Euro 2016 - hype, anticipation and general excitement

Martial has been consistently hopeless with the national team - he's had his chance during the pre-tournament friendlies

final was irritatingly dull (i could have gone to the cinema instead) until extra time. i didnt see every single match this year but did seem like most matches had this air of semi-lifeless and playing it safe.

― StillAdvance, Monday, 11 July 2016 12:18 (19 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Tournament finals are ususally crap though.

The group games were the worst bit, how do you get motivated to win a game if you know not losing 3 games is almost definitely good enough to get you through?

Really? Didn't see the directly pre-tournament games but it seemed like he did well in his first few games. Picked up a few assists iirc

It was the shit dance that he did to celebrate his goals

Yup. That and his nazi haircut.

We turned over for about 10 mins, saw the change ends after the first ex-tim period, then the goal. Match looked quite good.

I take it the rest of the match wasn't.

Still, what's all this about Poland 'shouldn't have won' business? what do you want, another ballot? Um, I mean, a replay?

jamie jackson the worst guardian writer?

What now for England? Forget the Sam Allardyce or Gareth Southgate route. Find an absolute managerial wizard and ask his price. Sit back and watch England become the world and European champions.

lol

well, we do have to admit: anybody can become European champions, and the new booooring 24 teams seemingly further increased this, with Wales reaching the semis.

now world champion, that's a totally different story.

they simply need to "find an absolute managerial wizard"

what do people think of the 24-team format anyway? i think it's highlighted how poor the supposed big teams really are.

I like the 24 format, but think the group stage should be arranged differently. Eight groups of three, first two to progress, group winners play a number two from a different group, third place goes home. No shenanigans like 'best number three' to go through or whatever.

24 team format execrable - lack of clarity and drama during teh first round, overall too many games also penalising forceful attacking play. Next edition without an organising country should be even worse

next three tournaments will probably kill international football - russia, everywhere, qatar

^^ otm

what do people think of the 24-team format anyway? i think it's highlighted how poor the supposed big teams really are.

The 'big teams' are especially weak at the moment.

A lot of seemed to come down to poor management imo

verall too many games also penalising forceful attacking play

this. i mean Northern-Ireland was 1-0 down against Germany, and didn't attack so they would advance, and could play another dreadful game. Imagine when they hád to attack and try to equalize, and Germany scoring 3 more beautiful goals. Maybe even Muller would have scored in this scenario. Ok probably not. :P

Big tearms
Mean nothing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEQj_xniiJg

Eight groups of three

Instinctively think three-team groups (esp with two qualifiers) are a dubious solution, but the only time they were used (WC82), they only really produced one duff game (Poland happy to hold USSR at bay to go through on goal diff). Elsewhere we had Rossi & Boniek hat-tricks, "it only takes a second to score a goal" - neither Keegan nor Brooking mustering one in 20min, Maradona red, Giresse & Rocheteau. But that was just a fantastic tournament.

Another detail I'd forgotten - order of matches in that second group phase at WC82 was determined by result of opening game. There was a provisional order that was adhered to if the opening game was a draw, but if there was a positive result, the winners didn't play again until match #3.

that is pretty cool.

A lot of seemed to come down to poor management imo

otm

I agree that the laws should be changed so that defending is outlawed and all games are passing and tricks exhibitions, win awarded to the prettiest team

Isn't it accepted wisdom that squads and fans of any qualifying team deserve more than two matches in a tournament?

jamie jackson the worst guardian writer?

What now for England? Forget the Sam Allardyce or Gareth Southgate route. Find an absolute managerial wizard and ask his price. Sit back and watch England become the world and European champions.

― Bein' Sean Bean (LocalGarda), Monday, July 11, 2016 2:21 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

given that every other writer's answer is a variation on "forget it they're fucked" I could believe he might have gone for a challop just for a bit of colour, but he actually says the same thing earlier on in his bit as well. so in conclusion, yes Jamie Jackson the worst Guardian writer

24 teams

First round = 12 groups of 2 Winners go through

12 losers play in 4 groups of 3 for the final places

sorted.

(12 groups of 2 will play to extra time/penalties etc)

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CnGYIa7WEAA3qZF.jpg

Kimmich was shit.

Boateng wasn't all that either

feel like that team deserves one more Frenchman (not sure who though)

No brady fuck off

Guardian put Clark AND Whelan in their Flops of the Tournament team, but only had Sterling and Hart from England...

what a bizarre list

Griezmann was selected by UEFA's 13-strong panel of technical observers, also including Sir Alex Ferguson, Alain Giresse, David Moyes, Packie Bonner, Mixu Paatelainen, Savo Milošević, Peter Rudbæk, Gareth Southgate, Thomas Schaaf, Jean-François Domergue, Ginés Meléndez and Jean-Paul Brigger.

packie bonner

Mixu Paatelainen! WTF? How did he get that gig?

deeply resent me having to be the one to point out that krychowiak pissed over everyone but kroos

defenders defender award goes to domagoj vida