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Post by GollyGTFC on Jun 10, 2016 9:59:07 GMT
Come on, who's going to win it? France? Germany? Belgium? Spain? England? Wales? Personally, I think it's wide open. France are the favourites, but lack quality in key areas. Germany aren't the team they were, but should do well. Belgium have all the talent you need, but maybe lack the backbone to go all the way. Spain like wise. England look vulnerable at the back and the squad is hopelessly unbalanced (lack of genuine wide option), but could do well. It's worth noting that the winners of Group B have about the most favourable route that is open to anybody and should be in the opposite side of the knock-out draw to both France & Germnay. 2nd place in Group B will mean being in the same half of the draw as Germany (S-Final ?), France (Q-Final) and maybe Belgium (S-Final ?). If England win their group there is a fantastic opportunity to go a very long way in the tournament... Round of 16... Match 1: Runner-up Group A v Runner-up Group C (Switzerland v Poland) Match 2: Winner Group D v 3rd Place Group B/E/F (Spain v  ) Match 3: Winner Group B v 3rd Place Group A/C/D (England v ) Match 4: Winner Group F v Runner-up Group E (Portugal v Italy/Sweden) Match 5: Winner Group C v 3rd Place Group A/B/F (Germany v ) Match 6: Winner Group E v Runner-up Group D (Belgium v Croatia/Czech Rep) Match 7: Winner Group A v 3rd Place Group C/D/E (France v ) Match 8: Runner-up Group B v Runner-up Group F (Wales v Austria) Quarter-Finals Match 1: Winners of Match 1 v Match 2 (Switzerland v Spain) Match 2: Winners of Match 3 v Match 4 (England v Portugal) Match 3: Winners of Match 5 v Match 6 (Germany v Belgium) Match 4: Winners of Match 7 v Match 8 (France v Wales) Semi-Finals Match 1: Winners of Match 1 v Match 2 (Spain v England) Match 2: Winners of Match 3 v Match 4 (Germany v France) So, the question is where will England blow it? My guess- by not winning the group and getting France in the QF. |
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Post by believeincod on Jun 10, 2016 11:00:23 GMT
Started to get quite excited about this in the last couple of days. As you say, it's much more open this year.
I wonder if it might be someone unexpected (a la Greece 2004) who clicks at the right time.
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Post by Barmy on Jun 10, 2016 16:02:25 GMT
After perusing one preview site I've decided that France probably deserve to be favourites. The Spanish are a good but ageing team and they are not replacing the great players with more great players and their tiki taka constant pressing style requires extremely fit personnel. The Germans seem to be a little short up front although you can never count them out (cliché No.1) Belgium have all the parts but never seem to be quite able to put them together properly. Portugal, despite the presence of some decent players, are all about Ronaldo. The trouble the Portuguese have is that everybody else knows it. The same to a slightly lesser extent is true of Wales. England will be England and flatter to deceive and get knocked out by any half decent team in the quarter finals. Italy look poor but see Cliché No.1
I quite like the look of Poland and also Croatia and Ukraine. This is a tournament were teams that are written off often go on to do great things (Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Greece)and so in conclusion don't write anyone off but France are going to win.
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Post by ginnywings on Jun 10, 2016 16:20:10 GMT
France. Just enough quality and have a history of home success.
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Post by kingstonmariner on Jun 10, 2016 20:18:46 GMT
This first game is very poor. Championship quality at best.
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Post by believeincod on Jun 11, 2016 18:02:31 GMT
Marseille, some not so friendly locals, hot climate, loads of beer, some Russian hooligans, "assertive" police... not really surprising that it's kicking off over there.
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Post by believeincod on Jun 12, 2016 6:16:16 GMT
Those scenes in the stadium at the end last night were pretty outrageous.
If it was the other way round and England fans were invading the other teams stands to attack their fans UEFA would have a fit.
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Post by GollyGTFC on Jun 12, 2016 7:33:36 GMT
Those scenes in the stadium at the end last night were pretty outrageous. If it was the other way round and England fans were invading the other teams stands to attack their fans UEFA would have a fit. Russia got a suspended 6 point penalty (now expired) for much less serious offences 4 years ago in Poland. If UEFA have any backbone they will deduct points. No Football Association can be responsible for what people from their country without tickets do away from a stadium. But Russia have sold tickets to these thugs and they should be punished. To me it is exactly the same of Heysel, but luckily it happened in a modern stadium rather than a crumbling, unsafe relic. |
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Post by diehardmariner on Jun 16, 2016 10:09:59 GMT
France look the absolute business, even more so that they are getting all these late goals.
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Post by GollyGTFC on Jun 18, 2016 4:36:29 GMT
France look the absolute business, even more so that they are getting all these late goals. Personally I think their defence is a shambles and the first time they come up against a half decent team (rather than Romania and Albania) they will be exposed. |
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Post by GollyGTFC on Jun 19, 2016 8:22:42 GMT
Here's how the Knock-out Phase is shaping up after "Match Day 2" is complete...
Round of 16...
Match 1: Runner-up Group A v Runner-up Group C (Switzerland v Poland)
Match 2: Winner Group D v 3rd Place Group B/E/*F* (Spain v Portugal)
Match 3: Winner Group B v 3rd Place Group A/C/*D* (England v Czech Rep)
Match 4: Winner Group F v Runner-up Group E (Hungary v Belgium)
Match 5: Winner Group C v 3rd Place Group A/*B*/F (Germany v Slovakia)
Match 6: Winner Group E v Runner-up Group D (Italy v Croatia)
Match 7: Winner Group A v 3rd Place Group *C*/D/E (France v Northern Ireland)
Match 8: Runner-up Group B v Runner-up Group F (Wales v Iceland)
Quarter-Finals
Match 1: Winners of Match 1 v Match 2 (Poland v Spain)
Match 2: Winners of Match 3 v Match 4 (England v Belgium)
Match 3: Winners of Match 5 v Match 6 (Germany v Italy)
Match 4: Winners of Match 7 v Match 8 (France v Wales)
Semi-Finals
Match 1: Winners of Match 1 v Match 2 (Poland/Spain v England/Belgium)
Match 2: Winners of Match 3 v Match 4 (Germany/Italy v France/Wales)
So, as it stands England are looking at a Czech Rep > Belgium > Spain route to the Final. If England mess up our last game and finish 2nd then the route to the Final will be Iceland > France > Italy or Germany. And if we finish 3rd (based on the current groups providing the top 4 3rd placed teams) we will be faced with a route to the Final of Germany > Italy > France.
So basically we must finish 1st in our group!!!
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Post by kingstonmariner on Jun 19, 2016 21:05:18 GMT
Well I think on the basis of that game, or rather the officiating, it has been decided that France will get to the last stages of the tournament. All the shirt pulling evidence that you would ever need. And two at the same time in the dying seconds.
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Post by diehardmariner on Jun 20, 2016 10:03:45 GMT
France look the absolute business, even more so that they are getting all these late goals. Personally I think their defence is a shambles and the first time they come up against a half decent team (rather than Romania and Albania) they will be exposed. I agree they're weak at the back, especially at fullback. But I'm not sure who has enough to expose them. Best of a bad bunch? Maybe. Can only beat what's in front of you and all that jazz. If England's shackles are kept off we've as good a chance as anyone. |
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Post by believeincod on Jun 20, 2016 21:13:41 GMT
Madness making 6 changes to the starting line up tonight.
Sturridge and Vardy in for Kane and Sterling fair enough, but why make 6 changes and rest your captain in the middle of a competition unless you're playing shit?
This isn't a friendly Roy.
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Post by GollyGTFC on Jun 20, 2016 21:53:51 GMT
There you go. We're in the same half of the draw as France (QF) & Italy or Germany (SF). A great opportunity to go a long way in the tournament squandered by failing to beat Russia or Slovakia.
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