EUROS FINAL. FT: ENGLAND 1 - 2 SPAIN

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Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

What’s happened to Scotland? Eighteen months or so ago, they were one of Europe’s form sides, but this result has not come out of the blue, their results have been poor and I think Steve Clarke would have been under pressure in different circumstances. It’s hardly as if they’re an old side going over the top together - this time last year I would have backed them to get through the group they’re in and they still could, they’re not a great side, but they should be better than they’ve been showing lately.

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Who knows Bob. Peaked too early ? Scotland were a good team, the sum total of everyone together was better than the individuals.
I haven't gone because I wasn't feeling it.
Although last night wasn't the total end of the world , it wasn't a good start.

I know I shouldn't really care what happened last night and had it been anything other than an opening match I probably would not have even watched yet I thoroughly enjoyed that.
Iron Bru, Buckfast, deep fried Mars Bars are you watching? Your boys got a hell of a beating.

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Originally Posted by Jimmy the Jock

Who knows Bob. Peaked too early ? Scotland were a good team, the sum total of everyone together was better than the individuals.
I haven't gone because I wasn't feeling it.
Although last night wasn't the total end of the world , it wasn't a good start.

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The good thing is that I believe goal difference is not really important when it comes to qualification, it’s more about results against the teams you’re in competition with, so they could still qualify for the last sixteen with just one win.

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Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

The good thing is that I believe goal difference is not really important when it comes to qualification, it’s more about results against the teams you’re in competition with, so they could still qualify for the last sixteen with just one win.

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I hope we have something to cheer at some point , but last 16 could bring even greater disappointment .
Whilst it isn't a competition , I feel Steve Clarke would probably be in demand at a certain level in domestic football (ours?)
A few more bad results would soon dissipate that .

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Originally Posted by Majorblue

I know I shouldn't really care what happened last night and had it been anything other than an opening match I probably would not have even watched yet I thoroughly enjoyed that.
Iron Bru, Buckfast, deep fried Mars Bars are you watching? Your boys got a hell of a beating.

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Glad you enjoyed it , I didn't let it bother me too much as I was tucking into a few deep fried Mars Bars washed down with a gallon of Irn Bru and single Malt .
Buckfast on the corn flakes this morning .
Have a lovely day :thumbup:

SATURDAY 15th JUNE

FT: HUNGARY 1 - 3 SWITZERLAND

FT: SPAIN 3 - 0 CROATIA

FT: ITALY 2 - 1 ALBANIA

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Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

The good thing is that I believe goal difference is not really important when it comes to qualification, it’s more about results against the teams you’re in competition with, so they could still qualify for the last sixteen with just one win.

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For that then they will need Germany to win all 3 games, and them to beat the team that beat the other team in the group.

e.g.
Germany wins all 3
Switzerland beats Hungary
Scotland beats Switzerland

Seems a somewhat unlikely scenario if entirely possible. I think 4 points is the minimum to not be in the third place spot, if they are in third GD is the number one tie breaker after points (obviously, as they won't have played any of the other third place teams from other groups).

I would love Scotland to do well

Looking at the news coverage last night there were clearly masses of loyal fans out there who may never see their boys again in a major tournament

It's only 8 years since we were in France showboating

These times are great times for us , the jocks , norn iron etc when we eventually get there

I hope England get stuffed

Switzerland a goal up against Hungary, when the last time the Swiss didn’t qualify for the Finals of a major tournament I wonder?

2-0.

Hungary look bloody awful. Switzerland could/should have had 4 or 5 in that first half. 2 good finishes for the Swiss goals aswell. If Switzerland really click on the 2nd half this could get very messy for Hungary

2-1 after Hungary had missed a great chance a couple of minutes earlier - could be a good last quarter of the game.

Switzerland score a third in added time as Hungary chase an equaliser, game over - based on the two matches played so far, it’s hard to see Scotland beating either of these two.

Observations from the first 2 games
Both Refs have been anonymous and better than anything in the Ingurlish leagues

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Originally Posted by BLUETIT

Observations from the first 2 games
Both Refs have been anonymous and better than anything in the Ingurlish leagues

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I thought the Ref in the Scotland game was excellent. Clear decisions, no drama, he almost seemed disinterested, but he had complete control.

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Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

What’s happened to Scotland? Eighteen months or so ago, they were one of Europe’s form sides, but this result has not come out of the blue, their results have been poor and I think Steve Clarke would have been under pressure in different circumstances. It’s hardly as if they’re an old side going over the top together - this time last year I would have backed them to get through the group they’re in and they still could, they’re not a great side, but they should be better than they’ve been showing lately.

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I see some parallels with us under Mark Hughes. We had a calendar year when we were invincible then our form slipped drastically and we were lucky to finish with a playoff against Ukraine. I've always reckoned that, had we beaten them, we'd have been battered in Euro 2004 as we were playing poorly. Sadly, Hughes started the next campaign, which started disastrously, and that was the end of him.

Perhaps Scotland have had their spell where everything has been great and now it's back to normal, as we did back then?

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Originally Posted by xsnaggle

I thought the Ref in the Scotland game was excellent. Clear decisions, no drama, he almost seemed disinterested, but he had complete control.

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Always liked Clement Turpin and I reckon he has a very good chance of taking charge of the final if France don't make it.

Luka Modric has 175 caps :yikes:

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Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee

I see some parallels with us under Mark Hughes. We had a calendar year when we were invincible then our form slipped drastically and we were lucky to finish with a playoff against Ukraine. I've always reckoned that, had we beaten them, we'd have been battered in Euro 2004 as we were playing poorly. Sadly, Hughes started the next campaign, which started disastrously, and that was the end of him.

Perhaps Scotland have had their spell where everything has been great and now it's back to normal, as we did back then?

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Was it not Hughes managing the team that went to Montenegro (who had just sacked their manager) for a draw and came a copper by losing late on?

If he'd have just gone for the jugular we would not have needed the playoff game.

Wasn't that against Russia, or am I mixing up my Wales failures?

Brilliant goal doubles Spain’s lead over Croatia - Spain not too clever at the back though.

Another very watchable game.

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Originally Posted by MacAdder

Was it not Hughes managing the team that went to Montenegro (who had just sacked their manager) for a draw and came a copper by losing late on?

If he'd have just gone for the jugular we would not have needed the playoff game.

Wasn't that against Russia, or am I mixing up my Wales failures?

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Think it was Serbia we lost 1-0 to in the group stage before the Play Off loss to Russia - you’re right about Hughes being over cautious in both games.

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Originally Posted by MacAdder

Was it not Hughes managing the team that went to Montenegro (who had just sacked their manager) for a draw and came a copper by losing late on?

If he'd have just gone for the jugular we would not have needed the playoff game.

Wasn't that against Russia, or am I mixing up my Wales failures?

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You're right, it was Russia. I'm getting old!!

Had to check the group. We were 4 points adrift of Italy in the end. The group started with Yugoslavia taking part and changing to Serbia and Montenegro. There was some infighting with the players from what I remember, resulting in them picking up only 1 point from 2 games against Azerbaijan.

Italy only drew at home to Yugoslavia, so after we'd won our opening 4 games we could have lost in Italy and qualified with 3 wins. As it was, 2 would have been enough. Unfortunately for us, all of S&M's main players decided to return and they did the double over us, while we also failed to beat Finland at home, winning 1 point from the last 4 matches. That Finland game Finnished us off. We would have been a point clear of Italy with a last home game over S&M to come, but ended up needing Azerbaijan to get a result in Italy, which they didn't manage. Alternatively, had Serbia & Montenegro not had their problems and beaten Azerbaijan twice, they'd have won the group in the end.

3-0.

Dion Dublin: "The key to the game so far is the wide players for Spain, Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams. Their wideplay is stretching the pitch so wide and making it so big that it is forcing the Croatian defenders to cover the whole width of the pitch, which is leaving gaps all over the place."

None of that inverted winger shit then.

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Originally Posted by Undercoverinwurzelland

Dion Dublin: "The key to the game so far is the wide players for Spain, Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams. Their wideplay is stretching the pitch so wide and making it so big that it is forcing the Croatian defenders to cover the whole width of the pitch, which is leaving gaps all over the place."

None of that inverted winger shit then.

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Football is a simple game