Euro 2016

[El Presidente]

Some very good football being played in the Euro 2016. 

Keep us up to date as to how your team is doing and who you think will take the championship 

While Spain is where my European heart lies.......go Ireland 

[JohnS]

Still very early on in the tournament and anything cold happen in each group.

http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/

Standings...

http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2016/standings/index.html

By the way, I heard a local radio news report describe Italy's win over Belgium as an 'upset' result. Why is that? Is Belgium ranked higher than Italy at the moment?

[ElReyDel757]

Yes, Belgium was the highest ranked European team in the world entering the tournament, # 2 in the world.  They are stacked with individual talent:

http://m.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/ranking-table/men/index.html

[ElReyDel757]

Hopefully, all of my European & Asia Pacific friends are also watching the Copa America, it's quite excellent.

[Erm310mce]

Forza Azzurri! Strong showing in game one for the Italians. 

I don't think they are going far but I'm happy with a good win against a tough Belgium team. 

[perkinke]

Still very early on in the tournament and anything cold happen in each group.

http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/

Standings...

http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2016/standings/index.html

By the way, I heard a local radio news report describe Italy's win over Belgium as an 'upset' result. Why is that? Is Belgium ranked higher than Italy at the moment?

Belgium has a ton of individual talent but look to be lacking any chemistry, they look like England has looked for a while and Brazil has started to look: excellent players, poor team. Italy on the other hand is star-player poor but played a wonderful team game and won. If Pelle sharpens his finishing they could make a strong run.

I agree the Copa has been a good tournament, and not just because the US and Mexico are making a decent showing. Still, I would be a lot happier if Klinsi would start Nagbe, he seems to be the only mid we have capable of beating his man off the dribble, other than just pushing the ball out ahead and trying to out run them. But I might be a bit biased about Nagbe.

[jpnyc]

I'm rooting for Poland. It's said this is the strongest squad in 30 years. Lewandowski is probably the best #9 in the world right now. We're facing Germany on Thursday. It's gonna be a nerve-wracking day. Probably should call in sick to work.

[Fugu]

38 minutes ago, JohnS said:

Still very early on in the tournament and anything cold happen in each group.

http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/

Standings...

http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2016/standings/index.html

By the way, I heard a local radio news report describe Italy's win over Belgium as an 'upset' result. Why is that? Is Belgium ranked higher than Italy at the moment?

That's what I wondered as well, John. For me, Italy still was the favorite of that match, the result was no real surprise to me. While Belgium is said to have the best individual players - still football is a team play. Italy has a rather "old" but experienced team (still with Buffon...) You can observe that often for teams with very strong individuals such as Ronaldo today (Portugal-Iceland: 1:1 !). Haven't seen in full, but from what I saw it seemed he didn't find into the match. Well, we'll see how they continue...

[Fugu]

10 minutes ago, jpnyc said:

I'm rooting for Poland. It's said this is the strongest squad in 30 years. Lewandowski is probably the best #9 in the world right now. We're facing Germany on Thursday. It's gonna be a nerve-wracking day. Probably should call in sick to work.

Really looking forward to that match. Poland-Germany has always been tight and exciting fights in the group matches!

[cpmurrin]

Love the major tournaments.  Like Poland as well.  Thursday should be great.  Also watching the Copa America tourney where there have been a ton of upsets including Brazil and Uruguay out at the group stage.  Our boys love them as well.  They follow the games, have the sticker books, make flags, etc.  Great fun

[jpnyc]

6 minutes ago, cpmurrin said:

Love the major tournaments.  Like Poland as well.  Thursday should be great.  Also watching the Copa America tourney where there have been a ton of upsets including Brazil and Uruguay out at the group stage.  Our boys love them as well.  They follow the games, have the sticker books, make flags, etc.  Great fun

Chile and Argentina both play tonight. It's gonna be great evening for soccer and cigars. Who would have thought that Brazil and Uruguay wouldn't make it out of their groups. That's a major upset. I hope that US make it far in this tournament so that the sport can become more popular here.

[Erm310mce]

2 hours ago, JohnS said:

 

Standings...

http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2016/standings/index.html

By the way, I heard a local radio news report describe Italy's win over Belgium as an 'upset' result. Why is that? Is Belgium ranked higher than Italy at the moment?

John,

a lot of people think the Italian squad is the weakest team put forward in a long time. While the Italians always have a strong defense, the team is really lacking in offense. 

No more Pirlo creating offense, our best chances were created by Bonucci. De Rossi isn't Pirlo and their strikers need experience. 

It will be interesting to watch but as an Azzurri fan, I'm not expecting much this tournament but will still hope for great games like they played against Belgium. 

Buffon is still one of the greats, however Conte needs to start looking to the future soon and let the older players move on. It's the only way they will compete again. 

[JohnS]

37 minutes ago, Erm310mce said:

John,

a lot of people think the Italian squad is the weakest team put forward in a long time. While the Italians always have a strong defense, the team is really lacking in offense. 

No more Pirlo creating offense, our best chances were created by Bonucci. De Rossi isn't Pirlo and their strikers need experience. 

It will be interesting to watch but as an Azzurri fan, I'm not expecting much this tournament but will still hope for great games like they played against Belgium. 

Buffon is still one of the greats, however Conte needs to start looking to the future soon and let the older players move on. It's the only way they will compete again. 

Aah, I see, thanks for your explanation. So I gather the Italian team is playing defensively in this Euro 2016 tournament, and relying on counter-attack opportunities, like Greece in 2004?

[soutso]

Just now, JohnS said:

Aah, I see, thanks for your explanation. So I gather the Italian team is playing defensively in this Euro 2016 tournament, and relying on counter-attack opportunities, like Greece in 2004?

The Italians will put on a defensive masterclass this tournament. Their coach Conte is largely responsible for Juventus's rise after their relegation. A no nonsense coach who picks players and not names, hence the great Pirlo's absence. Italy are trying to move on with a newish team but they're my dark horse this tournament. Forza Azzuri!!

 

On a side note, Italy's tactics were admired V Belgium (and rightly so) but it just bugs me that Greece were heavily criticised for it when they did it.

[Erm310mce]

50 minutes ago, JohnS said:

Aah, I see, thanks for your explanation. So I gather the Italian team is playing defensively in this Euro 2016 tournament, and relying on counter-attack opportunities, like Greece in 2004?

Yes, and i agree with Soutso. The defense will be fantastic. 

Conte does like to push forward though, much more than previous coaches so it will be interesting to watch if his young strikers will rise to the occasion. 

[Ferrero]

Expect England to 'do an England' and bail out in the group stages.

I had Slovakia as my outsider but they put up a poor display in the first match against Wales. Hungary got an upset result last night though so maybe they can continue through the group stages and cause some headaches in the round of 16.

However, organisationally Germany are just way too strong. I expect to see them in the Final. France haven't been performing to their maximum potential but they have so many individual game changers (Pogba, Payet, Griezmann etc.) Expect to see them convert a few games in wins for France. 

 

[LLC]

I'm really enjoying the games so far and looking forward to a lot of good matches to come.

[GavLew79]

Come on Wales! 

[IPORTER]

Ireland had a good opener against Sweden. Let's see what the next game brings!!

[golfgar]

Saw most of the France Albania game yesterday, nice of Les Bleus to wait until the last minute to score.  Not sure about how far they may go.

[CaptainQuintero]

Stumble by Germany, I still wouldn't put any money against them recovering and kicking it up a few gears and gaining momentum

England never seen to do it the easy way, what an understatement!

Great result for NI, great to see them doing well

[El Presidente]

Ireland baby!  $23 to 1 to reach the Semi. $50 on 

[MattW]

Glad England managed to pull some points out of the bag yesterday!!!

[Fugu]

11 hours ago, CaptainQuintero said:

Great result for NI, great to see them doing well

Doing well is a slight understatement, Captain. Was a historic, first ever match-win in any Euro for the Northernirish.

[Fugu]

Depressing and at the same time surprising to see so much hooligan violence at this Euro. You start to wonder, how at all they manage to smuggle all those Bengal flares and pyro into the stadium. Given the special security situation reg. islamistic terror, you just wonder....