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Litefoot is our resident statto, its true.
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Posted: |
Jun 9, 2021 - 2:33 AM
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By: |
litefoot
(Member)
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At Euro 2016, Portugal drew all three of their group matches, and yet somehow qualified for the next round. In the last 16, it was only a 117th minute goal that helped them beat Croatia. In the quarter final, they played another 120 minute match, beating Poland on penalties. It wasn't until the semi-final that they won a game in 90 minutes, beating Wales 2-0 before going on to score a 109th minute winner to beat France in the final 1-0.
Portugal arguably have a much stronger squad this time. They have nine Premier League players: Bruno Fernandes (Man United), Diego Jota (Liverpool), Ruben Dias (Manchester City), Joao Cancelo (Manchester City), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Nélson Semedo (Wolves), Joao Moutinho (Wolves) Rui Patricio (Wolves) and Ruben Neves (Wolves). Also still there are 36 year old Christiano Ronaldo and the ever annoying Pepe.
Goalkeepers: Anthony Lopes (Olympique Lyon), Rui Patricio (Wolverhampton Wanderers FC), Rui Silva (Granada CF)
Defenders: Joao Cancelo (Manchester City), Nelson Semedo (Wolverhampton Wanderers FC), Jose Fonte (LOSC Lille), Pepe (FC Porto), Ruben Dias (Manchester City), Nuno Mendes (Sporting CP), Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund)
Midfielders: Danilo Pereira (PSG), Joao Palhinha (Sporting CP), Ruben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers FC), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United FC), Joao Moutinho (Wolverhampton Wanderers FC), Renato Sanches (LOSC Lille), Sergio Oliveira (FC Porto), William Carvalho (Real Betis Bolompie)
Forwards: Pedro Goncalves (Sporting CP), Andre Silva (Eintracht Frankfurt), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City FC), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus FC), Diogo Jota (Liverpool FC), Goncalo Guedes (Valencia CF), Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid), Rafa Silva (SL Benfica)
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MONEY!!!!!
£££££££
$$$$$$$
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The only teams eliminated from 2 years of qualifying will be San Marino, liechtenstein, the falklands, jersey and the isle of wight
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Posted: |
Jun 9, 2021 - 8:03 AM
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By: |
litefoot
(Member)
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In 2016 Wales played their first international tournament since 1958, when they reached the quarter-finals only to be knocked out by eventual winners Brazil. They spent 58 years in the wilderness until finally qualifying for Euro 2016 and going on an incredible run to the semi-finals.
They have qualified again, but this time have had to deal with their manager taking a step back while he goes on trial for abuse, and their 2016 wunderkid Hal Robson-Kanu being in such poor form that he hasn't been picked. Interim manager Robert Page is in charge of the team. Only eight players survive from the 2016 squad.
The squad is made up of 11 Premier League players, 13 lower league players (from Cardiff, Swansea, Stoke, Luton and Charlton amongst others), and Ramsay and Bale of Juventus and Real Madrid.
Goalkeepers: Wayne Hennessey (Crystal Palace), Adam Davies (Stoke City), Danny Ward (Leicester City)
Defenders: Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Joe Rodon (Tottenham Hotspur), Chris Mepham (Bournemouth), Connor Roberts (Swansea City), Tom Lockyer (Luton Town), Neco Williams (Liverpool), Ben Cabango (Swansea City), Rhys Norrington-Davies (Sheffield United), Chris Gunter (Charlton Athletic)
Midfielders: Aaron Ramsey (Juventus), Ethan Ampadu (Chelsea), Matthew Smith (Manchester City), Joe Morrell (Luton Town), Joe Allen (Stoke City), Jonathan Williams (Cardiff City), David Brooks (Bournemouth), Harry Wilson (Cardiff City), Dylan Levitt (Manchester United), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City)
Forwards: Kieffer Moore (Cardiff City), Dan James (Manchester United), Tyler Roberts (Leeds United), Gareth Bale (Real Madrid)
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Posted: |
Jun 9, 2021 - 12:35 PM
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By: |
litefoot
(Member)
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OK, last one of these.
Scotland have qualified for their first international tournament since 1998. Under manager Steve Clarke, their defence has acquired an extra bit of steel, and they held Serbia 1-1 in Serbia's own backyard before winning a penalty shootout, which is no mean feat.
All the players play in Scotland or England, with the exception of Jack Hendry who is on loan from Celtic to Belgian club Oostende. The squad includes Liverpool's Andy Robertson and Man Utd's Scott McTominay amongst nine Premier League players.
Goalkeepers: Craig Gordon (Heart of Midlothian), David Marshall (Derby County), Jon McLaughlin (Rangers)
Defenders: Nathan Patterson (Rangers), Stephen O’Donnell (Motherwell), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), Kieran Tierney (Arsenal), Greg Taylor (Celtic), Liam Cooper (Leeds United), Grant Hanley (Norwich City, Declan Gallagher (Motherwell), Scott McKenna (Nottingham Forest), Jack Hendry (KV Oostende)
Midfielders: Billy Gilmour (Chelsea), Callum McGregor (Celtic), Scott McTominay (Manchester United), Stuart Armstrong (Southampton), John McGinn (Aston Villa), John Fleck (Sheffield United), David Turnbull (Celtic)
Forwards: James Forrest (Celtic), Ryan Christie (Celtic), Ryan Fraser (Newcastle United), Lyndon Dykes (Queens Park Rangers), Che Adams (Southampton), Kevin Nisbet (Hibernian)
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We cud do away with qualifying international mid season altogether.
Seed the countries and have minnows play qualifying group stage before the tournament.
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Posted: |
Jun 11, 2021 - 8:21 AM
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By: |
litefoot
(Member)
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Group A: Turkey, Italy, Wales, Switzerland (games held in Rome/Baku)
Group B: Denmark, Finland, Belgium, Russia (Copenhagen/St Petersburg)
Group C: Netherlands, Ukraine, Austria, North Macedonia (Amsterdam/Bucharest)
Group D: England, Croatia, Scotland, Czech Republic (London/Glasgow)
Group E: Spain, Sweden, Poland, Slovakia (Seville/St Petersburg)
Group F: Hungary, Portugal, France, Germany (Munich/Budapest)
Just looking at where all these games are being played and it's an odd set-up.
Italy (Group A), Denmark (B), Holland (C), England (D), Spain (E) and Germany (F) play all their games at home.
When the other teams in those groups aren't playing at those venues:
Turkey, Wales and Switzerland (A) play each other in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Belgium, Russia and Finland (B) play each other in St Petersburg, Russia. Two home games for the Ruskies.
Ukraine, Austria and North Macedonia (C) play each other in Bucharest, Romania.
Croatia, Scotland and the Czechs (D) play each other in Glasgow. Two home games for the Scots.
Sweden, Poland and Slovakia (E) play each other in St Petersburg, Russia.
Hungary, Portugal and France play each other in Budapest, Hungary. Two home games for the Hungarians.
So the Russians, the Scots and the Hungarians get two home games each but Belgium, Portugal, France and Croatia get no home games at all and have to travel thousands of miles to distant countries. It's utterly bonkers.
Clearly weighted in favour of the big guns to get through to the knockout stages. Althoug Belgium have really been hard done by.
If England can't win all three games with home support, Gareth may as well pack his bags in 11 days' time. Will all their opponents park the bus and try and nick 1-0 wins? I wouldn't be surprised.
Can't wait to see how Steve Clarke's going to line up the Scots.
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Plan your weekend!
So today...
Saturday 12 June
Group A: Wales vs Switzerland (14:00, Baku) bbc
Group B: Denmark vs Finland (17:00, Copenhagen) bbc
Group B: Belgium vs Russia (20:00, St Petersburg) itv
Tomorrow
Sunday 13 June
Group D: England vs Croatia (14:00, London)
Group C: Austria vs North Macedonia (17:00, Bucharest) itv
Group C: Netherlands vs Ukraine (20:00, Amsterdam) itv
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