Euro 2024

[surge]

I agree, I think Switzerland have looked fantastic and exactly the right style of football that Italy and England will struggle against.

Austria have also looked fantastic and might cause the aforementioned two problems, but I worry a little bit about their defence. Romania likewise fantastic but maybe their attack not quite strong enough.

Netherlands look really strong on paper but something about Koeman that I don't particularly trust as a manager. A Dutch Southgate!

[talyfan]

Jun 26, 2024 21:22:51 GMT insertname said:

Jun 26, 2024 21:06:36 GMT manulike said:

a few lari on them to take Spain to penalties?

They’re done, I think. Spain rested players against Albania so ITV were amiss in saying no team has impressed in the last round. Spain still won in second gear and they will school Georgia.

My big call is Switzerland to beat Italy and possibly England too. They are being dismissed with all the talk of “easy sides of the draw”. They have had an armchair ride and almost did for Germany but for a marginal offside call. Check out their results since they changed formation and adopted Leverkusen’s style of football. One to be watched carefully.

I hope so got them in two of my sweepstakes to would be quids in!

[allezlesrouges]

Did a pre-tournament scoreline predictor and got 11/16 qualifiers correct: Spain, Georgia, Germany, Denmark, Portugal, France, Belgium, Romania, Netherlands, Turkey, England

Of those I have Germany, England, Spain, Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium and France progressing (can only be 1 of the latter two)

[quetzal]

Just reading some of the Scottish fall out on X (twitter). Things I didn’t know. Scotland finished 9 points ahead of Georgia in qualifying. Scott McTominay scored 7 goals with 8 shots in qualifying. Scot McTominay stat is insane! He hit a hotspot and completely masked Scotland’s capabilities in front of goal.

[mrpicton79]

Jun 26, 2024 21:18:25 GMT insertname said:

Jun 26, 2024 21:04:13 GMT quetzal said:

That’s your first post in a while?

It is mate. To be honest, it pains me to say this, but it’s just not the same anymore. As you might know I spent so many years in the early days of this board and on the old DS board raging against how it just wasn’t good enough and how shit Wales were and how we had no chance of qualifying….a decade with a Euros semi and a World Cup qualification and it just feels like it’s all been done now and there are bigger things in life to focus my dissatisfaction on 😂I still read this board religiously but don’t feel there is anything for me to add anymore…apart from pointing out what (I feel) is the ludicrous suggestion that 4 points against mediocre opposition is worth more than 3 against better opposition.

Hope you are well mate!

Ps: Got that tattoo yet? 😜😂

Good to see you back!

You can fear the worst when regular posters disappear for an extended period. Still wonder what happened to the likes of storm, flynnfan and alarch. Hope they're alright.

Forum's changed a lot since you last posted 😂

[mrpicton79]

Jun 27, 2024 7:54:24 GMT allezlesrouges said:

Did a pre-tournament scoreline predictor and got 11/16 qualifiers correct: Spain, Georgia, Germany, Denmark, Portugal, France, Belgium, Romania, Netherlands, Turkey, England

Of those I have Germany, England, Spain, Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium and France progressing (can only be 1 of the latter two)

You didn't see Switzerland or Italy getting out of their groups?

[kracken88]

I see England have managed to be on the more favourable side of the draw until if they reach the final at any rate,mind you we can't talk,we were really lucky to get the two home draws v Finland and Poland and still messed it up.

[eppingblue1]

Jun 27, 2024 9:11:59 GMT kracken88 said:

I see England have managed to be on the more favourable side of the draw until if they reach the final at any rate,mind you we can't talk,we were really lucky to get the two home draws v Finland and Poland and still messed it up.

We weren't lucky to get a home draw against Finland although we were a little lucky to get home draws against both Ukraine and Poland. 

[allezlesrouges]

Jun 27, 2024 9:11:51 GMT mrpicton79 said:

Jun 27, 2024 7:54:24 GMT allezlesrouges said:

Did a pre-tournament scoreline predictor and got 11/16 qualifiers correct: Spain, Georgia, Germany, Denmark, Portugal, France, Belgium, Romania, Netherlands, Turkey, England

Of those I have Germany, England, Spain, Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium and France progressing (can only be 1 of the latter two)

You didn't see Switzerland or Italy getting out of their groups?

Nah thought Albania would sneak a surprise win against Croatia (almost did), and grab a 0-0 with Italy (almost nabbed a draw at the end), and then correctly had Italy/Croatia to draw the final game - which would have eliminated both on my predictor

I looked at Switzerland's squad and thought with Shaqiri ageing their forward line didn't look that impressive & they didn't look as strong in general. Had Hungary down to finish 2nd in that group, and Scotland to do better

In the end those were my two glaring omissions you could say. Expected more of Ukraine, Hungary & Serbia, and expected less of Swiss, Austria, Slovakia & Slovenia

[cymro]

Jun 26, 2024 19:27:25 GMT insertname said:

Jun 26, 2024 17:03:57 GMT cymro said:

Rather than the 4 best third placed sides going through, surely it should be the remaining 4 best sides regardless of position in the group. Would be pretty gutting getting knocked out with 4 points just because you finished 4th.

So you think that a thrashing against Romania, a narrow win against Slovakia and a draw against Belgium is better than going undefeated against Serbia, Denmark & England?

Brave call.

Can't go into which teams are better than others as that's debatable each tournament. Format wise though, 3 points going through rather than 4 doesn't make sense. To have 3 points you've either lost 2 games or haven't won a game. Not sure that should be awarded more than 1 win 1 draw 1 loss.

Only downside I now foresee with 4 teams being able to qualify from the same group is that all 4 could just collude on the final day and play out the results needed to ensure they all get through, which defeats the purpose of playing final group games at the same time. I know this is unlikely to ever actually happen but still a risk it could.

[saturn9]

Jun 27, 2024 5:01:26 GMT surge said:

I agree, I think Switzerland have looked fantastic and exactly the right style of football that Italy and England will struggle against.

Austria have also looked fantastic and might cause the aforementioned two problems, but I worry a little bit about their defence. Romania likewise fantastic but maybe their attack not quite strong enough.

Netherlands look really strong on paper but something about Koeman that I don't particularly trust as a manager. A Dutch Southgate!

The Swiss could go very far, if they had a decent striker. Embolo, isn't exactly prolific for country or club.

[insertname]

Jun 27, 2024 9:06:37 GMT mrpicton79 said:

Jun 26, 2024 21:18:25 GMT insertname said:

It is mate. To be honest, it pains me to say this, but it’s just not the same anymore. As you might know I spent so many years in the early days of this board and on the old DS board raging against how it just wasn’t good enough and how shit Wales were and how we had no chance of qualifying….a decade with a Euros semi and a World Cup qualification and it just feels like it’s all been done now and there are bigger things in life to focus my dissatisfaction on 😂I still read this board religiously but don’t feel there is anything for me to add anymore…apart from pointing out what (I feel) is the ludicrous suggestion that 4 points against mediocre opposition is worth more than 3 against better opposition.

Hope you are well mate!

Ps: Got that tattoo yet? 😜😂

Good to see you back!

You can fear the worst when regular posters disappear for an extended period. Still wonder what happened to the likes of storm, flynnfan and alarch. Hope they're alright.

Forum's changed a lot since you last posted 😂

Well I can help you slightly there as storm was my old name- I took extreme offence to something squatter said in my rage at us failing to qualify for Russia 2018 which I was desperate to go to and deleted my account. I came back a few days later under this name as I wasn’t done. But I feel it says it all that over 20 years ago I literally cried when Poland knocked us out under Tosh after we dominated them, eventually scored through Earnie and then got sucker punched with 2 late long range goals. Football rope a dope. It was so unjust! I recall my ex-gf complaining about what a twat I was getting like that over football- looking back she might have had a point 😂….and yet two decades later Poland did for us again, on penalties and I just wasn’t bothered. Would have loved to have gone to Germany and would love USA 26 but if we do nothing for the rest of my days I’ve seen what I needed to. What a day beating Slovakia was, exactly as you dream it. So it’s not the Holy Grail of sport anymore, which is a shame but better for my constitution!

But I know what you mean, you don’t get happy endings on forums. Most are quite impersonable but I’ve met a few of you in Israel and the general Welsh football crew has left more questions than most: Martin (Welsh ram) alarch, flynnfan, Trendy, even names like west wales ed and Tecwyn wotsischops…you never find out where they go. Such is life unfortunately. But thanks for thinking of me! 🙂

[dai]

Jun 26, 2024 21:18:25 GMT insertname said:

Jun 26, 2024 21:04:13 GMT quetzal said:

That’s your first post in a while?

It is mate. To be honest, it pains me to say this, but it’s just not the same anymore. As you might know I spent so many years in the early days of this board and on the old DS board raging against how it just wasn’t good enough and how shit Wales were and how we had no chance of qualifying….a decade with a Euros semi and a World Cup qualification and it just feels like it’s all been done now and there are bigger things in life to focus my dissatisfaction on 😂I still read this board religiously but don’t feel there is anything for me to add anymore…apart from pointing out what (I feel) is the ludicrous suggestion that 4 points against mediocre opposition is worth more than 3 against better opposition.

Hope you are well mate!

Ps: Got that tattoo yet? 😜😂

As depressing as it is, this is sadly how I feel these days. I know quite a few others who say that after achieving what we did in 2016, everything after just sort of pales into a slight insignificance. 

Don't get me wrong, I still want to see us do well, and ultimately play well, but I wasn't THAT upset about us failing to qualify for the Euro's. I'm annoyed that we didn't, but not near as emotionally invested as I once was.

I'm hoping (really hoping) that a new, positive and astute manager will get the taste buds going again, but we'll see.

[rushy]

I don't get that attitude personally, the fact that we reached those finals in the Euro's and WC means we are capable of doing so, that has to be the objective whatever the quality of the playing squad available to us.

I imagine the players to want the same, this is why the choice of the new manager is so important, the FAW stating what they require shows commitment and ambition, and when you see the likes of Georgia and Slovenia doing well currently it shows that anything is possible.

Gotta keep going lads !

[welshrover]

I think Euro 16 changed it for a lot of us.

[quetzal]

Jun 27, 2024 19:03:56 GMT insertname said:

Jun 27, 2024 9:06:37 GMT mrpicton79 said:

Good to see you back!

You can fear the worst when regular posters disappear for an extended period. Still wonder what happened to the likes of storm, flynnfan and alarch. Hope they're alright.

Forum's changed a lot since you last posted 😂

Well I can help you slightly there as storm was my old name- I took extreme offence to something squatter said in my rage at us failing to qualify for Russia 2018 which I was desperate to go to and deleted my account. I came back a few days later under this name as I wasn’t done. But I feel it says it all that over 20 years ago I literally cried when Poland knocked us out under Tosh after we dominated them, eventually scored through Earnie and then got sucker punched with 2 late long range goals. Football rope a dope. It was so unjust! I recall my ex-gf complaining about what a twat I was getting like that over football- looking back she might have had a point 😂….and yet two decades later Poland did for us again, on penalties and I just wasn’t bothered. Would have loved to have gone to Germany and would love USA 26 but if we do nothing for the rest of my days I’ve seen what I needed to. What a day beating Slovakia was, exactly as you dream it. So it’s not the Holy Grail of sport anymore, which is a shame but better for my constitution!

But I know what you mean, you don’t get happy endings on forums. Most are quite impersonable but I’ve met a few of you in Israel and the general Welsh football crew has left more questions than most: Martin (Welsh ram) alarch, flynnfan, Trendy, even names like west wales ed and Tecwyn wotsischops…you never find out where they go. Such is life unfortunately. But thanks for thinking of me! 🙂

Israel 2015 as Toshfan always said was the best apostle meet up. Was it that COMPLETE DIVE called Mike’s Place in Tel Aviv? I believe so. Basically the result in Haifa and we were on the cusp of something special. Apostle never really recovered from the success of Twitter. Shame.

[garynysmon]

When we were crap in the late 90's we were still massively underachieving considering we had some good players even then.

Given the expanded Euros its an achievable target to at least reach the European Championships every 4 years and ensure we never again drop below third seeds in any qualifying group.

Once you drop down its very hard to get back up and will mess things up for subsequent generations.

[quetzal]

Jun 28, 2024 13:54:56 GMT garynysmon said:

When we were crap in the late 90's we were still massively underachieving considering we had some good players even then.

Given the expanded Euros its an achievable target to at least reach the European Championships every 4 years and ensure we never again drop below third seeds in any qualifying group.

Once you drop down its very hard to get back up and will mess things up for subsequent generations.

Wales and Romania played the seedings too. Can’t be done now. But Coleman’s time somebody at the FAW was a very clever person. Figured out not to play friendlies and shoot up the rankings.

[insertname]

Jun 28, 2024 0:54:02 GMT quetzal said:

Jun 27, 2024 19:03:56 GMT insertname said:

Well I can help you slightly there as storm was my old name- I took extreme offence to something squatter said in my rage at us failing to qualify for Russia 2018 which I was desperate to go to and deleted my account. I came back a few days later under this name as I wasn’t done. But I feel it says it all that over 20 years ago I literally cried when Poland knocked us out under Tosh after we dominated them, eventually scored through Earnie and then got sucker punched with 2 late long range goals. Football rope a dope. It was so unjust! I recall my ex-gf complaining about what a twat I was getting like that over football- looking back she might have had a point 😂….and yet two decades later Poland did for us again, on penalties and I just wasn’t bothered. Would have loved to have gone to Germany and would love USA 26 but if we do nothing for the rest of my days I’ve seen what I needed to. What a day beating Slovakia was, exactly as you dream it. So it’s not the Holy Grail of sport anymore, which is a shame but better for my constitution!

But I know what you mean, you don’t get happy endings on forums. Most are quite impersonable but I’ve met a few of you in Israel and the general Welsh football crew has left more questions than most: Martin (Welsh ram) alarch, flynnfan, Trendy, even names like west wales ed and Tecwyn wotsischops…you never find out where they go. Such is life unfortunately. But thanks for thinking of me! 🙂

Israel 2015 as Toshfan always said was the best apostle meet up. Was it that COMPLETE DIVE called Mike’s Place in Tel Aviv? I believe so. Basically the result in Haifa and we were on the cusp of something special. Apostle never really recovered from the success of Twitter. Shame.

I love how Mikes place never appealed to you 😂

That trip was for me how it should be. I went on my own to a dodgy part of the world, not knowing anyone and within hours of landing me
, you, Martin and others(complete strangers) went on a pub crawl (like old friends) round the old town (iirc they saw us coming and wouldn’t let us in, probably wise 😂).

We later found ourselves in a bar in Haifa and our table had a revolving cast of attendees including toshfan and gwernybwch and I recall for a fact they played “we are the people” by Empire of the Sun as we sat in the sun and drunk the local beers passing time til KO. That memory of that song in Haifa is one of the best moments of my life. Whatever happens I love football for giving me moments like that.

I also recall trendy needing to be revived by smelling salts because me, the most pessimistic of anyone, came back from Israel convinced we’d already qualified 😂 I wasn’t wrong.

I love the memories of that away trip and thanks to all the apostles who were part of it. It was a great time to be involved.

[greenscorpio1967]

Jun 26, 2024 19:27:25 GMT insertname said:

Jun 26, 2024 17:03:57 GMT cymro said:

Rather than the 4 best third placed sides going through, surely it should be the remaining 4 best sides regardless of position in the group. Would be pretty gutting getting knocked out with 4 points just because you finished 4th.

So you think that a thrashing against Romania, a narrow win against Slovakia and a draw against Belgium is better than going undefeated against Serbia, Denmark & England?

Brave call.

[greenscorpio1967]

Jun 29, 2024 9:20:23 GMT greenscorpio1967 said:

Jun 26, 2024 19:27:25 GMT insertname said:

So you think that a thrashing against Romania, a narrow win against Slovakia and a draw against Belgium is better than going undefeated against Serbia, Denmark & England?

Brave call.

I think the argument is this format has made the group games a bore, only entertaining games arguably france v Austria and Portugal v Georgia.I think a better format would be 4 group of 6 top 2 teams go to quater finals ,the last 8 would be better quality and there more in merit and go for more wins in the group satges

[CrackityJones]

There have been plenty of entertaining games, a lot featuring the teams that wouldn’t be there without this format.

I don’t think the quality is any less than the 32 team World Cup. No one has taken a real pasting…except Scotland 😁

[welshrover]

Does anybody else think Yann Sommer in goal for Switzerland could be Chris Coleman's love child 😊

[dai]

This is a VERY good Swiss side.

[welrus]

Switzerland leading 1-0 againsy Italy and more than deserved. They are totally controlling the game

[manulike]

...So I hear England have already made it to the semi-final ;-)

[rushy]

I don't think I've ever seen Italy so lethargic, totally outplayed.

[dai]

Yeah Italy were dreadfull, made for a boring last 16 game. Swiss look solid though, even the English pundits sound worried.

[fireboy0610]

Jun 29, 2024 17:56:34 GMT dai said:

Yeah Italy were dreadfull, made for a boring last 16 game. Swiss look solid though, even the English pundits sound worried.

I am hoping that Slovakia do us all a favour tomorrow 🙏

[morg]

Jun 29, 2024 16:38:44 GMT dai said:

This is a VERY good Swiss side.

I'm still confused about their result against Scotland. They seem to have kicked on a fair bit since then. Tournament momentum - fingers crossed!