When Was The Last Time....

[davejonesbkk]

So it's looking like both the Swiss team and Austrain team will not qualify from the group stage of Euro 2008 and I was just wondering when the last time a host team did not qualify from the group stages?

[nikster]

Hey - we still have chances! All we need to do is beat Germany. All we need for that is a bad performance by Germany, a good performance by us, and one, two or three penalty decisions go our way

I could also elaborate on why our team is so bad when lots of small countries around us manage to have pretty good teams - there are good reasons. It's similar to England, really, except we don't have an EPL and superstar players. England proves, however, that even superstar players cannot overcome an incompetent (and that's an understatement) footballing association.

Players can be dismissed. Managers can be fired. However, the decision makers in the FA and the Austrian counterpart OEFB cannot be fired. If they are horrible idiots, then they are horrible idiots - for a long time to come. Just facts, I am not complaining

[nikster]

This will be more interesting than previously thought. It's not going to be Austria vs. Germany - it's going to be Europe vs. Germany. Everyone's cheering us on b/c if we win, Germany is going home. Second, our team is crap, but a match against Germany in this Situation will get them playing 150%. Motivation is usually one of our problems (quote the manager: "The players need no motivation" - he really said that!). Third, all the pressure is on Germany.

[boiledegg]

It's not going to be Austria vs. Germany - it's going to be Europe vs. Germany. Everyone's cheering us on

As a neutral im wanting the traditional teams to get as far as possible as id prefer to be watching Germany V Italy in the latter stages as opposed to Romania V Austria.

And i couldnt be happier that Greece are out what a total waste of time it was for them turning up all they could do was pass it along the back 4 in their own half.

And to answer the OP it was Belgium in Euro 2000.

[nikster]

It's not going to be Austria vs. Germany - it's going to be Europe vs. Germany. Everyone's cheering us on

As a neutral im wanting the traditional teams to get as far as possible as id prefer to be watching Germany V Italy in the latter stages as opposed to Romania V Austria.

And i couldnt be happier that Greece are out what a total waste of time it was for them turning up all they could do was pass it along the back 4 in their own half.

And to answer the OP it was Belgium in Euro 2000.

Ah of course. By everyone I meant the other teams and fans who would rather not meet Germany in one of the next rounds

Agreed about Greece, great to see that this euro the attractive teams are rewarded.

[davejonesbkk]

Yeah Belgium back in 2000, anymore? Any stattos out there with a full list of host nations that never made it past the group stages throughout history?

Depending on what kind of draw they get I think S.Africa could be contenders for this in the next world cup....

[Jimjim]

Well, the current format has only been adopted since 1996. Since the 2 group, 8 team format was adopted in 1980, the host country always advanced out of the groups for either semi-finals or at least a 3rd place match until this format was last used in 1992 in Sweden. From 1960-1976 the finals after qualifying consisted just of a semil-final stage and the hosts were always there.

So, since 1996 a host nation has failed to get past the group stage just 3 times. Belguim in 2000, and now Austria and Switzerland this year. But this is the first time ever in the Euro finals that a host nation will not be in a knockout match, as in 2000 Netherlands were co-hosts with Belguim and advanced out of the group stage.