Tournament starts in a couple of weeks but all the warm up games are now starting. Plus, if I didnt start this thread now I wouldnt have anywhere to moan about Andy fucking Carroll playing up front tonight.

Anyway, I think this is a very open tournament. Spain are favs as you would expect but I dont really fancy them. I love Germany and they would be my pick for the tournament. Also think that France may be a bit of a dark horse.

My predictions are...

Group A
Winner - Czech Republic
Runner Up - Poland

Group B
Winner - Germany
Runner Up - Netherlands

Group C
Winner - Spain
Runner Up - Ireland

Group D
Winner - France
Runner Up - England

Quarter Finals

Netherlands > Czech Republic
Spain > England
Germany > Poland
France > Ireland

Semi Finals
Netherlands>Spain
Germany>France

Final
Germany>Netherlands

Group A could finish in any order imo but i doubt any of them teams are making the semis anyway.
B is tough but Germany and Netherlands are just better teams than Portugal. I wouldnt be surprised if Portugal found a way to get through though.
Spain should win C easily and then i think any of the other 3 could make it through.
Think that England and France should qualify pretty comfortably (England wont make it easy though as usual). If Ukraine wern't hosting then i wouldnt give them a chance of making it through but home advantage could be big.

Think the quarters are pretty easy picks if my group predictions are correct and then the semis and final could all go either way.

I think the Euros should be great though. Really could see 5 or 6 teams winning it

Germany are my pick, more stable than Spain right now at the back -- and without villa, Spain don't have a top class striker. Still endless talent, but villa will be a big miss. Also agree that France could be in store for a big bounce back from their WC2010 performance, they've got a lot of creativity and goals in their squad.

Doubt England makes it out of the group, they just aren't good enough.

Just baqck from the Ireland warm up game to say good bye

80/1 ill be having a bet :)

 

Originally Posted by Nickc011

without villa, Spain don't have a top class striker.

Semifinal predictions seem pretty accurate.

England without Rooney is bad enough, but without Glen Johnson they have no chance.

Just kidding, good thing that clownshoe went down in time so they have time to rectify the huge mistake and put Micah Richards in there.

If Scott Parker really doesn't play, I think they have very little chance of going through.

I'd love to see the Netherlands take out Germany, but I'm not holding my breath... chances are they'll play the game they need to play in order to win and then Robben will choke away an opportunity to win the big game. That seems to be his MO now.

Ireland going through? Really? I think Luka Modric could beat Ireland by himself.

 

Originally Posted by djg23

We are in a group with Sweden and Ukraine. They aren't better than England.

That maybe true but england never seems to beat sweden and they will play 2nd game when still no rooney.

American living in sweden btw not a homer pick lol

Downing and Carroll in is ridic.

I like Ireland to go through. Italy aren't anything like the team they used to be and they can def get a result against them. Croatia are very beatable. Decent side but I really don't think they are that far ahead of Ireland.

This England game is terrible. Such a boring game. Might switch over to Eurovision

Got France 10/1 to win it all
Germany 3/1 to win it all
France to win group 9/5
Germany to win group even money

 

Originally Posted by TheWhitePele

Ive just switched. Sweden is on. Pretty fucking hot

I hear the Greek singer was pretty hot as well. Would just finish them off if they have to pay for that next year wouldn't it?

What had Carroll actually done for people to e saying he is in good form? He has won a few headers and still missed plenty of good chances. He just isn't good enough. He is no better than somebody like heskey. Might score the odd goal or 2 but in general just doesn't do a lot

Got my fingers crossed for France vs Ireland - karma is a biiiitch

 

Originally Posted by deej_0607

not sure if serious... ever heard of llorente or soldado? pretty good players

They have ridiculous talent all over the field, but having a proven goal scorer at the international level is a huge advantage. When healthy, villa is a class above the other options.

when it comes to soccer predictions and assuming a team will get by just bc of their history or lolfifarankings, just remember that 'the ball is round and the field is flat'

Feeling very down and despondent about our chances. Think we'll struggle to get out of the group tbh. France first game will be defeat, Ukraine are hosts so that will be tough game too, and we seem to struggle against Sweden. 2 pts maybe? WDD

On top of that...... Andy Fcking Caroll..... ffs. His form consisted of 1.5 decent games at the end of the season. I'd rather pick my Gran. Crouch should have gone without doubt.
Downing is a fcking joke too, couldn't cross the road.
Glen Johnson is the worst defender, i think he's good going forward, and might have been worth a pick as a right winger instead, def should have been Micah Richards for right back tho (and I'm a United fan).
Barry, Milner and Walcott are not good enough, plain and simple. Walcott gets brushed off the ball by a light breeze, Barry and Milner are poor quality water carriers.
I think Maybe Sturridge is slightly ahead of Welbeck in development too so would have taken him instead.

On top of all that, I think Woy was the wrong choice for manager.

Other than that, all is good.

Having just done all that bitching about our chances and poor team, still booked the following days off after each game so i can go and get smashed at pub for each one.

As for predictions, nothing groundbreaking here,: you can never discount the Germans, they have an incredbile mentality at tournaments and they have some quality players. Spain obv come into it, but kind of fancy Ukraine to do well - SF probably, host nations usually up their game and do well in tournaments.
I'll pick Germans to win it.

My team for first game based on Woy's squad:
Hart
Jones - Cahill - Lescott - Cole
Johnson - Gerrard - Lampard (I know I know, they can't play together, but i call BS) - Young
Defoe - Welbeck

Pretty much what davidsaid...

Welbeck sucks balls tho