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Not a whisper of a thread yet, so I'll start the ball rolling and see if this dies on its arse!!
I know there's plenty of football haters on here, but there's also a few who are genuinely interested.
So who's gonna win, do well, surprise or just royally fail!!
Personally I can see the Germans doing very well, and if messrs van Persie and Robben step up, the Dutch will be in with a big shout!!
fancy holland myself, france as dark horses.
england will do well to get out of the group.
I think it's between the Spanish, dutch & Germans.
Not any where near as excited as I usually am about these things, not sure why....
As a cheeky bet I might have Spain and England as a double to not make it out of their groups!!!
not a hater as such, more apathetic really - but I think football seems to be dropping in popularity somewhat.
I think the performance at the world cup - where everyone was questioning our players' motivation what with country v. cash - opened an interesting seam of cynicism in the previously supportive public.
Agree with you there pook. Don't forget the previous Euros where the England team couldn't even be bothered to qualify. I think I'd have had more interest if we had a young, passionate manager who was given free reign to pick his own squad, ideally all under 25. But no. We have the same tired old faces who have failed time and time again at the highest level.
I'll probably watch a few matches but certainly won't be supporting England with the zeal I have previously.
Green Machine 
And anybody that plays France.
Glass half-full scenario for England is that they do a Greece - defensively they're good and they have some pace, so nicking a few 1-0s is not beyond the realms of possibility. Getting out of the group would given them a lot of confidence. Football will be dire though - guaranteed to bore the arse off the nation. OTOH it could be lose draw draw and back home before the postcards.
Optimistically, I think they will make the q/fs.
Germany to win.
Dutch will implode as usual.
England's brave lions will be robbed at some point 😉
We have the same tired old faces who have failed time and time again at the highest level.
❓
are you looking at a different squad sheet to the one that i've seen ? there are only 4 players there that have played in more than one tournament, of those cole has always played well and at least rooney was effective in 2004 but i agree that he's been crap at the world cups.
i think that hodgson has made some strange choices though, only one left footer in the whole midfield doesn't spell ball retention to me especially when you can't see him being a starter. when you need options to keep hold of the ball why limit 2 of your midfielders by always needing to check inside ? still, i do trust hodgson tactically, he's not on the fifa advisory panel for nothing so it must make sense to him.
So the ko is here, dogged by racism already before a match has started!! Anyhow I'm going for both home teams losing tonight just to brighten the already tense atmosphere!!
England squad is the freshest i can remember*, i dont care if we fall on our arses, as long as they look like they give it their best.
today:
Poland 2 - Greece 0
Russia 1 - Czech R 3
*the squad, the racism, the bitchin has been done to death. Grab a beer and enjoy the game.
I think its great we're going in with zero expectation. Its got to be liberating from the players.
Everyone's saying Spain or Germany, but I'm thinking of having a punt on Russia as being a surprise package, and possibly doing a Greece and surprising everyone. They're in an ok group and once you're out of there, its anyone's after that.
I'm really looking forward to watching some quality football. ie: Germany and Spain, and a few other likely candidates
Yup, I watched the panorama doc and have read the papers, there's most definitely going to be some trouble!! Hopefully the players will rise above all that shite and it'll be a good tournament! C'mon engerland!!
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"Not any where near as excited as I usually am about these things, not sure why"
+1 ... but I know why... England are rubbish, just cannot see where the goals will come from.
Russia are my tip for a place in the last four... together with Spain Germany and France.
Fingers crossed England lose every game and no Liverpool players get injured.
Will be cheering for Ireland, as will most scousers.
Would be happy for Spain Holland or Germany to win, don't want France or Italy to win.
I am normally a huge football fan and count down days to major tournaments but I really can't get excited about this one.
And I am disappointed I feel this way.
MF
May I suggest picking a fantasy football team.
It's helped me at least look at the other teams and will add something to watching the games
There was a lot of negativity and pessimism about the world cup in SA before the event, I half expected every travelling fan to be murdered in a car jacking incident. But it was actually a pretty good tournament (apart from England and those very very annoying plastic trumpets).
I am hoping that this one will turn out the same, and if there is any racism it is dealt with appropriately and doesn't spoil the football, I think that Poland and Ukraine know the world is watching and will show that they can deal with any incidents.
Although UEFA and FIFA have always turned a blind eye to the racism in Italian stadia.
will show that they can deal with any incidents.
or just deny that they happened if the Panorama doc was anything to go by.
I'm predicting a Netherlands vs. Germany epic final with Germany edging it.
Will be keeping a sneaky eye on Russia though.
England to play surprisingly well but fail at the QF stage.
We did beat Spain 1 nil and whilst that may have been 80 mins of defending, we certainly have a good shout at getting out the group, although we have not looked good in the warm up games. I'll go for a Spain Italy final with ineista winning the game 1 nil.
No idea at all really. I expect the Germans to be strong (sweeping generalisation based on past performances) although the defeat last week may well have surprised them a bit. Spain no doubt will also be strong. France have had very indifferent tournments recently so not sure they will do partiularly well, but should escape the group. The Dutch, on paper, should have done very well in the past few tournaments but have somehow managed to implode and under achieve. I expect that there will also be a surrise package in the tournament who will surprise everyone and do really well. Unfortunately I do not expect that surprise package to be England. Like others have commented I feel rather pessimistic about England. Probably because we seem to have a rather strange collection of individuals and the last two performances while being wins were very frustrating to watch. Hope we escape the group but wouldn't be surprised if we don't. And I do hope that somehow Roy manages to start fashioning a good England side. He has done very well with a number of clubs he has been at although seemed to come unstuck a little at Liverpool. Who knows what really went on there but it did come across as a bit of an aberration. Maybe he only really works well with less stellar squads - in which case, his England career may not go very well.
I'm not so hopeful about England's chances.
At least tomorrow here in Brazil there is Brazil vs Argentina (a friendly) and everyone is looking forward to the Neymar vs Messi aspect. Neymar is on fire at Santos, and also there will be Santos vs Corinthians in the South American cup too to watch during the Euros.
But hey! Beckham will be at the Olympics for team GB 😀
Germany / Spain / Holland (in That Order) for me. Italy are my dark horse, going very well at the moment.
Todays Predictions
Poland 2-0 Greece
Russia 1-1 Czech Republic
They did something yesterday on 5Live doing the groups according to economies. The green machine qualified 1st in their group, the "group of debt" 😆 as they no doubt will when it comes to football.
Oh and come on England vs Les Cheats.
The Dutch, on paper, should have done very well in the past few tournaments but have somehow managed to implode and under achieve.
If reaching the world cup final is classed as under achieving! 😆
just to alienate dd, i've put a cheeky £10 on France to win the title at 10-1. good value that imho.
i was tempted by a france to win / torres top scorer £10 double - £2200 but decided against it.
Nah, not alienated at all tm. If I was a gambling man I'd probably put a few quid on the cheats too - no point letting emotion affect one's gambling decisions. Tbh, there's no way they'll deliver the sort of delightful fiasco they did in the WC - possibly ever.
no one could be that bad twice
Slightly worried for green machine though after disappointing result in Hungary. Apparently they were played off the park in the first half. But no Olic for Croatia is good news.
if england and france manage a repeat of their world cup form, terrestrial tv will stop showing the football sometime after half five on monday.
Slightly worried for green machine though after disappointing result in Hungary
i wouldn't worry, usually excellent in tournament football
Just had a punt on Russia at to win it at 20-1. Therefore cursing them to lose tonight and not making it out of the group. I'd just like to apologise personally to all Russian football fans
What time's kick off?
I'm going to sit on the fence and say Chermany or the Holland to win.
Podolski or RVP leading scorer
Mario Gotze or RVP player of the tournament.
Is Gotze even gaurenteed a start?
Ireland tough to beat, 14 games undefeated must provide confidence going in. And I think undefeated in 3 against Italy.
Bikingcatastrophe said:
[i]Maybe he only really works well with less stellar squads - in which case, his England career may not go very well.[/i]
Have to disagree, England are far from 'stellar' - Roy could do well with this average lot.
He's been used sparingly since coming back from injury but I feel he'll become un-droppable.
France and England in the final with France to win!
Todays Predictions
Poland 1-0 Greece
Russia 2-1 Czech Republic
with kick off a shade under two hours away, its time to text home and get a couple of largers in the fridge.
Good idea, I was meant to be doing an XC duathlon tomorrow, but with all the rain it'll be a mudfest and it bores the hell out of me grinding around in gloop.
So a few beers and cheering on my dream team players
I've got the "big" Lewandowski of Poland as a striker (30 goals this season for Dortmund) together with Dzagoev of Russia (who's listed as a mid fielder but plays up front, scoring 4 goals in 8 games)...
A couple? I'd go for a couple of crates. Have you seen the weather forecast? More rain, gale force winds and bloody cold. As if you needed any provocation to sit inside, drinking beer and watching - as Charlie Brooker put it - 22 millionaires ruining a lawn
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Predictions
FINAL
France vs. Germany. Germany win.
TODAY
Poland 1 Greece 0
Russia 0 Czech Republic 2
Quite a few predictions of the 1 nil to Poland! Greece look shocking so far!! Is it samras(?) at left mid, must have gone to the same "give the ball away" school as Ashley Young!!!
Van persie at 8's for top scorer, that's gotta be worth a punt!!
Greece are poor at best but the Poles look pretty slick.
The Polish goal was the best of the tournament so far.
The Spanish can play a beautiful game, but their attempt to referee isn't as good.
spanish ref paid to give the poles a headstart?
greece unable to find cash for bribes?
Either way a far cry from the standard 0 - 0 draw to kick off the finals.
Polish team look head and shoulders above, now with the advantage im move confident in the 2 - 0 prediction.
wrightyson - if you dont have anything nice to say about the england squad.....
Jeez, the BBC just can't help themselves. 5 minutes of analysis then right into an England interview. I don't care! I want to know about the teams playing, not Scott Parker.
From a jealous Scot.
1 minute too late to edit my post. rats
What have I said that isn't all that true?? I would dearly love England to win a few games and even the tournament but im being pessimistic as we've been let down badly in the last few tournaments. I "was" a massive fan and unlike others ive been to a fair few England games, but as others above have also said I've just fallen out of love with the team and to be fair football as a whole recently! If this tournament gives me half the enjoyment that euro 96 did when I were a lad then I'll be a happy man!! Just hope Andy Carroll really shines and shoves it up all his critics!!
Scsz!
Miss!
Come on Greece! I ended up with them in the works sweepstake but on the plus side we also have a pot for worst disciplinary record... 😆
Cracking opening game!! Lots more of that please!
Come on Russia!!!!
Go Ro5ey, off to a flyer.
thought the greek comeback was excellent and and i thought 4-1 flattered russia. would still fancy the czechs to go through and improve.
thoroughly enjoyed the opening two games. bit worried about the two 'home town' decisions that got the greek lad sent off. can't see us getting any favours from the ref in the ukraine game. didn't much care for the default jeering from the polish crowd every time greece got the ball either, just got me on the greek's side.
cracking start to the tourney anyhow, looking forward to some great games the morra.
Russia's odds down from 20-1 to 12-1 after the match. If they had they're shooting boots on it'd been 6 or 7. Wenger must be well pissed off with the way Arshavin ups his game at international level. Never plays like that for the arse!
Wenger must be well pissed off with the way Arshavin ups his game at international level. Never plays like that for the arse!
He just never really liked it in England, as plays like that for Zenit also. I don't think he ever recovered from realising he was actually earning less playing for Arsenal, as he was paying 50% income tax, as opposed to 13% in Russia. [url= http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Fans-blast-Arsenal-star-Andrey-Arshavin-after-he-demands-pay-increase-because-of-income-tax-article26469.html ]He even tried to get his wages renegotiated when he found out.[/url]
Thought they were a couple of good games for openers last night and of coarse it help that....
"Go Ro5ey, off to a flyer."
Yep that went as about as well as I could have hoped but had a Polish and Russain defender so a few points dropped... only second in my mini league... 🙁
No great insights today, infact a bit boring... have got Van Persie/Sneijder for the Hollish. Hoping that they get off to a great start like they did in the last world cup.
Schweinsteiger/Ozil for the Germans.... hoping Ronaldo or Nani don't upset me and that the Steiger has gotten over his mightmare in the Champ league final... as a Spurs man I could not believe he, the German captian marvel, of all people missed his pen.... It's only now I can talk about... was just a little upset a few weeks ago.
Anyway should be good, if not very good, games tonight in the Group of Death
Are we talking football or hooligans? I think the Polish might win.
Footy? Spain, France, Germany and maybe inherlund?
Another vote for Russia to win. France look good too.
For those having a little bet- look at the Winner+top scorer market.
Pick a first choice striker for the team you're backing and the odds go a lot bigger. But , IMO, the actual probability wouldn't be that different.
Holland to win is 6-1, but there's 25-1 available if you combine that with VP as top scorer.
Jamie:Dutch will implode as usual.
All going to plan so far.
Anyone watch the holland game?? Missed it due to a high level tenpin match with the kids and oldies! Were Denmark quality or the Dutch rubbish??
denmark were patchy but improved, the dutch were great but couldnt actually score
dutch had 28 shots on target and did not score imagine chelsea v Barca or Bayern to get a feel for it.
Ozil looks like he has escaped from Area 51 , there is even a smiley on STW for him. 😯
Dutch were great up front, especially at the start of the 2nd half but couldn't score. They were rubbish at the back on few attacks the Danes managed.
loving the Ozil smiley 😯
oooh that was close, right decision though, who needs goal line technology.
Dutch had 6 shots on target, out of 29. Very inaccurate.
😯 Ozil 🙂
oooh that was close, right decision though, who needs goal line technology.
Will be interesting to see if the chap just to the side of goals actually does anything if there is a decision that is less obvious than that one. Or even if there is a penalty appeal.
who needs goal line technology.
No-one, what goes around, etc...
Is that why the germans beat the english at penalty shoot outs 😀
IMHO it's the easiest bit of technology to bring in and should be used even video replay would probably work better than what we have. All sports need to move with the times.
Zinedine Kilbane on the TV.
why are people still going on about Rio Ferdinand ffs. He isn't there. A wasted interview, i want to know about people in the squad, how are they doing, are they set and confident for monday, not about what some ex-England player's been tweeting.
h eis way too good looking to be compared to ZZ
DD did you catch the ireland thing on Fivelive last week - was a good listen about the times under Jack
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01jhsbt/5_live_Sport_Jackies_Army/
Haven't listened yet JY. Must do soon.
Yes, KK is still a looker isn't he. I wish he was a few years younger and playing there tomorrow. Legend for the green machine when we went through some tough qualification years. He'd love to be facing Croatia tomorrow. Did you see how Il Trapp went straight to greet him when he saw him. Clearly - affection there.