FOOTBALL: EUROS 2020ish

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

FOOTBALL: EUROS 2020ish

indiana · Tennis legend

JonH comes home wrote:
2 points wont do it, Scotland must win and get to 4, obviously, to get to 3rd place. 4 points should be ok, Id say.

4 points "should" be OK but it's far from certain that it "will" be OK with every group still capable of providng a 3rd on at least 4 points. With Group A's 3rd, Switzerland, on 4 points (-1 GD) and, as I said, Ukraine and Austria potentially nodding and winking to a non agression match for a Group C 3rd on a better GD, 4 points (level GD), I'm next mainly looking at you, Group B, tomorrow.

Belgium and Denmark, please be so kind as to not let both Finland and Russia draw ( both currently on 3 points ) leaving Finland 3rd on H2H on 4 points and level GD. I'd take a Finland unlikely win and Russia draw since that would leave Russia 3rd on a non threatenng to Scotland 4 points (-2 GD). Not that I'm considering every angle much before Scotland even play to try and get their minimum necessary win

indiana · Tennis legend

Of course, England could also be a 3rd place finisher on 4 points behind the Czech Republic and Scotland

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

See Billy Gilmour has tested positive....

indiana · Tennis legend

Coup Droit wrote:
See Billy Gilmour has tested positive....

****

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

England guaranteed into last 16. Cant fail to be in top 4 3rd place teams, its confirmed. If Scotland win, they are also guaranteed.

indiana · Tennis legend

High emotions in Denmark, well done to them. And their story continues vs Wales in Amsterdam.

And with 2 completed groups now with 3rd place only on 3 points the KO participants become clearer.

England's 4 points so far has them guaranteed through along wifh a few ofher 4 point teams. And Scotland know that beat Croatia and they're through. Don't win and they're out.
.

Edit: ie what Jon said with less waffle.

-- Edited by indiana on Monday 21st of June 2021 09:32:25 PM

DF · Tennis legend

Coup Droit wrote:
See Billy Gilmour has tested positive....

which has resulted in two Chelsea teammates playing for England being doubtful for the next game. Part of your plan Indiana?

indiana · Tennis legend

Billy evidently got no mates in the Scotland squad. "No close contacts".

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

And it means 3rd place in England or Scotland group, play Belgium, Netherlands or top of Spain/Sweden group. Field narrows down because Switzerland are guaranteed and if a group D team get through , 3rd in group D have to play one of those teams

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Great shame to see Scotland go out but at least Ginny will get a rest before pre season.

Cant help but feel that it was a missed opportunity, I realise there is a balance between observing COVID restrictions and going totally crackers but when the stakes are this high and there is a more transmissible variant out there it is definitely the time to build a siege mentality within your bubble.

On the plus side what an advert for Scottish football the Euro journey has been, they have their break through player and viewed through Billys eyes the future for the tartan army is positively rosey a vast improvement on the last couple of decades where the future was so bleak it felt like one was seeing it through Garys (Gilmore)

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Almost forgot England through, what a delight to see Saka and Grealish in the same side! The relief for Harry Kane was palpable, two players with the skill set to give him the ball when hes facing the goal. Saka who has to be the firm player this season, magnificent 30 minutes of driving football and some accurate fast manipulation of the ball in the box by Kane and Grealish enough to unpick the Czechs.

One of the most understated aspects of Grealishs game is the care given to his weight of pass it is always perfect making the job of the player coming on to so much easier, great movement by Sterling to be in a position to finish. Regardless of the outcome next Tuesday is going to be a humdinger of a start to the knock out phase, COVID may inadvertently have given us the opportunity to stumble on a combination of players capable of unpicking a decent defence. Whether or not Southgate has enough insight into his own heuristics and make the right call is my biggest doubt, the players capable of locking after the ball are there, he needs to pick them, trust them and focus on rapid forward progression when we get possession from broken play.

indiana · Tennis legend

So in spite of Spain's 5-0 win vs Slovakia, Sweden win Group E to join the England and Wales ( among others' half )

Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Ukraine will be among the 4 best 3rds. Assuming for now, as is very likely, that the Group F 3rd takes the final 3rd place KO spot rather than Finland (3 points, 1 GF, 3 GA), then with just Group F to sort itself out, we are looking at:

Belgium vs 3rd in Group F* (Seville 27/06)
Italy vs Austria (Wembley 26/06)
1st in Group F vs Switzerland* (Bucharest 28/06)
Croatia vs Spain ( Copenhagen 28/06)

Sweden vs Ukraine* (Hampden 29/06)
England vs 2nd in Group F (Wembley 29/06)
Netherlands vs Czech Republic (Budapest 27/06)
Wales vs Denmark (Amsterdam 26/06)

* If it was to be Finland from Group B rather than the Group F 3rd that qualified there would be a bit of switching around if 3rd place teams in these 3 matches.

There appears to be no place reserved for the 4th best 4th position team. Ah well, we got a point more than Turkey and North Macedonia.

indiana · Tennis legend

Interesting very interesting.

Hungary lead Germany and as we stand after 20 minutes it's 1. France, 2. Portugal, 3. Hungary, 4 and out. Germany.

No doubt a few more twists and turns to come ...

indiana · Tennis legend

Now Portugal lead France and after 35 minutes it's ...

1.Portugal, 2.France, 3. Hungary, 4. Germany