England have three home games. Croatia & Czechia both have two away games, and a neutral game against each other. In the context of the group that's a huge benefit for England, and that's the main factor in why I think they'll win the group. Winning the group means you'll likely play France, Germany or Portugal at Wembley. Second would likely be Sweden, Spain or Poland in Copenhagen. Third would be the winners of Group B or C. In theory, finishing second might give you a better chance of avoiding a strong nation in the last 16, but if you were to avoid doing so then you'd be facing one in the quarters for sure.
So really we’re probably looking at 1/4s at best unless we find some top form? Would you get a kind draw coming 2nd or 3rd?
Yes to be honest, but that's what tournament football is and should be. I think you've been a little bit spoilt with your draw from 2018, but no side in this tournament will get to the semis without having to beat a top side. You'd on paper get a kinder last 16 tie finishing second, but then could face the winners of the group of death in the quarters at a neutral venue. Perhaps a quarter final on paper is a more respectable finish for Southgate, but in terms of ambitions to win the tournament your going to have to beat the likes of France and Portugal.
If you want to win the tournament then you need to beat the top sides, whether that's in the last 16, quarters or whatever. Playing for an 'easier' draw surely can't end well... My main hope for England is similar to many I think, use the attacking strength we have and play on the front foot. If we do that we can surely cause problems for any side
I think you’re right, unfortunately the top sides have as much attacking power as we do but can also defend. Does anyone know our best defence or even formation? International football obviously is cagey and niggly and I’m not sure we can deal with that. You can’t control games for 90 mins and I fear we’ll give up too many easy chances. Who knows. Tournaments need a bit of luck as well.
I've passed a couple of pubs that have had English flags outside of them. I'll admit I haven't seen many around though.
For anyone that's interested, Italy are currently the UFWC Title holders so will be defending it at the Euros. What this also means of course is that whoever wins the Euros will also be the UFWC Champion (unless Italy draw all 3 games and go out in the first round).
Scotland fans might be surprised to learn they're the all-time No.1 ranking Unofficial World Championship Title Holders.
That depends on whether or not Italy are beaten before they play Wales or not. It's a fair point you raise, but the likelihood is that the winners of the Euros will win the UFWC
On one hand you have a strong squad, one of the best starting XIs, and potentially home advantage for a large part of the tournament. On the other hand, a tough enough group, and what looks like an unfavourable draw through the knockout rounds. Genuinely you could get knocked out early, or win the thing, and it wouldn't be unexpected either way.
It's quite possible and we'll need to adapt as games go on but would you rather go out sitting back and never getting your better players in the game or risk losing more comfortably but having a go? We have a poor defence anyway so we should play to our strengths. No issues with my local...
Unofficial Football World Championships Basically it's like the boxing World championships. Taking England-Scotland as the first "official" international game, Scotland became the first holders when they beat England in 1873. Then every game they played in after was a title match until they lost it. Then whoever beat them becomes champion, and so on. A draw is like a draw in boxing, the champion retains, however, in tournaments, the title can change in extra-time and penalties. Italy are the current champions.
I don't get why people think playing at home is an advantage for a team like England where expectations are always quite high. It adds pressure and doesn't work for them. I doubt England have the same tournament in 2018 if they play on home soil.
It's clearly an advantage, if you'd ask Croatia where they fancy playing the game on Sunday, I know where they'd be picking. Same goes for Scotland and Czechia. England have recently played all the sides in their group in different tournaments home and away. At home they won all three games, two of them in very convincing fashion. Away from home they drew two, and lost one. England's two most successful tournaments have been the ones that they've hosted (1966, 1996).
We’ve played 2 tournaments on home soil, won 1, semis in the other. At the end of the day if we’re shit, we buckle under the pressure. If we’re not, we don’t.
Things have changed since then, gents. Not only is it less of an advantage to play at home these days, the covid has almost nullified that. I really don't think playing at Wembley is helping England.
