After a busy few weeks with major highs and some pretty huge surprise! We are left with the 16 teams that will compete for the title of EURO 2016 Champion! So, who is playing who?
Round of 16
Saturday, Jun 25 1:00pm GMT (GMT+00:00) Switzerland vs Poland is first up and this could be a close fiery game. Both teams showed some flair in their group games but also a bit of a poor performance too. Poland struggled on matchday 3 in beating already eliminated Ukraine 1-0. Where as Switzerland looked good vs Albania in the first 20 minutes to then show alot of defensive frailties through out the rest of their games. However with the swiss they do look pretty useful going forward with pace ontop of quick passing. Should be a good tie.
Prediction Switzerland 1-2 Poland Result - Switzerland 1-1 Poland - Poland Win 5-4 on Penalties
Saturday, Jun 25 4:00pm GMT (GMT+00:00) Wales vs Northern Ireland, in a knock out stage at a major european competition! Now if you told me this 2 weeks ago i would have laughed at you! What a huge surprise, two teams who had to fight to get here in the first place have made it out of their groups and into the promise land of the knockout stages. Both teams were pretty defensively set up in their group games, none more so than the Northern Irish who play a flat back 5 most of the time. However they both did score goals, Ireland beating Ukraine 2-0 and Wales thumping Russia 3-0 to eliminate them. Could be an interesting game this one, i just have a sneaky feeling this might be heading to penalties.
Prediction Wales 1-1 Northern Ireland (Wales Advance on Penalties) Result Wales 1-0 Northern Ireland
Saturday, Jun 25 7:00pm GMT (GMT+00:00) Croatia vs Portugal, well where do i start with these two teams. Croatia played an incredibly strange opening game where they looked so good vs Turkey but just could not finish them off after being 1-0 up for a large part of it, almost to an extent Turkey could have nicked a point. Now the most bizarre event happened to them in matchday 2 when they were absolutely cruising 2-0 up vs Czech Republic before squandering a 2 goal lead and tying 2-2 and throwing automatic qualification in a potential doubt. However they then, without some of their big names (Modric/Mandzukic) went and beat Spain, who before that game looked untouchable. Now moving onto Portugal, well i don't even know what is happening with these guys, Ronaldo is trying to hard it seems to try and carry them and everyone else is unable to shoot properly and they just seem to be a few good individuals on the pitch and not trying hard enough? However the 3-3 draw on the last matchday to sneak a 3rd place spot might have woken up them up...at least offensively?
Prediction Croatia 3-2 Portugal Result Croatia 0-1 Portugal After Extra Time
Sunday, Jun 26 1:00pm GMT (GMT+00:00) France vs Ireland. Hosts France got into the last 16 without too much trouble, however they were very late bloomers shall we say? Leaving it late in both games vs Albania and Romania, however you can argue you play for 90 minutes anyway? They looked pretty decent at the back and lots of energy with Matuidi and Kante, however some of the bigger names such as Pogba and Greizman haven't exactly caught the tournament alight yet. That is however being made up by Payet contiuing his excellent club form into this tournament and is one of the reasons France has topped this group! Ireland did the unthinkable on matchday 3 and beat a very solid Italian side! The Azzurri were alot weaker than usual resting many players but still it was a great result to send them through in 3rd place and set up a tie with the hosts. Will the fairy tale continue for the Irish?
Prediction France 2-1 Ireland Result France 2-1 Ireland
Sunday, Jun 26 4:00pm GMT (GMT+00:00) Germany vs Slovakia. The Germans silenced critics who like me thought they looked very underwhelming prior to this tournament and during qualifying and could be in trouble, by a resounding matchday 1 victory over Ukraine. However that was overshadowed by the fact they finished bottom of the group in the end. They clearly did not want to "take the game" too Poland in matchday 2 before a comfortable victory in dominant performance over minnows Northern Ireland. Still a questionable side to see how far they will go but they are doing what they always do, get into the knockout stages. Slovakia managed to park the park bus and absorb an abundance of pressure from England in matchday 3 to secure a 4 point 3rd place place in the last 16. They did not show much of the form they had before this tournament, most notably when they won 3-1 against Germany in Germany just over 4 weeks ago. Im completely in the unknown at what Slovakia will turn up in this one.
Sunday, Jun 26 7:00pm GMT (GMT+00:00) Hungary vs Belgium. Ok so my power rank said Hungary were the worst team in this tournament, well that didn't go to plan now did it. Hungary topped group F rather easily in the end with 5 points having not tasted defeat in any of the 3 games. They also managed to put 3 past Portugal! Quite and incredible run with a noticeable standout performances by the captain Dzsudzsák. Belgium were abit slow to start after the punishing opening day defeat to Italy in which they got picked apart man for man which must have been hard on them. They then beat Ireland comfortable scoring some goals before eventually getting over the line against Sweden. Not sure what you can expect from this Belgium side, they show glimpses but only very rarely, but surely they will be to strong for minnows Hungary?
Prediction Hungary 1-3 Belgium Result Hungary 0-4 Belgium
Monday, Jun 27 4:00pm GMT (GMT+00:00) Italy vs Spain. Yes, a game that is arguably worthy of the final itself is happening in the RO16 thanks to this amazing system Uefa has in place! Italy rewarding with top seeds in Group E with a tie against Spain! Spain are really suffering from that matchday 3 defeat to Croatia in having to play the Azzurri so early on. Italy got here on the back of shutting out Sweden and Belgium pretty well with some tactical master strokes from Don Conte. They did struggle when resting the big guns vs Ireland and were beaten in a game which they were on the back for, for large parts of it. Spain were looking on fire in there first 2 games of group D, but it all went so horribly wrong when playing a Croatian side which looked like it was easy pickings for them (rested/injured Croatian players). This sets up the super tie of the round.
Prediction Italy 2-1 Spain Result Italy 2-0 Spain
Monday, Jun 27 7:00pm GMT (GMT+00:00) England vs Iceland. Well, Iceland continue to shock the world here, with a country with a population size of 300,000!!! are competing with the likes of Portugal and dark horses Austria in group F! Amazing performances from this team who just do not know when to roll over it seems, an interesting game vs England in prospects here, an early goal would be key to victory with England's offensive system not on full flow yet. England come into the game on the back of a 30 shot 0-0 draw with Slovakia in Group B. England punished for their failure to break the Slovakian wall with a tie against a dangerous Iceland in the bracket of hell. England are going to need to be at it from the get go to stamp their mark on this tournament sooner rather than later.
Prediction England 2-0 Iceland Result England 1-2 Iceland So the round of 16, there it is! Now lets sit back and enjoy some great footballing games over the weekend! CSS: FO-nTTaX Awesomeness: Panda Pictures: Sneirac
Zero upsets, I don't think this is what will happen Pande. Maybe Portugal is being seen as the favourite by some, but I think all who watched the group stage will favor Croatia.
Though there is only one thing I predict differently: Spain winning against Italy.
solid prediction even if i think switzerland is gonna win at the penalty shootout and england edging out iceland 1-0 also belgium winning but with a lower score than that
Poland > Switzerland Wales > NIR Croatia >> Portugal Hungary > Belgium Germany > Slovakia Italy vs Spain I really dunno Ireland > France England > Iceland
On June 24 2016 08:11 sharkie wrote: You know Pande, Italy vs Spain would have happened in a normal EURO tournament as well? It's #1 vs #2 of the group stages...
Stop hating so much on the format.
Yeah in the quarter finals at worst not in a ro16 match where you have hungary vs poland or wales vs northern ireland. It like Barca drawing Bayern in first knockout round it just a waste, but at least there you get two games and not 1.
On June 24 2016 08:11 sharkie wrote: You know Pande, Italy vs Spain would have happened in a normal EURO tournament as well? It's #1 vs #2 of the group stages...
Stop hating so much on the format.
Yeah in the quarter finals at worst not in a ro16 match where you have hungary vs poland or wales vs northern ireland. It like Barca drawing Bayern in first knockout round it just a waste, but at least there you get two games and not 1.
You understand that in a normal EURO tournament the quarter finals is the first knockout round right?
Spain and Italy would still have met in the first knockout round.
It's not the UEFA's fault that Spain failed to win its group.
It's not the UEFA's fault that Wales DID win its group.
I echo sharkie's sentiment, stop hating so much on the format.
Yeah but it's in the round of 8 after the groups are way much better due to its the best 16 teams in europe straight up. Not a bunch of defensive teams like Northern Ireland etcetc. Last Euros England played a good game vs France, followed by two hard good games with Sweden and then hosts Ukraine, to set up a tie vs Italy 2nd place in Spains group. Was perfect tournament, now we fluffed with big teams going out early due to draw etc and with little protection of seeds due to 2nd vs 2nd in matches and 1st vs 3rds. Just a bit silly to have a tournament that rewards negative play or in fact poor play; see Ireland/Portugal maybe.
But northern ireland WON its qualifying group. They'd be in the tournament no matter what format it had. And they would still play defensively and provide bad games.
I will concede that some groups having easier roads to the finals than others is bad. (I.E. groups A & D having it easier than the others because they meet another first place team in semis at the earliest)
But most of the things you are arguing have little to do with the format
Again, "big teams going out early" is entirely their own fault for failing to win their groups!
On June 24 2016 18:12 Laurens wrote: But northern ireland WON its qualifying group. They'd be in the tournament no matter what format it had. And they would still play defensively and provide bad games.
I will concede that some groups having easier roads to the finals than others is bad. (I.E. groups A & D having it easier than the others because they meet another first place team in semis at the earliest)
But most of the things you are arguing have little to do with the format
Again, "big teams going out early" is entirely their own fault for failing to win their groups!
The qualifying groups were different as you know, also they can be in it but they would have been in it and not get out of the group stage and not continue it xD However i am very salty on the matter due to how certain teams have made it out of the groups without having a win or being defeated twice!
On June 24 2016 18:12 Laurens wrote: But northern ireland WON its qualifying group. They'd be in the tournament no matter what format it had. And they would still play defensively and provide bad games.
I will concede that some groups having easier roads to the finals than others is bad. (I.E. groups A & D having it easier than the others because they meet another first place team in semis at the earliest)
But most of the things you are arguing have little to do with the format
Again, "big teams going out early" is entirely their own fault for failing to win their groups!
The qualifying groups were different as you know, also they can be in it but they would have been in it and not get out of the group stage and not continue it xD However i am very salty on the matter due to how certain teams have made it out of the groups without having a win or being defeated twice!
I gotta 2nd this.
This was the first EURO i can remember where I just didn't care at all about group stages. 80% of the games were just bad/ boring cause of defensive play and stuff. One team couldn't, the other wouldn't. I was contempt to just watch the after game summarys and highlights. This has never happened to me before!
Yeah when theoretically (and it happened) if you played park the bus and drew 3 games 0-0 or 1-1 you are through which is just wrong Oh well, we in promise land now, you can't defend your way to the title or you can but not every team can do it xD is only 1 Greece!
On June 24 2016 18:12 Laurens wrote: But northern ireland WON its qualifying group. They'd be in the tournament no matter what format it had. And they would still play defensively and provide bad games.
I will concede that some groups having easier roads to the finals than others is bad. (I.E. groups A & D having it easier than the others because they meet another first place team in semis at the earliest)
But most of the things you are arguing have little to do with the format
Again, "big teams going out early" is entirely their own fault for failing to win their groups!
The qualifying groups were different as you know, also they can be in it but they would have been in it and not get out of the group stage and not continue it xD However i am very salty on the matter due to how certain teams have made it out of the groups without having a win or being defeated twice!
I gotta 2nd this.
This was the first EURO i can remember where I just didn't care at all about group stages. 80% of the games were just bad/ boring cause of defensive play and stuff. One team couldn't, the other wouldn't. I was contempt to just watch the after game summarys and highlights. This has never happened to me before!
Got to agree. No comparison at all to the most recent Euros which had incredible group stages. This time I still watched most of the late games but the games I turned out to care most about were Iceland because they made the best story.
On June 24 2016 15:37 Laurens wrote: Belgium to beat Hungary easily.
Meaning no offense, group F was a joke compared to group E. Hungary is completely out of their league here.
No offense too, but Norway and Austria said that last time and they are nowhere atm. I say Group E was more tough, but dont underestimate us as Norway and Austria did.
Just need to not have 3rd place go through and make it a full 32 world cup looking euro, or make it at least a number that divides better to allow 2x 8 teams through. Whether that is bigger groups i dont care just make it so top 2 through that is it.
EPT
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Maybe Portugal is being seen as the favourite by some, but I think all who watched the group stage will favor Croatia.
not in a ro16 match where you have hungary vs poland or wales vs northern ireland. It like Barca drawing Bayern in first knockout round it just a waste, but at least there you get two games and not 1.
