Euro 2012: Day 8 Thread

[Duty281]

First topic message reminder :

Ukraine v France (17:00, ITV 1)
Sweden v England (19:45, BBC 1)



Current Group Standings

Ukraine - 3
England - 1
France - 1
Sweden - 0

Group D for Day 8 of the tournament then. At 5, the co-hosts Ukraine will be looking to notch their second win of the competition by causing a shock against the French but in reality, France are strong favourites and will probably win. Then at 7:45, England will look to build on the foundations they've laid on Monday and get 3 points against a team they haven't beaten competitively in years. For Sweden, 3 points is near essential to them staying in the competition after a narrow defeat on Monday. My predictions:

Ukraine 1-2 France
Sweden 0-2 England

En-ger-land, En-ger-land, En-ger-land...

[GSC]

Dont get the point of shying away from it still. Even if we get past Italy or Croatia you dont get anything more for getting to the semis.

Don't really care who we play anymore.

[mystiroakey]

shying away by topping the group!

thats the reverse of shying away.

[GSC]

Alternatively being afraid of Spain

[Crimey]

The only advantage to topping the group rather than finishing second is to avoid the better teams in the quarter finals.

[mystiroakey]

Well first thing is first we need to get through the group- we need a draw. I want the team to go all out attack- rather than sit on the game deep as at 0-0 we are into the quarter- englands weakness is when they are ahead, at 0-0 its as if we start ahead

[GSC]

All out attack is just silly. This England team would get ripped to shreds. We just need to play our normal game and let whatever happens in France's game happen.

Last thing we need is to go gung ho and end up 2-0 behind to the hosts inside 20 minutes.

[mystiroakey]

our normal game is attack untill we score a goal and then get deep- thats what i want us to do, so yeah i suppose your right

the good thing about this situ is that 1 goal up will be like 2 goals up.

howevevr i want a big win to avoid spain

[lorus59]

Ukraine looked absolutely garbage in game against France. With Rooney back, I expect a walk in the park. The real test will be if they have to play Spain in the quarters.

[azania]

It wouldn't surprise me if England beat Spain. They could play anti football like Chelsea and score a winner in the last minute. If you guys play Spain, Walcott has to start. One thing is that the Spanish do not like pace.

[mystiroakey]

walcott loves playing against barca/spain.

[GSC]

As a supersub though. Ripped Barca apart in the last 20 minutes when they drew 2-2 at the Emirates a few years ago

[Duty281]

Topping the group doesn't necessarily mean we'll avoid Spain if Croatia can pull off a shock.

[azania]

Topping the group doesn't necessarily mean we'll avoid Spain if Croatia can pull off a shock.

That has as much chance of happening as the pope converting to Islam.

[Crimey]

Topping the group doesn't necessarily mean we'll avoid Spain if Croatia can pull off a shock.

That has as much chance of happening as the pope converting to Islam.

Quoted for reference.

[Duty281]

Topping the group doesn't necessarily mean we'll avoid Spain if Croatia can pull off a shock.

That has as much chance of happening as the pope converting to Islam.

Spain are massively overrated. Don't be surprised if Croatia get a draw.

[Duty281]

Meanwhile, Ibrahimovic and Larsson are having a good whine:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18471301

What a load of rubbish. Their going home, their going home, their going! Sweden's going home!

[mystiroakey]

them swedes have a very strange mentality- imangine if our players said that to our press- ridiculas!

They need to learn how to lose gracefully..

[azania]

Topping the group doesn't necessarily mean we'll avoid Spain if Croatia can pull off a shock.

That has as much chance of happening as the pope converting to Islam.

Spain are massively overrated. Don't be surprised if Croatia get a draw.

But far better than Croatia. The only way Croatia can get a result is if they park the bus. Still then Spain will break them down.

[Guest]

'Wouldn't suprise me if England beat Spain' - Basically our flukey 1-0 win against them in a friendly where they had like 80% possession about 30 shots to our 1 has given you that confidence in our appaling side.

'Spain are overated' - ridiculous comments by the same idi*ts on here. Current World and European Champions obviously means nothing to you so called football experts.

If anything croatia have a far superior team to england and would give spain much more of a game than us but again you will probably disagree.

[mystiroakey]

john although i agree with spain being a top team and not overrated- england are by far the better team than croatia- i think we beat em 9-2 in the last two games a couple of years back, england are also ranked ahead- there is no comparsion pal. England is the far superior team on paper and in practise

[Guest]

I have to disagree and say Croatia have a better first XI at this Euro's than England's. They have some quality technically gifted players who can keep the ball and they have two extremely dangerous strikers.

At this euro's Bilic has more at his disposal and they would give Spain more threat than we would. However, I do agree if everyone was fit then of course our team would be superior and that's reflected in our 5-1 win at Wembley a few years back.

[mystiroakey]

Jon dont confuse a teams overall ability with individuals technical ability. the proof is in the pudding

[Guest]

Your only saying all this because we both know that Croatia are not going to get out of their tough group whereas England will just sneak out of a poor group.

Still stand by what I said. Croatia far better team than England's at this euro's due to what's available. Anyway Russia out!

[Duty281]

Your only saying all this because we both know that Croatia are not going to get out of their tough group whereas England will just sneak out of a poor group.

Still stand by what I said. Croatia far better team than England's at this euro's due to what's available. Anyway Russia out!

Can't take your opinion seriously well all you offer is negativity. Poor group? What a load of rubbish.

[Dave.]

Knockout football is a different beast. Anything can happen, and it usually does.

[mystiroakey]

Your only saying all this because we both know that Croatia are not going to get out of their tough group whereas England will just sneak out of a poor group.

Still stand by what I said. Croatia far better team than England's at this euro's due to what's available. Anyway Russia out!

what the heck are you talking about i am basing this on theroy,fact and practise. we beat em by 3 and 4 golas last time we played, we are ahead on ranking, our players play at better clubs(are worth more),some just won the cl, we have a better win/loss record, better current form, its very simple- there is nothing- nothing real to back your rubbish up. just face the facts

[Guest]

I don't think we are in a poor group at all, it's just the playing field is a lot more even than it has been in previous tournaments.

[Duty281]

I don't think we are in a poor group at all, it's just the playing field is a lot more even than it has been in previous tournaments.

Sadly at Euro 2016, it'll be expanded to 24 teams meaning the quality will be a lot lower.

[mystiroakey]

Knockout football is a different beast. Anything can happen, and it usually does.

not really true tho is it- favs normally are allways up there- better teams do better- its what they are judged on.

russia have just proved again(how many times does this actually need proving before people get it) that technical ability means zip all on its own..

[Dave.]

Yes, but it's one game.

[mystiroakey]

the best teams win the important games.

[Guest]

ukraine and sweden not poor?????? there shocking. That's the only reason we will qualify. How can you say we would beat croatia at these euro's? We struggled to beat sweden, croatia have a fully fit squad whereas we dont at all. There first XI is superior to ours at this euros (im not talking about in general) yes we are the better side when all fully fit but there is no way you can say we would wipe the floor of croatia at this euros.

Your just saying this because you know you've got the security of knowing that croatia will go out at the group stages because of the difficulty of their group compared to ours. Welbeck, carroll ahead of jelavic, eduardo and Mandzuckic?????? i dont think so.

[mystiroakey]

John you are failing big time- we have allways struggled to beat sweden- but we beat croatia 5-1 and 4-1 last time around

are you sarting to get the message yet?

I will give you a clue, styles of play

[super_realist]

Wasn't it Croatia that stopped England going to the last Euros?
Truth is England struggled to beat a Swedish team who have only performed marginally less badly than the worst team in the tournament- Ireland.

Ukraine will be a tough match and could easily beat England.
Rooney is more miss than hit for England so can't be relied upon to perform well.

[mystiroakey]

Ukraine are a good set up and beat England last game. Which they will draw from . However group stages is about getting points. Winning tournies is about winning games. Concentrating on negatives is kinda pointless. And saying certain teams are the worst in the tourny is kinda impossible to gauge and unimportant IMO.

Come on England, all i ask is that they try 100%

[super_realist]

Oakey, it was you talking about beating Croatia two years ago. That's as irrelevant as anything.

England have been very poor indeed this tournament and there is no reason to suggest they can beat anyone left in the tournament.

Look at it from another viewpoint. How many countries do you think would be worried about playing England? Italy, Spain, Germany etc will hardly be losing sleep.

[mystiroakey]

England have not been poor at all. Why do you think we should be better?

I dont understand your viewpoint at all- Did you expect teams like germany or spain to be frightened of us before the tourny??

Btw if france had beaten us i am sure yoy would have added them to your 3.

Are france now a rubbish team?- or was it just fluke?

[mystiroakey]

Certain fans drive me mad.. The ones that think we are either rubbish or the best. Its not like that. I would would much rather accept the position we are in and enjoy the ride.

Can we beat other teams in the tourny- hell yeah!!!

Can other teams beat us-- sadly yeah!!

If we knew who was gonna win everything we wouldnt have cup football. we would just award the winners before hand

[super_realist]

If countries like France, Germany, Spain and France can win tournaments, you have to ask why England don't, and not only don't, but don't even come close.
They don't have the minerals at the top level.
Yes they can produce a decent result against France in spite of an onslaught and create almost no chances for themselves and they were extremely lucky against a very drab Sweden who managed two goals against what is considered englands main strength -its defence.

What is a team like Germany or Spain going to do to them?

[mystiroakey]

I dont know- do you?

the form book says they will win. they are better teams

[super_realist]

I don't know either, but what I do know is that England are like a Newcastle or fulham. Will never win the league, but still capable of the odd decent result every now and then, but also perfectly capable of getting gubbed by a relegation type team. (northern ireland)

[mystiroakey]

I am happy to support my team what ever there standing is or isnt!!- I will get into more long term disscusions once we are out.

We should beat ukraine - and i am hoping for a good performnace- however i am not certain at all!! There arnt many great teams in this euros(only two) that could/can garantante qualifiction- i dont need to tell you who they are...However...............

NI beat spain in a qualy as well. (at a more recent date)

[GSC]

Ultimately we prided athletic ability and physical attributes over technical ability at youth level, which is why we have so many quick wingers and commanding CBs, but a lack of good ball players.

[GSC]

Lets face facts, Pique is a better passer than most of our nations players.

[GSC]

There is hope coming through though, the FA have put plans into motion to rectify problems in our youth coaching, and even now our young players benefit from the influx of foreign talent in a way.

[mystiroakey]

GSC dont get to involved in tecnique(allthough its clear as day we need to deal with it)- I dont think spain are perfect in the slightest- Germany have struck the balance- they arnt the best technical side in the world- they do understand the value of strength. and have a nice balance..

I like the fact teams have there own systems and identity- it adds flavour to tournies, but one to look upon is the germans system.I believe the spainish have gone a little bit to far one way if you will

[GSC]

Given they've won 7 straight knockout games and 2 major tournaments on the bounce it seems to be working however.

I agree you can't get too far away from your identity, but as you say you do need a balance. England are behind quite a few lesser countries in terms of technical ability currently.

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