I thought we looked very solid against belgium, theyve got some good attacking threats and barely really created a proper chance. I doubt we'll do that well but with the likes of rooney you never know, I still think we have a vastly better team than Ukraine and Sweden so expect us to progres but get knocked out in the quaters.
IMO the euros are destined to become the biggest bore of all time so I am not fussed who wins as many international set themselves up as difficult to beat but have precious little in terms of creativity!! For class and quality I give you Wigan's try just after half-time against Leeds last Friday, running the ball from their own goaline to score under the Leeds in posts in 3/4 phases of play. The passing and speed was breathtaking. Not only was it rugby at its finest, it was sport at its best!!
When we won in '66 we weren't the best team..we were just hard to beat. That can win you cups as well. QFs I think.
Off Topic, but can I ask why you feel the need to repeatedly start threads? Is it an attention thing?
Think you'll find I have only started two in the last few days. Just like to try to get debates going. If we didn't post new threads there would be no debates! This one worked!
But too many threads, dilutes the quality of individual threads as they all get cut short and dropped to another page.
Banksy I'm not sure what your problem is? I have no more threads on the front page than Tom, SFA or SF4L. The mods will soon shout if I overstep the mark. If you don't like the thread don't post simple. If no-one likes it it will soon fall away. The best threads stay on for the longest time.
Crikey, was starting to get all excited about the Euros until I had a look to see what the first day's games will be... Poland vs Greece Russia vs Czech Rep That's gonna be a complete bore-fest then.
Yep some of the group games will be dire I expect. All teams will want to do is play safe to try to qualify!
Ukraine arent awful,and with 30000+ noisy fans they will make the grounds really intimidating places. I really do expect them to qualify,as i expect Poland to qualify from their group also. I agree with you about France having good players,and up until recently they havent looked much of a team,but they beat us at Wembley comfortably enough in an albeit meaningless friendly,and have had some good results lately,so they are rightfully favourites for the group. Sweden are usually difficult to beat (for us anyway),but apart from Ibramhimovich who rarely performs when it matters,they are nothing special,and are probably our best chance of getting a win in the tournament. Our is a very difficult group to predict,and i dont expect any of the teams in the group to reach the semis,but if i had to pick the 2 qualifiers i would go for France and Ukraine.
I think we will get 4 points, lose to France, beat Sweden, draw with Ukraine. This will probably get us 3rd place, maybe 2nd if we are lucky and France win every game.
Too many negatives so far, lets give peace a chance, England have a new manager, new Ideas, may not be pretty, but as long as we get the right results are you still going to moan? Or do you want us to go out in a sh*t or bust first round goal fest?
Ukraine and Sweden are no better than Norway and Belgium, and France have as depleted a squad as we do. Looking at it objectively, we will probably qualify.
But then some very tasty fixtures on the 2nd and 3rd days. Holland v Denmark, Germany v Portugal and Spain v Italy.
Be glad to have qualified. Northern Ireland are still some way off considering how **** we played against the Dutch... England fans need to embrace their national team more. No wonder they do crap every tournament.
Whatever happens, I think Roy should be congratulated for picking who he wanted to pick for the final squad, and not giving in to pressure from certain quarters. However good Rio is, you don't want a bully boy like that in your dressing-room. We're all steamed up about Micah Richards, but does he matter much? What matters is how the squad he's taken react to his coaching and go out against those French barstewards. I'm optimistic - he wears a blazer and a tie.
