DJHazey

I don't really have much hope for any of these teams in the knockouts stages, but somebody has to make it there! North Macedonia could provide some shock results in a group like this as all three others are beatable. Still conventional wisdom says it will be the Dutch and the Ukrainians, with Austria potentially battling for it too. Austria, much like their neighbor Switzerland always strike me as overrated and the lights become too bright quickly. Plus their recent qualifying campaigns haven't been much to write home about really. We all saw what the Macedonians did to Germany, was that an anomaly or are they the new Iceland? We'll find out.

 

Netherlands

Ukraine

Austria

North Macedonia

Belgium and Denmark easily, the other two don't stand much of a chance in this group. Belgium, is this their time? Time to finally have a trophy to go along with all the accolades from pundits, lofty FIFA rankings, and dominating results of the past five or so years? They still have the same scary-squad that could beat any team in this tournament 4-0 (or more) on their best day. Denmark are coming too and certainly won't back down from anyone. Finland is a mystery really, sometimes they show they can punch above their weight and other times they look like a minnow. Russia hasn't been the same in recent years.

 

Belgium

Denmark

Finland

Russia

I think Wales has a lot of turmoil and Switzerland is overrated, Italy and Turkey take this. Switzerland just doesn't show the same form in tournaments as they do in qualifying campaigns. Wales isn't the same squad from previous major tournaments and they're dealing with manager issues and a Bale who might not be 100% there. Turkey might even win the group. Italy has quietly righted the ship that crashed when they missed the 2018 World Cup, they're building another golden generation and are in a long 26 match unbeaten streak for the national team. Turkey has their best generation of talent since 2002. They're still inconsistent but they attack, play for each other, and are fun to watch.

 

Italy

Turkey

Switzerland

Wales

15 please

Italy to win it and Semifinals for England.

Just in -- England

 

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Manchester United), Sam Johnstone (West Bromwich Albion), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Sheffield United).

 

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Conor Coady (Wolves), Ben Godfrey (Everton), Reece James (Chelsea), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kyle Trippier (Atletico Madrid), Kyle Walker (Manchester City), Ben White (Brighton & Hove Albion).

 

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Kalvin Phillips (Leeds), Declan Rice (West Ham), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton).

 

Forwards: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Aston Villa), Mason Greenwood (Manchester United), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).

Italy, Spain, or England are my picks in that order. I keep imagining an Italy vs. Spain final.

 

 

Denmark (1992's 'Hans Christian Fairytale' Re-visited?) or Turkey would be my picks for Darkhorses.

Just wanted to post what I have for my own rankings, compared to what FIFA and ELO have as we go into the European Championship. Kind of helps tell the story better as far as which groups are the strongest and how balanced they are. Also I have whether thee team is trending up and or down or about the same as they have been.

 

Group A

 

Italy | FIFA (7) | ELO (6) | Hazey (9) | Avg (7)

Switzerland | FIFA (13) | ELO (15) | Hazey (23) | Avg (17)

Wales | FIFA (17) | ELO (16) | Hazey (27) | Avg (20)

Turkey | FIFA (29) | ELO (22) | Hazey (29) | Avg (27)

 

Group B

 

Belgium | FIFA (1) | ELO (2) | Hazey (1) | Avg (1)

Denmark | FIFA (10) | ELO (9) | Hazey (8) | Avg (9)

Russia | FIFA (38) | ELO (37) | Hazey (40) | Avg (38)

Finland | FIFA (54) | ELO (40) | Hazey (47) | Avg (47)

 

Group C

 

Netherlands | FIFA (16) | ELO (10) | Hazey (11) | Avg (12)

Austria | FIFA (23) | ELO (33) | Hazey (24) | Avg (27)

Ukraine | FIFA (24) | ELO (20) | Hazey (44) | Avg (29)

North Macedonia | FIFA (62) | ELO (60) | Hazey (49) | Avg (57)

 

Group D

 

England | FIFA (4) | ELO (8) | Hazey (3) | Avg (5)

Croatia | FIFA (14) | ELO (18) | Hazey (32) | Avg (21)

Czech Republic | FIFA (40) | ELO (27) | Hazey (46) | Avg (38)

Scotland | FIFA (44) | ELO (43) | Hazey (52) | Avg (46)

 

Group E

 

Spain | FIFA (6) | ELO (4) | Hazey (5) | Avg (5)

Poland | FIFA (21) | ELO (22) | Hazey (25) | Avg (23)

Sweden | FIFA (18) | ELO (17) | Hazey (37) | Avg (24)

Slovakia | FIFA (36) | ELO (44) | Hazey (56) | Avg (45)

 

Group F

 

France | FIFA (2) | ELO (3) | Hazey (4) | Avg (3)

Portugal | FIFA (5) | ELO (5) | Hazey (6) | Avg (5)

Germany | FIFA (12) | ELO (12) | Hazey (15) | Avg (13)

Hungary | FIFA (37) | ELO (35) | Hazey (38) | Avg (37)

Bayern Munich and PSG have officially said "no thanks" to the Super League.

Also Armenia and North Macedonia should not be taken lightly they will always be prime for an upset or two.

 

 

 

Serbia beat us in the last World Cup qualifying campaign! We drew in Belgrade 2-2 then beat 0-1 at home!

 

That's true, but I still view them as overrated right now.

I lost track of this and just noticed today it was drawn. Because of Covid, all the qualifying has been so delayed I never know when they're actually getting on with things lol. So here's how I predict things will go:

 

Group A: Portugal [Q] Ireland [Playoffs] | Luxembourg gets at least one surprising result and Serbia never scare me if I was an Irish fan.

Group B: Spain [Q] Greece [Playoffs] | Really close between Greece and Sweden, but Sweden has been meh lately and I feel a Greek surge coming, for some reason.

Group C: Italy [Q] Switzerland [Playoffs] | Bulgaria pips Northern Ireland for 3rd.

Group D: France [Q] Finland [Playoffs] | This will come down to last match day for 2nd.

Group E: Belgium [Q] Wales [Playoffs] | Pretty straight-forward group if you ask me. Alot of free points from the bottom two.

Group F: Scotland [Q] Denmark [Playoffs] | A shocker I know, but I feel like they might go on a Iceland-like run as a nation.

Group G: Netherlands [Q] Norway [Playoffs] | The bottom three teams are free points for all just like Group F.

Group H: Russia [Q] Croatia [Playoffs] | It's kind of traditional for Croatia to need playoffs anyway, plus Russia has been relatively strong recently.

Group I: England [Q] Hungary [Playoffs] | Hungary has been playing above their brow lately so I see them taking another step forward. England won't have it as easy as usual but they're still dominate. San Marino might actually grab a couple points from Andorra.

Group J: Germany [Q] Iceland [Playoffs] | Looks pretty realistic for Iceland to get back to the playoffs. Also Armenia and North Macedonia should not be taken lightly they will always be prime for an upset or two.

If they want to add/change the U.S. event, I still say Laguna Seca or Road America.

Playoff predictions:

 

Path A

 

Iceland 2:1 Romania

Bulgaria 2:0 Hungary

 

Bulgaria 3:2 Iceland

 

Path B

 

Bosnia-Herzegovina 2:0 Northern Ireland

Slovakia 1:1 Republic of Ireland (Ireland wins on penalties)

 

Republic of Ireland 2:1 Bosnia-Herzegovina

 

Path C

 

Scotland 2:0 Israel

Norway 2:0 Serbia

 

Norway 2:1 Scotland

 

Path D

 

Georgia 1:0 Belarus

North Macedonia 1:3 Kosovo

 

Kosovo 1:0 Georgia

 

 

Group C - Kosovo

Group D - Norway

Group E - Republic of Ireland

Group F - Bulgaria

Do the top 3 teams qualify from the groups again?

 

Top 4 third placed teams out of the 6 groups, yes.

I liked Iceland's chances until the prospect of playing in Budapest (which is a very similar situation to the game in Elbasan, Albania a very loud passionate fanbase and Iceland melted 2-4). But I believe Bulgaria's matches will be played in a closed stadium, so I'd prefer that matchup in the final though Hungary is another team I support.

Let this Avril stan have their say!

 

08.5 Complicated

07.0 Sk8ier Boi

10.0 I'm With You

09.5 Losing Grip

10.0 Mobile

 

08.5 Don't Tell Me

09.0 My Happy Ending

10.0 Nobody's Home

08.0 He Wasn't

 

11.0 Keep Holding On

07.5 Girlfriend

10.0 When You're Gone

10.0 Hot

09.5 The Best Damn Thing

 

08.0 Alice

10.0 What The Hell

10.0 Smile

10.0 Wish You Were Here

 

07.5 Here's to Never Growing Up

10.0 Rock N' Roll

10.0 Let Me Go [Ft Chad Kroeger]

04.0 Hello Kitty

10.0 Give You What You Like

 

08.0 Fly

 

06.5 Head Above Water

06.0 Tell Me It's Over

04.5 Dumb Blonde [Ft Nicki Minaj]

10.0 I Fell In Love with the Devil

I would've banned them from participating in the next EURO qualifying.

They already take care of it just fine. The team who's fan were at fault have to play future home games in a closed stadium.

Benin beating Morocco was a shock. Still see Senegal as favorites, would love to see Madagascar go further but brutal schedule having to play Tunisia and then Ivory Coast/Algeria winner. I like Algeria out of that sector as they as slowly getting back into form after dropping off the map the last few years after their golden age centered around their 2014 World Cup performance.

Brazil vs. Peru in the final. Brazil beat Peru 5-0 in the group stages, getting revenge for Peru's 1-0 upset in 2016 Centenario edition of the tournament which knocked Brazil out at the group stages that year. Peru is a MUCH better side than being the losing end of a 5-0 thrashing, hopefully they'll step up.

But in all fairness, well played to England giving all they have and thwn some!

Haha seeeeee ya Bright hit the showahs!

Justice is served what a save!

Now THAT is a bad call.