- Jul 12, 2012
- 8,975
- 591
- 19,080
Probably the biggest flaw with this 24 team tournament is that the clubs in latter groups will know exactly what they need to do in order to qualify as a best 3rd place team. It's a big advantage when teams know they may just need a point to go through, or even just avoid a heavy beating.
- Jun 22, 2009
- 4,991
- 1
- 0
I'm so glad I switched over from England to witness the greatest result in Welsh footy history. Lovely to see, and a totally deserved result. The Russians played like men who had been sent to the gulags.
- Jul 16, 2011
- 1,561
- 10
- 10,510
- Mar 7, 2009
- 790
- 147
- 10,180
England could have played until tomorrow and not scored. Maybe I'm getting old but it looked like an exhibition match and they were trying to score a perfect goal, or some kind of PlayStation facsimile. Sometimes you've just got to be the kid in the park with jumpers for goalposts and go route one. I may have just become Ron Manager
- Jun 9, 2014
- 3,967
- 1,836
- 16,680
Slovakia knowing that 4 points and 0 goal differential would most likely put them into the knockout stages as one of the best 3rd place finishers did not help matters. I think this final group stage game would've been a whole lot more interesting if only the top 2 survived.
- Jul 12, 2012
- 8,975
- 591
- 19,080
England were poor tonight, of course not helped by a defensive Slovakian side who knew a point would be enough to qualify as a best 3rd place team. Fair play to them, they did what they had to do. The positive for England is that once they get to the knockout stage they may actually be better off as sides actually have to win the game to go through and not just play for a point as Russia, Wales and Slovakia have all done.
- Mar 25, 2013
- 5,389
- 0
- 0
Re:
England could face Portugal. I wouldn't fancy England against them. I still think we will see the best of Portugal before the tournament finishes.
I must say Joe Allen has been excellent for Wales in the tournament. I could see him play a big part under Klopp next season. He has improved a lot since Klopp took over.
sniper said:
England could face Portugal. I wouldn't fancy England against them. I still think we will see the best of Portugal before the tournament finishes.
I must say Joe Allen has been excellent for Wales in the tournament. I could see him play a big part under Klopp next season. He has improved a lot since Klopp took over.
- Jul 16, 2011
- 1,561
- 10
- 10,510
Re: Re:
I agree, some of Allen's passes yesterday were really telling.
A lot of things played into the hands of Wales yesterday. Firstly, Russia had to win and so could not sit back. The Russian defence was highly unorganised and Allen, Ramsey and Bale made very good use of the incredible amount of space they had. After Wales took an early lead, the Russians had to press even more and clearly Wales' skill set means that they love to counter-attack. As the game went on, the Russians became more desperate and it was almost inevitable that Bale would score. After that, it was "game over, insert coin".
gooner said:
I agree, some of Allen's passes yesterday were really telling.
A lot of things played into the hands of Wales yesterday. Firstly, Russia had to win and so could not sit back. The Russian defence was highly unorganised and Allen, Ramsey and Bale made very good use of the incredible amount of space they had. After Wales took an early lead, the Russians had to press even more and clearly Wales' skill set means that they love to counter-attack. As the game went on, the Russians became more desperate and it was almost inevitable that Bale would score. After that, it was "game over, insert coin".
Armchair Cyclist
Moderator
- Mar 22, 2010
- 15,164
- 11,158
- 28,180
Re: Re:
England-Portugal is very unlikely: only if both Hungary-Portugal and Iceland-Austria are draws, and Portugal have a higher-scoring match, and (if it is higher scoring by one goal per team) Portugal retain a better yellow card record than Iceland.
England are far more likely to be against Hungary, Austria or Iceland: had they won Czech Republic or Croatia would be more likely opponents. Those slothful strikers might have done them a favour.
gooner said:
England-Portugal is very unlikely: only if both Hungary-Portugal and Iceland-Austria are draws, and Portugal have a higher-scoring match, and (if it is higher scoring by one goal per team) Portugal retain a better yellow card record than Iceland.
England are far more likely to be against Hungary, Austria or Iceland: had they won Czech Republic or Croatia would be more likely opponents. Those slothful strikers might have done them a favour.
Re: Re:
even one scene yesterday where he should've been yellow-carded for a pretty harsh foul, but play just continued and not even a foul was given. A Russian player took revenche on Allen by shouldering him, and was yellow-carded.
Nobody protested.
It was symbolic for an incredibly tame Russian evening.
Again, it was suspect, imo.
very aggressive.gooner said:
even one scene yesterday where he should've been yellow-carded for a pretty harsh foul, but play just continued and not even a foul was given. A Russian player took revenche on Allen by shouldering him, and was yellow-carded.
Nobody protested.
It was symbolic for an incredibly tame Russian evening.
Again, it was suspect, imo.
- Feb 20, 2012
- 53,833
- 44,176
- 28,180
A guy on Dutch television had a way better idea for the group stages. Start with 3 team groups, winner of the groups go into round 16, numbers 2 and 3 play each other in the round of 32.
Groups play like this
Match 1: A vs B
Match 2: C vs the loser of match 1. (in case of a draw in match one, penalties decide who plays the last match)
Match 3: C vs the winner of match 1.
This way, there's less matches in the group stages, and there's always something to play for. Also, there's no need to play group matches simultaneously.
Also, the Russions weren't just bad, they didn't give crap anymore. It was even suggested that UEFA told the Russian team that even though they weren't thrown out of the tournment after the antics of their hooligans, they were told to play the group stages and gtfo
Groups play like this
Match 1: A vs B
Match 2: C vs the loser of match 1. (in case of a draw in match one, penalties decide who plays the last match)
Match 3: C vs the winner of match 1.
This way, there's less matches in the group stages, and there's always something to play for. Also, there's no need to play group matches simultaneously.
Also, the Russions weren't just bad, they didn't give crap anymore. It was even suggested that UEFA told the Russian team that even though they weren't thrown out of the tournment after the antics of their hooligans, they were told to play the group stages and gtfo
- Jul 12, 2012
- 8,975
- 591
- 19,080
I wouldn't mind facing Portugal in the next round, at least they will have a go which will suit England who are good on the counter-attack with players like Vardy, Alli and Sturridge.
- Jul 16, 2011
- 1,561
- 10
- 10,510
Re: Re:
Allen was lucky there. I remember the slow motion replay of that incident, which only started just before Allen was fauled, but definitely both he and the Russian were lining up for a fight and both of them should have been booked (particularly if Allen had fouled beforehand - I didn't see that clearly).
In terms of Russia being passive, that incident is rather ambiguous, since firstly the Russian showed clear aggression to Allen, but then the team did not protest about the booking. I was wondering whether there was some language barrier with the referee. The Russians could throw lots of "k" words at him, he would know generally that they were angry, but might not know the exact reason.
I looked up a profile of the referee, Jonas Eriksson, a Swedish ex-businessman. He is a very interesting character. He was a child prodigy and made a fortunę, before selling his business and dedicating his life to his hobby, football.
He has a reputation of "letting the game flow" and there are a few controversies regarding not giving penalties (but what referees are not affected by some "controversy").
Obviously, as a Swedish ex-businessman who is an international referee he speaks excellent English. Also, looking at his career, quite a large proportion of the international games he has refereed have involved either Slavic or Baltic states. It seems reasonable to infer that he thus speaks reasonable Russian (although I have no confirmation of this).
http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/3396...laid-back-millionaire-euro-2012-referee-jonas
He also refereed one of the Ireland-Poland games in the qualifying stages. He had officiated Poland games before, but this was the first time that they managed to score a goal under his officiation (link in Polish)
http://www.przegladsportowy.pl/pilka-nozna/reprezentacja-polski,sedzia-jonas-eriksson-to-milioner-pechowy-dla-polakow,artykul,554777,1,291.html
Poland go through and are not playing Wales. All is well with the world
sniper said:
Allen was lucky there. I remember the slow motion replay of that incident, which only started just before Allen was fauled, but definitely both he and the Russian were lining up for a fight and both of them should have been booked (particularly if Allen had fouled beforehand - I didn't see that clearly).
In terms of Russia being passive, that incident is rather ambiguous, since firstly the Russian showed clear aggression to Allen, but then the team did not protest about the booking. I was wondering whether there was some language barrier with the referee. The Russians could throw lots of "k" words at him, he would know generally that they were angry, but might not know the exact reason.
I looked up a profile of the referee, Jonas Eriksson, a Swedish ex-businessman. He is a very interesting character. He was a child prodigy and made a fortunę, before selling his business and dedicating his life to his hobby, football.
He has a reputation of "letting the game flow" and there are a few controversies regarding not giving penalties (but what referees are not affected by some "controversy").
Obviously, as a Swedish ex-businessman who is an international referee he speaks excellent English. Also, looking at his career, quite a large proportion of the international games he has refereed have involved either Slavic or Baltic states. It seems reasonable to infer that he thus speaks reasonable Russian (although I have no confirmation of this).
http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/3396...laid-back-millionaire-euro-2012-referee-jonas
He also refereed one of the Ireland-Poland games in the qualifying stages. He had officiated Poland games before, but this was the first time that they managed to score a goal under his officiation (link in Polish)
http://www.przegladsportowy.pl/pilka-nozna/reprezentacja-polski,sedzia-jonas-eriksson-to-milioner-pechowy-dla-polakow,artykul,554777,1,291.html
Poland go through and are not playing Wales. All is well with the world
- Apr 15, 2014
- 4,254
- 2,341
- 18,680
Re:
Also match of the tournament. Finally two teams wanting to play football. Cannot believe a non-team like N-Ireland will go through.ebandit said:
Not sure if I prefer Italy vs Croatia or Italy vs Spain. Croatia in better form but when Spain turn it on they turn it on, and they've tended to be Italy's bogey team of late. However, Juanfran and Jordi Alba go very far forward which may allow Candreva and Florenzi in.
I'm annoyed that Belgium almost certainly get the easy side of the draw but Italy, who beat them and topped their group, get the hard side. But that's life. I'm gonna miss Italy vs Spain though, which is really annoying.
I'm annoyed that Belgium almost certainly get the easy side of the draw but Italy, who beat them and topped their group, get the hard side. But that's life. I'm gonna miss Italy vs Spain though, which is really annoying.
- Oct 5, 2010
- 4,282
- 327
- 16,180
I love Perisic. He's been doing this stuff all season long at Inter. A truly fine modern winger without any notable flaws.
Iniesta didn't get up to the level of his previous games, but Fabregas and Silva ran the show the first half. Ramos, Pique and De Gea didn't look their best and made many errors, and when they brought Nolito off they lost so much of the good movement he brings when the defense is really deep. No one was making runs except for Jordi Alba.
I expect a tight contest between Spain and Italy. Italy will play without possession and play on the counter attack. Bonucci will be expected to ping and deliver balls through the lines effectively, and if Ramos and Pique are caught out of position too much it could be costly. Pellé can hold the ball off and lay it off the quick wingbacks and midfield runs and they have the quality to put it past De Gea if he's going to be playing this poorly.
Iniesta didn't get up to the level of his previous games, but Fabregas and Silva ran the show the first half. Ramos, Pique and De Gea didn't look their best and made many errors, and when they brought Nolito off they lost so much of the good movement he brings when the defense is really deep. No one was making runs except for Jordi Alba.
I expect a tight contest between Spain and Italy. Italy will play without possession and play on the counter attack. Bonucci will be expected to ping and deliver balls through the lines effectively, and if Ramos and Pique are caught out of position too much it could be costly. Pellé can hold the ball off and lay it off the quick wingbacks and midfield runs and they have the quality to put it past De Gea if he's going to be playing this poorly.
TRENDING THREADS
-
World Championship 2025: Men’s RR, September 28- Started by Berniece
- Replies: 2K
-
Il Lombardia 2025, monument, October 11- Started by Krzysztof_O
- Replies: 792
-
European Championship 2025: Men’s RR, October 5- Started by Berniece
- Replies: 854
-
Teams & Riders The Remco Evenepoel is the next Eddy Merckx thread- Started by DNP-Old
- Replies: 35K
-
Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread- Started by Lequack
- Replies: 40K
-
World Championship 2025: Men’s ITT, September 21- Started by Berniece
- Replies: 942
-
Teams & Riders The Great Big Cycling Transfers, Extensions, and Rumours Thread- Started by RedheadDane
- Replies: 13K
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram