Time for the predictions thread now that the squad has been announced. Vote in the poll and explain your views if you want. Mod Note: Trolling will be dealt with in a "no-tolerance" way. T.L.
For me, a lot depends on who and what approach Roy takes..There is a possibility to make it past QF if the right system/players are used.
I've gone for out in the group stage. Too much to do with too little time with a decent but limited squad.
I think losing in QF will be a popular selection. We have the quality to get the results against Sweden or Ukraine..
Quarte finals. Hodgson's England will be organised, discipline, conventional. Enough to overcome smaller teams and make bigger teams work hard for a win. It will take one above par performance to get out of the group, then it's either Spain or Italy. Which will be too much.
I fear humiliation in the first game and then a struggle in the next one. France game will be key but I still feel we will go out at the group stages. Hope I'm wrong.
Out in the group stage. We've got the weakest selection of players since the very early 90s IMO and we're in a strong group. Our Euro history is against us so to get to the quarters would be a massive achievement.
Out in the group stages. To be honest I will be o, if Hodgson picks a side with one eye to the qualifiers and gives them time to play together. Enough of this short termism.
nailed that...and I reluctantly agree. If one has to stoop to Stuart Downing and Andy Carroll then one is truly fcuked.
I'd be surprised if we make it out of the group. I think we'll probably lose to France, draw with Sweden, and then go out losing to a pumped up Ukraine at home in the final game. Bottom of the group and out I think.
I just bet 1 million lira that we will win the whole thing.. I have already been getting ready for the parade in London see you there ,guys.. France are pretty tough.. Sweden are beatable and Roy knows Swedish football very well Ukraine could be tricky at home Avoid Spain in the QF.. Italy's squad looks poor compared to their previous teams.. Croatia are decent rep of ireland would be like a derby game
I don't understand why you're asking, Barry. Looking around other parts of Big Soccer, I was under the impression that all England fans always thought we were going to win every tournament we enter. What's going on?
This is one of the reasons why I made it. We will still get the old condescending lectures about what we were 'all' thinking when we do go out though.
This is the way I see it.. I think there is a 50:50 chance we make it out of the group. A draw against France would be very good, and I think that we have to get something from that game if we want to qualify. If we lose that game, then the only saviour we might have is that the other teams drop points. I'd fancy us to beat Ukraine as I think they have lost quite a few players but of course it will be hard, I think we can beat Sweden as well if we play like we can. If we don't play well, then I see us struggling through the group stage like 2010 and finishing with 4 points in 3rd. If we somehow manage to make the QF and have played well then it depends who we play. I'd fancy our chances against Ireland or Croatia. Against Italy I'm not so sure.. we have trouble dealing with pace but I don't think that Italy has much pace or anything that scares me, I'm more scared about them sitting back and frustrating us. It would probably be 60/40 in their favour though as they are a far better tournament team than us. Against Spain I would not give us a chance to repeat what we did in November and would say it would be about 80/20 in favour of Spain. Basically, we need to either hope Spain slips up or that we don't finish second in our group if we want to have a chance of getting anywhere in this tournament. I can see some strange results in Group C occurring though.
Hang on - you mean we're not going to win Euro 2012? Sorry, I just automatically assumed we would, being English and all that. We should fire the manager or something.
Out at group stage, unfortunately. I can't remember having as little faith in the squad since turniphead fielded the likes of Carlton Palmer and Lee Sharpe...
I think we will qualify for the quarters, and once there I would prefer Spain over Italy. Spain seem to have lost some of their desire, are without their captain and best central defender, and key players are on the back of a gruelling season. They would find it hard to get behind a hungry and organised England and would definitely concede chances. Puyol is a big miss. Italy are at their most dangerous when underestimated, and I wouldn't be confident facing them. People talk about Xavi and Iniesta - 2 fantastic players - but for me Pirlo has a passing range of greater depth, variety and creativity than both.
I can see Italy struggling to get out of the group like England. Their form of late has been poor and Ireland and Croatia will be very well organised
ME! If you want an explanation watch the tournament. I'll apologize if I'm wrong but I have a strong hunch that this could be our year.
And if you have any sense you will make this your last post in this forum troll. I'm serious, don't even reply to this.
Group Stage will lose to france and tie vs sweden and ukraine... winner of ukraine sweden game will advance france goes undefeated []__[]
You guys have a decent chance but, need to get out of the group. Ukraine is not a joke and they will have a lot of support. I think the only way England goes through is beating France.