Football

[Harbornite]

Anyone else think that Spain's away kit looks like someone vomited down it?

Not until you mentioned it, but I see what you mean. Both Spain and Turkey are now 1-0 up.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Yes I agree and we should have beaten both Russia and Slovakia on the balance of play in both games, anyway we've qualified for the knock out stages and that's the main objective.

The balance of play counts for naught, it is the ability to actually put the ball into the opponents net that counts. England, in their group stage, only managed this a total of three times in the three games they played.

The next stage will include far better teams than either Russia and Slovakia who England met in the group stage, neither of which were beaten by England.

 

[richw]

Not until you mentioned it, but I see what you mean. Both Spain and Turkey are now 1-0 up.

Turkey 1-0 up is good for Northern Ireland. If Czech don't win, and turkey don't win by 4 or more goals it will guarantee Northern Ireland are one of the top 4 3rd places.

 

[SS4]

The balance of play counts for naught, it is the ability to actually put the ball into the opponents net that counts. England, in their group stage, only managed this a total of three times in the three games they played.

The next stage will include far better teams than either Russia and Slovakia who England met in the group stage, neither of which were beaten by England.

Neither of whom beat England either and England beat the eventual group winners lest we forget.

Slovakia put a load of men behind the ball and played for 0-0 which would give them a good shot at qualifying through the 3rd place option much like Switzerland did in group A on Sunday. Russia's goal I cannot say the same for, England needed to keep going until the end of the game but didn't.

From now on of course a game cannot end in a draw although of course I wouldn't bet on England when it comes to penalties

 

[Antman]

More poor refereeing in the Spain v Croatia game, never a penalty but how far off the line was the keeper when he saved it? Two wrongs don't make a right.

 

[Cletus]

England are now in the same half of the draw as Germany, France, Italy and Spain.
All because of the ridiculous team selection v Slovakia.

 

[richw]

Northern Ireland are through and will play either France or Wales in the next round.
There is a massive matrix to determine the 3rd place opposition, but the permutations means Northern Ireland can only get France or Wales.

Wales can get either NI, Albania, or Turkey.

 

[RichmondCommu]

England are now in the same half of the draw as Germany, France, Italy and Spain.
All because of the ridiculous team selection v Slovakia.

Italy now play Spain don't they? What a game that will be!

 

[Cletus]

Italy now play Spain don't they? What a game that will be!

Yep, then the winner of that game will probably play Germany.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Northern Ireland are through and will play either France or Wales in the next round.
There is a massive matrix to determine the 3rd place opposition, but the permutations means Northern Ireland can only get France or Wales.

Wales can get either NI, Albania, or Turkey.

Surely some mistake? I thought Turkey were out, and judging by the reaction of their players at the final whistle, they think they're out too.

 

[backontrack]

Surely some mistake? I thought Turkey were out, and judging by the reaction of their players at the final whistle, they think they're out too.

They're in third so have a small chance. The Czech Republic, however, are out.

CROATIA: 7 points (2 wins, 1 draw)
SPAIN: 6 points (2 wins, 1 loss)
TURKEY: 3 points (1 win, 2 losses)
CZECH REPUBLIC: 1 point (2 losses, 1 draw)

 

[RichmondCommu]

Yep, then the winner of that game will probably play Germany.

Interestingly before the tournament started an Italian journalist on Radio 5 Live stated that in his opinion Italy had the worst team for 50 years. I have to say at the moment they look like a decent team to me.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

They're in third so have a small chance. The Czech Republic, however, are out.

CROATIA: 7 points (2 wins, 1 draw)
SPAIN: 6 points (2 wins, 1 loss)
TURKEY: 3 points (1 win, 2 losses)
CZECH REPUBLIC: 1 point (2 losses, 1 draw)

Just an outbreak of realism in the Turkish camp then! They'll need quite a combination of results and scorelines...

Oh and yes, Spain's change strip did look like they'd been wearing it on a night of heavy drinking followed by a dodgy Rogan Josh.
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Interestingly before the tournament started an Italian journalist on Radio 5 Live stated that in his opinion Italy had the worst team for 50 years. I have to say at the moment they look like a decent team to me.

Certainly better than the side that put the planet to sleep whilst winning the 2006 World Cup (Pirlo excepted, of course).

 

[backontrack]

Interestingly before the tournament started an Italian journalist on Radio 5 Live stated that in his opinion Italy had the worst team for 50 years. I have to say at the moment they look like a decent team to me.

Well, no Pirlo, Del Piero, Totti, Maldini, Nesta, Gattuso, Cannavaro, Zambrotta or Toni...but they don't even have newer players like Marchisio and Verrati. Pirlo didn't get picked, and neither did Giovinco, Balotelli or Cerci.

 

[RichmondCommu]

Well, no Pirlo, Del Piero, Totti, Maldini, Nesta, Gattuso, Cannavaro, Zambrotta or Toni...but they don't even have newer players like Marchisio and Verrati. Pirlo didn't get picked, and neither did Giovinco, Balotelli or Cerci.

Well done for listing decent Italian players over the last 20 years. I can't say I'm surprised that Balotelli wasn't picked, he has a talent but is too busy wasting it. And Pirlo wasn't likely to be picked given that he no longer plays his football in Europe.

Italy still seem to have a pretty good team though.
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Certainly better than the side that put the planet to sleep whilst winning the 2006 World Cup (Pirlo excepted, of course).

I concur! I wonder if Wayne Rooney has forgiven his pal for getting him sent off, not to mention the wink at his team mates!

 

[FGW_Lad]

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36587619
Not sure how well known Eamonn is to the forum but he was a wonderful coach and a kind person. I had the pleasure of meeting him once and his knowledge of football was amazing. Without him the likes of Shane Long & Gylfi Sigurdsson would not be the same today. He made the academy the sucess it is today and is a true Reading FC legend. RIP Eamonn

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Croatia look like a good side, definitely capable of getting to the semi-finals at least.

Czech Republic have a player that sounds like a car dealership in Northern Italy...

Milan Skoda!

 

[Antman]

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36587619
Not sure how well known Eamonn is to the forum but he was a wonderful coach and a kind person. I had the pleasure of meeting him once and his knowledge of football was amazing. Without him the likes of Shane Long & Gylfi Sigurdsson would not be the same today. He made the academy the sucess it is today and is a true Reading FC legend. RIP Eamonn

Very sad news RIP.
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England are now in the same half of the draw as Germany, France, Italy and Spain.
All because of the ridiculous team selection v Slovakia.

Why was the team selection against Slovakia ridiculous? We should have won the game comfortably but that's the way it goes sometimes.

 

[richw]

Surely some mistake? I thought Turkey were out, and judging by the reaction of their players at the final whistle, they think they're out too.

They are currently the 4th best 3rd place team. Reality is it's quite a slim chance but still possible for them to progress with 2 groups to go.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Away from France, the fixtures for the coming Football League season came out today. Huddersfield host Brentford on the opening day, a repeat of the final game of last season- one which finished as a rather humbling 0-5 defeat.

 

[Antman]

England v Iceland in the last 16

 

[backontrack]

Italy field a rather weak XI against Ireland.

Sirigu; Barzagli, Bonnuci, Ogbonna; Bernadeschi, Sturaro, Motta, Florenzi, De Sciglio; Zaza, Immobile

Having said that, I'd put Barzagli, Bonnuci and De Sciglio in my Italy best XI right now.

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

Italy field a rather weak XI against Ireland.

Sirigu; Barzagli, Bonnuci, Ogbonna; Bernadeschi, Sturaro, Motta, Florenzi, De Sciglio; Zaza, Immobile

Having said that, I'd put Barzagli, Bonnuci and De Sciglio in my Italy best XI right now.

Looking at that line up has made me hungry...

You sure thats the italian starting line up and not a menu?

 

[backontrack]

Looking at that line up has made me hungry...

You sure thats the italian starting line up and not a menu?

Quite sure. But some brilliantly mellifluous names... De Sciglio (pronounced 'De Shil-yi-o'0, Barzagli '(Bar-zal-yi') and Ogbonna (Ogbonna)...
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England v Iceland in the last 16

I really hope that this commentator is used on that game

http://digg.com/2016/iceland-austria-commentator-audio

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I really hope that this commentator is used on that game

http://digg.com/2016/iceland-austria-commentator-audio

Beats "Arnold Schwarzenegger, Martina Hingis, your boys just took a hell of a beating!!".

 

[DarloRich]

Ireland lead v Italy! Robbie Brady! 5 minutes left to hang on - Scenes Jeff. Scenes!!!!!!

 

[backontrack]

RRROBBIE BRADYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Come on Ireland...

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Ireland lead v Italy! Robbie Brady! 5 minutes left to hang on - Scenes Jeff. Scenes!!!!!!

Now they need to hold on... they've had enough chances in this game to be 3 up though.

 

[DarloRich]

England, Wales, Ireland and Northern Ireland in the last 16.
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Scotland watching on tv

 

[Harbornite]

Well done Ireland! It's good to have three home nations and Ireland still in it. As for the Jocks, I'm not too bothered that they haven't even managed to qualify, it sucks to be them.