England play runners up in Group F Spain's misfortune is their own doing. They could have won the group. 4 group winners play 3rd place teams, 2 play runners up and the other four runners up play each other
It is. 16 of 24 teams surviving the group stages - some who possibly may not have won a match- is crazy. It means we have 2 weeks of matches to eliminate one third of the teams, making the competition bloated.
There's heavy duty partying in Port Rush and Ahoghill tonight. Round of 16 is fabulous. Well done boys!
Great response by Croatia to that howler against the Czechs - and considering they didn't have Modric, Mandzukic or Brozovic were on the pitch, it was even more impressive. Pjaca certainly impressed me as he was a handful all match, while Badelj's performance underlines why I was eagerly hopping up and down in the transfer thread this week when we were strongly linked with him. Spain certainly started getting arsey in the match, though: Morata was involved in a few spats prior to his getting subbed, Iniesta's dive was so painfully obvious I cannot understand how any qualified referee would have given it, and the choice of Sergio Ramos taking the penalty seemed to be them taking the piss - only for it to justifiably backfire. In other news...
They lost 2 games an still qualified. It's like letting the fat kid win an event at school sports day just cus he always comes last
Considering they played Germany, Poland and Ukraine and won one and only lost the others by a single goal, I think that is one hell of an achievement. Shudder to think how we would have done in the same group.
Anyone know how they decide which 3rd place team the group winners play? All the fixtures have 3 possible groups
There's a theory doing the rounds that the reason why Srna was whispering in Subasic's ear before the penalty is because Modric was on the sidelines telling his teammates how Ramos takes his penalties.
Browsing a few of the comments, it appears that the reporter was from their equivalent of The Sun's TV channel. Ronaldo always refuses to talk to them and they've run a load of gossip stories about his private life. Can't say that I blame him on this occasion, even if his pillocky tendencies are plain to see.
Wales play 3rd in Group A, C or D So (I think) if Group A 3rd place qualifies, they play them. If not they play C, then D. Croatia play 3rd in Group B, E or F France C,D,E Germany A,B,F The order of preference is decided by the order of fixtures (which the order above) - so if Wales do play Group A 3rd (Albania), those opponents are not available to Germany. This will probably be totally wrong - but it's the only method which makes sense and explains why their are three possible opponents (given that two of the six 3rd place teams will be eliminated).
I don't speak Portugese - it's not as similar to Spanish as many people think. But from what you've said, I suspect his question wasn't an enquiry about Ronaldo's wellbeing...
You could be right, which means there is a fair chance of Wales v N Ireland. Albania are last of the 3rd places so they need both tonight's games to go their way.
