As someone said though, it'll be interesting to see what Germany do today as Italy have always been their bogey side so might deliberately draw to then get Switzerland and so avoid the Italians.
Last 8 is an improvement on the World Cup for England. Mind you it could hardly be worse.
I was convinced we were going to finish 3rd in that group. All that pressure with no end product had Slovakian breakaway, goal, 1-0 written all over it.
Last 8 is an improvement on the World Cup for England. Mind you it could hardly be worse.
I was convinced we were going to finish 3rd in that group. All that pressure with no end product had Slovakian breakaway, goal, 1-0 written all over it.
We need to get out of the round of 16 before we talk about the last 8 Len.
Germany should be about 4 up. Scored, hit the post and the bar, one off the line. Northern ireland fortunate to still be in it as if they take a beating here they'll slip further and further down the 'best placed 3rd team' table.
None of these teams know who they will play until every game is completed. But Slovakia do now know that they will be there. They'll be joined by another team later this evening, potentially N Ireland.
Croatia are now guaranteed their place, whether that's in first, second or third. The Czechs can guarantee they will be there with a win against Turkey (and leapfrogging N Ireland in the table). Turkey would need to win by 4 goals to qualify tonight but could qualify 24 hours later. They would reasonably need a 2 or 3 goal win as a minimum.
None of these teams know who they will play until every game is completed. But Slovakia do now know that they will be there. They'll be joined by another team later this evening, potentially N Ireland.
Croatia are now guaranteed their place, whether that's in first, second or third. The Czechs can guarantee they will be there with a win against Turkey (and leapfrogging N Ireland in the table). Turkey would need to win by 4 goals to qualify tonight but could qualify 24 hours later. They would reasonably need a 2 or 3 goal win as a minimum.
Jesus they have made this unnecessarily complicated. They could have just had 4 groups of 6, top 2 go through to the quarter finals. Would have encouraged teams to attack a bit more as you'd need to win some games to finish first or second.
None of these teams know who they will play until every game is completed. But Slovakia do now know that they will be there. They'll be joined by another team later this evening, potentially N Ireland.
Croatia are now guaranteed their place, whether that's in first, second or third. The Czechs can guarantee they will be there with a win against Turkey (and leapfrogging N Ireland in the table). Turkey would need to win by 4 goals to qualify tonight but could qualify 24 hours later. They would reasonably need a 2 or 3 goal win as a minimum.
Jesus they have made this unnecessarily complicated. They could have just had 4 groups of 6, top 2 go through to the quarter finals. Would have encouraged teams to attack a bit more as you'd need to win some games to finish first or second.
None of these teams know who they will play until every game is completed. But Slovakia do now know that they will be there. They'll be joined by another team later this evening, potentially N Ireland.
Croatia are now guaranteed their place, whether that's in first, second or third. The Czechs can guarantee they will be there with a win against Turkey (and leapfrogging N Ireland in the table). Turkey would need to win by 4 goals to qualify tonight but could qualify 24 hours later. They would reasonably need a 2 or 3 goal win as a minimum.
Jesus they have made this unnecessarily complicated. They could have just had 4 groups of 6, top 2 go through to the quarter finals. Would have encouraged teams to attack a bit more as you'd need to win some games to finish first or second.
Would've also made the tournament even longer
There would be more group games to fit in, but the winners would only have to play 1 more game.
Comments
Group F team -> France -> Germany/Italy -> Spain
Exit next round to a flukey martial deflection.
I was convinced we were going to finish 3rd in that group. All that pressure with no end product had Slovakian breakaway, goal, 1-0 written all over it.
Here's what the table looks like:
Slovakia 3 / 1 1 1 / 3 3 / 0 / 4 (qualified)
-
N Ireland 3 / 1 0 2 / 2 2 / 0 / 3
Albania 3 / 1 0 2 / 1 3 / -2 / 3
None of these teams know who they will play until every game is completed. But Slovakia do now know that they will be there. They'll be joined by another team later this evening, potentially N Ireland.
Croatia are now guaranteed their place, whether that's in first, second or third. The Czechs can guarantee they will be there with a win against Turkey (and leapfrogging N Ireland in the table). Turkey would need to win by 4 goals to qualify tonight but could qualify 24 hours later. They would reasonably need a 2 or 3 goal win as a minimum.
I'd probably have taken that before the tournament started.
Now to find two third placed teams worse than us.
Would've also made the tournament even longer
As a punter, more games is good for me anyway.