France 2016 Eurocup

[betiko]

Starting June 10th!!!!!!

[WingCmdr Ginkapo]

Europes getting mardy, here comes Vardy.

[mrswdk]

Why are there only 6 groups? Doesn't that mess up the knockout rounds?

Given how Germany just got served by England I'd say this is wide open. That said, it definitely won't be Portugal so you can take them off your list.

[waauw]

Go Belgium! Allez les diables rouges!!

[betiko]

Why are there only 6 groups? Doesn't that mess up the knockout rounds?

Given how Germany just got served by England I'd say this is wide open. That said, it definitely won't be Portugal so you can take them off your list.

You clearly know shit all about football mrs. The question would be "why are there as much as 6 groups in this edition?"
It's been a 16 team tourney from the late 80s till 2012, they keep increasing the amount of participants which is pretty dumb..
16 was just perfect, now we'll have 1st and 2nd qualified in each of the 6 group, +4 out of 6 3rd place teams.
Basically, you really have to suck to fail qualifying from the group stage as 16/24 go through.

It's pretty crazy to see that netherlands failed to qualify. I think there are 50 federations in europe... Netherlands didn t manage to be part of the 24/50 teams qualified... And they finished 3rd last world cup!

[mrswdk]

It's basically the same question, dirt breath. Smart ass responses like that are exactly why the UK is leaving the EU in the summer.

[benga]

This EC will be a blast!

[waauw]

Why are there only 6 groups? Doesn't that mess up the knockout rounds?

Given how Germany just got served by England I'd say this is wide open. That said, it definitely won't be Portugal so you can take them off your list.

They changed to a new system so more teams could participate. More teams, more countries, more income.
The best 3rd place teams will advance to the next round as well.

And you're right Portugal doesn't stand a chance. They barely won 2-1 against Belgium this evening, despite the fact that we were missing 8 players.

[betiko]

France just played fantastically yesterday against Rusia, winning 4-2.
I honestly believe we have the best midfield/attack, but at least top 3; too bad our defense sucks. But we are playing in a very pleasant way to watch, it's been a while!
I really like the team we have right now; and we're not even taking Benzema who is doing his best season with the real madrid.

I don't know what to think about Germany... they've lost a lot of games lately, but i think they weren't playing too seriously.

England's got a nice blow of fresh air and is playing quite well, that was a great win against germany the other day. But they arealways shit when it comes to the real competition. I hope for them they are practicing penatly shootouts all day long.

Italy is shit; but we all know that when Italy is shit they can go all the way till the final.

Spain... seriously terrible these last few days, I really don't think they will manage reaching a top level

Belgium... well they have great players but they are not in a great shape right now. Not sure Wilmots has managed to create a great team yet. There is definitely something to do and I'm sure the national team will be extra motivated after the terrorist attacks to give everything for their country.

forecasts:

surprise team: Austria
disapointment team: Spain
top 3 with best chances to win: France/Germany/Belgium

[waauw]

France just played fantastically yesterday against Rusia, winning 4-2.
I honestly believe we have the best midfield/attack, but at least top 3; too bad our defense sucks. But we are playing in a very pleasant way to watch, it's been a while!
I really like the team we have right now; and we're not even taking Benzema who is doing his best season with the real madrid.

I don't know what to think about Germany... they've lost a lot of games lately, but i think they weren't playing too seriously.

England's got a nice blow of fresh air and is playing quite well, that was a great win against germany the other day. But they arealways shit when it comes to the real competition. I hope for them they are practicing penatly shootouts all day long.

Italy is shit; but we all know that when Italy is shit they can go all the way till the final.

Spain... seriously terrible these last few days, I really don't think they will manage reaching a top level

Belgium... well they have great players but they are not in a great shape right now. Not sure Wilmots has managed to create a great team yet. There is definitely something to do and I'm sure the national team will be extra motivated after the terrorist attacks to give everything for their country.

forecasts:

surprise team: Austria
disapointment team: Spain
top 3 with best chances to win: France/Germany/Belgium

Pretty much agree with Betiko.

• France: It's hard to estimate how good France really is. A lot of mixed results, loss against england, victory over Germany, victory over Portugal, loss against Belgium, ... I think France is the kind of team that can beat anyone and lose against anyone.
• Germany: Seems to have had a very odd 2 years. On paper probably still the best team in europe, but...
• England: Strong team, and though they have a decent midfield, it does make me wonder whether their midfield is strong enough. Seems like their best players are all forward players, and their talented youngsters like Delle Ali just aren't ready yet for the big competitions. I think they lack brilliance in the Centre midfield.
• Italy: They got a very good team manager, but like Betiko says, they're shit. Very bad Italian generation.
• Spain: They're pretty much the opposite of France. Very good defence and a lot of experience, but they lack a world-class striker. Diego Costa could be considered that but I think it's fair to say his attitude problems might be too much of a drag.
• Belgium: I think that along with Germany we have the best team on paper, but unfortunately we thrive on individuality. Almost every time we need to rely on the brilliance of Hazard, De Bruyne, Fellaini, or some other player. Wilmots is a great motivator and discipliner, but he is no tactician. It is even said players of our squad laugh behind his back because he just doesn't compare to top trainers.

Forecasts:

surprise team: Poland
Disappointment team: Spain
Top 3 best to win: Germany/Belgium/France

[betiko]

honestly, you shouldn't take that game against england too seriously.... it was 2 or 3 days after the terrorist attacks... people like Lass Diarra had his cousin killed, Griezman had his sister in the bataclan who managed to escape....
The whole media was just waiting for one thing: have the whole wembley stadium sing the Marseillaise. No one really cared about a football game that day...
I haven't watched highlights or anything of the portugal-belgium.... but I guess it was pretty much of the same, and the players had more important things in mind than a football game.

For Spain, I think they might put aduriz as a striker, which would still be better than shitty diego costa.

For Belgium, Hazard is doing a shit season, De Bruyne is badly injured, so is Kompany, vermaelen isn't playing, fellaini either... so on and so on; it's not a very good year for belgium's stars.
And seriously, Batshuayi plays for marseille and he sucks. This guy can't look elsewhere than his feet all the time, never passes the ball and misses 80% of his shots. I don't know how he managed to scores so many goals when you see how negative his play is for the team..

[mrswdk]

honestly, you shouldn't take that game against england too seriously.... it was 2 or 3 days after the terrorist attacks... people like Lass Diarra had his cousin killed, Griezman had his sister in the bataclan who managed to escape....
The whole media was just waiting for one thing: have the whole wembley stadium sing the Marseillaise. No one really cared about a football game that day...
I haven't watched highlights or anything of the portugal-belgium.... but I guess it was pretty much of the same, and the players had more important things in mind than a football game.

If it was the same then Belgium would've gotten hammered. The Portugal-Belgium game is just yet another reminder that Portugal have sucked balls ever since the era of people like Figo ended.

[waauw]

For Belgium, Hazard is doing a shit season, De Bruyne is badly injured, so is Kompany, vermaelen isn't playing, fellaini either... so on and so on; it's not a very good year for belgium's stars.
And seriously, Batshuayi plays for marseille and he sucks. This guy can't look elsewhere than his feet all the time, never passes the ball and misses 80% of his shots. I don't know how he managed to scores so many goals when you see how negative his play is for the team..

I wouldn't say it's a bad season for the Belgian squad:

• Vertonghen and Alderweireld(two central defenders at Tottenham) have the best defence in the BPL, Alderweireld is even considered one of the best defenders in the league, possibly even the best.
• Dembele is playing a very good season at Tottenham as well, finally one without injury.
• Lukaku is once again amongst the top strikers in the BPL, and unlike Vardy, Mahrez, Kane and Aguero; he plays at a mid-table team.
• Musonda finally seems to be breaking through at Real Betis.
• Thorgan Hazard seems to become more of a constant at Borussia Mönchengladbach
• Carrasco seems to be breaking through at Athletico Madrid after his great season at Monaco last year.

Belgian best 11:
Courtois
Alderweireld - Kompany - Lombaerts - Vertonghen
Naingolan - Witsel/Dembele
Mertens/Carrasco - De Bruyne - Hazard
Lukaku
==> Only 2 of these players are having troubles this season as De Bruyne will be back in time and was nominated best player at ManC multiple months in a row before he got injured. Kompany is of course always a worry if he's not there. Hazard is a worry as well but we have enough replacements for his spot anyway, and he was actually getting back in shape after Mourinho got fired, even got MoTM again. Unfortunately he's injured(will be back in time as well).

Batshuayi has only played for us 3x, and has never started.

[WingCmdr Ginkapo]

I think they lack brilliance in the Centre midfield.

You are forgetting Erik Dier

[waauw]

I think they lack brilliance in the Centre midfield.

You are forgetting Erik Dier

Does his job well, but he misses that little extra imo.

[betiko]

I just wanted to say that.... I don't think anymore that spain will be the big disapointment of the competition.
I think they will do better than belgium. :p

I change my disapointent to Germany!!!!!

[HardAttack]

Turkey is going to win this thing.
I hope you well know how i mean bettygo

[betiko]

Turkey is going to win this thing.
I hope you well know how i mean bettygo

turkey will pass the group stage just because 3rd place can make it through with this stupid new rule, but croacia and spain will finish ahead easy.

[waauw]

I just read France is not taking Lacazette for Gignac and Giroud? Why?

[betiko]

I just read France is not taking Lacazette for Gignac and Giroud? Why?

Lacazette sucked during the first half of the season... And came back to a great level since 2016... Kind of like Lyon.
Someone like Gignac has been playing great both in club in Mexico and with the national team since last summer.
Lacazette hasn t proven much yet in national team. It's complicated to have Gignac out of the team if everything is working great with him.

Regarding Giroud... Well he did a great first half season with arsenal then has been sucking big time. But not with the national team... Also Giroud isn t a striker like lacazette or Gignac... He fixes the defense and is pretty good in air game. He's there for other purposes.

A guy that would've been great is Ben Arfa that has done a fantastic season with Nice. Everybody thought he was finished since Newcastle sacked him but he is better than ever right now.

Also, Gameiro is doing a great season again with Sevilla...

Not to mention Benzema

[betiko]

nobody is comenting its national team list?

france made a 23+6
the funny thing is that Varane got injured and won't play the final against atletico next week end... and that Deschamps called Adil Rami from Sevilla CF.
Why on earth did he call 6 more guys, that are basically there in case of injury... if when a guy gets injured... you call someone else???

[waauw]

I want to change my vote from Belgium to Spain. Belgium's going to be an absolute disaster. Our defense has turned into an open express way.

[Serbia]

I voted Germany. I want to see England win. But whatever happens, it starts Friday!!! I'm excited.

[betiko]

I want to change my vote from Belgium to Spain. Belgium's going to be an absolute disaster. Our defense has turned into an open express way.

Belgium sure knows how to lower expectations when they were practically seen as the number 1 favorite a few month ago!

I think france is looking good in spite of all the "racism" turmoil shit.
Still great in attack with a great bench and shit in defense. But hey, the objective is to score 1 more than the opponent right?

by the way since the copa america started too it can be discussed in here too I guess.
USA won't pass the group stage!

nietzsche's Mexico won 3-1 over uruguay, that was surprising.

[waauw]

I want to change my vote from Belgium to Spain. Belgium's going to be an absolute disaster. Our defense has turned into an open express way.

Belgium sure knows how to lower expectations when they were practically seen as the number 1 favorite a few month ago!

I think france is looking good in spite of all the "racism" turmoil shit.
Still great in attack with a great bench and shit in defense. But hey, the objective is to score 1 more than the opponent right?

by the way since the copa america started too it can be discussed in here too I guess.
USA won't pass the group stage!

nietzsche's Mexico won 3-1 over uruguay, that was surprising.

This is going to be an interesting eurocup. I rate the chances at a surprise victor pretty highly. England, Belgium and France all 3 have great offensive compartments and weaker defensive compartments. Germany has been on a stroll for a while now and still don't have a true striker. Italy and Portugal aren't even worth mentioning. Spain seems to be the only complete squad, if only they'd manage to get over their world cup trauma. Who knows, maybe we'll have another Greece-like surprise.