My Bob Newhart shrine next to my TV is finally all set up and good to go for Iceland’s 2-1 victory over Austria tomorrow.
They beat Holland twice in qualifying so it wouldn’t be an upset.
I think the same has been true for many of the perceived top-tier teams, Germany couldn’t break down Poland, France couldn’t break down Switzerland, Portugal couldn’t break down either Iceland or Austria. England aren’t playing substantially worse than those teams.
I’ve been happy with the way that England have played overall, they have been entertaining and attacking even if technique has (as usual) been lacking a little.
They have dominated each game they played even though all three teams were of a mind to defend.
Will they get caught out by the very best teams? quite possibly but not definitely. My prediction before the tournament (and borne out by the games so far) is that an open game suits our attacking style but in such games we are likely to concede as our defence is not rock-solid and so outscoring the opposition is the way to go and we do have the firepower to do just that.
Personally I’d like to see more of Rashford, he’s a young lad but he is smart, inventive, good decision maker and great vision. I see him as way of unlocking defences.
Anyway, I’m too long in the tooth to expect England to actually win anything. Our technical skills are still lacking compared to the best elsewhere, but I do demand that we at least try to entertain and try to play a positive game. They have done and will do so I take a degree of comfort from that.
Also, Wales and Northern Ireland are through as well with the ROI still in it. Good to have plenty of options to cheer for. My tip for the whole thing was Germany and I see no reason to change but as we get to the knock-out phase I think a case could be made for at least half a dozen teams, it is a very open tournament and the clustering of France, Germany, England, Spain, Italy (and possibly Portugal) on one side of the draw means an unfancied team are likely to “go deep” (horrible phrase)
Yeah, I think we’re essentially on the same page. Other than actually scoring, I don’t know what more England could have done in the last couple of games - they dominated the game but couldn’t break down a defensively obdurate set of teams very easily. I too think we’ll be better when the game opens up - though that will expose our own defence.
Am currently rooting for chaos. Portugal getting into second in their group would be great. A weird set of results would be required, I think, to get Belgium into 3rd in their group and finish on the same side of the draw as all the “big” nations - but I’d be up for that too. One side of the draw that has France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Belgium and England on it would be pretty funny.
There’s a chance Wales play Northern Ireland in the second round. Wales or Northern Ireland could well get to a Euro QF. If Sweden somehow win today, Wales or Northern Ireland could well face the winner of a tie featuring Hungary and Sweden. Brilliant.
scoring is for the show-ponies of this world, it’s not for the likes of us 
Even absent Portugal from that mix you’ve got a set of matches there that will be very hard to call. Time for someone with the big game mentality to assert themsleves, which is probably why I’m plumping for Germany. (and more hopeful than expectant regarding England)
And I’m pretty sure no betting man would be laying strong odds either way on such a match.
Only the English would be able to come up with a football pundit (Jonathan Wilson) who is quoted as saying “goals are over rated”. I could see what he was saying, but that quote will hang around his neck like a millstone for the rest of his days.
Still, it’s something that I comfort myself with when England can’t score any. Some stat raised today - England have only scored more than 1 goal in 3 games in the finals stages of tournaments since Hodgson took over. He’s managed something like 12.
Im not sure this is true. The most successful international teams have an expectant media and fan base. I don’t believe the German national team has a superior record in tournaments due to their players unprecedented ability to relax whilst playing.
Can someone explain to me how Italy has already won their group? Are the tiebreakers here different than in the World Cup? I’d expect that if Belgium wins and Italy loses, then it would come down to goal differential?
They’ve just said on the BBC feed that, since Italy beat Belgium in the head to head match, and Belgium can only tie Italy on 6 points, Italy will go top of the group (i.e. it’s the head to head, then goal difference, then goals scored, then, I think disciplinary record, then, again I think, FIFA coefficient).
Portugal and Hungary having a real back and forth battle here. Hungary have taken the lead three times. Currently 3-2.
Huh. I wonder why the tiebreakers are different between EURO and World Cup…
I think I’ve decided that I have to root for Iceland from here on, instead of my traditional Italy.
Here are the Euro 2016 tiebreaker rules. The first qualifier is:
Italy beat Belgium 2-0 in their head-to-head match so, even if they finished equal on points, Italy would finish above.
A few minutes ago in the Group F matches currently being played, the placings (of Portugal and Iceland) would have been settled by the eighth qualifier on the tiebreaker list - fair play conduct (yellow cards etc). Goals in the games have changed that, of course.
What an awesome end to the Portugal group. Hungary and Portugal draw 3-3 and that saw Portugal in on the Spain/Germany, etc side of the draw with Iceland and Austria drawing 1-1. Then Iceland bust up the other end of the field in the final minute - score, win 2-1 and now Iceland are on that side of the draw. Hungary top the group. Portugal will go through as a 3rd placed side - dependent on what happens tonight, they may still find themselves on the uber side of the draw anyway.
ETA: Actually Portugal are definitely on the “other” side of the draw - playing Croatia - according to the Beeb.
According to the announcers, 8% of the population of Iceland is in France supporting their team. There are 57 US cities with a larger population than Iceland.
They’re going to play England in the next round. Iceland’s population is the equivalent of Coventry in the UK (you may say you’ve never heard of Coventry? This is precisely my point. Their entire country is the size of a pretty middle of the road English city).
Set up nicely for England to disappoint. One thing is for sure - the English are going to be the only country cheering for England.
Iceland qualifying for the last 16 is an incredible achievement.
It’s interesting looking at how the knockout phase is poised so far. Big hitters Germany, Italy, Spain, France and England are all in the same half of the draw and only one of them will be able to reach the final.
I personally think Germany will struggle to reach the final with that draw. It’s not even so much about the individual talent in their back four so much as it’s the suicidally high line with 10 men on the opposition’s half of the pitch whenever they’re in possession. I’m sure that’s something you can get away with against teams like Ukraine and Northern Ireland, but if they attempt it against England or Italy I can see it backfiring horribly against two teams who very much prefer to play on the counter.
Hungary looks like a dark horse in their half of the draw to me. They’ve been playing far and above expectations and momentum might just carry them into the final. Overall, though, I think Italy have to be title favourites based on form in the group stage - they simply look rock-solid.
Through a tear in the time space compendium, the Hungarian team from the 1950s has been competing in this tourney. They are playing for national pride as Soviet tanks roll through Budapest. :@@;
England are “big hitters”? You’ve been watching too much cricket…
Get in there! Ireland 1 Italy 0!