England has to hope it goes better than when they ended Euro 2008 qualifying almost exactly 11 years ago (November 21, 2007) with a 3-2 loss hosting Croatia when England needed a draw to qualify. The scenarios for England are the same as for Southampton in the last game of the 2016-2017 Europa League Group Stage. Southampton hosted Hapoel Be'er Sheva, and Southampton needed a win or 0-0. It was 1-1. Edit: Do you think top national teams getting relegated will affect the desire for a Super League? The top national teams in UEFA know that even if they don't qualify for a World Cup or Euro, they will probably finish in the top half, and no matter how bad they do, there's no relegation. Will fans of Germany and England (if they get relegated) become scared of their favorite club being the laughingstock of the Super League, even if it doesn't have relegation or has only 5 of 16 clubs have the possibility of relegated like has been speculated?
Benkovic should be there i agree. Big time talent that kid. Krovinovic i suspect will also be there once he starts playing and regains his form. Has not played yet but has been on the bench for Benfica last game. Under21 team is very strong and could win Euros this summer. They are missing a good striker though and the rightback Uremovic is a center back playing out of position. Other then that very strong midfield and defense.
I think they will use fifa rankings for the next world cup qualifiers. About euro with 16 teams qualified from 24 being seeded doesn't mean that much anymore. Croatia is a all or nothing kind of team...we can trouble the top 5 nations and on the other hand struggle against the 15th 25th range. This probably won't ever change. What do you think about lovro majer ivanusec nikola moro and sunjic? Luca hernandez is a center back playing out of position for french team. The guy was waiting to get a call from spain till last march and i am sure that he made a big difference in french team whole balance.
I have not really seen enough of Majer and Ivanusec to comment. Moro is a very good player. He was starting at Dinamo before his knee injury. Moro will be a key player for the under 21 this summer. Moro reads the game well very good on the ball and has quick feet. Pretty good shot as well. Moro will be on the national team one day for sure. Sunjic is more of a pit bull type player good in duels lots of aggression and never stops running. Sunjic has done a very good job of replacing ADemi when he has not played. That is who i would compare him too. Dinamo btw playing excellent football this season. Credit to Bjelica who is a very good coach.
Kalinic worries me a bit. He fumbled a low cross which he should catch easily almost gifting Spain a goal. Can't make those mistakes. Croatia midfield played much better against Spain moving the ball with ease most times through the Spanish press. Having no Rakitic against England will hurt hoping Kovacic finally steps up and plays a good game as he has been poor for the national team in most games. i would stay with Jedvaj at left back as he is more stable on defense then Pivaric. Kramaric also must be less greedy. His greed the ball cost Croatia a couple of great chance against Spain. Croatia is playing with confidence now so i expect a good game in england.
I am worried about kalinic too. To me he doesn't have the level required for our national team. I think that livakovic is already above him. Letica and kotarski are also good prospects.
Portugal are the first team to qualify and they'll be the hosts during the Final Four. The other three teams will be decided in the final game of each of these groups: - Group 1: Holland need at least a draw in and against (an already relegated) Germany or France will come top. Germany are very much in danger of dropping down to pot 2 for the ECQ draw so there's still something at stake for them. Also, if Germany don't win they'll be overtaken by Holland on next month's (FIFA) ranking and possibly by Sweden too, putting Germany at risk of dropping down a pot for the WCQs draw as well. - Group 2: Belgium qualify with a win, a draw and depending on the scoreline can even afford a loss in Switzerland. For the Swiss it's a must-win game and they need to win by either two or more goals, a 1-0 or a 2-1. - Group 4: if there's a winner in England v. Croatia they'll qualify for the finals and the loser is relegated to League B. Spain qualify in case of a draw. If it's a scoreless draw Croatia will be relegated while England will be relegated if it's any other draw. Germany, Poland and Iceland are already relegated. Either England or Croatia will join them in League B. They'll be replaced by Ukraine, Bosnia, Denmark and one of Russia or Sweden.
Dalic starting Vlasic for Rakitic today who is hurt. Would have went Kovacic but Vlasic has been in great form for Cska Moscow. Will see if it pays off. Hopefully the kid is not to nervous.
Deserved win in the end for England as over the balance of 90 minutes they were better. Croatia had there chances to make it 2-0 on the counter but didn’t convert and in the end were punished on set pieces which England are really good at.
More youth being inducted, a lot more youth waiting in the wings . Actually excited as to how good this team may become The st George's park project, introduced a few years ago really is starting to produce the players. And to think, if Allerdyce didn't get pissed in wine and speak to that reporter, we might have him in charge . Cmon you England boys.
Overall deserved win for the british team. This match up might become a classic, i would not be surprised if we got to face each others again in the next euro.
If someone said about croatia "the balkanic team" deserved to win, i would not mind... I didn't mean to offend.
Switzerland go two goals down to Belgium in 17 minutes. So predictable. And then score five to go through to the finals, crikey.
Not the Final Four I would have predicted. Portugal okay, but not Switzerland or England. I also thought for sure Holland would get relegated when the groups were announced, now I’m expecting them to get a result in Germany. weird how quickly things chance.
It is not a world cup or an euro, there are just teams that are more fresh than others few months after a world cup or that got also enough depth to play all over the year at a certain level. If it was played in one year the results might have been different. The big clubs are prepared to arrive full strength in spring. Last year at the same time real madrid ended 2nd of a group behind Tottenham. 8 months later there was a 3rd champions league in a row and tottenham was nowhere to be seen....