Euro 2012 - Group Stages

[Silver Fox]

I have to say for all I despise about Roy keane he was brutally honest last night, good skillz keano you utter pcunt

[soggy biscuit]

I have to say for all I despise about Roy keane he was brutally honest last night, good skillz keano you utter pcunt

Agreed. I particularly liked the 'forget going there for a sing song' stuff

[blindedbythelights]

[Maguire]

Draw/Spain

15 mins before you

What do we reckon, Italy/Spain double? Or are Croatia gonna get a result?

Spain/Draw

You got the games the wrong way round though m8

[southbank1871]

Reports suggesting Carroll will start up front alongside Welbeck tonight, with AOL dropping to the bench.

[chilipepper91]

Reports suggesting Carroll will start up front alongside Welbeck tonight, with AOL dropping to the bench.

Ox >>>> MiLOLner

Do think we should go two up top though, so Young dropping to left wing?

[Simon's Church]

Reports suggesting Carroll will start up front alongside Welbeck tonight, with AOL dropping to the bench.

Ox >>>> MiLOLner

Do think we should go two up top though, so Young dropping to left wing?

Apparently.

Think we'll win 2-1 tonight, Carroll and Terry scoring.

[Hoop Blah]

Reports suggesting Carroll will start up front alongside Welbeck tonight, with AOL dropping to the bench.

Ox >>>> MiLOLner

Do think we should go two up top though, so Young dropping to left wing?

Milner is that bit more defensive though, and more likely to keep the shape. Obviously less likely to beat a few men and create something through that bit of attacking spirit, but even if Sweden aren't as big a threat as France, I think it's the right thing to retain that bit more discipline and defensive responsibility that Milner brings and was so integral to how we've played in the previous 3 games. If Gerrard is going to be released to bomb forward a bit more too, Milner tucking in will be useful.

The other thing going for Milner is that he's always been a pretty good crosser of the ball. If we're looking to exploit Carroll's size and threat in the air against their apparent fragile defence, then Milners crossing might be a big part of the plan.

[Maguire]

Very uninspiring team on paper; can't wait for Rooney to return.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

Apparently a 2-2 draw is the only result that guarantees Spain & Croatia both go through. Still trying to work out how 3-3 doesn't, or how a team can finish above another with same points, a head to head draw and a worse goal diff

[HoneyRoastHoax]

[Mr Angry]

Apparently a 2-2 draw is the only result that guarantees Spain & Croatia both go through. Still trying to work out how 3-3 doesn't, or how a team can finish above another with same points, a head to head draw and a worse goal diff

Where did you get that from?

If Spain and Croatia draw 2-2, and Italy beat Ireland by 3 goals or more, surely Italy and Spain would go through on GD?

[Royal Rother]

Milner is that bit more defensive though, and more likely to keep the shape. Obviously less likely to beat a few men and create something through that bit of attacking spirit, but even if Sweden aren't as big a threat as France, I think it's the right thing to retain that bit more discipline and defensive responsibility that Milner brings and was so integral to how we've played in the previous 3 games. If Gerrard is going to be released to bomb forward a bit more too, Milner tucking in will be useful.

The other thing going for Milner is that he's always been a pretty good crosser of the ball. If we're looking to exploit Carroll's size and threat in the air against their apparent fragile defence, then Milners crossing might be a big part of the plan.

I agree with all that. Sounds like the right selections in the circs. Not an exciting line up but probably the best placed to get a result.

[Schards#2]

Apparently a 2-2 draw is the only result that guarantees Spain & Croatia both go through. Still trying to work out how 3-3 doesn't, or how a team can finish above another with same points, a head to head draw and a worse goal diff

Where did you get that from?

If Spain and Croatia draw 2-2, and Italy beat Ireland by 3 goals or more, surely Italy and Spain would go through on GD?

I think it's head to head results so if Spain, Italy and Croatia all have 5, then it's down to results in the games between them, all will be draws, so then goals scored and a 2-2 means Spain 3 Croatia 3 Italy 2.

I'm sure a 3-3 will also have the same outcome.

[soggy biscuit]

Woy's 90th international match tonight

Can't be many to reach that number!

[Gus the teenage cow]

- the pity is that trap has a contract until 2012 when he'll be 75

I know Ireland are behind the rest of the world, but what year is it there at the moment?

sorry i meant 2014


by the way man, your obsession with ireland is bordering on unhealthy, did one of those kiddy fiddler catholics priests have his way with you when you were a kid because if it's something like that then you have no excuse and just sound like a bit of a kant unfortunately

today's games

france win and draw in the english game

[Handsome Man]

Ukraine/Draw

[Maguire]

Apparently a 2-2 draw is the only result that guarantees Spain & Croatia both go through. Still trying to work out how 3-3 doesn't, or how a team can finish above another with same points, a head to head draw and a worse goal diff

Where did you get that from?

If Spain and Croatia draw 2-2, and Italy beat Ireland by 3 goals or more, surely Italy and Spain would go through on GD?

To be clear - head-to-head records come before overall GD.

Italy have drawn 1-1 and 1-1 so far, so if they all end up on the same points a 2-2 draw (or higher) between Spain and Croatia will send Italy out no matter how many they slap past the hapless Micks.

After the stitch up between Sweden and Denmark in Euro 2004 I still think there's more delicious irony in the thought of Italy going out through a bit of match-fixing.

[Maguire]

Tonight:

France/Draw the most likely combo IMHO.

Sadly.

[Silver Fox]

Italy have drawn 1-1 and 1-1 so far, so if they all end up on the same points a 2-2 draw (or higher) between Spain and Croatia will send Italy out no matter how many they slap past the hapless Micks.

You can tell this is true because the ITV commentator last night suggested Spain might want to run up the score against said bog trotters