The EURO 2016 Thread

[4BetLite]

It's nearly upon us. I think we have the best squad we've had for a long time.

We should walk through the group.

Could anyone do a Leicester? I like the look of Croatia, Austria and Wales have one of the best players in the tourney.

Will be fun talent spotting for the Villa revolution too.

Come on ENGLAND!

[thegaffer6]

Can't look past the French IMO, despite the injuries/suspensions in defence. Personally though I stand to win 80 quid in a mates sweepstake if Spain, Ukraine or Northern Ireland win so I have a vested interest!

[Guest]

Agree the French look like favs to me. If they cope with the pressure of playing in their own tournament, they are hard to look past.

Belgium have an outstanding squad, and surely are at least last 4 material?
I have a feeling Spain will flunk this time around, not sure they have anywhere near the quality of player coming through they had previously. That said, looking at the groups, they could have a pretty straight forward passage into the semi finals.
They say never right off the Germans, and they are certain group qualifiers, but I think there is a real chance of them meeting Belgium in the quarters, and I think the Belgians will beat them. Could be a France v Belgium semi final.

Despite this being a fairly exciting England squad, full of potential, I just can't see us progressing past the quarters, where either Italy or Portugal will beat us. We can't win a tournament with Hodgson in charge. Once we get into the latter stages, where bravery and ambition are required to beat teams, we are screwed. Hodgson is bound to revert to type and go with the pedestrian Rooney, Henderson, Milner.
The best performance England have given in recent memory (against Germany) didn't include Rooney. This is no coincidence in my opinion.
Since that game the buffoon that his Roy Hodgson hasn't a) picked the same team and b) played the same system in any of the subsequent games.
The performance last week against Portugal (in a final warm up game understandably), was a stark reminder of how cumbersome and ineffective England are, 99% of the time.

[Guest]

Poland will win it.

[Trotters]

International games have pissed me right off today. I had an accumulator that would have fetched me $4840 if only Brazil had beaten Ecuador. Fucking useless bastards!

Anyway, the Euros....England seem to have a good side but Woy looked like he didn't know what he was about against Portugal so I predict the usual disappointing early exit.

But I know little of the other teams so can't say who'll win.

Anyone care to try and predict the top 4?

[4BetLite]

I think we go through the group no danger, we can beat Russia, Slovakia and Bale IMO

As said above France will be close, Germans always turn up and Belgium have got a lot of talent in their squad.

[Aston Phila]

Turkey, Croatia and Poland have an outside chance of winning it. But realistically i think it's out of France, Germany and Spain

[KMitch]

Looking forward to a tournament with lots of good footy and no real commitment to support any one team. Should be a good month.

[Wriggle]

Should be fun and my last 4 are France, Germany, England and Belgium

[De Kuip]

England win for me. I just have a feeling it's our time. I think France are great but will freeze when it counts, Belgium to be the underperformers,  Italy are Dad's army, Spain not their usual selves of late and I think if we press high we can beat Germany.
Just surprised that Australia didn't qualify cos I watched eurovision a few weeks ago and they were definitely there then......

[Jae1411]

I've had a little each way bet on Italy. I think France will win it though and have put my money on a Giroud golden boot. No one team really sticks out and it's anyone's tournament but France do well on home soil historically.

[The Utterer]

Hmmn having watched that France Romania game i'm gonna have a flutter on France i think... They have Payet for one and home advantage plus 90% of the decisions went their way which in my experience usually only indicates one thing.

[Guest]

Keep reading England fans being attacked in Marseille (on Twitter). Seriously hope you beat the shit outta alle those isis sympthatizing cheese eating surrender twats. Wish I was there

[Cha Ching]

Hmmn having watched that France Romania game i'm gonna have a flutter on France i think... They have Payet for one and home advantage plus 90% of the decisions went their way which in my experience usually only indicates one thing.

Amavi must be looking at that thinking if grandpa Evra is his competition then he's a shoe in once half fit next season

[Guest]

Get in Wales!

[Con]

I am supporting Wales as much as England.

they say Gary Speed was about to blow the whistle on sexual abuse in football in his autobiography he was writing before he died... some say killed. who knows what is true but his death didn't really make sense to me.

Chris Coleman made a brilliant double substitution which won the game for the Welsh today. Speed would have been proud of the lads.

Don't think they can go on to win it though. Not without Divine Intervention. Lack a bit of control in midfield and all you need to do to beat them is stop the out-ball to Bale. (and not give away any free kicks near the penalty box!).

[Guest]

thought this was class

[gdav]

I really don't see the point of raheem sterling??
Substitutions cost England. never looked the same after Roony came off.

[Con]

let me guess... everyone else was screaming at their TV for Hodgson to replace Sterling with Vardy?

where is the pace on the counter-attack in a front three of Lallana-Kane-Milner?

Why play like that for the most important 10 minutes of the match (the last 10)?

Utter joke.

We needed the threat of pace to keep them back. We could have gone to 442 if we wanted to bring Milner into the midfield.

what the heck was he doing playing LWF? how is that a defensive substition?

[smetro]

How did Kane get 90 minutes ...he was like gestede !!

[Con]

Kane had two rugged defenders over him all evening. and didn't get any supply from Sterling.

I just can't believe that Milner was a) not brought on into a midfield position where his defensive attributes would have been of value b) was brought on instead of Vardy to replace Sterling leaving us with no pace on the counter-attack

can we get Hodgson sectioned before the game against Slovakia?

the manager is our worst player.

[avfc85]

Hodgson is an old buffoon, time to get shut - we have quite an exciting England team but he shouldn't be anywhere near the job - dinosaur that needs putting out for pasture.

[Guest]

I never understood why you used Kane over Vardy in the first place. Every attack you had came by playing behind the high russian backline or wipping in flat box crosses. Vardy would have been better suited.

And don't get me started on using a 6'4 striker to take corners. The same 6'4 man that's excellent at getting the ball in the net. Makes no sense.

Rooney did alright though I thought

[Con]

Kane is a good poacher and is better in the air than Vardy but I agree Vardy should have been on.

Kane's height is 1.88m which is 6'2 but yes I agree that perhaps he should not take all corners. he's a good crosser so let him take inswingers but on the other side, when it will be an outswinger he will be wasted taking the corner. but Hodgson obviously does not make distinctions as subtle as this.

I think CM is Rooney's best position for England. Cannot play striker. His only problem is over-skilling a bit which is dangerous but he will get used to playing it safer as he plays it more.

[Guest]

How is 188 6'2? An inch is 2,54. You could argue he is 6'3, but he definately isn't 6'2.

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