The Euro 2016 Prediction Thread

[Lee]

Six days to go lads......

Winner: France
Finalist: Spain
Semi Finalists: Belgium, England
Top Scorer: Griezmann
Best Player: Kante
England Will Reach: Semi finals. Not because we're good, but because I have us winning the group before facing Romania then Austria. The latter of which would be bloody tough, but I allowed myself to be optimistic.
Your Team Will Reach: As above.
Surprise Package: Austria and Slovakia both to reach the last eight.
Worst Team: Turkey

[Samadini]

England to win it and France to bomb in the groups.

[Reg]

Winner: France
Finalist: Spain
Semi Finalists: Italy, Germany
Top Scorer: Muller
Best Player: Pogba (and watch out for Nainggolan)
England Will Reach: Quarter-finals, losing to Italy.
Surprise Package: Hungary reach the round of 16 with 2 points.
Worst Team: Slovakia & Turkey finish with 0 points.

[simon]

Winner: England
Finalist: France
Semi Finalists: Germany, Italy
Top Scorer: Kane
Best Player: Vardy
England Will Reach: We're winning it, obviously.
Your Team Will Reach: As above.
Surprise Package: Wales
Worst Team: San Marino[/QUOTE]

[Jeet]

Worst Team: San Marino

Erm...

[Magic]

How many fucking prediction fantasy things we going to do with Euro 2016.

[Jeet]

I predict 5!

Someone make a prediction thread about how many prediction threads we are gonna have.

[Magic]

Lol!

[Trancemeister]

Had to do a predictor thingy to know what the hell I'm predicting

Winner: Germany
Finalist: Spain
Semi Finalists: Portugal, France
Top Scorer: Ronaldo
Best Player: Ronaldo
England Will Reach: Quarter final
Your Team Will Reach: 2nd round losing to Spain
Surprise Package: Iceland to reach the 2nd round.
Worst Team: Albania, Northern Ireland, Ireland & Hungary all finish with 0 points.

[Lewis]

I think Germany will win it.

[Pleb]

Winner: England
Finalist: Germany
Semi Finalists: France, Spain
Top Scorer: Jamie Vardy
Best Player: C.Ronaldo
England Will Reach: Fuck knows. The final you would hope.
Your Team Will Reach: Probably the second round lol.
Surprise Package: Wales winning the whole fucking thing.
Worst Team: Republic of Ireland

[Bob Sacamano]

Winner: France
Finalist: England
Semi Finalists: Spain, Switzerland
Top Scorer: Ronaldo
Best Player: Payet
England Will Reach: Final
Your Team Will Reach: As above
Surprise Package: Switzerland
Worst Team: Hungary

[Ian]

Do people actually think England are going to be good or are you merely indulging yourselves?

[Pleb]

I'm merely just indulging myself.

We all know that we're going to bomb out of the groups or reach the second round via third place.

[SvN]

England have a very favourable draw, really. If they perform even slightly well they're hitting the quarter finals.

[Spoonsky]

Winner: Spain
Finalist: France
Semi Finalists: Belgium, England
Top Scorer: Lukaku
Best Player: De Gea
England Will Reach: Semifinals.
Surprise Package: Iceland to get 2nd in their group.
Worst Team: Albania

[SincereTheRebel]

Winner: France
Finalist: Germaany
Semi Finalists: Belgium, England
Top Scorer: Griezmann
Best Player: Griezmann
England Will Reach: Semifinals.
Surprise Package: N.Ireland reaching the knockout stages
Worst Team: Hungary

[Foe]

Griezman on the bench for France against Scotland. Surprised at that - assume it's just to give him a little rest after the CL final?

[Reg]

Intrigued by Lee's Austria thoughts. I see they got almost maximum points in qualifying, but their squad doesn't look very good and the recent results haven't been anything remarkable.


Do people actually think England are going to be good or are you merely indulging yourselves?
I have us beating Russia 2-1, drawing 1-1 with Wales, beating Slovakia 1-0, then in the knockouts beating the mighty Romania 1-0 before going out 2-1 to Italy.

[Lee]

Intrigued by Lee's Austria thoughts. I see they got almost maximum points in qualifying, but their squad doesn't look very good and the recent results haven't been anything remarkable.


I have us beating Russia 2-1, drawing 1-1 with Wales, beating Slovakia 1-0, then in the knockouts beating the mighty Romania 1-0 before going out 2-1 to Italy.

Austria have some very useful individuals. Dragovic, Fuchs, Wimmer, Alaba, Arnautovic can all play. Their draw is kind too. I think they'll win their group (Portugal are shit) and then have them playing Italy, who are also shit. Them doing us in the quarter finals wouldn't surprise me either, if that comes to pass.

As for England, it's a combination of there being some real attacking ability in the squad (if used properly) and having a very friendly draw. Anything less than the last eight and Hodgson ought to be sacked. I think there's an argument if we don't make the semis, actually.

There is definitely a chance we won't. Roy fucking over Kane and Vardy to accommodate Rooney the other night is an example of how. We know he is going to pick Rooney, so just have the bollocks to do it and drop one of Kane and Vardy for him you daft old twat. Playing him in such a way that negates the strengths of our two best strikers (although I read an interesting argument from Jonathan Wilson that the idea was to have them defending against Portugal's attacking full backs - sensible enough in Vardy's case given how he presses) isn't doing anybody any favours.

[Yevrah]

Absolutely no chance that Austria top a group with Portugal in it and then go on to knock Italy and England out.

You're bang on about Roy and Rooney though, the whole thing's fucking infuriating.

We'll shit it up again and Roy will somehow cling on, no doubt.

[Lee]

Someone unfancied will go on a run. I think Austria and Slovakia (or Wales of they can finish in second) are well placed, but I usually get this stuff horribly wrong.

On Rooney, the bizarre thing is that there's a good case for playing him. He has been scoring goals for England and his recent form is pretty good. In which case stop fucking about and pretending there's a chance of him not starting in his best position. If he does what he did on Thursday I'll have a little internal breakdown and change my prediction to have us finish bottom of the group.

There are two ways we ought to be considering playing given who our players are; either do a Leicester and keep it narrow and ugly before lumping it to some quick bastards up top. Or accept that our defenders are basically retards and adopt the 'you score three we'll score four approach'. Either, if executed properly, should be getting us at least to the last eight given our draw.

What's actually going to happen is there won't be a plan. He'll chuck players he likes on in vaguely the right positions and I'll go into a boredom induced depression. At least I'll be on holiday when it happens. Surely we can't equal 2014 and be out before I've even arrived, for fuck's sake.

[Baz]

I don't know the possible routes of who can face who so all of this probably can't happen but:

Winner: Italy
Finalist: France
Semi Finalists: Spain, Germany
Top Scorer: Pelle
Best Player: Hennessey
England Will Reach: Theyll probably get through the group stage but go out in the round after that.
Your Team Will Reach: Liverpool aren't in the Euros. I hope Wales at least reach the quarterfinals.
Surprise Package: Poland
Worst Team: Portugal

[SvN]

Winner: Germany
Finalist: Spain
Semi Finalists: England, France
Top Scorer: Ronaldo
Best Player: Muller
England Will Reach: Semi finals. I have us beating Croatia in round 2 and Portugal in the quarters.
Surprise Package: Looking at my predictor, the biggest surprise is that Poland reach the quarters I guess.
Worst Team: Hungary

[Byron]

Winner: Germany
Finalist: France
Semi Finalists: Belgium, Italy
Top Scorer: Ronaldo
Best Player: Payet
England Will Reach: Quarter Finals.
Surprise Package: Northern Ireland to reach the Second Round.
Worst Team: Republic of Ireland.

[Spikey M]

Winner: Germany
Finalist: France
Semi Finalists: Belgium, Spain
Top Scorer: Muller
Best Player: Muller
England Will Reach: Quarter finals.
Your Team Will Reach: As above.
Surprise Package: Wales
Worst Team: Ireland

[Serj]

Winner: France
Finalist: Spain
Semi Finalists: Portugal, Germany
Top Scorer: Griezmann
Best Player: Iniesta
England Will Reach: Did a full-tournament prediction thing and have them going out against Portugal in the quarters, as is tradition.
Your Team Will Reach: Austria are pretty shit at the moment, but should be good enough to get out of the groups. I have them meeting Wales in the round of sixteen, where I think they'll lose.
Surprise Package: None. I think the shit teams are pretty clearly shit this time. One of Poland/Turkey/Wales to make the quarters, though.
Worst Team:Ukraine

[Yevrah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b07dpvcl/alan-shearers-euro-96-when-football-came-home

Nostalgia. :cool:

Oh and Venables. :D

[Ian]

Probably about time for one of these:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJqimlFcJsM

:cool:

[Yevrah]

I didn't think I'd be grinning from ear to ear watching a documentary presented by the charisma vacuum that is Alan Shearer, but I'm loving this.

Also reminds me how depressing it is that we've been so so shit in so many tournaments since.

[Kikó]

It was a great documentary. Good to see Gazza as well, clearly deranged but at least he looked okay.

Shame we won't see another tournament held here for at least 10 years.

[Magic]

I have Russia in the semis, pushed on by nationilstic stupor.

[Yevrah]

Oh God, it's the Holland game now. I'm about to cum.

That third goal is still for me the best I've ever seen us score and probably my all time favourite goal ever. Running rings around the oranges.

[Ian]

Watching this Euro '96 thing. Up to Spain.

Winning a shootout. :drool:

The agony when I thought we were going to win that one against Italy. :(

[SvN]

Pierce against Spain :happycry: Feeling emotional

[Byron]

Watching it now, I have hazy memories of the tournament but I was 7 at the time so it's quite good to actually watch back and get some context behind the few things I can remember.

I do remember the BBC ran a vote and people were talking about Alli, Rashford, Wilshere and Smalling getting into the 1996 side and then you look at the squad;

Seaman
G. Neville
Adams
Southgate
Pearce
Anderton
Ince
McManaman
Gascoigne
Sheringham
Shearer

And without wanting to fall into the nostalgia trap, how the hell does anyone from the current line up get in there?

[Spikey M]

Euro 96 is the first one I remember fully. It is yet to be bettered. Gonna watch that later.

[Spikey M]

Just started watching it. One of these days Gascoign will score from that cross.

[Ian]

Just started watching it. One of these days Gascoign will score from that cross.

Even watching it there it's still agonising.

[Ian]

Also, when I was looking at the match earlier both Wikipedia and the UEFA website are in agreement that we didn't make any substitutions. Why did we not not sub on the forwards who were on the bench rather than putting the onus on poor old Gareth Southgate?

[Yevrah]

Also, when I was looking at the match earlier both Wikipedia and the UEFA website are in agreement that we didn't make any substitutions. Why did we not not sub on the forwards who were on the bench rather than putting the onus on poor old Gareth Southgate?

As was touched on in the documentary, it really should have been Ince ahead of Southgate.

That said, has anyone ever successfully subbed on strikers in the dying minutes to take penalties, or actually, even done it at all?

[Lee]

Ince clearly bottled it. As if you'd deliberately pick him after Southgate.mye was also exposed as being full of shit.

Ince: "Yeah, my room was like a pub' everyone came round."

Team mates: "Err..."

Probably just him, Gazza and Tony Adams.

[Ian]

That said, has anyone ever successfully subbed on strikers in the dying minutes to take penalties, or actually, even done it at all?

You may have a point. But even with Ince wimping out and Southgate having apparently volunteered, I'd still have given Ferdinand or Fowler the nod.

England, of course, have form for subbing on penalty "specialists." Like Jamie Carragher.

[Lee]

Just started watching it. One of these days Gascoign will score from that cross.

Anderton's miss was as bad.

ITV did this years later, the bastards:


https://youtu.be/imog0uEMxzo

[Yevrah]

I'd not seen that, but I feel like I've lost someone having done so. :moop:

[Lee]

I only saw it for the first time last night and couldn't stop rewatching. They've made it look far too real and destroyed my 12 year old self in the process.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's absolutely ridiculous that our penalty shootout record since that Spanish one is played 6, lost 6. It's almost as if our players have no bottle.

[Spikey M]

Don't worry Jim, I'm sure the lads in the Tactics Truck have heard word that the team have been 'practising penalties after training'.

[Yevrah]

It's absolutely ridiculous that our penalty shootout record since that Spanish one is played 6, lost 6. It's almost as if our players have no bottle.

They don't, or at least didn't. The thing that proves that is that we always do just enough to lose them.

[SincereTheRebel]

In my sweepstake at work. I got england, slovakia and switzerland. I predicted england to get knockout in the semi's.

[Magic]

Winner: Germany
Finalist: Spain
Semi Finalists: Russia, England
England Will Reach: Quarters
Your Team Will Reach: LOL
Surprise Package: Russia
Worst Team: Hungary

[Jimmy Floyd]

Russia are fucking garbage.

England will top our group with maximum points, probably Slovakia second. That'll take us into a game against someone horrid like Poland or Turkey which we'll scrape through, and then we'll get shat out on penalties by the Italians.

Spain to win and the whole thing to be very boring.

[Davgooner]

Are the Koreans excited Jim?

[Jimmy Floyd]

All over it. I got Lenovo in our office sweepstake.

[Weaver]

Winner: Germany
Finalist: Spain
Semi Finalists: France, England
Top Scorer: Muller
Best Player: Kroos
England Will Reach: Semi finals. We should win the group and then get through the last 16 - Austria will be a toughie but I think we can take them
Surprise Package: Austria. And Ukraine could be a decent outside chance
Worst Team: Albania

[Baz]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b07dpvcl/alan-shearers-euro-96-when-football-came-home

Nostalgia. :cool:

Oh and Venables. :DJust watched this. Felt sad about Gazza but it was a good watch.

Was that Pellegrini I saw pop up a few times on the pitch during pennies?

Should have had a few more players on, like Southgate and maybe Adams. Ince literally offered nothing.

Baddiel and Skinner donned it.

[Lee]

ITV have their own Euro 96 documentary on ITV4 now. Needless to say, being on ITV, it's shit. But I'm lapping it all up to get in the mood for the tournament. 3 days. :cool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's snuck up on me. Maybe less hype this time or maybe I'm just thinking about other things so haven't noticed it. How much Switzerland v Albania do I have to get through? World Cups are much better at having loads of teams because there's way more diversity.

[Lee]

As soon as we'd won the league (remember that, lads?) I started getting up for this. I absolutely love tournament summers.

[Max Power]

I just tell everyone I speak to that *insert team* is a 'dark horse', 'well drilled', 'good organsiation', 'could cause problems on the break'. Got through about five different ones so far I think.

Do fancy Poland to do well though.

England will lose to the first good team they play like every tournament since forever. But luck of the draw might see that be the semis.