EURO 2024 and Copa America 2024 Championships

Tough one for Ukraine, they probably deserved to win that game vs Belgium. So many chances. That penalty for Romania was a shocker VAR turn of events. Maybe Putin had a hand in it? :lol:

have a feeling this Czechia v Turkey game is going to be one of the best ones so far... Turkey never fail to disappoint in this regard :lol:

"Paul 13 wrote:

Tough one for Ukraine, they probably deserved to win that game vs Belgium. So many chances. That penalty for Romania was a shocker VAR turn of events. Maybe Putin had a hand in it? :lol:

I read that it's the first time a team with 4 points has failed to progress from the groups at the Euros, which makes it even tougher luck for Ukraine (especially when Slovenia have progressed from England's group with 3 points).

8 changes for Portugal...which looks like it might hand Georgia a place in the last 16 seeing as they're now 2-0 on them. Fair play to them though as, even with 8 changes, Portugal are still a good team.

Czechia have just tied it up :lol: with ten men. the ref has gone mad and yellow carded everyone. I'm enjoying the F out of this one. the announcers for our Fox coverage are Darren Fletcher and Owen Hargreaves. This is the first time I've heard Fletcher (that I can recall), he's absolutely brilliant. He's usually on English TV coverage not American I believe.

"Paul 13 wrote:

Czechia have just tied it up :lol: with ten men. the ref has gone mad and yellow carded everyone. I'm enjoying the F out of this one. the announcers for our Fox coverage are Darren Fletcher and Owen Hargreaves. This is the first time I've heard Fletcher (that I can recall), he's absolutely brilliant. He's usually on English TV coverage not American I believe.

Yeah, Darren Fletcher is usually commentating over here. I can't recall if he's one that I like, most of them do my head in :laughy:

Czechia doing well to level after playing most of the game with 10 men, will be some result if they can do it. You wouldn't think they're the team playing with a man short at the moment. This ref loves a card or 10!

"Claymore95 wrote:

I read that it's the first time a team with 4 points has failed to progress from the groups at the Euros, which makes it even tougher luck for Ukraine (especially when Slovenia have progressed from England's group with 3 points).

I don't understand how that happened, I thought it was the top 4 3rd Place teams, which I've always interpreted as the ones with the most points, that advance?

"Lloyd Heilbrunn wrote:

I don't understand how that happened, I thought it was the top 4 3rd Place teams, which I've always interpreted as the ones with the most points, that advance?

You have to finish 3rd first of all to be one of the teams that could progress. Ukraine got 4 points, same as the rest of their group, but only finished 4th in the group due to inferior goal difference to the rest. Slovenia finished 3rd in their group with 3 points, but that was enough compared to the other teams that finished 3rd in their groups.

Current 3rd place team rankings:
[ATTACH:full]

"Claymore95 wrote:

You have to finish 3rd first of all to be one of the teams that could progress. Ukraine got 4 points, same as the rest of their group, but only finished 4th in the group due to inferior goal difference to the rest. Slovenia finished 3rd in their group with 3 points, but that was enough compared to the other teams that finished 3rd in their groups.

Aha!

Good effort from Czechia (how I wish Scotland had shown half that effort...) but not quite enough as they lose to an injury time goal. They go out and Turkey and Georgia go through.

So, the last 16 ties are confirmed as:
Top half of draw
Spain v Georgia
Germany v Denmark
Portugal v Slovenia
France v Belgium
Bottom half
Romania v Netherlands
Austria v Turkey
England v Slovakia
Switzerland v Italy

"Claymore95 wrote:

Good effort from Czechia (how I wish Scotland had shown half that effort...) but not quite enough as they lose to an injury time goal. They go out and Turkey and Georgia go through.

So, the last 16 ties are confirmed as:
Top half of draw
Spain v Georgia
Germany v Denmark
Portugal v Slovenia
France v Belgium
Bottom half
Romania v Netherlands
Austria v Turkey
England v Slovakia
Switzerland v Italy

Once again England, without looking great, which is an understatement, manages to get into the easy side of the draw…

These two games had my attention... not wanting England to play Holland hahah... And so they've been "saved"... will play Slovakia instead. Prediction time (not who I want, just who I think will win):

Round of 16:
Spain over Georgia 3-1
Germany over Denmark 2-0
Portugal over Slovenia 2-1
France over Belgium 1-0
Netherlands over Romania 1-1 on penalties
Austria over Turkey 3-2
England over Slovakia 1-0 (in typical England fashion)
Switzerland over Italy 2-1

Quarterfinals:
Spain over Germany 2-2 on Penalties
Portugal over France 2-1
(I mean the above two games should be the semifinals)
Austria over Netherlands 2-0
Switzerland over England 2-2 losing on penalties, typical England

Semifinals:
Spain over Portugal 2-1
Austria over Switzerland 1-0

Final:
Spain over Austria 2-0

"Lloyd Heilbrunn wrote:

Once again England, without looking great, which is an understatement, manages to get into the easy side of the draw…

it's probably not going to matter :lol:

"Lloyd Heilbrunn wrote:

Once again England, without looking great, which is an understatement, manages to get into the easy side of the draw…

Yeah, they've lucked out a few times in recent tournaments!

"Paul 13 wrote:

it's probably not going to matter :lol:

I could see them making the final again to be honest, no team in their half should scare them. Although, I expect them to trip up somewhere.

If they'd been in the other half...no chance.

It's somewhat ironic, that England is getting absolutely no offense from its left back, and Jedi Robinson, the US's English-American left back might be one of our best attackers…

"Claymore95 wrote:

I could see them making the final again to be honest, no team in their half should scare them. Although, I expect them to trip up somewhere.

If they'd been in the other half...no chance.

they are going to struggle vs Slovakia, so it could happen there. Southgate has absolutely picked his team incorrectly and the players don't respect him (as a whole). He should have been axed after the last World Cup, just to change things up. You've got Foden, Bellingham, Kane all wanting the ball centrally... there's no width, particularly on the left... Trippier wants to cut inside too... and when you have that, defenses can figure you out. They've looked their best when guys like Bowen and Palmer have provided some width. But it doesn't matter who you put out there if the players aren't into it (if they aren't respecting the manager).

"Claymore95 wrote:

Georgia go through.

Great job by Kirby Smart!:tongue:

No more Euros games until Saturday now...

I would maybe watch US game against Panama in the Copa America tonight, but it's at 11pm our time....and that's past my bedtime :laughy:

"Claymore95 wrote:

No more Euros games until Saturday now...

I would maybe watch US game against Panama in the Copa America tonight, but it's at 11pm our time....and that's past my bedtime :laughy:

i reckon it'll be a decent game. Panama is probably the 3rd best CONCACAF team right now, behind US and Mexico. Jamaica have not been good at all and Costa Rica are in a bit of a transition IMO. Canada would be 4th BTW. But Panama can beat you on the counter and are hard to breakdown. US need to be a little careful. I could see a draw honestly.

well, that's terrible from the US to go down a man. Tim Weah (who by the way was singing the national anthem the loudest) gets a red card. they end up losing to Panama 2-1. But they scored 4 minutes after the red to go up 1-0. Couldn't hold it, gave up two goals. Referee didn't help. It was a red, but there were players on Panama that should have gotten yellows. Two times. In the first half, the hit on the US keeper, not even a yellow. It's poor from the ref. And only 4 minutes of added time. now the US need to win against Uruguay (assuming Bolivia loses tonight and against Panama).

I still hate Alexei Lalas. God he's such an a hole. Why is he yelling? He was yelling before the game started.

On the bright side, Balogun, good player. Growing in confidence. A Robinson, the best player on the pitch for me. Certainly the best athlete. And i'm not surprised by this. He's played for Fulham very well against LFC and Mo Salah the last few years. A declining Salah for sure, but Robinson locks him down. The only negative he has in his game is his decision making in the final third. It's why he's playing for Fulham and not a bigger club IMO.

"Paul 13 wrote:

well, that's terrible from the US to go down a man. Tim Weah (who by the way was singing the national anthem the loudest) gets a red card. they end up losing to Panama 2-1. But they scored 4 minutes after the red to go up 1-0. Couldn't hold it, gave up two goals. Referee didn't help. It was a red, but there were players on Panama that should have gotten yellows. Two times. In the first half, the hit on the US keeper, not even a yellow. It's poor from the ref. And only 4 minutes of added time. now the US need to win against Uruguay (assuming Bolivia loses tonight and against Panama).

I still hate Alexei Lalas. God he's such an a hole. Why is he yelling? He was yelling before the game started.

On the bright side, Balogun, good player. Growing in confidence. A Robinson, the best player on the pitch for me. Certainly the best athlete. And i'm not surprised by this. He's played for Fulham very well against LFC and Mo Salah the last few years. A declining Salah for sure, but Robinson locks him down. The only negative he has in his game is his decision making in the final third. It's why he's playing for Fulham and not a bigger club IMO.

It's not looking great for US to make the knockout stages, is it? Is it fair to say that Weah might just have cost them that on his own with his mindless red?

Unless Bolivia get something off of Panama, and US match or better the result against Uruguay. It might have helped if Uruguay had already qualified (and more likely to rest players against US) but, from what I can see, that's not the case yet. It's a shame that goal difference is the first tiebreaker if teams are tied on points, rather than head-to-head, as H2H would have meant that Uruguay would already have been confirmed as through to knockouts following their win over Panama.

Still, it's a home game for US, so they do have a chance.

I have a soft spot for Costa Rica at Copa America, as they have one, and soon to become two, players in the squad that play for my Scottish team, Heart of Midlothian (Hearts). Forward Kenneth Vargas already plays for us, and RB Gerald Taylor is on his way with a loan move with an option to buy - which is the same way we picked up Vargas. I've no doubt that Vargas must have helped in selling Taylor on the move, as doubt many Costa Ricans will have heard of Hearts, or really wanted to come and play in Scotland :laughy:

Vargas has been a hit for us so far. He took a while to settle, and still needs to become more reliable in front of goal, but he definitely has the chance to be a very good player at just 22 years old.

"Claymore95 wrote:

It's not looking great for US to make the knockout stages, is it? Is it fair to say that Weah might just have cost them that on his own with his mindless red?

Unless Bolivia get something off of Panama, and US match or better the result against Uruguay. It might have helped if Uruguay had already qualified (and more likely to rest players against US) but, from what I can see, that's not the case yet. It's a shame that goal difference is the first tiebreaker if teams are tied on points, rather than head-to-head, as H2H would have meant that Uruguay would already have been confirmed as through to knockouts following their win over Panama.

Still, it's a home game for US, so they do have a chance.

Uruguay are virtually thru, they have a massive GD now that they beat Bolivia 5-0 (It's at 7). The battle in group C is for 2nd place. US on 3 points with a GD of 1, Panama also on 3 points with a GD of -1. I'd be surprised if Panama didn't beat Bolivia so they will be on 6 points at the end of the day. US need to beat Uruguay, who are really already thru, and keep GD over Panama. Panama have scored 4 goals and US are at 2, so that will be the next tie breaker if they finish level on GD. A 1-0 US victory over Uruguay may not be enough, they could need to beat Uruguay by 2. It'll be interesting to see how many players Marcel Bielsa rests then. I haven't checked, i wonder if Weah is out due to the red card or not? That will be a massive loss if that's the case.

"Claymore95 wrote:

I have a soft spot for Costa Rica at Copa America, as they have one, and soon to become two, players in the squad that play for my Scottish team, Heart of Midlothian (Hearts). Forward Kenneth Vargas already plays for us, and RB Gerald Taylor is on his way with a loan move with an option to buy - which is the same way we picked up Vargas. I've no doubt that Vargas must have helped in selling Taylor on the move, as doubt many Costa Ricans will have heard of Hearts, or really wanted to come and play in Scotland :laughy:

Vargas has been a hit for us so far. He took a while to settle, and still needs to become more reliable in front of goal, but he definitely has the chance to be a very good player at just 22 years old.

speaking of young players, Enciso for Paraguay... incredible player. Brighton got their hands on him early. Something tells me a bigger club will be trying to acquire him ASAP.

"Paul 13 wrote:

Prediction time (not who I want, just who I think will win):

Round of 16:
Switzerland over Italy 2-1

You were almost spot on with this one. I didn't see it with Switzerland, mainly because they drew with Scotland in the groups and, if they could only draw with us, then they couldn't be up to much :laughy:

Of course, it doesn't help that Italy have been woeful. Winning the last championship has probably papered over the cracks with Italian football.