Euro 16 gamethread
- Thread starter Schnerres
- Start date
Revisiting England's game/group, I'm not sure they get through. Slovakia is good and Hamsik can be the difference for them. I think that Slovakia and Wales can be the two teams that advance from that group. I'm not sold on Roy having the ability to make the moves to make a difference. Oh hey, you got lucky on a blatant offsidesl. Doesn't really disguise the fact that you couldn't unlock Wales until after the fact.
The pitch seemed to be in utter disarray, but Wales should have adjusted and switched their studs. Ramsey, who I thought actually had a very good game, was slipping all over the place. How are you not making those kinds of adjustments? Regardless, I think that he looked a lot better than the game against Slovakia.
In the end, let's be honest. Wales really doesn't have the guns. I think that you would have liked to see them try to play football, but an open game and England is creating more chances. England had guys that could score on the bench and the two they brought on at half did just that. Wales' lack of a good center forward really hurt them. I think that the turning point was the Ledley injury, to be honest. I thought he brought a lot of emotional leadership and grit in midfield. Regardless, Wales can still advance and they shouldn't lose sight of that just because of this result.
The pitch seemed to be in utter disarray, but Wales should have adjusted and switched their studs. Ramsey, who I thought actually had a very good game, was slipping all over the place. How are you not making those kinds of adjustments? Regardless, I think that he looked a lot better than the game against Slovakia.
In the end, let's be honest. Wales really doesn't have the guns. I think that you would have liked to see them try to play football, but an open game and England is creating more chances. England had guys that could score on the bench and the two they brought on at half did just that. Wales' lack of a good center forward really hurt them. I think that the turning point was the Ledley injury, to be honest. I thought he brought a lot of emotional leadership and grit in midfield. Regardless, Wales can still advance and they shouldn't lose sight of that just because of this result.
Poland could have--should have--won that match. They’re probably happy coming out with a point, but I would be thinking long and hard about a missed opportunity to secure three.
I agree with you about Roy. But four points will almost certainly be enough to advance as one of the four best 3rd place teams, even if England loses to Slovakia.
Vardy was in an offside position but the cross went directly off Ashley Williams to him, so it seems to have been the right call.
I actually haven't been super impressed by any team, Spain dominated but couldn't break through, England have done the same at times, but less impressively, Germany was good vs Ukraine but I thought could/ should have lost that to Poland. France have been ok, but hardly scary. Portugal held by Iceland, Belgium lost already. Italy looked good but they had relatively low expectations.
I think it's pretty wide open.
I think it's pretty wide open.
With so many teams advancing most teams park the bus and hope on a breakaway. Its been pretty meh to awfull (im looking at you Oekraïne)
I think the problem is the new 24 team format, with 4 out of 6 3rd place teams qualifying for the knockout stage, there isn't as much emphasis on needing to win as opposed to avoiding defeat. If they wanted to expand from 16 they should've just gone to 32. (Of course, that would make qualifying a joke, but it would've at least given Netherlands a chance to make it).
Edit: Alternatively, they could've kept it as the top 2 qualify for knockout stage, giving us 12 teams, and then give the 4 teams with the best group record a bye into the quarter finals. This would give teams a double incentive to try to win group games, because firstly they have to finish in the top 2, but secondly they want to try to be one of the top 4 teams overall so they get a bye.
Edit: Alternatively, they could've kept it as the top 2 qualify for knockout stage, giving us 12 teams, and then give the 4 teams with the best group record a bye into the quarter finals. This would give teams a double incentive to try to win group games, because firstly they have to finish in the top 2, but secondly they want to try to be one of the top 4 teams overall so they get a bye.
You probably have a point, but this is CLASSIC Italian "fuckthisshit"ball.
Hell is a never ending Italy-Greece match.
I'm only half-paying attention to the commentators... was there really just a long discussion about wanting "Chiellini to be in charge of my company"?
Is this company the world wide leader in punching the shit out of people when the ref isn't looking?
Is this company the world wide leader in punching the shit out of people when the ref isn't looking?
This would be my prefered option, but byes seem to be anathema to world football.
Off topic, but if the World Cup goes to 40 teams, and they have 10 groups of 4, they will have to have knockout round byes one way or another, since a round of 32 would be a joke. If they have 8 groups of 5 it'll be a nightmare, 40% of teams (teams 1 and 5) playing 4 straight matches in the group stage while 60% of teams (teams 2, 3, 4) taking a turn off.
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This discussion is why I'm loathe to the 24-team 6x4 setup. Just add some "play-in" games and keep a tidy format. It's not rocket science. If they wanted more than 16 teams so badly, just go to 32 and make the classification easier, not the tourney.
I wonder if the reason they didn't go to 32 is because then it would be the same size as the world cup. I wonder if the world cup expands whether the euros would expand to 32? Of course, 16 was the perfect size for the euros but that ship has sailed.
I see it exactly the other way around. With one win, you´re almost in the next round. With not-losing, it doesn´t help much. Even two draws doesn´t help to advance. You need a win. With three points and a +/- of 0 or better, you could be one of the four qualifying third place finishers. But you´re right, the games often start out flat and finish better.
That Italy goal was just so bad defending by Sweden. One of those guys trailing him, No.18 or No.9 had to hack him down (or last being No.4),stop him and collect the yellow card.
Chipped it over Cech for the goal and then shoved his head into it. Modric off since they're in the driver seat.
What the hell is it with Europeans' obsession with flares, and throwing them onto the field?
Someone who did that at a US sporting event would barely see the light of day for the next decade.
Someone who did that at a US sporting event would barely see the light of day for the next decade.
And what is it with European's refusal to stop people bringing flares into stadiums? You'd think that given that somebody tried to blow a bunch of people up at the Stade de France a few months ago, they would have a little more security.
How thoroughly can you really check the bodies of 70,000 people? How handsy are you prepared to get with thousands of drunk angry guys? These are not large objects we're talking about, and are easily hidden. I'm at least somewhat sympathetic to security here. I've snuck a great deal of contraband into Yankee Stadium over the years.
...also, a totally deserved penalty, but very much against the run of play. Crazy 2nd half.
...also, a totally deserved penalty, but very much against the run of play. Crazy 2nd half.
Hope that steward that was near the one that exploded was okay. Morons.
And now Czech ties it up on a pk! wow
And now Czech ties it up on a pk! wow
Well, according to the Euro rules, they're not allowed, but they don't seem to be trying too hard to keep them out.
Wow Czechs pull even on a PK. Gotta call it there. That delay because of the flares seems to have thrown Croatia out of wack
Sure seems like the Croatian team is pretty done with the bullshit of their fans from the post-game comments.
UEFA discipline actions opened for each of their Euro matches so far. They have had tons of actions this qualifying campaign, it's pretty ridiculous.
UEFA discipline actions opened for each of their Euro matches so far. They have had tons of actions this qualifying campaign, it's pretty ridiculous.
From ESPN, it seems there is a group of 'fans' who want to embarrass the Croatian FA and force resignations and they have said they will cause trouble at Croatia matches until this happens.
Yeah, Bilic broke some of it down:
http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/euro2016/west-ham-slaven-bilic-shocked-croatia-fans-flares-euro-2016-czech-republic-a3275001.html
He talks about the regional division and that the North (Split) are upset that they feel all the money and all the players are in Zagreb and are upset that the national team almost always plays in Zagreb.
Eden Hazard, that bastion of consistent effort and leadership at Chelsea, is captaining Belgium?
I'm impressed with the Irish game here, since they went down a goal. When they have to commit forward they're pretty good, nice passing and possession. Though their game in the last third seems to be to get the ball into a threatening spot in the box, create some chaos, and hope for the best (open shot, deflection, penalty).
Lukaku saw Darren Randolph in net and thought he was playing West Ham. He'll probably go scoreless the rest of the tourney.
