UEFA Euro 2016 Group B ** spoilers** (England, Slovakia, Russia, Wales)

Personally I don't think our tournament so far has been that different from France's. They too have also struggled to break teams down and get the ball in the back of the net.

It will be interesting to see what Roy thinks are our first 11 now. Clyne was excellent last night, but I don't think anyone else given a start grabbed their chance with both hands.
 
Funny everyone bigging up Wales after that ******* disgraceful, spineless performance they put in against England, how quickly people forget. They'll do exactly the same against the next decent team they face as well.
 
Really dont think the increase to 24 teams helps at all - just far more matches of sub-par quality and it complicates the knockout stage needlessly.

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
We'll go out last 16 or quarter finals, whichever sees us face a decent team, semi finals if we're extremely lucky. A guy yesterday told me that he thinks we can win it, I nearly fell off my chair. Even if we somehow miraculously win it'll be more akin to Greece winning in 2004 rather than a respectable team deserving it.
 
this_is_gav said:
What a brilliant achievement for Wales.

I consider myself British rather than English, so I was hoping Wales did well (finishing 2nd behind England ideally) but they've exceeded what I thought possible. It was a fairy tale qualifying for the Euros (among other nations such as Iceland and Northern Ireland) but to progress as group winners and finishing the group on such a high with such great support... I wish England couldn't get close to that... Iceland and Northern Ireland still could too.

England... OK, so we played decent enough in all three games in terms of limiting threat against (below?) average teams, but we've offered so little ourselves, and Slovakia and Wales showed how poor Russia are. We were never going to do much at this tournament, but I was hoping for a bit more, especially with so many form players chosen and in theory some decent threat up front, but we aren't playing to their strengths - perhaps against stronger teams the games will open up and we'll be able to show a bit more, but Hodgson has to pick players on merit not in hope.

Still, I don't think any team has emerged as a team capable or winning the tournament yet, so we're not alone in being drab.
Click to expand...

Is it really a fairy tale though ? They lowered the quality needed so I don't see that as a big deal.

The Wales love in has been insufferable especially when you consider the half of the squad are actually English.
 
No1newts said:
Funny everyone bigging up Wales after that ******* disgraceful, spineless performance they put in against England, how quickly people forget. They'll do exactly the same against the next decent team they face as well.
Click to expand...

Nobody has forgot and your probably right, but it takes nothing away from the two wins and they've still won the group which no Salty England supporter can take away from them. :D
 
I don't mind a defensive outlook personally, if that's what it takes to win. It nearly worked against England, and if they face a top team I wish them well in doing whatever it takes to give them their best shot at going further. Certainly their fans don't mind it - they're loving every minute from what I can see, and why not.



omnomnom said:
Is it really a fairy tale though ? They lowered the quality needed so I don't see that as a big deal.

The Wales love in has been insufferable especially when you consider the half of the squad are actually English.
Click to expand...

OK probably not a fairy tale to qualify, but I doubt many expected them to progress from the group (well, except Swagger187 above), let alone as group winners.
 
Last edited:
ebilcake said:
Nobody has forgot and your probably right, but it takes nothing away from the two wins and they've still won the group which no Salty England supporter can take away from them. :D
Click to expand...

Wales were a bit lucky that Russia were effectively already out (mathmatically maybe not, but looking at everything else they were) so had nothing to play for.

Wales deserved the win last night, no doubt, but big difference playing a team fighting for a place in the knock-outs vs team who were already out.

England would still have made hard work of it even if they had played Russia 3rd but much more likely to have won, given that scenario (Slovakia had a lot more quality, Russia was always going to struggle to even get 3rd let alone higher)

this_is_gav said:
OK probably not a fairy tale to qualify, but I doubt many expected them to progress from the group (well, except Swagger187 above), let alone as group winners.
Click to expand...

Now you are going way too far the other way, Wales are still (and have been for a while) a decent TEAM, even if individual quality isnt brilliant for the most part.

Even if you ignore the England game for a moment (being a "derby" its hard to predict how its going to turn out), Wales can easily be expected to beat Russia and worst case scenario draw with Slovakia - and given potential 3rd place qualifying - yes its fairly easy to see Wales qualifying outright before a ball has been kicked.

(not as group winners, maybe not, and thats very well done, but qualifying is **** easy)
 
Last edited:
FrankJH said:
Wales were a bit lucky that Russia were effectively already out
)
Click to expand...

What? no they weren't, Russia were narrow favorites to win that game and if England beat Slovakia which they should have done Russia would have been in with a chance.

Russia looked defeated after the second goal, it's around that time their heads were down.

Swagger187 said:
I can. It was probably the easiest group in the competition. Full of woeful teams.
Click to expand...

Woeful teams England couldn't beat, excluding Wales of course which was a derby so unpredictable.
 
Last edited:
ebilcake said:
What? no they weren't, Russia were narrow favorites to win that game and if England beat Slovakia which they should have done Russia would have been in with a chance.

Russia looked defeated after the second goal, it's around that time their heads were down.
.
Click to expand...

laughs - favourites by who's reckoning?

"in with a chance" sounds exactly like it says, unlikely but you never know

Russia were always likely to be last even before they lost to Slovakia in the 2nd game (just given the quality of their players and relative performance level)
 
FrankJH said:
laughs - favourites by who's reckoning?

"in with a chance" sounds exactly like it says, unlikely but you never know

Russia were always likely to be last even before they lost to Slovakia in the 2nd game (just given the quality of their players and relative performance level)
Click to expand...

The bookies, who else? :D

A mathematical chance is enough for most teams to keep trying, but obviously not easy when you're 2.0 down at half time.
 
Last edited:
ps3ud0 said:
Really dont think the increase to 24 teams helps at all - just far more matches of sub-par quality and it complicates the knockout stage needlessly.

ps3ud0 :cool:
Click to expand...

Exactly if it was old rules the Slovaks would have had to chase the game. Not park the bus which is happening a lot Tbh. Today's games were exactly the same. The football on a whole has been terrible this year.
 
Azza said:
England half of the draw isn't looking too good.
Click to expand...

Indeed, grim viewing.

Ricochet J said:
Don't be so obtuse.

Players openly have spats with their managers and aren't afraid to air their feelings. For example:
Beckham vs Ferguson
Mata vs Mourinho
Loads others

The fact is Wayne Rooney has come out in support of Roy Hodgeson. And it's the facts we deal with. Not speculation.

So all of these arm chair MOTD experts who say "bin Roy" go against what the England captain is saying!

How are you going to try and argue against Wayne Rooney?
Click to expand...

By saying he's obviously going to be biased, towing the line when asked a question. The examples you've given there are all club incidents. Do you really think Rooney would come out and slate the England manager? He might never play for his country again.

Doesn't matter what Rooney says in press conferences, he has an agenda. I don't have an agenda, I can form an opinion from what I see on the pitch.

I actually find it laughable that you support Hodgson, because Rooney said he liked him in a press conference. I mean, what the **** seriously, form your own opinion.
 
Last edited:
We will see how far Wales mass defence gets them against decent teams in the KO stages. Don't forget Sweden made them look quite poor not too long ago.
 
Ricochet J said:
Don't be so obtuse.

Players openly have spats with their managers and aren't afraid to air their feelings. For example:
Beckham vs Ferguson
Mata vs Mourinho
Loads others

The fact is Wayne Rooney has come out in support of Roy Hodgeson. And it's the facts we deal with. Not speculation.

So all of these arm chair MOTD experts who say "bin Roy" go against what the England captain is saying!

How are you going to try and argue against Wayne Rooney?
Click to expand...

I thought this was a great joke... Then I realised you were serious :rolleyes:

Ok let's look at your spats...

Beckham vs Ferguson - Beckham left club
Mata vs Mourinho - Mata left club

See a pattern?

So even though I don't consider Rooney too intelligent, he can either support the England Manager who picks Rooney for any position despite it being detrimental to the team, or he can have a spat and not get picked...hmm...I wonder what he would say...as he probably has advisors to speak for him then I think he will be in support. :p
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom