MC Prussian Posted 13 October 2015 Posted 13 October 2015 You know what I mean though - there will be some awful games thrown up. 16 teams through to the knockout stage from 24 as well? I mean what is that about. Harder to go out than get out of the groups. I see the expansion as both the need to make more money from a tournament that automatically lasts longer as well as a reflection of the rising standard in (European) football in general. You may be laughing at nations like Iceland, Albania or Hungary. But I see teams that have improved rather drastically in tactics, flair and ability. Also, I do hope with the "awful games" you don't foresee any already with the participation of England?
Guest MattP Posted 13 October 2015 Posted 13 October 2015 Oh England are the worst of the lot, if it wasn't for Vardy this week I wouldn't have bothered watching. I don't think the standard has improved massively, I think tactics have. I think the football is more dull now that it was 20 years back, certainly less adventurous.
Brainy Posted 13 October 2015 Posted 13 October 2015 Over half the people saying our 2/3/4/5-0 wins are only against shit teams are the same people who like to go on and on about how shit we are ourselves. Can't have it both ways. We should be beating them 9/10 times at the very least but Estonia and Lithuania are not in the same category as teams such as San Marino. Slovenia are decent enough and Switzerland started this group as the top seed. I could only keep up with this game last night with the England twitter feed which may be a tad biased but i'm not aware of notable attack Lithuania had? 3-0 away from home in a place I can't imagine being particularly luxurious is a good result. The only so called poor result/performance I can remember in this group was that 1-0 win we scraped in Estonia. Could be worse, we could be in Holland's position? Italy have hardly set the world alight in a group that is similar to ours. Croatia on par with Switzerland, Bulgaria/Norway with Slovenia and Estonia/Lithuania with Azerbaijan. Malta obviously better than San Marino. Scraping one goal victories against Malta (twice!), Azerbaijan and Bulgaria?
Brainy Posted 13 October 2015 Posted 13 October 2015 I really do wonder how we'd have done if you put us in Germany's group, in their place obviously. We were 2nd seed weren't we? So presuming Poland were the 2nd seed in that group would we have got through a group with Germany Ireland and Scotland? Think we would quite comfortably. Not had a problem beating Scotland home or away recently, would probably get past Ireland when it mattered... would depend on how we do against Germany I imagine... on second thoughts Ireland seem to like playing them so maybe not as comfortable as I thought
Dan Posted 13 October 2015 Posted 13 October 2015 I see the expansion as both the need to make more money from a tournament that automatically lasts longer as well as a reflection of the rising standard in (European) football in general. You may be laughing at nations like Iceland, Albania or Hungary. But I see teams that have improved rather drastically in tactics, flair and ability. Also, I do hope with the "awful games" you don't foresee any already with the participation of England? They've done this as a money spinner. There was nothing wrong with 16 teams. 24 teams from 53 is ridiculous. 16 qualifying from that 24 as well is just utterly barmy. It's adding pointless games. Say England play Belgium first game, win it 1-0, we're basically through. It's daft. Turns out Hungary haven't actually yet qualified. Slovakia have, but Turkey can actually jump up 7 points tonight if they win and the Latvia/Kazakhstan game produces the winner that swaps those two (haven't checked who's where) because Turkey only took one point from one of them, somehow, I was wondering why it kept saying that Hungary weren't through. Holland need a miracle. They need to beat Czech Republic and hope Turkey lose to Iceland. I can't see either happening.
Grandad. Posted 13 October 2015 Posted 13 October 2015 Unfortunately I went to Wembley on Friday, £45 for the ticket, no alcohol in the ground and I left after 60 minutes and that was 15 minutes later than I wanted. What surprised me most was the amount of people who also followed suit and left on the hour mark, I was leaving because I was sick of watching that crap but mainly because me and the blokes I went with started sobering up. No lie there must of been over a thousand leaving Wembley when I did, men with their children, really couldn't believe it. Still qualification is over, achieved everything we possibly could, no complaint in that department but the quality of football and the negativity of Hodgson actually makes me sick. I feel bad for moaning I really do, we have won 10 out of 10 qualifying games! But it so uninspiring, players like Barkley, Sterling and The Ox should have the team built around them, they have all featured and done ok over the last two games but there was nothing exciting, these players do wonderful things got their clubs along with others in the national side but for England they are simply boring. Lots of things will happen before June and their will be changes in the squad, but I am really not confident.
CosbehFox Posted 13 October 2015 Posted 13 October 2015 UEFA will get burnt after 2020 for the Euros. I reckon they will have an issue with getting hosts capable of so many stadiums. Looks like Germany will pick it up for 2024 but what happens to trying to get football around the continent?!?
Guest Posted 13 October 2015 Posted 13 October 2015 Personally think it's France's for the taking and have said that since the start. France have been playing friendlies for ever and they are so full of themselves - I don't think they realise that other teams are concentrating on qualifiers and the friendlies against them are just a nuisance. France have some great players but it could easily unravel as they also have too many players who think they are stars. Kasper had a nightmare in the friendly against them this week. Hope he's got his bloopers out of the way for the season now.
Guest Posted 13 October 2015 Posted 13 October 2015 The increased number of games and lack of being knocked out will turn a lot of people off. I think we'll find more teams playing negative football in the group stages looking for draws and a win against the weakest team.
BoyJones Posted 13 October 2015 Posted 13 October 2015 King not in, no point watching Wales. Think I will see Holland get knocked out.
marko Posted 13 October 2015 Posted 13 October 2015 Iceland are top, Turkey 3rd. Turkey have home advantage.
KFS Posted 13 October 2015 Posted 13 October 2015 Really bad head injury in the Wales game, Andorra player having to go to hospital
The Doctor Posted 13 October 2015 Posted 13 October 2015 Oh right who is better Iceland or turkey? Well, Iceland have won that group (or at the very least qualified automatically) so...
Unabomber Posted 13 October 2015 Posted 13 October 2015 Sorry for not being a euro football nerd doctor.
Finnegan Posted 13 October 2015 Posted 13 October 2015 loving that. Andorra brutally murder Williams then Bale in tackles and the Andorra centre back gestures a dive and a yellow card. Brutal.
Finnegan Posted 13 October 2015 Posted 13 October 2015 Brief excitement as the camera follows Tom Lawrence for a solid minute or so warming up with Robson-Kanu injured. Alas Dave Edwards coming on. Boo.
marko Posted 13 October 2015 Posted 13 October 2015 Netherlands 1-0 down. Decent finish by the Czech right back.
Matt Posted 13 October 2015 Posted 13 October 2015 Netherlands 1-0 down, a game they must win to stand any chance of qualifying....they're not qualifying.
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