With Poland and Ukraine being first seeds due to hosting the Cup, we probably should have waited 4 more years to win the WC so we wouldn't have been the best seeded team because the teams in the 2nd pot have 50% of getting an easier group than us. It's a conspiracy I tells ya. The divided pots for the draw: Pot 1: España, Ukraine, Poland, Holland Pot 2: Germany, Russia, England, Italy Pot 3: Portugal, Sweden, Croacia, Greece Pot 4: Denmark, Ireland, France, Chzechs For me the biggest contenders are us, Germany and Holland. We won't be playing the Dutch, and I'm not sure if it's a good or bad thing to get the Germans in the group stage. If we do we wouldn't necessarily need to beat them to advance plus we wouldn't meet them again until the final if both teams manage to get there (unless there's a Korea/Japan type of schedule to keep host nations in their own country again) Then again the group might already be difficult enough without Germany that adding them to it would be too much. For some reason a group like this.. Spain Germany Portugal France ...is something I'd want to see just to watch 3 do-or-die games in the group stage.
Masochist much?! Safe to say that for Portugal that would be Group of Hell - representing the 3 teams that have eliminated us in the last 4 Euro/WC tournaments...
Poll results from MARCA... The voters want Russia, Portugal and France. I personally would be thrilled with Russia, Greece and Czech Republic.
Spain drawn into Group C 10 June 18:00 in Gdansk ... Spain v C2 10 June 20:45 in Poznan ... C3 v C4 14 June 18:00 in Poznan ... C2 v C4 14 June 20:45 in Gdansk ... Spain v C3 18 June 20:45 in Gdansk ... C4 v Spain 18 June 20:45 in Poznan ... C2 v C3
From Pot 4 comes Republic of Ireland. Group C 10 June 18:00 in Gdansk ... Spain v C2 10 June 20:45 in Poznan ... Republic of Ireland v C4 14 June 18:00 in Poznan ... C2 v C4 14 June 20:45 in Gdansk ... Spain v Republic of Ireland 18 June 20:45 in Gdansk ... C4 v Spain 18 June 20:45 in Poznan ... C2 v Republic of Ireland
We got Ireland. (They are a good bunker team) We got Croatia. (Nice) We got Italy! (well, might as well face them now) Not a bad group honestly, we could have been group B Group A: IS THE group of un-death. Group B: IS THE group of death.
From Pot 3 we get Croatia. Group C 10 June 18:00 in Gdansk ... Spain v C2 10 June 20:45 in Poznan ... Republic of Ireland v Croatia 14 June 18:00 in Poznan ... C2 v Croatia 14 June 20:45 in Gdansk ... Spain v Republic of Ireland 18 June 20:45 in Gdansk ... Croatia v Spain 18 June 20:45 in Poznan ... C2 v Republic of Ireland
And the big boys from Italy come out of Pot B! Group C 10 June 18:00 in Gdansk ... Spain v Italy 10 June 20:45 in Poznan ... Republic of Ireland v Croatia 14 June 18:00 in Poznan ... Italy v Croatia 14 June 20:45 in Gdansk ... Spain v Republic of Ireland 18 June 20:45 in Gdansk ... Croatia v Spain 18 June 20:45 in Poznan ... Italy v Republic of Ireland I'm somewhat satisfied. Italy seem to be Spain's bogey team. At least we'll open against them and get them out of the way.
As long as we win 2 games we're through, to be honest while Italy is a tournament team I don't mind that we will play them at all. They're not as bad as they used to be, but it's not like a miracle happened over there that they are suddenly a top side. Would have preferred England though. I totally mind controlled van Basten's draw. First that we got to play in Poland, and 2nd that the Dutch would get Germany. I only half controlled Zidane, with Portugal going into that same group. ¿We get to play the 1st and 2nd in Group A (to keep Poland in Poland) or the ones in Group D should we go through?
Not a bad group to be in considering what some of the other teams were. The Croatians and Irish are beatable, Italy is Italy but have reason to believe that after defeating them in Euro 08 the Furia Roja no longer fears them as in the past. If Spain win the group they will play runner up in Group D UKR, SWE, FR or ENG and would then face Winner of (1 Group A vs. 2 Group B) in the semi's. Guess we'll have to wait until June to find out! Aupa Espanha y La Furia Roja!!
Well, it was only via penalties. And Italy won the last friendly (whatever that's worth). I'll be very happy with a draw in the opener.
I guess we can't always get a favourable draw that we would get an opponent from group A. Russia might not be happy to play in Poland, but their group is pretty easy.
Italy is Italy. The good news is that we are facing them in the opening. (I see a 0-0 draw all over this game) We will pass the ball around as they pack the defense and both teams will be happy with just that. I think we gotten a good draw, ask the Dutch.
You guys will make it with Italy easily. Unless Croatia shocks someone. But you get a harder road a head. Group of death... is awesome, I can't wait. If we have no injuries I'm not afraid of Germany or Netherlands. We have one loss with this coach but we were missing 3 out of our 4 starting defenders... So anyways Good Luck. But it's time someone else wins hehehehe, anyone but Italy
Well Croatia is known for beating the big boys in big games...Spain and Italy are the favorites but Croatia has never lost to Italy 3-0-2..
Italy for me is Spain's bogey team, but i guess it's better to face them in the group stages before we get warmed up. I feel confident about winning this tournament, if only del bosque will leave torres watching the tournament from home.
That (loss) was dominated by Spain, and we beat them in march of 2008 before the euros, why haven't we brought in soldado yet?
That loss was hardly dominated by Spain. Italy bossed the first half and Spain got a fortunate penalty to get a goal. Spain outplayed Italy in the 2nd half, but it was a pretty even match overall. Anyways, Spain and Italy should advance through this group, and both should be able to navigate passed the teams that come out of group D as well. I wouldn't be surprised if we ended up playing more than one time in this tournament. Good luck.
You guys out played us that game and it was a well deserved win. I am looking forward to this game... i see a draw all over this one.
