There’s a formula for whichever are the four best 3rd places. Obviously need to avoid playing someone from the same group plus have to factor in rest days for groups E and F (although there is a two day break before the start of the second round anyway).
a year ago
1K
I've woken up to a very boring radio based wailing and gnashing of the teeth about scotchlands exit from the Euros. They got the selection and substitutions wrong, they were too cautious, they were too defensive.
For me that somewhat misses the point. They were just too shit.
At any tournament there has to be a worst team. That was scotland. You can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear. No amount of hindsight based untested nonsense can overcome the fact that they looked like a bunch of U17's being steamrollered by a senior team in a practice match.
I described it as grimly fascinating. That's what it was. Watching a car crash in slow motion. The notion that there was some magic tactical wand that could be waved to overcome their deficiencies is laughable. Sack the coach if you want, but that's just lashing out in anger, because you can't face the reality of where you are.
That would involve them getting adverse results against Poland and Ukraine though, which would mean they are probably pretty shite. France look deeply average without Mbappe as their focal point, and even if he comes back playing with a busted nose is suboptimal. Belgium are always underwhelming and are shite. If England lost to Slovakia as they did there would be such a meltdown that Gary Lineker would need to be fully rebooted, possibly with a new motherboard. As long as we avoid Germany, Spain and Italy we'll be ok in the next round.
Anyone familiar with the concept of 'having a bad game'? In the old days of a relatively fair playing field, teams could have an off day, and lose. This happened quite often back when the deck wasn't stacked against most teams, and officials didn't have as much leeway to bias games in favour of the big brands.
I thought that some of you might have been old enough to remember?
And you’re saying that because England have looked so much better than France??
Yes France are average in my opinion. Poland, Netherlands and Austria are poor. But in the game being played now France have not looked much better.
And I would be very confident England could handle Netherlands.
Connor fucking Gallagher is not the answer to the England issue
Connor fucking Gallagher is never the answer
Chicago: not angry, disappointed.
He only likes him because of his hair
Well.... TAA without players to make runs behind the defense isn't the answer either.
Mainoo would have been braver.
Wharton would have been the pick
From appearances it looks like we've managed to get Frank Lampard in as Slovenia manager.
Cunning.
Would he? He's made no senior appearances and has played about a third of a good season for Palace. I feel like him and Mainoo are both popular with fans right now in no small part due to the fact that they're not actually playing.
Yeah maybe. Would have been braver still. But a risk because he has barely played in the Premier league, never mind for England. Whereas as Mainoo has had a very good season for Man U, won a trophy and has a lot of energy.
