What makes you think they are so poor? Not saying you're wrong but I just read they are unbeaten in their last 10 games. Maybe they haven't had many tough opponents and I'm not sure whose in their group but maybe they'll spring a surprise or two. NI often seem to be more than a sum of their parts
They have Germany, Ukraine and Poland in their group. So Gotze/Muller/Gomez, Konoplyanka/Yarmalenko and Lewandowski/Milik against a bunch of Championship/SPL/League 1 players. I'm sure they'll have a ball.
In that case they'll probably try to park the bus against all 3 opponents and hope to catch them on the break or from a dead ball situation. I suspect they'll lose to the Germans but they might fancy sneaking something against the other two and they will relish the underdog status.
I suspect that won't work, all three teams in that group are technically better and more organised. NI I fear will be like Tahiti at the Confederations Cup a few years ago. It'll be great for their fans, but they couldn't have asked for a worse group.
Bit harsh and granted its a difficult group. However, there were many more technically superior teams to Greece in 2004 and we know how that ended (Not suggesting for 1 minute that NI will win the tournament ) If they score first and their opponents get frustrated who knows?
Germany I think will put 3 or 4 past them. Poland will be interesting as they're a bit inconsistent. Ukraine are pretty experienced and I doubt will struggle to contain the threat that Steven Davis brings. Like you say, you never know, but I could have a pretty good guess at what will happen. It'll be great if I'm proven wrong though.
The class NI player by a mile is Steven Davis - he always looks head and shoulders above the rest when I watch them. Seriously underrated player. Jonny Evans and Norwood are usually the best of the rest. With a better draw* I'd have fancied their chances of getting through, but I don't see it in that group. (*I'm looking at you, Iceland. To be in pot 4 and draw Portugal, Austria and Hungary is an absolute lottery win.)
It's probably great tbf, as long as you don't take SM too seriously. You'll likely see a lot of good football and plenty of goals. On N.Ireland, I think they're gonna finish 3rd in their group, and possibly could go through as one of the best 3rd place teams. There's a great chance that all 4 of the UK/Ireland teams get through now they have the best 3rd place team rule.
I shouldn't laugh, the Faroes got beat 2-0 by Kosovo in their first ever official international. I really can't see NI finishing anywhere but last given the quality in the other two teams, but if they can nick a couple of points against Ukraine and Germany they might just do it. I'd love England to draw Ireland in the second round (if that's possible).
It is possible to draw them should England win their group and Ireland come third and get through I believe.
http://euro2016.eurosport.co.uk/ http://europredictor.uefa.com/bracket/newprediction For anyone who wants to have a go at predicting the tourney.
Thinking about taking one of these offers whereby you put ten pound on a team to win the Euros and get 3 pound back in free bets for every game they win, just trying to figure out who is likely to win 2 or 3 games, can see us drawing v Russia for starters, possibly against Wales too and then maybe scraping to the quarters then drawing so betting on us doesnt appeal
England team hotel, a little odd they've picked somewhere right in the centre of a town... please log in to view this image
Sky Bet, am still mulling it over. Is it better to go for the winner you fancy or try and figure out teams that could have a lot of wins and get recompense with the free bets, not sure,
Things have just got worse for Northern Ireland, Kyle Lafferty has just limped out of training with a groin injury.
