Who Would Each National Hockey Team's Equivalent be in Football/Soccer?
- Thread starter Maestro84
- Start date
-
Xenforo Cloud will be upgrading us to version 2.3.5 on March 3rd at 12 AM GMT. This version has increased stability and fixes several bugs. We expect downtime for the duration of the update. The admin team will continue to work on existing issues, templates and upgrade all necessary available addons to minimize impact of this new version. Click Here for Updates
Czechboy
Náš f*cken barák!
- Apr 15, 2018
- 30,068
- 27,664
Russia is England.. supremely talented and great rosters but rarely win. Last best on best was in the 80s. One World junior GOLD in 11 years. One gold at the Skoda Cup in the last 10 years too.
Don't doubt the talent of the roster. That's usually very high.
Don't doubt the talent of the roster. That's usually very high.
Czechboy
Náš f*cken barák!
- Apr 15, 2018
- 30,068
- 27,664
Might not be a good comp but FInland remind me of Croatia.. they just fight so hard!
You are far too kind to the USA with that comparison.
Hockey countries listed first, association football equivalents listed second
Canada= Brazil: The Gold Standard
Russia= Uruguay: Formerly a force but still pretending they are
Sweden= Italy: Won it all in 2006, otherwise a lengthy history of "almost but not quite"
Finland= Belgium: Lots of huffing and puffing but nothing when it counts
USA= England: Actually won a championship and enjoying an undeserved reputation as a powerhouse ever since
Czechia= Germany: Former winner in a most rapid decline
Germany= USA: Capable of playing spoiler, but can't even win in a watered-down field
Switzerland= Croatia: People like to pretend they are elite, but they aren't
EDIT:
Other countries= Everyone else not listed: Why do they even bother showing up?
Canada = Brazil (most talent)
Sweden = France (elite programs)
USA = Argentina (bitter rivals to big dogs)
Russia = England (all talent, no teamwork )
Finland = Spain (always a threat)
Czechia = Netherlands (only lacking depth)
Slovakia = Italy (occasionally brilliant)
Swiss = Mexico (always plucky)
Germany = USA (future powerhouse)
Sweden = France (elite programs)
USA = Argentina (bitter rivals to big dogs)
Russia = England (all talent, no teamwork )
Finland = Spain (always a threat)
Czechia = Netherlands (only lacking depth)
Slovakia = Italy (occasionally brilliant)
Swiss = Mexico (always plucky)
Germany = USA (future powerhouse)
brentashton
Registered User
- Jan 21, 2018
- 16,436
- 23,821
i’ll play…
Latvia=Canada: fun to watch, cheer like hell for them to score a goal, have no hope in hell of ever winning.
Mathieukferland
Registered User
Finland=Uruguay
Small Country obsessed with the sport, plays well above their population, have won tournaments in the past. Youth development is very good. Both play physical brands of their sport considering which continent they’re on (Uruguay is a physical side on an otherwise skill oriented continent, Finland play a tight defensive style on a continent that is more known for possession and skill hockey)
Czech Republic=Hungary
Used to be really good, but since the fall communism players raised in the post communist age have failed to live up to the glorious accomplishments of the past. Both have players that can be considered amongst the greats of all time in their sport (Jagr, Puskas). Both have one standout performance that will live on in national folklore (Hungary bollocking England at Wembley, and Czech beating Russia to win gold in Nagano)
Sweden=Holland
Produce excellent, skill oriented players, both probably should have won more tournaments given the quality of players they produce (Sweden with one best on best win, Holland have won the Euros once). Both countries style of play place an emphasis on passing and possession. Both currently have a player that is one of the best if not the best defensive player in the world (Hedman, van Dijk)
USA=England (thanks for the original idea)
Both countries with large player pools and populations that have won relatively little, only 1 best on best victory for each (USA 1996 WCOH, England 1966 WC). Both are home to the best domestic league in the world (NHL and Premiership), and despite large injections of money from their domestic leagues into the national federation, keep falling short on the big stage. Both currently have a young generation of promising players that have had success at youth level (England u17 WC 2017, USA WJC 2021), but have yet to make their mark on the senior international stage. Both have player that, while not the best of the upcoming generation, will be top 5 in the world for a while to come (Bellingham, Matthews)
Russia=Argentina
Large countries in which the sport is most popularly amongst specific socioeconomic demographics (in more affluent areas of Argentina, rugby is the most popular, whereas amongst skint people in Russia, football is more popular). Both countries had great successes during the later part of the 20th century (Argentina with multiple continental championships and world cups, Russia winning a Canada Cup and routinely beating NHL all star teams), but have not had the same success in the 21st century despite producing two of the best players ever in their sport (Ovechkin, Messi). At the current moment, both nations seem to produce forwards en masse, yet have difficulty producing defensive players
Canada= Brazil
The most successful nations of all time and the countries in which the sport is most popular. Canada has won 9/13 of the best on best tournaments, and Brazil has won a record 5 world cups. Both have produced arguably the greatest player of all time in their sport (Gretzky, Pele)
Small Country obsessed with the sport, plays well above their population, have won tournaments in the past. Youth development is very good. Both play physical brands of their sport considering which continent they’re on (Uruguay is a physical side on an otherwise skill oriented continent, Finland play a tight defensive style on a continent that is more known for possession and skill hockey)
Czech Republic=Hungary
Used to be really good, but since the fall communism players raised in the post communist age have failed to live up to the glorious accomplishments of the past. Both have players that can be considered amongst the greats of all time in their sport (Jagr, Puskas). Both have one standout performance that will live on in national folklore (Hungary bollocking England at Wembley, and Czech beating Russia to win gold in Nagano)
Sweden=Holland
Produce excellent, skill oriented players, both probably should have won more tournaments given the quality of players they produce (Sweden with one best on best win, Holland have won the Euros once). Both countries style of play place an emphasis on passing and possession. Both currently have a player that is one of the best if not the best defensive player in the world (Hedman, van Dijk)
USA=England (thanks for the original idea)
Both countries with large player pools and populations that have won relatively little, only 1 best on best victory for each (USA 1996 WCOH, England 1966 WC). Both are home to the best domestic league in the world (NHL and Premiership), and despite large injections of money from their domestic leagues into the national federation, keep falling short on the big stage. Both currently have a young generation of promising players that have had success at youth level (England u17 WC 2017, USA WJC 2021), but have yet to make their mark on the senior international stage. Both have player that, while not the best of the upcoming generation, will be top 5 in the world for a while to come (Bellingham, Matthews)
Russia=Argentina
Large countries in which the sport is most popularly amongst specific socioeconomic demographics (in more affluent areas of Argentina, rugby is the most popular, whereas amongst skint people in Russia, football is more popular). Both countries had great successes during the later part of the 20th century (Argentina with multiple continental championships and world cups, Russia winning a Canada Cup and routinely beating NHL all star teams), but have not had the same success in the 21st century despite producing two of the best players ever in their sport (Ovechkin, Messi). At the current moment, both nations seem to produce forwards en masse, yet have difficulty producing defensive players
Canada= Brazil
The most successful nations of all time and the countries in which the sport is most popular. Canada has won 9/13 of the best on best tournaments, and Brazil has won a record 5 world cups. Both have produced arguably the greatest player of all time in their sport (Gretzky, Pele)
OscarsCards
Spooky action at a distance
Ace
Registered User
- Oct 29, 2015
- 26,523
- 33,439
Canada is whichever team gets calls to ensure victory and fans celebrate as if they earned it
Mathieukferland
Registered User
Canada = Brazil (Big on Paper and big on Pitch)
US = England (Big on paper but results not satisfied)
Sweden = Germany(Till 2016, very steady and well oiled machine)
Russia = Argentina( Magic players but selfish and difficult charakters)
Finland = Italy(Till 2012 good balanced teams, tacitical and world class coaching, defense always strong)
Czech = Netherlands (Good past, long slack an now upswing again)
Germany = US (Biting underdog, where expectations are sometimes disproportionately high in their own country.)
Swiss = Turkey (Underdog with some outliers)
Slovakia = Hungary (Good past, long dry spell now improved again)
Addendum: In the case of Italy and Germany up until 2012 and 2016, I mean that these football nations no longer had these characteristics from those times.
US = England (Big on paper but results not satisfied)
Sweden = Germany(Till 2016, very steady and well oiled machine)
Russia = Argentina( Magic players but selfish and difficult charakters)
Finland = Italy(Till 2012 good balanced teams, tacitical and world class coaching, defense always strong)
Czech = Netherlands (Good past, long slack an now upswing again)
Germany = US (Biting underdog, where expectations are sometimes disproportionately high in their own country.)
Swiss = Turkey (Underdog with some outliers)
Slovakia = Hungary (Good past, long dry spell now improved again)
Addendum: In the case of Italy and Germany up until 2012 and 2016, I mean that these football nations no longer had these characteristics from those times.
Last edited:
2014 Latvia was the hockey version of 2014 Costa Rica. Led by some incredible goalkeeping by Gudlevskis and Keylor Navas, these two tiny nations shocked everyone by reaching the quarterfinals where they nearly took out a powerhouse in their sport (Canada and Netherlands)
Eye of Ra
Grandmaster General of the International boards
They did great against us swedes too in the group stage. They where super physical and hard to play against.
Not sure about all those "Canada=Brazil" takes. Maybe historically, though the birthplace of football is England after all. But the last time Brazil won a gold at the World Cup was in 2002. Since then, only one semi-final appearance (and eventual 4th place). Over the last two decades, there have been quite a few more succseful football nations. Moreover, they haven't been producing as many superstar players as they did before 2005 or so. The last great Brazilian wizard was Ronaldinho and maybe Kaká, and their prime was 15 years ago. Neymar is obviously very good but he was never conistently on the level of those two.
I would say that France is currently much closer to Canada - a seemingly endless stock of star players, they don't play the most aesthetic kind of football, yet on top of their skills they are very athletic/physical, and most importantly, they can deliver in big tournaments.
I would say that France is currently much closer to Canada - a seemingly endless stock of star players, they don't play the most aesthetic kind of football, yet on top of their skills they are very athletic/physical, and most importantly, they can deliver in big tournaments.
aquaregia
Registered User
Maybe the realisation should be that there simply isn't a national team in soccer that has been as dominant or has the equivalent reputation that Canada does in hockey.
I think matching them up to Rugby Union teams makes easier parallels - for example:
Canada -> New Zealand [more or less synonymous with the sport, most world-class players, biggest tradition, most success]
USA -> England [huge talent-pool, great tradition but fewer titles than you'd expect with their resources]
Sweden -> Australia [Plenty of international success, supposedly on the decline and fewer players coming through the ranks but keep playing at a more or less elite level]
Finland -> Wales [Smaller nation whose domestic scene is comparatively weaker than its neighbours but whose players frequently rise to the occasion in the national jersey]
Russia -> South Africa [another huge producer of players with a long tradition of success, and also international pariah-status]
Czechia -> France [not a perfect comparison, but culturally distinct from the rest of the big boys, plenty of ups and downs in the international scene, both have a bright future maybe?]
Switzerland -> Argentina [over the last couple of decades fought their way from being considered also-rans to a team that can genuinely give any team a run for its money on its day]
I think matching them up to Rugby Union teams makes easier parallels - for example:
Canada -> New Zealand [more or less synonymous with the sport, most world-class players, biggest tradition, most success]
USA -> England [huge talent-pool, great tradition but fewer titles than you'd expect with their resources]
Sweden -> Australia [Plenty of international success, supposedly on the decline and fewer players coming through the ranks but keep playing at a more or less elite level]
Finland -> Wales [Smaller nation whose domestic scene is comparatively weaker than its neighbours but whose players frequently rise to the occasion in the national jersey]
Russia -> South Africa [another huge producer of players with a long tradition of success, and also international pariah-status]
Czechia -> France [not a perfect comparison, but culturally distinct from the rest of the big boys, plenty of ups and downs in the international scene, both have a bright future maybe?]
Switzerland -> Argentina [over the last couple of decades fought their way from being considered also-rans to a team that can genuinely give any team a run for its money on its day]
Now that I think about it I think Russia/Argentina is probably a better comparison than USA/Argentina as ARG is a lot more successful than USA in their respective sport.
Russia is easily the second most successful team in hockey while Argentina is the third most successful (only behind Brazil/Germany) and even if their national teams hasn't been as dominant as in the 20th century, they produced some world class players in the past decade (Ovi/Geno/Kuch and Messi/Di Maria/Aguero)
They also have a huge historic rivalry with Canada/Brazil so yeah I think Russia and Argentina is a better comp, I guess I only put USA there since they're in the same continent as Canada lol
Sweden is like a mix of Germany and Holland imo. Swedes have the consistency, structure, and player development of both teams but they aren't as successful as Germany but still have more hardware than Holland
Russia yea historically if you count CCCP era was best or second best, but after Soviet Union Collapsed Russia has been overall maybe like 5th most succesful national team..
Peiskos
Registered User
- Jan 4, 2018
- 3,670
- 3,623
Italy has more world cups than Argentina.
Brazil - 5
Italy - 4
Germany - 4
Argentina - 3
France - 2
Uruguay - 2
Spain - 1
England - 1
Yeah I'm comparing the overall success of each country but if we divide it by Cold War era vs post-Cold War era, then the ranking would be look quite different
mattihp
Registered User
Not since the last World Cup in 2016. There hasn't been any reason to do so since hten.
mattihp
Registered User
That would make you an NHL fan and not a fan of hockey in general, which is ok. But international hockey is still a thing.
That World Cup was proof that NHL shouldn't run International tournaments.
Latest posts
-
-
Player Discussion Lane Hutson: Part 3 - Calder Edition- Latest: the valiant effort
-
-
Friedman: Gibson is interested in Carolina, or Edmonton- Latest: Three On Zero
Ad
Upcoming events
-
-
-
-
PICK ONLY ONE TEAM - 4 Nations Face-Off - ChampionWagers: 19Staked: $20,866.00Event closes- Updated:
-