Tomi on 10/6/2016 at 19:27
Wahey! It's time for one month of (hopefully) awesome football again, and the opening match (France vs Romania) just kicked off as I'm typing this. I would have thought that someone had already started a thread like this, so is anyone even mildly excited or interested in this tournament this year? :D
So who are you all supporting and who do you think is going to lift the trophy next month, after all 51 matches in this tournament have been played? As Finland once again failed to qualify for the tournament, I suppose I'll be rooting for the underdogs again, particularly Iceland, Wales, Hungary, and Ireland. Not that any of them are going to get through the group stage, so in the end I'll be hoping that my usual anti-favourites are going to fail. :p
The first match has been pretty exciting so far and the atmosphere seems quite fantastic, and most importantly there have been no terrorist strikes yet! Yay!
zil on 10/6/2016 at 19:58
I like football, I like the French people and their culture.. but when it comes to teams, I'm rooting for England (instead of my #1 team Netherlands, who failed to qualify for this..). Also, a bit for Italy and any team that can win my sympathy over the course of the tournament. Not a big fan of either Germany or Spain, sorry.
This game seems nicely flowing, entertaining and fun to watch. I hope goals will follow in the 2nd half.. wouldn't be sad if either of them lost, so just looking forward to great football!
Purgator on 10/6/2016 at 20:49
I'll be rooting for the Republic of Ireland! They had a very poor Euro 2012 under Trapattoni, we will have to see if messrs O'Neil and Keane fare any better!
Pogba off, Martial on, as I type!
If the Irish weren't involved, I wholeheartedly admit I would be cheering on England (I still may, considering Ireland are in the Group of Death). The English have an air of romance about them this time round with the youthful Rashford and Vardy, the former Sunday League player turned English Champion!
Edit: Wow! Quite an emotional game. The Euros are well and truly underway! Best of Luck everyone!
SD on 10/6/2016 at 22:12
England's position is that they have a young, massively talented squad, and a spineless halfwit of a manager. For once even the country seems to recognise this fact, and national expectations have never been lower.
Like every England manager before him, Roy Hodgson picks who the media tells him to pick, which is why Rooney remains captain when in reality he should be dropped from the first XI.
Alli, Kane, Wilshere (in the 10% of games when he isn't broken), Sturridge (in the 20% of games when he isn't broken), Vardy, Barkley and Rashford are all hugely gifted, dynamic footballers.
However England's fast, flowing football dies a death with Captain Fatspastic in the team, as literally the only quick thing about Rooney is the speed with which moves break down as soon as he becomes involved.
It's a great pity, as with a modern, forward-thinking manager rather than a prickly senile dinosaur in charge, England could be in with a realistic chance of challenging for the championship.
Other than Rooney, England's biggest weakness is in defence. For reasons best known only to himself, Hodgson has taken just 7 defenders to France, and while our four full backs are relatively solid players, the three centre halves (Cahill, Stones, Smalling) are accidents waiting to happen.
With 16 of 24 teams in the tournament progressing from the group stage, you would think that even England could manage to get to the second round at least. Nevertheless, as soon as England meet any well organised side, they are destined to tumble out.
SD on 10/6/2016 at 22:20
I should add, so far as who will win it, it's pretty open. Historically this is a tournament that even relatively unfancied teams can do well in.
Belgium look overpriced at 11/1 with the bookies, considering that England are at 9s. Iceland are my dark horses and they can be backed at 150/1 odds.
faetal on 10/6/2016 at 22:47
Netherlands failed to qualify? Fuck.
Purgator on 10/6/2016 at 23:16
Rather spectacularly I'm afraid. Fourth in their qualifying group, missing out on their first Euro tournament since 1984!
SD on 10/6/2016 at 23:27
Yes, Iceland beat Netherlands home and away in qualifying! One of a few reasons why they are my outside tip :)
zacharias on 11/6/2016 at 00:42
Quote Posted by SD
England's position is that they have a young, massively talented squad, and a spineless halfwit of a manager.
Massively talented? Typical SD hyperbole. Honestly, how many of the england squad would get into the first XI of germany or spain? 1 or 2 perhaps?
Agree that Woy is well out of his depth, but if the team are 'massively talented' they should be able to put a decent performance together almost in spite of the coach. We shall see.
SD on 11/6/2016 at 02:28
Quote Posted by zacharias
Massively talented? Typical SD hyperbole. Honestly, how many of the england squad would get into the first XI of germany or spain? 1 or 2 perhaps?
Agree that Woy is well out of his depth, but if the team are 'massively talented' they should be able to put a decent performance together almost in spite of the coach. We shall see.
It would be accurate to say that I don't see "massively talented" and "not as good as the World or European champions" as mutually exclusive terms.
It would also be accurate to say that raw talent alone is not the only prerequisite for success. While we may be talking about only a handful of England players being capable of holding down a place in the German or Spanish side, that's not necessarily down to ability. Experience also plays a big part, and the England squad is the youngest at the tournament.
So far as performing in spite of the useless clown in charge is concerned, I think you underestimate the importance of a decent manager.
