Okay, I'll admit it, being Scottish I know nothing about football but apparently there's a kick=around starting on Friday called Euro 2012



Any bets on who's going to win?

My money is on Scotla......oh, wait!

Oh, okay then, it has be Wales surely?

Well regrettably it wont be England either

My money (as most i suspect) will be firmly on Spain, and boy they could do with some

Apparently Spain have been told not to win; the celebrations would cost so much (£3.50) it would bankrupt the country!

Spain v Greece in the final - draw after football, 40 - 40 after penalties, go to toss a coin but can't find one, so they decide to share the trophy and have a joint victory parade in Berlin...........

.....and then invade Poland?


Too soon? Oh okay,

My money is on Holland. Literally. I got them in the works sweepstake.

Going back to the 1986 world cup, the same group of friends have been going to the same pub and watching England either go out on penalties or play sh*te and deserve to be sent home.
For the first time in 26 years I am not going to be there. I will be in america.

I can gaurantee England will win the Euros.

I'm doing a Euro's dreamteam at work. Does anybody have any tips for who I can put in my team. Obviously, I don't want to put any England players in because we're bobbins.

Which league are you playing Dan - all depends on the player values - and are you allowed transfers at any stage?

The secret's in the value. Not sure what price Russian striker Kerzhakov is but he's a steal in some of them. They should get out of their group, which looks the weakest, so he could be a good bet to be overall top scorer at 33s.

Picking him and other eye-catching/goalscoring defenders in the same group such as Perquis, Gebre Selassie and Zhirkov would free up some cash for you to load up with key men in midfield and up front (take your pick from Schweinsteiger, Ozil, Van Persie, Ribery, Benzema and the usual Spaniards).

Gomez is bookies' favourite to finish top scorer but their gaffer likes Klose and he's been brilliant for them in big tournaments in the past so I'd leave Germany's strikers alone until you know who his first choice is.

HTH.

I'm doing the Sun dreamteam.

It's to late to do any transfers now but it opens agains after each team has played 2 games and i have £1.5m im carrying over.

Here's my team.

Anyone else trying to watch the football at the moment?

Now I must admit I can't recall a major tournament match ever being suspended due to a thunderstorm?

Having said that, it is one hell of a thunderstorm.......oh no, hang on, it's exactly the same as we're getting up here in Cumbria at the moment, although I wouldn't be out playing football in it either!

I wish the Ireland match last night had to be called off due to a thunder storm ,earthquake or alien invasion . 93 minutes of hell ?

Totally agree Rob, it was painful to watch, in fact so painful, I turned over after the 3rd goal

If the rumours are true, I hope that Andy Carroll has brought his Big banjo tonight and the cow (the Swedish goal) does not move its ar*e....

Hope springs eternal

Come on England! Any Swedish Coupe owners? Great crime dramas but rubbish football!

Can I wind anyone else up? Why is Lennon not in the squad? Why is Harry not the manager (because Roy is better..?).

Anyone interested?

Bloody hell; the banjo worked! Come on England.... and substitute Milner asap.... where is Aaron Lennon? On holiday

mmm, tight game.

maybe not that tight.

nope tight again

England arent playing too badly considering it 10 v 11 (i dont count wellbeck, he could be off having a cup of tea right now and it wouldnt make a difference)

haha typical

What was that truff?

With Wellbeck, Walcott, Wooney And Cawoll…it can't possibly go Wong. Yep, we're definitely going to win the tournament.

So... this thread isn't to discuss Merkel and Hollande's attempts to federalise the Euro, then?

Well, ...

it could be...

The good thing is thatEngland have already exceeded expectations. Before kick off int he first game, the great and the good of football pundits were predicting one or 2 points, and no chance of getting out of the group stage.

Last night's game wasn't perfect, the first half was cagey, but one great cross and one great header it was all a bit same-old. Second half, a 15 minute meltdown, followed by half an hour of spirit, fight, and above all, Entertainment! Something that has been sadly lacking for years and years.

Time to bin yet more of the old guard though, no tears would be shed when old man Terry finally hangs up his boots. He'll presumably get another game for B wing against the screws though.....

I thought terry had an excellent game. Ok yes he was shown to be woefully lacking in pace, but there was only 1 incident in which this was a problem. Every other time, his vision and technical ability meant he was always in the right place at the right time.

For me the poor players of the night were Milner and Wellback, and it's obvious that Hodgson thought the same as he brought Milner off and was about to bring off Wellbeck before he scored.

Both players were just absent for a huge portion of the game. Milner was slow and unprodctive, Wellbeck was just AWOL, trotting round neither going back to help out or forward to counter. I counted a full 20 minute spell in the second half (shortly before he scored) where his only only participation was to knock it back to the player who had passed it to him.

James Milner - what do all these managers see in him , completely baffles me !!

Ashley Young also had a poor game last night - lost the ball often and was far too weak physically.

Agree with that Sean, the one difference is that Young sometmes contributes to the team and can be inventive and is a goalscorer too. Milner seems to offer none of those things and when Walcott was introduced we looked a completely different team going forward.....still not good, but better

Also agree with Sean. Plenty more moot points on the squad, aside from the Ferdinand omission

It is clear we lack pace on the flanks and incisiveness.

1 - Where is Micah Richards. Englands best full back bar none, and Kelly gets the nod ahead of him?
2 - Peter Crouch
3 - Adam Johnson
4 - Paul Scholes, did Hodgson not try to convince him?
5 - Can ANYONE say why Glenn Johnson is even in the squad?!?
6 - Ashley Young, "needs more meat pies Ashley" more like. Reminds me of a winger we had at Brighton a few moons ago, who'd trip over a blade of grass and the wind would blow him over Fairy as my old man would say
7 - I find mysel
8 - Henderson. I find myself agreeing with Joey Barton for christs sake!!
9 - Jack Buckland? Really? Why waste a place on him, would have taken another outfield player. Rumour has it Parker can play equally capably in goal!
10 - John Terry - would not have made it for me on so many levels
11 - Stuart Downing UTTER tripe, wouldn't strike fear into a Sunday league team!!
12 - No Jack Rodwell?
13 - No Daniel Sturridge?
14 - No Kyle Walker?

And that little lot took me 5 minutes to rant through.

You mean aside from the fact he has been our best defender in both games? Saved England's blushes on several occasions already in just 2 games. You must have missed the bit last night for example when Zlatan was running past Ashley Cole, Johnson overtook the pair of them and put in a perfectly timed tackle.

I wouldnt pick Crouch, Johnson or Rodwell I'd take sturridge & Walker though.

Glad you're not the England manager Dan, if you would be willing to go into a press conference and say, "i didnt pick a no3 keeper becuase if it gets that bad, Scotty Parker's up for a laugh."

Pfft, that's only caused by the deficiencies in most of the other back 4.

I've never thought of Ashley Cole to be anywhere near the best full back in the world. Quite how he's earned that escapes me. So Johnson covered his ass when he was out of position.

I'd have started with Leighton Baines / Lescott / Ferdinand and Richards.

As for Johnson being picked on his offensive merits

Oh that's good, it deserves another

He can't cross for toffee, nor beat a player, and is so fluid on the ball it goes through his own feet! Richards or Walker would be way ahead. He seems to be in the side on the strength of his one 25 yard left footed screamer a season he scores. Stats don't lie - and Richards and Walker are way ahead of him. Shame the current incumbent of the England managers role can't see it

I'm with Truff on this Dan, Richards is no more than a muscle-bound donkey - if we needed speed we could have taken Linford Christie. There were two world-class crosses by England last night, one by Gerrard from which we scored and one by Johnson form which the horrible Terry should have scored. He didn't have his best game, but his lesser games are still better than Richards. Ferdinand? He's a liability in terms of injury and ball distribution now, he is way too slow.

I've forgotten the rest of what i was going to say

Brilliant .waited all my life for us to beat Sweden.

- Micah Richards has an attention span worse than Mumbles Ferdinand, Citeh ended the season playing Zabaletta as right back.
- Sir Peter Crouch has been great, but if its between Carroll or Crouch, you have to go with the new blood. And that was vindicated last night.
- If Adam Johnson wanted to play for England he shouldn't have followed the money to sit on the Citeh bench.
- Paul Scholes isn't the future.
- Glenn Johnson is a bit of an easy target. He has got a reputation of being a liability as a defender, and although he was at fault for one goal, he was also there to stop a few. Did well last night I thought, maybe his best England game.
- Jack Buckland is really just along for the experience, if it wasn't for Ruddy breaking his finger he'd be on the beach
- Sturridge plays a similar game to Welbeck and with Rooney and Young likely starters it makes sense to take Welbeck
- Rodwell and Walker are both injured

The rest I agree with. We just have to accept we're a second rate national team.

Yes, unfortunately this is true. Where is the flair, or passing control of some of the other teams? We're just not expansive or adventurous in any way

Oh and Buckland is a fine young keeper with a great future in front of him once he is established. He's Birmingham's young prospect, we're known for it.......unfortunately for us we need to play with more than 1 keeper

It wasn't even called Sweden when you were born.....

Maybe Roy could have tried to recruit Arteta - who is eligible - at least then we'd have someone who could get past a player.

BBC live text.

They were going on about this in the commentary studio at the time, but I couldn't see what they were going on about. The Greek guy quite clearly just ran into the leg of the Russian, who didn't do anything. He just happened to have his leg in the wrong place for the Greek.

Have I misunderstood something?

The commentators think they're watching Greece versus Man Utd. Happens all the time.

Can we make the words John Terry ( makes me shiver ) appear as or bawbag liar.

couldn't agree more, this gets my vote

well.. tonights Italys deciding match agaist Ireland..

we need to win 2-0 and spain need to draw 1-1 so we can get into the next round (where no doubt we will get knocked out)

but whats making it interesting is that we "COULD" finish 2nd in the group...

and england can possibly top there group...

you all know what thats means

so, what do poeple think will happen this evening with the games?

peoples score's on the doors please?

im saying...
Italy to win 3-0
Spain draw 1-1

Ireland getting another thrashing tonight before they are sent home in shame . By far the worst team in the euros and i will not be watching it . However i would like them to beat italy .

A.B.E



But seriously, because it hasn't been over-hyped this time round I'm actually hoping the youngsters in the English squad do well; there is a good bubble of talent welling up there and they need some confidence boosting some more international experience so good luck to them!

Spain 3 - 1 England

Just tell the Spanish that if they win tonight we'll vote for them to host future tournaments, that'll stop 'em!

Scotland should try and host a tournament in the future.

It'll be the only way they'll ever get to play in any finals.

<finger hovers over BAN button>




I couldn't believe it when I saw a Scottish flag at one of the games the other night! I'm assuming they were supporting one of the officials?

why?

Why what ?????????

why do you want Ireland to beat italy???????????

Well they have not won anything yet . I generally support the home countries first before i move on to the continent and i was born there ?

Oh, sorry, i assumed you where english!!



Sorry mate

i feel bad for ireland as they have taken a beating in the Euro.. if they beat italy (which to be honest, its not impossible becasue we play sh*t) it would be a great achievment

game on for 7:45

My prediction is there'll be loads of Italian supporters claiming their team will now beat everyone in the world forever based on beating Ireland 2-0......

However Croatia and Spain will progress to the next stage and the Italians will take a slow boat home to a broken sporting public nursing their broken economy...

I also predict some puny wimp responds to this post in a rabid, uncontrolled and badly spelled string of threats and abuse - any takers on who this may be?

No problem hope the best team wins (i wont bother keeping my fingers cross ) .

Hey... At least I'm not bald.
Or fat
Or unable to find my pen*s
Or unable to wash certain areas due to my large size
Or need a Crain to get in and out of bed

Don't hate Italians balldy!!

Same lol I hope we get spanked. We deserve it.

Awww i don't hate all italians mario, just a couple

Good! Hate us even more now we made it into the next round!!

Granted Ireland should of pull are shorts down (slowly might I add) an given us a 4 finger salute.

No no Mario, fair play to Italy for a stellar performance against one of the worlds strongest teams - see you in the final

Let's pray England make it at baldy!!

Well done Italy. Good to see them emerge from what was an actual group of death. Croatia are a useful side and deserved a place as much as Spain or Italy.

Spain won't win the tournament unless they hit some form.

Ross

I think we played shit tonight. Well done to Balotelli. Typical Italy score a goal and sit back. No consideration to what it's doing to the heart rates of its fans. Hopefully they step it up a level now.

Hopefully it's a good result for England tomorrow as well.

I have a bad feeling about tonight.....

After a restrained buildup English expectations are now reaching biblical proportions again ... I just hope that Wayne has the proper head on and doesn't run around like the mythical chicken!

Hmmm, almost exactly verbatim as to what I mused to Mrs Stan last night, Tim


If I was the Ukrainian coach I'd be telling my players to go out and harry Rooney, just keep nipping at his ankles until he blows his stack and gets a red card, then you're playing ten men who would be seriously on the back foot.



Disclaimer; I am Scottish and know nothing about football!

.... in a minority then

Alan Shearer on 5Live a minute ago.....

"The three goals we scored against Sweden were positive.... however the two goals England conceded were negative"

obviously the next Blackburn manager with such insight

.....of five million!

Not even Kenny Dalgliesh seems to be able to get it right! Doh!

Just walked to the local shop to buy some beers......

not a soul on the streets; great night to go to Ikea

Sorry, I forgot. (Swedish) Ikea will be shut as well.

Rubbish first 20 minutes.......

Rubbish 45 mins, at this rate we're going to lose

don't jinx us

2 things i'd like to see in the second half:

Scott Parker to make a forward pass (actually any pass which ISNT just back to the same player)

Joe Hart to kick it to someone other than James Milner.

Yawn

Did you notice they had all 11 players behind in defence on every England attack.

Rooney is rustier than Cheech's Coupe.

Get Milner off - Wilma Flintstone would be better and Dino would run faster....

I wish rooney would stop giving the ball away .

Arhhhh !!!!!
Why is Milner playing.
England started and played the first half "on the back foot" - a manner which I thought they do only when are 1-0 ahead.
C'mon , show some attack and skill !!!!

I bet all this English disappointment has forced Proccy into comfort eating
Already.

Close, monk, but no cigar........however i'm comfort drinking

England's going home,
We're going home,

etc., etc.,

shrek 1, ukraine 0...........bring on the Italians

..... or not!

Mind you, I might have scored that..... great play by Gerrard though.

.... and Sweden are beating the cheese-eating surrender monkeys

France losing..........could happen!!

I wish Rooney would just face facts he is a bold C*&T and remove the trimmed minge hair off his head.

Shocking goal.even Proccy could've belly flopped that in.

I look forward to that.

Marco, Mario, Enzo, Pininfarina, Berlusconi, The Pope (oh, he's German??), you boys are going to get one HELL of a beating.....

And you say the Italians cheat!! FML!!! Lol

Would you like to place a wager that we don't?

No

You sure Tim??

Phew

Scott Parker's Face:

England's last line of defence

Good night out in Bedford Sunday??

Great result that we didn't deserve.
Ukraine played well,very talented clever and skill-full team.
Shevchenko is one of my all time favourites .

Let's hope the Italians live upto there name.look great but work poorly.

Did someone win?

Yup, Sweden beat France!

lmfao , should be an easy win

Bring it on!!!!!!!

Hehe!!

Good game by England!!

Sunday will be a great game... 20 years In the making!!
I'm nerves already!!

Lol

So, you know as much about footy as fixing your cars lol

That guy was clearly offside before the ball was touched by anyone else, should never have been allowed that far to shoot

Bring on Sunday, this is going to a nerve-wracking boring game, and i expect us to just shade it 6-0

Ouch......Say what you really mean Steven

Oh FFS...

+1

Translation = They'll be coming home on Monday morning.

Aye, but at least they went

The Portuguese strikeforce... Helder Postiga, £6m signing by Spurs, 19 games, 1 goal, and just gone off on a stretcher.

Early days, but looks like penalties already....

You really know how to hurt someone

Hmm, so do I.......banned!

Don't stay in tonight to watch Greece v Germany.....

As soon as the coin toss happens the Greeks will trouser it and leg it....

Oh dear; Milner Flintstone is playing again.......

Hope I'm wrong, but I STILL have a bad feeling about this.

Curry eaten, beers in the fridge about to emerge, game on! My local shop (staffed by Iranians) was not confident about England's progress - they were selling England car flags for 20p whilst I was stocking my fridge . I didn't buy any because I can find loads by the side of the road tomorrow morning......

What time do the pundits cease their pundification and the lads with the bat and ball go out and do their stuff?

Ten minutes.....

Think i need move near you tim as you seem to have it all sorted.... I got no beers, no munchies but I do have my England top on, even if it is a few years old and a little tight on me

The young persons national anthem!! ( this is what our kids are singing these days)

I'am missing bargain hunt
What shall I have for lunch
Maybe some chips

Who would I rather be
Sponge bob or mr T
I want a butler space monkey
Cause i'am the Queen

Jesus - the most painful watch on earth.... between camp falling over and shite passing, it's just NOT like watching Brazil.

My tame Brazillian agrees...

Oh dear.... I've run out of beers and it's a penalty shoot-out.

If we win this it would be an utter travesty!!

Bye.

Really ! Why ? They played the same 90 mins as Italy ,then the extra time.
Its just the way they played ! No ? Italy still could not beat them until penaltys.
I dont see what you England supporters have to moan about your team.
They played badly but stayed in the game. Well done England but tuff tits on penaltys.