Euro 2020 - Who Wins?

[Puff Daddy]

I'm surprised there have been no posts about how easily a fairly poor Romanian team opened us up. They could and would with a bit more quality up front, scored 3 this aftetmoon. That was an excellent point blank save from Johnstone, but had that been a Mbappe or an Insigne on the end of that, that would've been in the back of the net

[Hammer in Hornchurch]

I'm surprised there have been no posts about how easily a fairly poor Romanian team opened us up. They could and would with a bit more quality up front, scored 3 this aftetmoon. That was an excellent point blank save from Johnstone, but had that been a Mbappe or an Insigne on the end of that, that would've been in the back of the net

Yep, the CB pairing (or possibly 3 CB’s in a 3-5-2) worries me no matter who gets picked. I think Rice starts as the holding midfielder but not sure who should be his CM partner. I’d probably play Ward-Prowse in CM if he gets the nod into the squad. Foden, Mount, Grealish, Kane the attacking options. Trippier and Chilwell the full backs, Pickford in goal - but only just.

[Paolopaul]

It’s possible that no one in that defence starts next week, so I guess there’s limited relevance to how much England got opened up. Definitely a concern about who we turn to without Maguire though.

To be honest I’m not sure there’s been any point to these friendlies at all, and Southgate himself has just been getting them out the way and even playing players who aren’t in the squad.

[sendô]

Blimey. Jose Fonte is still playing for Portugal.

He's just captained Lille to the Ligue 1 title too, aged 37.

[ironstu]

It's coming home

[DasNutNock2]

He's just captained Lille to the Ligue 1 title too, aged 37.

They won it last time with Ricardo Carvalho, then aged 38, playing in the final.

[DasNutNock2]

They won it last time with Ricardo Carvalho, then aged 38, playing in the final.

Actually he was on the bench for the final but played their 3 openers, which is still pretty incredible.

[steveyrockstar]

Yes you are wrong mate. It’s a great mix this Italy team, one of the best in years. Of course the defence are a bit older (the CB’s anyway), but experienced CB’s in an Italy side won’t be a problem. Got some quality and hard work in midfield with the likes of Verratti, Jorginho and Cristante. Some younger talented players in Barella, Berardi and Chiesa and some very good forward options in Immobile, Insigne and Belotti. Players like Locatelli, Pessina and Raspadori are good young squad options who come off of very good seasons.

Also 29 games unbeaten or something like that.

Cool, interesting to know. Ones to watch out for then. I'd honestly presumed Italy were still largely in a transitional phase and lost some ground over the last 10 years or so. Part of my reasoning was the fact they/you were so desperate for strikers not so long ago that Zaza made the squad. Interesting to hear they're/you're back on the up again.

[il_martello_di_genovesi]

you were so desperate for strikers not so long ago that Zaza made the squad.

I was at the game in Bordeaux where he took that penalty and ended up knocked out by Germany...Don't have the same problems now with Immobile and Belotti.

[kitthehammer]

I think england will be lucky to get out of the group and if they do, they will face germany next round and get knocked out

[The Old Man of Storr]

The furthest England have ever got in an UEFA Euro competition are the Semi Finals -

Just like Wales .


Wales to go one better this year .

[Puff Daddy]

The furthest England have ever got in an UEFA Euro competition are the Semi Finals -

Just like Wales .


Wales to go one better this year .

Yeah. Our record in this is not great, despite previously hosting it and being joint pre tournament favourites with Germany in 1996 and a 1-0 defeat in the quarters by the former Yugoslavia, as World Cup holders in 1968. We we also, hot favourites alongside Italy to lift the trophy in 1980, but crashed out early doors then too

[Coops]

I think we (England) will come second in our group, beat the runner up from group E in the next round, then lose to the winners of group F (probably France) in the quarters.

France V Belgium in the final, France to win.

[steps]

France, Portugal or Germany to win it.

Belgium, Czech Republic to have decent campaigns.

England: quarter finalists at best, semi finalists if we’re punching.

[South African Iron]

I'm learning towards Italy , to snatch it.

[prophet:marginal]

I think that if you replicated even a Maguire-Stones CB pairing, ahead of Pickford, and put them in your Prem team, they'd finish in the top half, but probably not in the top 4. Pickford is poorer than our league keeper, Fabianski, by quite a noticeable margin. Maguire is strong, but slow and unrefined. Stones has some definite skill in his boots, but not really got a defender's method of playing the game.

Whatever, we only progress if we outscore any opponent, even Scotland.

Watching the group bit through C&B specs is interesting. Not only must Dec go up against his staunch midfield club partner (and keep his eye out for Coufal) in Soucek, but he's also auditioning for his next move by having a proper, meaningful, match up against McTominay, someone I personally consider to be just a bit under-rated, in head to head comparisons. Don't know enough about Croatia this time around to make brash predictions, but, on the assumption we make it out of the group (not a given), it's almost West Ham United and the luck of a cup draw that awaits us.

France, even just the axis Pogba, Kante and Mbappe, on their games, win out over any of the others. But, on our day, as a team, England might just pull off a surprise.

[r99c]

I think england will be lucky to get out of the group and if they do, they will face Portugal next round and get knocked out

FYP

[Johnny Byrne's Boots]

Artificial Intelligence says Czechs to win, England semi finalists.

The Czech Republic footie team is set to be crowned champions next month, beating fellow underdogs Denmark 3-2 in the Euros in what pundits claim will prove to be a "thrilling final".

At least that's what boffins at sports data provider Sportradar reckon after scraping together results from the last 20 years, feeding them into a "super computer" running a simulated-reality program driven by AI, and then, hey presto, coming up with the finding ahead of this week's start to the month-long footballfest.

According to dressing room insiders, the whole tournament was "played out" using an "innovative simulated reality solution using artificial intelligence algorithms." So it must be true.

more...

Being from The Register, as ever the comments are worth reading.

[prophet:marginal]

This new WhoScored guide is a peach to browse through

Scotland have never lost to Croatia
(5 matches)

Croatia have never lost to Soucek and co
(3 matches)

[Puff Daddy]

France, Portugal or Germany to win it.

Belgium, Czech Republic to have decent campaigns.

England: quarter finalists at best, semi finalists if we’re punching.

Oddly, this time, I think Portugal might actually be hindered by Cristiano Ronaldo this time around. Two years past his best, he hasn't the legs to get around the pitch any more. He's still a good player, of course he is and his goals scoring record, is sensataional, but he won't be able to influence matches, like he has other tournaments of the past. Sure, if Portugal need a goal, he may still be their man, but I think in this competition, we will see a very different Cristiano Ronaldo hanging around the goal area and leaving all the rest of the work to his team mates and that is what do mean by hindering his team's chances. We'll see, but all that aside, they still have some serious talent in that team all the same