Euro 2024

[mikesiva]

Belgium, Slovakia and Romania know that as things stand they're all going through. They have no incentive to do anything other than see their games out

If Ukraine score against Belgium, they'll all suddenly sh1t themselves and start playing furiously

Belgium 0-0 Ukraine
Slovakia 1-1 Romania

So, it's as you suggested above.

[Durhamfootman]

I've misunderstood. Belgium do end up facing France in the round of 16. It makes all that farting about suddenly inexplicable

If Czech Republic beat Turkey tonight, England will play Slovakia, I think. If they don't, England will get Netherlands

It's a complicated system when only 8 teams go out.

[sussexpob]

Going to be an interesting day on Monday.... Belgium is still in mourning after losing to France in 2018

[Durhamfootman]

France haven't been tearing it up either

[Durhamfootman]

Georgia staggeringly beat Portugal 2-0 despite being the lowest ranked team at the Euro's (I think)

that means that somehow (I know not how) England dodge the Holland bullet and face Slovakia instead

what a strange way of dividing the teams up

[Durhamfootman]

Southgate's time might be up by Sunday night

He won't be manager by the time World Cup qualifying starts either way. If he wins Euro 24 he'll jump, if he doesn't, he'll be pushed

Potter for England!

[bigfluffylemon]

England's path to the final now looks like being three very beatable teams.

So no doubt we go out on penalties against a team we really should beat on paper. Probably Italy.

[Gingerfinch]

When's the final? I may have to book the following Monday off

[mikesiva]

Georgia staggeringly beat Portugal 2-0 despite being the lowest ranked team at the Euro's (I think)

that means that somehow (I know not how) England dodge the Holland bullet and face Slovakia instead

what a strange way of dividing the teams up

Turkey 2-1 Czech Republic

Thank god the group phase is over! The overly generous promotion from the groups meant only 8 of 24 teams went home.

No real surprise departures.

The knockout should be much better than the group farce.

[bigfluffylemon]

Agreed, Mike.

I'm not a fan of the top 4 third placed teams going through. Massively confusing for who plays who, and not enough jeopardy in the group stage.

But more teams = more cash, so no chance that we go back to a better format.

[Gingerfinch]

There have been some entertaining games though and the 'lesser' teams have done well.

[alfie]

Agreed, Mike.

I'm not a fan of the top 4 third placed teams going through. Massively confusing for who plays who, and not enough jeopardy in the group stage.

But more teams = more cash, so no chance that we go back to a better format.

Agreed. And you get the anomaly whereby Croatia qualifies with 2 points and a GD of -3 , while Ukraine is 4th in its group with 4 points and -2 and hence misses out.

[sussexpob]

Agreed. And you get the anomaly whereby Croatia qualifies with 2 points and a GD of -3 , while Ukraine is 4th in its group with 4 points and -2 and hence misses out.

Croatia were confirmed as being knocked out at the final whistle of their match on Monday. Or at least thats what I thought.

[sussexpob]

I would have agreed pre-tournament that the extra places devalued everything, but the fact is this tournament has been top draw to watch, and some of the smaller sides have really gone for it in matches, so whatever they are doing is working at the end of the day.

Last night could have been Portugal B v Georgia B in a glorified friendly, instead we got 11 Portuguese players busting a gut to make their case for the knockouts, and a Georgia side doing everything to progress. We got a ripper of a game with a famous victory for one of the smallest nations to make the tournament rather than a dead rubber borefest....

Cant be bad, can it?

[Durhamfootman]

Croatia were confirmed as being knocked out at the final whistle of their match on Monday. Or at least thats what I thought.

but I take alfie's point. There are teams in the KO phase who got fewer points than Ukraine. But that's just the way it goes. All 4 teams ended up on 4 points and one of them had to miss out