2024 Euros in Germany

[Charger]

4 matches today!

Netherlands - Austria

Austria played very well against Poland and Netherlands did pretty good keeping France out of scoring so this could be an intersting match...but I do believe NEtherlands should win here...tie might not be enough for second place.

France - Poland

Poland is out so they're only playing to save face I suppose...but against France...don't think they have a chance...especially since France will go with the A-team here


England - Slovenia

The most interesting match of the day. England has truly struggled so far and have done what can only be described as the bare minimum. They need to step up...and this is the time to do so! I believe they will win here...

Denmark - Serbia

Denmark can settle for a tie here as long as England wins...So I'm assuming they'll play it safe and freeze the game...Serbs need a win so they'll try to push...but I doubt it'll be enough.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

My take:

Netherlands vs Austria

An interesting game as both can still qualify for the next stage (the Dutch may already have done so!). The Netherlands should be too strong for Austria but a draw might be enough for Austria. So a Dutch win but with a possible draw!

France vs Poland

Mathematically Poland could still go through, but it would mean a win and by a few goals! That's not going to happen. France may already be through but they need to put a good performance in to settle their own nerves.

England vs Slovenia

Apparently England are already though... but they need a good performance even more so than the French! If the real England show up this will be an easy win for them, if it's the same as last time then a draw beckons!

Denmark vs Serbia

Serbia can still qualify with a win, but I think Denmark can't rely on a win by England so I think they'll want to win this, it may be a good game.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

I'm out for the next few hours so at best I'll see the 2nd half of the England game!

[Charger]

I also missed the first half of England's match, but by the looks of it I didn't miss much... 0-0 as is the other match....

England better amp up their game for the second half!

[Charger]

There's only one word that can describe England's game right now and that is SLOW.

That's been their problem through out so far...ball just moves around waaaaaay too slowly.

At the end of the second half with Gordon things started to pick up a bit...so maybe he should be added to the starting line up?

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

Everyone here is saying that Gordon and Palmer should be on from the start... not late, late subs!

All I would say is that England never looked liked conceding, Slovenia set them selves up for the draw because I believe that means they also go through with 3 points.

[Charger]

Yeah Palmer came in very well too so maybe he should be there from the start as well!

Looks like both Slovenia and Denmark made it through...I think everything between them was a tie so I don't even know which is gonna be #2 and #3!

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

Good point, on the table I looked at I think they are split on alphabetical order!!

[Charger]

Today's matches...the last of the group stage!

Slovakia - Romania

Both played good first matches then lost their second...Both at 3 points...so I'm assuming both are looking for a win...although tie might be enough for both to advance...

Ukraine - Belgium

Ukraine is also at 3 points after losing their first but winning their second...same with Belgium...so this whole damn group is at 3 points! Crazy! But Ukraine is on the losing end of 3 points with the goal difference...so They techincally need a win here...but I don't think that'll be possible...Belgium should win this one and they should go at it pretty aggressively too as winning this group might be valuable.


Czech - Turkey

Turkey was atrocious against Portugal so I think the Czech have bit of an edge over this...but truthfully this could also be a tie..

Georgia - Portugal

Portugal has already won the group so they can have a rest day and put their b-team in...so who knows...on paper Portugal should slaughter Georgia but they might just play half assed and settle for a tie....

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

I think I'll predict...

Slovakia vs Romania

I'd agree that a draw is most likely, but if onw of them managed to scrape a win I think it'll be Romania.

Ukraine vs Belgium

Both teams lost their opening matches before improving considerably to win their second. Belgium should be too strong for the Ukraine, so I'll go with them.

Czech vs Turkey

The Czech's have to go for a win otherwise they are going home. Turkey have played fine in one game and garbage in the other. I can see Czech winning this.

Georgia vs Portugal

I'd quite like to see Georgia win and have a short at progressing... but let's be honest that ain't gonna happen, this should be a straight forward win for Portugal.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

I've been watching the Ukraine / Belgium game. At half time Ukraine have had the best of the chances. Belgium have had a lot of possession but as we all know that doesn't mean much! 0-0 at half time.

[Charger]

I'm not able to watch the evening matches but I'll be back for the Portugal game for sure!

I did see a headline that some ukrainian fucker was pointing Belgium's players with a laser pointer! What a dick!

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

0-0 at full time. Romania / Slovakia ended 1-1. So all teams in that group finished on 4 points but Ukraine had the worst goal difference so finished fourth. Much the better team Ukraine maybe just didn't have the quality in front of goal.

It will probably have to be reconsidered for future tournaments but Ukraine are the first team to go out with 4pts, and Slovenia and Hungary might go through with 3!

[Charger]

That has to be a first! I can't remember that all teams in one group would have had the same points ever before...but my memory is not that great to be honest!

But that is the problem with this group system...it can happen (but obviously it's very very rare) and it can be unfair to some...but I'm not really sure how it could be changed either...

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

Apparently in the 80s (I think it was) at a World cup Norway suffered the same fate when everyone got 4 points.

At the Olympics in running events, the semi-finals go something like the first 2 plus the 4 fastest losers who go through to the final. This would be easy to apply in these tournaments.