom Party" from far-right lunatic Geert Wilders is on course to become the biggest party in tomorrow's election.

Being Dutch I don't exactly have great memories of many encounters with the Czechs so I'd rather not face them. Especially as one of my best friends over here is Czech and I can do without her rubbing it in after they knock us out again...

Yeah, you'd expect Czech Republic to make it now. They haven't been particularly impressive this qualification but they are likely to keep their run of qualifying for every single Euros since their independence in 1993. That's some feat to be fair!

Yes, approx. 3% of their territory is in Europe. As long as you have any territory in Europe, you will be accepted if you apply. Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Russia also all have a portion of their territory in Europe even though the Asian part of those countries is (significantly) larger. And other than Israel, purely geographically Armenia & Cyprus are both 100% in Asia too, so for those 3 exceptions have been made. With Israel that reason is clear, Cyprus generally gets seen as Europe due to their connections to Greece but they are technically in the Asian part of the Mediterranean, Armenia I suppose get included as it would be odd for them to be forced into Asia while they border 3 UEFA nations and they would then be the only country in the Caucasus region not in UEFA.

Estonia will be in Path A, unless both Italy and Czech Republic mess up tonight in which case Estonia miss out. Estonia come from League D and they will only come into the play-offs if there is a League that has fewer than 4 teams not qualifying directly and then they join that path, which will have to be League A. Should Italy and Czech Republic both mess up, the PO for Path A will be: Italy v Wales & Poland v Czech Republic Should Kazakhstan win tonight, they will be replaced in the PO for Path C by Azerbaijan, the second best runners-up in League C behind Luxembourg. In that case the Path C PO will be: Georgia v Azerbaijan & Greece v Luxembourg.

From what I've seen of Poland, I'd say they at least would have had enough about them not to f*ck things up against Armenia. Yes, they also got only 1 point against Moldova, but Moldova seem better than Armenia looking at their other results. Not like Poland are impressive, but I'd still make them the favourites if they face Wales, especially if the Poles are at home as that's never an easy place to go to.

Fair point, but I still think Wales are worse. And if Poland are at home that will make a big difference too.

Hibs Women 2-1 Hearts Women Yesterday I went to Easter Road for the women's Edinburgh Derby. As I went with a Hearts-fan I know, I went with her to the away end. That only my second "random" match in Scotland I've been in an away end, after being in the Ibrox away end with Motherwell when doing the 42 (and the only other times I've been in any Scottish away end was at Hampden for Scotland v The Netherlands). There was a great turnout of nearly 5,400. The main stand was pretty full, a very decent Hearts following around me, and the East stand had a fair few people as well. The game was decent. The first half there were a few chances, but no goals. Hibs scored early in the second half, not much later they scored a second and it looked like the game was over. However, Hearts didn't give up and scored with 15 minutes left. They put up a good fight to try to equalise but Hibs held out to claim what was ultimately a deserved derby win. This also makes Easter Road the first stadium in Scotland with stands on all 4 sides where I've actually attended a game in each stand. Nice nerdy stat for a geek like me.

They might get through the semis, but Poland in the final would likely be too much for them, especially if they're drawn away. And if Italy lose to Ukraine, and/or Czech Republic lose to Moldova the path for the Welsh will become much harder as they'd first have to go away to Poland or Czech Republic before they can even think of any final.

Wales are guaranteed a play-off spot as there aren't going to be more than 4 League A teams who fail to qualify automatically, currently them and Poland are the only ones, guaranteeing both not only a PO spot, but also a home game against a team from a lower division. That can all change though should Italy mess up and lose away to Ukraine, then they will drop into the PO, meaning Wales lose their home advantage and will instead face an away PO semi-final to Poland. As it stands, the PO will be as follows: League A: Poland v Estonia, Wales v Finland / Ukraine / Iceland (one of those will be drawn out to go to path A) League B: Israel & Bosnia at home against the 2 of Finland / Ukraine / Iceland who aren't drawn into path A (Israel will face Iceland if they aren't drawn out for Path A, otherwise Ukraine, with Bosnia facing the other one) League C : Georgia v Luxembourg & Greece v Kazakhstan

I had a friend over from The Netherlands last week who also likes to go to different football grounds. We've gone to: Scotland Women 0-1 Netherlands Women Hearts 1-0 Livingston Culter 0-2 Lochee United Dundee 1-0 Livingston As only the games at Tynecastle and Dens can be classed as "random" for me, I'll focus on those. Both games were remarkably similar. Livingston created little and seemed to come for a 0-0. The hosts eventually scored in the second half. Hearts didn't give anything away after that and carried the deserved 1-0 over the line. Dundee were under more pressure after their goal, but they also managed to hold on and got a deserved win.

I can't quite believe what I just watched. Wow, just wow. Take a bow Glenn Maxwell, that was exceptional.

This World Cup is used as qualification for the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan, 8 teams will take part which is the top 8 of this tournament (or top 7 + Pakistan as hosts if they fail to finish in the top 8). Hopefully we can stay ahead of England and qualify at their expense.

Oh, I agree the problems go deeper, but the Hundred definitely made it significantly worse. It's a tournament that adds nothing yet relegates domestic 50 over cricket to some kind of second string tournament.