Euros 2016
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Normally like the euros as much as the World Cup but not got into it this year yet with 24 teams to be whittled down by just 8 in the pool stages.<br><br>
Also hadn't followed the qualifiers as it seemed it would be almost impossible to not qualify. But now realising Holland, by their absence, must have managed just that. <br><br>
Plus Scotland. Gee, they've fallen off the sporting cliff the last 20 to 25 years. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Immenso Rapido" data-cid="589041" data-time="1466161304">
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<p>Wales in their traditional black with flourescent green trim. Of course. The EBay resale value of a Wales v Englad Euro shirt lost about 90% of its future value.</p>
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<p>Yeah that was a shocking decision, Welsh folk should make their FA suffer for that nonsense</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="590123" data-time="1466456212"><p>England unbeaten in the group stage but Wales tops Group B.</p></blockquote>England failed to play and win the game, their prize is a tough QF probably against Portugal
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="590123" data-time="1466456212">
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<p>England unbeaten in the group stage but Wales tops Group B.</p>
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<p>Brilliant. Do you write for the Daily Mail?
;)</p>
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<p>The most relevant 'un' applicable to England is 'unable' to put the ball in the back of the net.</p>
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<p>England had the majority of possession, territory and shots on target against Russia, Wales, and Slovakia but failed to convert that superiority against Russia and Slovakia. Truth be told they were about two minutes and a lucky ricochet from drawing all three matches and sweating on progession to the last 16.</p>
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<p>Wales on the other hand were worthy winners of two of their three group matches, and came within two minutes of going unbeaten despite being second best to England (see above).</p>
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<p>Wales as a team has scored the most goals so far (6) and Gareth Bale is the current top goal scorer (3).</p>
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<p>Deserved group winners.</p> -
<p>I just can't bring myself to watch soccer anymore. I intensely dislike the histrionics during the game, after the game by the managers and the preening and the attitude to the refs and, and, and lots of other stuff. I caught some of the England v Slavs match though and the BS interviews and pundits afterwards. Complete tosh. England were this, England were that. No. What England were was shit at the main point of the game which is to score more goals than the opposition. Ian Wright you're talking shit. And the rest of you too. Except the foreigner bloke who said it straight.</p>
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<p>A waste of ten minutes of my life in which I could have been taking a dump or anything more productive than watching that bollocks.</p>
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<p>Oh and Well done Wales and good luck in the business end of the tourney.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MiketheSnow" data-cid="590281" data-time="1466506106">
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<p>Brilliant. Do you write for the Daily Mail? ;)</p>
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<p>Mike, I was being succinct with my statement. ;)</p>
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<p>I agree with you 100%, and as a fan of Aaron Ramsey I was supporting Wales.</p> -
<p>It's a funny tournament. The opportunity for the best 3rd place teams to qualify for the 2nd round has resulted in a change in tactics from the smaller teams. Suddenly, playing for 3 draws is a realistic way to qualify.</p>
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<p>So where in the past the smaller teams may have had a crack, and left themselves open to giving up a couple, now they are sticking everything behind the ball, and waiting it out.</p>
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<p>Mike i think you are being incredibly one-eyed in your viewing of England. Yes, it's clear they have struggled to score, but there is no doubt they have been the better side in all 3 of their games. They were incredibly unlucky to draw with Russia (yes, defensive blunder, but it was the Russians first chance of any note for ages). They were better than Wales for most of their game, and deserved the win. And the entire Slovakia game was played in one half of the field, with 10 white players defending 30m from goal. It's obvious they aren't good enough to win it, there a bunch of teams better than them in the comp. But they haven't been that bad. </p>
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<p>I don't know who is going to win it, Germany probably, but don't rule out either Spain, or Croatia, or even Italy or France. Poland have been alright as well. It's pretty open as no one is looking unbeatable. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="590350" data-time="1466550498">
<div>Mike i think you are being incredibly one-eyed in your viewing of England. Yes, it's clear they have struggled to score, but there is no doubt they have been the better side in all 3 of their games. They were incredibly unlucky to draw with Russia (yes, defensive blunder, but it was the Russians first chance of any note for ages). They were better than Wales for most of their game, and deserved the win. And the entire Slovakia game was played in one half of the field, with 10 white players defending 30m from goal. It's obvious they aren't good enough to win it, there a bunch of teams better than them in the comp. But they haven't been that bad. <br>
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<p>This is what I wrote</p>
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<p>England had the majority of possession, territory and shots on target against Russia, Wales, and Slovakia but failed to convert that superiority against Russia and Slovakia. Truth be told they were about two minutes and a lucky ricochet from drawing all three matches and sweating on progession to the last 16.</p>
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<p>Wales on the other hand were worthy winners of two of their three group matches, and came within two minutes of going unbeaten despite being second best to England (see above).</p>
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<p>Which pretty much says what you were saying. But when the object of the game is to put the ball into the back of the net, overall England have to be judged on that.</p>
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<p>And on that they have been poor and haven't 'been the better side', despite dominating all three matches.</p> -
That's fair, but soccer is harder to judge that way, given the paucity of scoring. <br><br>
This comp and its format is taking some stick now -
<p>I was against the expansion of the Euros but I think the worst part of it is that it has lead to a lot of negative football. I don't know how the goals scored in this tournament compares to others but it seems like lots of small teams are just looking to take a point. England didn't really look like breaking down Slovakia. I can't see England winning too many games if they fall behind.</p>
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<p>Ireland get a late winner over Italy to book their place in the last 16. </p>
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<p>The draw is:</p>
<p>Switzerland v Poland</p>
<p>Wales v Northern Ireland</p>
<p>Croatia v Portugal</p>
<p>France v Ireland</p>
<p>Germany v Slovakia</p>
<p>Hungary v Belgium</p>
<p>Italy v Spain</p>
<p>England v Iceland</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="590607" data-time="1466629916">
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<p>Ireland get a late winner over Italy to book their place in the last 16. </p>
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<p>The draw is:</p>
<p>Switzerland v Poland 1-0</p>
<p>Wales v Northern Ireland 2-1</p>
<p>Croatia v Portugal 2-0</p>
<p>France v Ireland 0-0 (France through on Pens)</p>
<p>Germany v Slovakia 4-1</p>
<p>Hungary v Belgium 1-2</p>
<p>Italy v Spain 1-1 (Italy through on Pens)</p>
<p>England v Iceland 2-0</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="590607" data-time="1466629916">
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<p>Ireland get a late winner over Italy to book their place in the last 16. </p>
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<p>The draw is:</p>
<p>Switzerland v Poland 1-0</p>
<p>Wales v Northern Ireland 2-1</p>
<p>Croatia v Portugal 2-0</p>
<p>France v Ireland 0-0 (France through on Pens)</p>
<p>Germany v Slovakia 4-1</p>
<p>Hungary v Belgium 1-2</p>
<p>Italy v Spain 1-1 (Italy through on Pens)</p>
<p>England v Iceland 2-0</p>
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<p>Very plausible</p>
