June: The Euro 2020-ish Group Stages

[niko_cee]

I've just been doing a little bit of studying of the old wall chart, and am I right in thinking that the top quarter of the draw is absolutely rancid? Wales play whoever comes second in Belgium's group (so someone shite), and then likely the Netherlands versus potentially the third placed team from England's group (although I have no idea how 3rd placed teams are allocated)? SO you could have Wales, Finland, Scotland and Holland in that bracket? Talk about falling on your feet for the Dutch. The Group D 3rd placed team (assuming one qualifies out of that group) seems either destined for that bit of the draw (lol) or to play the winner of Spain's group, which probably isn't going to be Spain. So, all in all, is it even possible for England to come 3rd in the group?

[Jimmy Floyd]

It is possible for England to come third in the group, we just need to get a good hiding off the Czechs and then hope for Scotland to win the other game.

[Magic]

Symptomless.

[Manc]

Russia v Denmark promises much. Is there an outside chance of Denmark sneaking through?

Ukraine v Austria looks a write off.

[Ian]

I suppose if they gave Russia a proper shoeing there are a few teams currently in third who aren't actually very good and could lose their last games and give them a way in.

[Browning]

Denmark can still get second if they and Belgium both win.

[Ian]

Excellent point, I was too busy trying to work out the third place table permutations.

Same goal difference as Russia and only two behind Finland so that's actually pretty doable.

[Waffdon]

GD won’t even matter as if they beat Russia they’ll get the H2H over them. So just a straight up Denmark/Belgium double. Ukraine, Finland and Russia are all gonna draw just to piss me off.

[Browning]

No because the head to head would be Denmark vs Russia Vs Finland. That said I think any Denmark win that isn’t 1-0 coupled with a Finland loss sees them win the H2H. If they win 1-0 I think they still go through on overall goals scored unless Finland lose by 1 and also score.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They'd be good with any win wouldn't they? As a 1-0 would take it to overall GD which they would have.

What will actually happen is Belgium reserves 0-0 Finland.

[Browning]

They wouldn’t necessarily have overall GD. If Finland lose 2-1 then Denmark and Finland can’t be separated at all and I believe it goes to discipline record (lol...). If Finland lost 3-2 Finland would advance on goals scored.

[Waffdon]

They'd be good with any win wouldn't they? As a 1-0 would take it to overall GD which they would have.

What will actually happen is Belgium reserves 0-0 Finland.

Belgium team might end up being better as I presume Hazard, De Bruyne and Witsel will all start the first hour for match fitness.

[Manc]

The Dutch going full strength is a bit odd.

[Waffdon]

Manager said he wants to get familiar with their 433 formation or something. Whoever finishes 3rd in Group D is getting blessed with such an easy bracket.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Now that it's likely to be Germany or France, I really think Southgate will try and lose to the Czechs. Not sure how you go about that without it being obvious, but it would fit his modus operandi from World Cup 18.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Get your money on Kane AGS in the next match.

[Waffdon]

If he makes lots of changes I’d fancy you to skelp them. Your bench was better than the two starting 11’s played so far

[Serj]

Alaba on the left and Arnautovic up top. 'Mon then, let's Gijon this up.

[Adramelch]

Deserved goal for Austria, if only because they showed attacking intent, even though a draw would probably suffice.

[Manc]

Macedonia have turned up.

[Waffdon]

All set up for a dodgy Ukraine equaliser in the 86th minute

[Adramelch]

Nah I think the game probably has goals in it, cause Ukraine will want to attack and their defense can't handle counter attacks really.

[Serj]

Pity about Baumgartner, he'd started really well and was putting a shift in defensively. Let's see if we can adapt to this new setup.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Why was he not brought off ages back? Brazen negligence from Austrian management/doctors.

[Serj]

Yeah, considering what he looked like after the clash I was really surprised they didn't sub him off immediately.

[Waffdon]

Arnautovic

[Serj]

[Serj]

Ukrainian skulls are evidently sturdier than Austrian ones. We're going to run out of players at this rate.

[Waffdon]

Arnautovic is doing his best to keep it 1-0

[Don]

Classic Manc.

[Spikey M]

Chilwell and Mount isolating.

[niko_cee]

Is there any chance Rice and Sterling might have it?

[Shindig]

Good job we brought all those right backs as cover.

[Adramelch]

Ok yeah, if Austria continue like that, this has a shitty late equaliser written all over it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Of all the things that have happened to Europe in the last decade, Clive Tyldesley's pronunciation of 'Wout Weghorst' is by far the worst.

[Spoonsky]

Who goes second with a draw?

[Browning]

Who goes second with a draw?

Ukraine.

[Waffdon]

Ok yeah, if Austria continue like that, this has a shitty late equaliser written all over it.

Arnautovic Is at it 100%

[Adramelch]

Mind you as things stand I think Austria have a really high chance of going through even with an equaliser, and possibly against an easier team than Italy.

[Waffdon]

Well yeah, that’s why the draw was odds on at some point for this game lol

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That dive from the Ukrainian lad hoping for a free kick

[Shindig]

At this rate, I'd love to see an Italy - Holland final.

[Waffdon]

We’re all Belgium. Nice of them to play their best XI for a meaningless game

[Adramelch]

Belgium meets Italy in the quarters.

[Waffdon]

15/1 for Poland, Portugal, Finland and Russia to all avoid defeat. Tenner on that just in case.

Any of them lose or Scotland win by 2 goals and they’re through. Mon the letdown

[Manc]

Why on earth are both ITV & BBC showing the suboptimal games on their main channels. Stop it.

[Baz]

Could do with lots of goals tonight.

[Bernanke]

I'm watching the Dutch broadcast and Van Der Vaart has put on about 25 kilos since he stopped playing.

[Waffdon]

He must be huge then as he was a fat bastard at Spurs

[Shindig]

I've clocked the HiSense advert on his twitter. He's normal, Rafael van der Vaart sized.