Pride_Of_The_Midlands Posted 24 January 2014 Posted 24 January 2014 England will avoid Germany and Spain in Euro 2016 qualifying after being named as one of the top seeds. Italy, Holland, Portugal, Greece, Russia and Bosnia-Hercegovina are the other top seeds in qualifying. The Republic of Ireland are among the second seeds, with Scotland and Wales among the fourth seeds and Northern Ireland among the fifth. There will be eight groups of six and one group of five as teams aim to reach the 24-nation finals in France. The draw will take place in Nice on 23 February. Seedings are decided by Uefa's coefficient system, which is different to Fifa's world ranking. France will also take part in qualifying, the first hosts to do so after a rule change, although no qualifying points will rest on their fixtures. They will play in the finals whatever the outcome of their games. Explaining the rule change, Uefa president Michel Platini said it was brought in because the hosts, who are normally exempt from qualifying, have found it hard in the past to arrange friendlies. He added that France will join the group that includes five teams. Gibraltar, taking part for the first time after being accepted as a Uefa member last year, will be kept apart from neighbours Spain in qualifying to avoid exacerbating political tensions. Azerbaijan and Armenia will also be kept apart for the same reason, but Russia and Georgia, who do not share diplomatic ties following conflict between the two former Soviet republics in 2008, have agreed to play each other if drawn in the same pot. There is also a change to the Euro 2016 fixture schedule, with qualifying matches spread over six days rather than being played on just Fridays and Tuesdays. Uefa secretary general Gianni Infantino said the initiative was good news for fans, broadcasters and national associations. Qualifying pots for Euro 2016 draw: Pot 1: Spain (holders), Germany, Netherlands, Italy, England, Portugal, Greece, Russia, Bosnia-Hercegovina Pot 2 : Ukraine, Croatia, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Belgium, Czech Republic, Hungary, Republic of Ireland Pot 3 : Serbia, Turkey, Slovenia, Israel, Norway, Slovakia, Romania, Austria, Poland Pot 4: Montenegro, Armenia, Scotland, Finland, Latvia, Wales, Bulgaria, Estonia, Belarus Pot 5 : Iceland, Northern Ireland, Albania, Lithuania, Moldova, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Cyprus Pot 6 : Luxembourg, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein, Faroe Islands, Malta, Andorra, San Marino, Gibraltar And people say we are average If only Scotland were in Pot 3 then we could have had all the Home Nations in one group. I hope we get England Czech Republic Serbia Latvia Lithuania Gibraltar Teams that we have never played against or haven't played against for a long time. Top 2 qualify automatically and the 3rd place team goes into the play-offs.
Uncle Albert Posted 24 January 2014 Posted 24 January 2014 I would like: Ireland Turkey Scotland Northern Ireland Gibralter
Dan Posted 24 January 2014 Posted 24 January 2014 England Ireland Turkey Scotland Northern Ireland Gibraltar
AKCJ Posted 24 January 2014 Posted 24 January 2014 And people say we are average We're in the same group as Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Dan Posted 24 January 2014 Posted 24 January 2014 I don't like the thought of being in a group with Belgium at all. If we avoid them we'll qualify in my opinion. Just noticed me and Uncle Albert put the exact same group
Pride_Of_The_Midlands Posted 24 January 2014 Author Posted 24 January 2014 We're in the same group as Bosnia and Herzegovina. We're in the same group as Spain.
Dan Posted 24 January 2014 Posted 24 January 2014 We're in the same group as Spain. Stop clutching at straws. We've dipped.
Pride_Of_The_Midlands Posted 24 January 2014 Author Posted 24 January 2014 Stop clutching at straws. We've dipped. Can't have dipped by much since we're still top seeds.
One Legged Beaver Posted 24 January 2014 Posted 24 January 2014 Can't have dipped by much since we're still top seeds. So are Greece.......
Pride_Of_The_Midlands Posted 24 January 2014 Author Posted 24 January 2014 So are Greece....... So are Germany.....
MC Prussian Posted 24 January 2014 Posted 24 January 2014 And people say we are average On the world stage, you are.
Pride_Of_The_Midlands Posted 24 January 2014 Author Posted 24 January 2014 On the world stage, you are. Usually in the top 10 of the FIFA world rankings out of over 200 countries... Miles above average.
One Legged Beaver Posted 24 January 2014 Posted 24 January 2014 I find it odd how Switzerland and Belgium are seeded for the World Cup but in Pot 2 for this. I'm guessing this is ranked by previous performance in the last 3 or so Euro's as that would explain Greece's inclusion?
Bert Posted 24 January 2014 Posted 24 January 2014 Worst case scenario: England Belgium Romania Montenegro Then pot 5 & 6 are pretty irrelevant on those terms.
MC Prussian Posted 24 January 2014 Posted 24 January 2014 Usually in the top 10 of the FIFA world rankings out of over 200 countries... Miles above average. You know FIFA rankings are phish. Compared to previous England squads, the recent crop is exactly that… average.
Finnegan Posted 24 January 2014 Posted 24 January 2014 I would like: Ireland Turkey Scotland Northern Ireland Gibralter Cos you're scared of Bale.
Uncle Albert Posted 24 January 2014 Posted 24 January 2014 Cos you're scared of Bale. Nooooooo.. Just class Scotland as a bigger game mate, that was the idea of my group. Plus Gareth Bale v Walker, Jagielka and Cahill kind of scares me! Who cares about seedings and what pot we are in, God if you can't get together enough points to finish in the top two then you don't deserve to be going to a major tournament, they're even given you 3rd place a chance in the play-offs, means Wales have a chance. Much rather us have more of a testing group than an easier group.
Uncle Albert Posted 24 January 2014 Posted 24 January 2014 You know FIFA rankings are phish. Compared to previous England squads, the recent crop is exactly that… average. Are you Swiss? That is a serious question as well.
MC Prussian Posted 24 January 2014 Posted 24 January 2014 Are the rumors true that France as the host nation will compete in a group of five during the qualification stages? What the heck is going on here… wouldn't this be giving France an unfair match practice advantage in preparation for the tournament? http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/276667.html And UEFA topping itself by ruling that Spain can't play Gibraltar and Armenia aren't allowed to face Azerbaijan in the same group.
Dan Posted 24 January 2014 Posted 24 January 2014 Worst case scenario: England Belgium Romania Montenegro Then pot 5 & 6 are pretty irrelevant on those terms. I'd rather play Romania than Serbia
One Legged Beaver Posted 24 January 2014 Posted 24 January 2014 Are the rumors true that France as the host nation will compete in a group of five during the qualification stages? What the heck is going on here… wouldn't this be giving France an unfair match practice advantage in preparation for the tournament? http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/276667.html From what I understand from what has been posted in that story and the OP France will be in the group but there will be no qualification points up for grabs in their matches so they effectively just have 10 friendlies.
Dan Posted 24 January 2014 Posted 24 January 2014 Are the rumors true that France as the host nation will compete in a group of five during the qualification stages? What the heck is going on here… wouldn't this be giving France an unfair match practice advantage in preparation for the tournament? http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/276667.html And UEFA topping itself by ruling that Spain can't play Gibraltar and Armenia aren't allowed to face Azerbaijan in the same group. I've heard that. I don't actually think it's that bad an idea in a way but you could argue it does benefit them a bit.
Super_horns Posted 24 January 2014 Posted 24 January 2014 Only the really bad teams are going to miss out on potentially qualifying with 24 sides having the chance to go through! Read games are going to be played throughout International week rather than just on one night...
Chilwell_Fox Posted 24 January 2014 Posted 24 January 2014 England Hungary Poland (for the atmosphere) Scotland (atmosphere) Cyprus (day at the seaside) Gibraltar (day at the seaside)
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