Not sure I agree. We got 10 points from our last 5 games (16 from our last 8). I'm been a Newcastle fan long enough to know that not's us in meltdown at all. You got 6th because after gradually moving into a stronger position in the table you finished in great form and deservedly got 6th. Our points-per-game didn't go down (I think they actually went up) but you just did better.
As a glance we certainly look to have had the luck of the draw in the tournament now. It is worth remembering though that the team we play on Sunday beat Belgium and there's a reason why some of those "big" teams like France and Belgium are facing each other because they finished behind Austria and Romania who have looked like better teams and are on our side of the draw. I say this so that if/when we meet Switzerland/Austria/Romania later in the competition we don't get all the guff about how we should roll them over. Heaven forfend we actually go out to them because they're good teams.
As with last time he’s been gifted an easier route than anyone could have dreamed for. The only question is when the opportunity is wasted again* *it’s coming home
Agree ... they've all been good and the Slovaks are no mugs either ... in fact the so called 'lesser lights' have been great to watch ... no real exaggeration to say that the most disappointing teams so far have been Scotland, England ... and France ...
... and Belgium, and Italy, and Holland. Of all the fancied teams only Spain haven't faltered or looked shakey at times. Germany and Portugal been mostly pretty good but dropped off in their final games. Thankfully all three of them are in the other side.
I meant in general. The group stage in the current format is rubbish. 3rd should mean elimination. You think England will lose to Slovakia?
There arent enough teams in the groups for just top 2 to go through. I guess they could let more teams qualify for the tournament and add another 2 groups if they wanted.
Go back to 16 teams. 4 groups of 4, better quality teams and more jeopardy. They will probably go the other way and increase it to 32 though.
Footage released on the VAR decision to disallow Netherlands goal https://x.com/TimBolton1981/status/1805628111175741498
Funny old game Saint ... our catastrophic defenders, Jannik Vestergaard and Wout Faes, both getting MOTM accolades in their countries final group games at the Euros as they proceedto the knock-outs... indeed big Jan has played very well in all of Denmark's games ... Hopefully both carry the form through although we still need strengthening throughout the squad ... Stevie Cooper's Blue and White army!!!
