The Spanish pace and running power combined with their passing accuracy was absolutely lethal tonite, especially as Turkey is not a weak team exactly! The third goal seemed bit off-sidey to me, though...
I will fly my Belgian flag until the bitter end, but Spain was certainly very impressive today.
@FinneousPJ - cannot help it, I want Iceland and Hungary to go forward, and Austria needs to help there, so those Portuguese starz just have to twinkle dimly tomorrow!
Finally I've caught up with all the matches. I was impressed by the spirit of both Wales and England, just as they didn't disappoint. I was also impressed by the quality of Germany and Poland - a very good match, two teams deserved something from it. Italy... well, this team will be VERY hard to play against in the play-offs. Spain - just as I expected, they played much more effective and the development will go on.
Ukraine - Northen Ireland will go into history as the match which result nobody here predicted.
This is the table:
As I won't be here tomorrow, but the second round of matches is not over yet, I'll give prediction for tomorrow's games:
Romania vs Albania - Romania needs a win here, and as the first 2 matches showed, they are playing decently. 2:1. Maybe Albania will finally score on this tournamet?
Switzerland vs France - I don't think France would give their all to win here - they just should make sure to finish first in the group. They need to rest a bit before the play-offs. Also, they wouldn't like to hurt Switzerland. A draw is a most probable result. 1:1.
What an unusual win for Belgium - in a sense that it was pretty compelling!
And this said by someone whom due to friendship allegiance has supported BE for about four years now when, unfortunately, pretty much always Finland does not make it. Pleased they over-performed, and hope their team cohesion and tactics only improve from here. Individual talent they have aplenty, but I am not very convinced of Wilmots, the coach.
Feel sort of bad for Iceland, but since I support also Hungary to equal measure, I'm guessing tie was an optimal result in a sense.
@FinneousPJ : hum.... coincidentally bookies are with you on Ronaldo and Portugal, but I just do not have it in my heart to predict anything but both Iceland and Hungary going fwd!
Neighbourly love and all that, so let's see what Austria can do! 0-1 to the underdogs, and I'd have my first accurate prediction, even, eh.
Not want to be ageist, but Ronaldo is obviously peaked at 34 years of age, and love the lyrics:
"Das Wasser soll dein Spiegel sein, erst wenn es glatt ist, wirst du sehen wieviel Märchen dir noch bleibt und um Erlösung wirst du flehen"
"The water shall be your mirror, but only when it is smooth will you see how many fairy-tales are remaining for you; and you will plead for redemption."
I'm approaching this from proxy-pro Iceland / Hungary perspective - sorry, meaning that Austria should pull that fairly-tale, but probabilities are with Porgutal though...
Poor Christiano, the ball just don't want to squeeze in... and everybody only defend. Why is everyone always has to defend? They should let him score, otherwise the guy'll just snap and start crying.
I think, he will start complaining that Austrian goalkeeper cheated somehow, because no one can save so many shots of Divine Christiano. And then, he'll take offence on journalists and all around for harboring a grievance against him, that he didn't score
While I am more of one of those nostalgic Figo captaincy fans for Portugal, and not the greatest Ronaldo fan, must say that I feel bit bad for the man!
I simply could not imagine ever taking a penalty, the pressure would pretty much slay me - and since Ronaldo is the superstar of the team, the pressure must be extraordinary.
Well, did not get my prediction, but last round of this group will be exceedingly interesting!! Hungary quite likely to go to last 16 - and maybe brave Iceland too.
Edit: PS - to be clear, I pretty much suck at sports, but I still absolutely empathize with penalty takers: must be horrible!
That set aside, second best result apart from Austria winning! And right ol' hypocrite that I am I rather enjoyed Cahir's charming digs. Shame on me!!! Oh why cannot I be noble of spirit?
The final round in the group stage can be very tactical, depending on what result the teams need to progress in the tournament.
19/6
Switzerland-France 0-2. The Swiss need at least a point to secure 2nd place but the French want to show their home crowd what they can do. Romania-Albania 2-0. A draw is not enough for Romania. Albania needs a win to progress in the tournament but the Romanians get it.
20/6
Russia-Wales 1-1. Russia desperately need a win but the Welsh only need one point to progress, and they get it. Slovakia-England 1-2. The English team is better than Slovakia. I think...
21/6
Ukraine-Poland 0-2. Ukraine is out already, Poland will be going for 1st place in the group. Also, they are the stronger team. Northern Ireland-Germany 0-3. Germany also wants that first place, and they are a much better team than Northern Ireland.
Czech Republic-Turkey 2-2. Both teams desperately need a win to stay in the tournament. Neither team gets it. Croatia-Spain 1-3. Croatia needs one point to secure 2nd place, or a win to take 1st place. But Spain is too strong for them and they don't give away gifts.
22/6
At this point the teams more or less know what it takes to progress on a third place so things could get even more tactical...
Iceland-Austria 1-1. Austria was overrated in my opinion. Iceland may only need one point to progress and their first two matches ended 1-1 so they do that again. Hungary-Portugal 1-1. Like Iceland, Portugal may just need one point. Question is if they get one.
Italy-Ireland 0-1. Italy has already won the group, Ireland has to win. The Italians will spare many of their best players for the round of 16 and may not be 100% motivated, so I can see the Irish pulling off an Irish Upsetter. Sweden-Belgium 1-3. Slatan finally gets a goal but it's not enough.
Have to admit I am getting just a little impatient fidgety... In the last World cup I thought the Franco-Swiss encounter was on of the most memorable games of that competition, so really hoping for a repeat tonite!
French team would have to come together a whole lot better than in the two pervious matches, thou, but here's hoping. Allez les Bleus! Pogba - eclate-toi!
And Hopp Schwiiz too, of course, even if I have to admit a long standing positive bias towards the French national team.
Edit: unless Dechamps bloody benches Pogba again! There is no telling with that man... Edit2: hourrah, Pogba (and Griezmann as well) in starting line-up, so my viewing pleasure can be complete!
Well, normally I would support Slovakia, but... it seems that Poland would greatly benefit of England's win. If England wins, Poland is in 1/8 even if loose against Ukraine. Interesting...
So, 26 matches from 51 (more than 50%) have been played.
This is the table right now:
It's tough right now, with me, @Skatan and @FinneousPJ all there in several points from each other.
It looks like @Skatan hasn't given any predictions for the 3rd round of group matches (or I don't see them). @booinyoureyes has missed giving predictions for several matches as well.
Special congrats goes to @Montresor_SP for guessing a draw between Portugal and Austria.
My predictions for today:
Russia vs Wales. I think it's over for Russia. Albania now has 3 points, Russia is still with one point, while Wales need a draw to qualify. I've always believed in Wales and in Bale in particular. I still do. I think Wales will outmuscle Russia but it will be a draw in the end, to the Wales' favour. 1:1.
Slovakia vs England. I think England will change their forwards for this game and thus will be rejuvenated. Although Slovakia is a tough team, England will outrun them. If compared with France, who didn't need to win yesterday, England has to win in order to secure the first place in this group (Wales can still win their match, though I doubt it). 1:2. And it will still be enough for Slovakia to continue in this tournament.
Comments
Also, I overestimated TUR with the 2-0
I will fly my Belgian flag until the bitter end, but Spain was certainly very impressive today.
@FinneousPJ - cannot help it, I want Iceland and Hungary to go forward, and Austria needs to help there, so those Portuguese starz just have to twinkle dimly tomorrow!
I am betting on team POR and CR7
ISL - HUN 0-0
POR - AUT 2-0
Ukraine - Northen Ireland will go into history as the match which result nobody here predicted.
This is the table:
As I won't be here tomorrow, but the second round of matches is not over yet, I'll give prediction for tomorrow's games:
Romania vs Albania - Romania needs a win here, and as the first 2 matches showed, they are playing decently. 2:1. Maybe Albania will finally score on this tournamet?
Switzerland vs France - I don't think France would give their all to win here - they just should make sure to finish first in the group. They need to rest a bit before the play-offs. Also, they wouldn't like to hurt Switzerland. A draw is a most probable result. 1:1.
Romania - Albania: 2-0
Switzerland - France: 1-1
Russia - Wales: 1-2
Slovakia - England: 0-1
Ukraine - Poland: 1-3
Northern Ireland - Germany: 0-2
Czech Republic - Turkey: 2-1
Croatia - Spain: 0-1
Iceland - Austria: 0-2
Hungary - Portugal: 1-1
Italy - Republic of Ireland: 2-0
Sweden - Belgium: 0-2
And this said by someone whom due to friendship allegiance has supported BE for about four years now when, unfortunately, pretty much always Finland does not make it. Pleased they over-performed, and hope their team cohesion and tactics only improve from here. Individual talent they have aplenty, but I am not very convinced of Wilmots, the coach.
Feel sort of bad for Iceland, but since I support also Hungary to equal measure, I'm guessing tie was an optimal result in a sense.
@FinneousPJ : hum.... coincidentally bookies are with you on Ronaldo and Portugal, but I just do not have it in my heart to predict anything but both Iceland and Hungary going fwd!
Neighbourly love and all that, so let's see what Austria can do! 0-1 to the underdogs, and I'd have my first accurate prediction, even, eh.
How about Rammstein: Alter Mann?
Not want to be ageist, but Ronaldo is obviously peaked at 34 years of age, and love the lyrics:
"Das Wasser soll dein Spiegel sein,
erst wenn es glatt ist, wirst du sehen
wieviel Märchen dir noch bleibt
und um Erlösung wirst du flehen"
"The water shall be your mirror,
but only when it is smooth will you see
how many fairy-tales are remaining for you;
and you will plead for redemption."
I'm approaching this from proxy-pro Iceland / Hungary perspective - sorry, meaning that Austria should pull that fairly-tale, but probabilities are with Porgutal though...
Good luck!
I simply could not imagine ever taking a penalty, the pressure would pretty much slay me - and since Ronaldo is the superstar of the team, the pressure must be extraordinary.
Well, did not get my prediction, but last round of this group will be exceedingly interesting!! Hungary quite likely to go to last 16 - and maybe brave Iceland too.
Edit: PS - to be clear, I pretty much suck at sports, but I still absolutely empathize with penalty takers: must be horrible!
That set aside, second best result apart from Austria winning!
Romania - Albania: 1-1 after 0-1..so fun.
Switzerland - France: 2-1!...
Russia - Wales: 0-0.
Slovakia - England: 1--2..?...
Ukraine - Poland: 2-4 after 2-1.....
Northern Ireland - Germany: 2-1
Czech Republic - Turkey: 2-0 hope
Croatia - Spain: 0-3 exact result but believed in tha Croat.
Iceland - Austria: 0-2
Hungary - Portugal: 0-1....
Italy - Republic of Ireland: 1-2. Watch out for left leg..
Sweden - Belgium: 0-3..
ROM 1 - ALB 0
SWI 1 - FRA 3
SLO 2 - ENG 1
RUS 1 - WAL 2
Unlike Löw I like this 32 team tournament, because maybe, just maybe I will get even one match correctly predicted!
19/6
Switzerland-France 0-2. The Swiss need at least a point to secure 2nd place but the French want to show their home crowd what they can do.
Romania-Albania 2-0. A draw is not enough for Romania. Albania needs a win to progress in the tournament but the Romanians get it.
20/6
Russia-Wales 1-1. Russia desperately need a win but the Welsh only need one point to progress, and they get it.
Slovakia-England 1-2. The English team is better than Slovakia. I think...
21/6
Ukraine-Poland 0-2. Ukraine is out already, Poland will be going for 1st place in the group. Also, they are the stronger team.
Northern Ireland-Germany 0-3. Germany also wants that first place, and they are a much better team than Northern Ireland.
Czech Republic-Turkey 2-2. Both teams desperately need a win to stay in the tournament. Neither team gets it.
Croatia-Spain 1-3. Croatia needs one point to secure 2nd place, or a win to take 1st place. But Spain is too strong for them and they don't give away gifts.
22/6
At this point the teams more or less know what it takes to progress on a third place so things could get even more tactical...
Iceland-Austria 1-1. Austria was overrated in my opinion. Iceland may only need one point to progress and their first two matches ended 1-1 so they do that again.
Hungary-Portugal 1-1. Like Iceland, Portugal may just need one point. Question is if they get one.
Italy-Ireland 0-1. Italy has already won the group, Ireland has to win. The Italians will spare many of their best players for the round of 16 and may not be 100% motivated, so I can see the Irish pulling off an Irish Upsetter.
Sweden-Belgium 1-3. Slatan finally gets a goal but it's not enough.
ROU - ALB 1-0
French team would have to come together a whole lot better than in the two pervious matches, thou, but here's hoping. Allez les Bleus! Pogba - eclate-toi!
And Hopp Schwiiz too, of course, even if I have to admit a long standing positive bias towards the French national team.
Edit: unless Dechamps bloody benches Pogba again! There is no telling with that man...
Edit2: hourrah, Pogba (and Griezmann as well) in starting line-up, so my viewing pleasure can be complete!
FR lacked in pace, movement, accuracy and ... will. Switzerland would have frankly deserved to win tonight.
The most notable feature of this match is probably the seven ripped Swiss jerseys!!
Romania - Albania: 2-1
Switzerland - France: 1-3
Russia - Wales: 1-2
Slovakia - England: 0-3
Ukraine - Poland: 1-1
Northern Ireland - Germany: 2-2
Czech Republic - Turkey: 2-2
Croatia - Spain: 1-2
Iceland - Austria: 0-2
Hungary - Portugal: 1-2
Italy - Republic of Ireland: 2-2
Sweden - Belgium: 1-2
This is the table right now:
It's tough right now, with me, @Skatan and @FinneousPJ all there in several points from each other.
It looks like @Skatan hasn't given any predictions for the 3rd round of group matches (or I don't see them). @booinyoureyes has missed giving predictions for several matches as well.
Special congrats goes to @Montresor_SP for guessing a draw between Portugal and Austria.
My predictions for today:
Russia vs Wales. I think it's over for Russia. Albania now has 3 points, Russia is still with one point, while Wales need a draw to qualify. I've always believed in Wales and in Bale in particular. I still do. I think Wales will outmuscle Russia but it will be a draw in the end, to the Wales' favour. 1:1.
Slovakia vs England. I think England will change their forwards for this game and thus will be rejuvenated. Although Slovakia is a tough team, England will outrun them. If compared with France, who didn't need to win yesterday, England has to win in order to secure the first place in this group (Wales can still win their match, though I doubt it). 1:2. And it will still be enough for Slovakia to continue in this tournament.