Is the semi-final too much to ask? will it be the Quarters as it has been in the past in tournament football? Or is just getting to the knock-out stage a success considering what happened in Brazil 2 years a go?
Realistic Target For England?
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Knockouts would be a relief, anything past that first knockout stage would be a welcome bonus. I think expectations are a bit more cautious this time around, just avoiding embarrassment first of all and see what happens from there is the order of the day.
Get out of the group, probably the best we can hope for with our shaky defense and Roy insisting on playing an unfit, out of form Wilshire
Well with 3 going through in all likelihood we will surely get through the group!
Mind you 2nd place might mean facing France..
Top the top and we should win the 2nd round which could then mean facing Belgium/Italy..
Mind you 2nd place might mean facing France..
Top the top and we should win the 2nd round which could then mean facing Belgium/Italy..
With the expanded competition we're almost certain to get out of the group
then I'd reckon 50-50 on winning the first knockout game depending on who we play (obviously !)
most likely would be reach the quarter finals then out
then I'd reckon 50-50 on winning the first knockout game depending on who we play (obviously !)
most likely would be reach the quarter finals then out
Last 8 should be a realistic target and one I can see England reaching.
Not getting out the group would be a catastrophe even by their standards.
Not getting out the group would be a catastrophe even by their standards.
I think it's fair enough to expect us to get through the group. In the knockout stages, I think I'll have to alter my expectations based on the opposition.
realistically the quarters should not be beyond england... i'd say it's the least they should aim for...
Originally Posted by -Bandit-:
“realistically the quarters should not be beyond england... i'd say it's the least they should aim for...”
“realistically the quarters should not be beyond england... i'd say it's the least they should aim for...”
Yep, I also think if we cant make the QF's then its time to clean house and totally rebuild the team and the coaching structure.
I'd make Germany, France and Spain the big 3 favourites despite Spain's flop in the World Cup. Would expect 2 of those to reach the semis if not all 3.
England should be looking to join them there, as should Belgium, Portugal and Italy. A few other teams might fancy it too if they get on a run. Poland if Lewandowski inspires them would be an obvious example, but those 4 would be the main contenders for me. You get to the semis and anything can happen.
Semis would be very good, quarters solid. First knockout round - well it would depend on who eliminated England and how well they played. There'd be no shame in losing to any of the above in a close-fought contest after a good performance, although if they were to face one of those teams in the last 16 it might be because they didn't play well in the group.
England should be looking to join them there, as should Belgium, Portugal and Italy. A few other teams might fancy it too if they get on a run. Poland if Lewandowski inspires them would be an obvious example, but those 4 would be the main contenders for me. You get to the semis and anything can happen.
Semis would be very good, quarters solid. First knockout round - well it would depend on who eliminated England and how well they played. There'd be no shame in losing to any of the above in a close-fought contest after a good performance, although if they were to face one of those teams in the last 16 it might be because they didn't play well in the group.
Let's take one game at a time first and foremost, all of the teams in our group can cause our shakey defence problems, so at the moment I am not looking beyond the group stage.
If England can't get out of THAT group and with the format that allows 3 teams to qualify, there's really no hope.
I would say looking at the draw the quarters should be a realistic target.
Their group doesn't look too difficult, Russia probably being the biggest threat, although Wales may play above themselves against England and cause an upset.
If they can win the group they would play a 3rd place team from A/C/D (e.g. Romania, Ukraine, Turkey). That wouldn't be too bad and if they won that would likely play one of Portugal/Belgium/Italy in the quarters where they'd probably lose.
The draw is quite favourable in that if England only finish 2nd in their group this would still be OK as they'd play the runners up of group F, probably Austria or Iceland. If they won that then they'd probably meet France in the quarters and lose.
If they qualify as one of the third place teams in the group they'd probably meet either Germany or Spain in last 16 and go out there.
Their group doesn't look too difficult, Russia probably being the biggest threat, although Wales may play above themselves against England and cause an upset.
If they can win the group they would play a 3rd place team from A/C/D (e.g. Romania, Ukraine, Turkey). That wouldn't be too bad and if they won that would likely play one of Portugal/Belgium/Italy in the quarters where they'd probably lose.
The draw is quite favourable in that if England only finish 2nd in their group this would still be OK as they'd play the runners up of group F, probably Austria or Iceland. If they won that then they'd probably meet France in the quarters and lose.
If they qualify as one of the third place teams in the group they'd probably meet either Germany or Spain in last 16 and go out there.
Originally Posted by johnF1971:
“I would say looking at the draw the quarters should be a realistic target.
Their group doesn't look too difficult, Russia probably being the biggest threat, although Wales may play above themselves against England and cause an upset.
If they can win the group they would play a 3rd place team from A/C/D (e.g. Romania, Ukraine, Turkey). That wouldn't be too bad and if they won that would likely play one of Portugal/Belgium/Italy in the quarters where they'd probably lose.
The draw is quite favourable in that if England only finish 2nd in their group this would still be OK as they'd play the runners up of group F, probably Austria or Iceland. If they won that then they'd probably meet France in the quarters and lose.
If they qualify as one of the third place teams in the group they'd probably meet either Germany or Spain in last 16 and go out there.”
“I would say looking at the draw the quarters should be a realistic target.
Their group doesn't look too difficult, Russia probably being the biggest threat, although Wales may play above themselves against England and cause an upset.
If they can win the group they would play a 3rd place team from A/C/D (e.g. Romania, Ukraine, Turkey). That wouldn't be too bad and if they won that would likely play one of Portugal/Belgium/Italy in the quarters where they'd probably lose.
The draw is quite favourable in that if England only finish 2nd in their group this would still be OK as they'd play the runners up of group F, probably Austria or Iceland. If they won that then they'd probably meet France in the quarters and lose.
If they qualify as one of the third place teams in the group they'd probably meet either Germany or Spain in last 16 and go out there.”
I wouldn't discard Sklovakia either. They have had some good results lately, although I still think England will top the group.
Originally Posted by johnF1971:
“I would say looking at the draw the quarters should be a realistic target.
Their group doesn't look too difficult, Russia probably being the biggest threat, although Wales may play above themselves against England and cause an upset.
If they can win the group they would play a 3rd place team from A/C/D (e.g. Romania, Ukraine, Turkey). That wouldn't be too bad and if they won that would likely play one of Portugal/Belgium/Italy in the quarters where they'd probably lose.
The draw is quite favourable in that if England only finish 2nd in their group this would still be OK as they'd play the runners up of group F, probably Austria or Iceland. If they won that then they'd probably meet France in the quarters and lose.
If they qualify as one of the third place teams in the group they'd probably meet either Germany or Spain in last 16 and go out there.”
“I would say looking at the draw the quarters should be a realistic target.
Their group doesn't look too difficult, Russia probably being the biggest threat, although Wales may play above themselves against England and cause an upset.
If they can win the group they would play a 3rd place team from A/C/D (e.g. Romania, Ukraine, Turkey). That wouldn't be too bad and if they won that would likely play one of Portugal/Belgium/Italy in the quarters where they'd probably lose.
The draw is quite favourable in that if England only finish 2nd in their group this would still be OK as they'd play the runners up of group F, probably Austria or Iceland. If they won that then they'd probably meet France in the quarters and lose.
If they qualify as one of the third place teams in the group they'd probably meet either Germany or Spain in last 16 and go out there.”
BIB - sorry, but what?!
Russia were literally the worst team at the 2014 WC. There really was no team that played worse football than them. It was made even worse by the fact that, unlike Cameroon, they were actually trying. Now they don't even have a proper coach (he coaches both his club and the national team at the same time). If England are concerned about losing to Russia, I'd be really concerned.
Originally Posted by Xela M:
“BIB - sorry, but what?! Russia were literally the worst team at the 2014 WC. There really was no team that played worse football than them. It was made even worse by the fact that, unlike Cameroon, they were actually trying. Now they don't even have a proper coach (he coaches both his club and the national team at the same time). If England are concerned about losing to Russia, I'd be really concerned.”
“BIB - sorry, but what?!
Russia were literally the worst team at the 2014 WC. There really was no team that played worse football than them. It was made even worse by the fact that, unlike Cameroon, they were actually trying. Now they don't even have a proper coach (he coaches both his club and the national team at the same time). If England are concerned about losing to Russia, I'd be really concerned.”
That was because they had a rubbish manager who couldn't get the best out of them. their new manager has turned their team around, they won't be easy to beat on current form.
Originally Posted by Xela M:
“BIB - sorry, but what?! Russia were literally the worst team at the 2014 WC. There really was no team that played worse football than them. It was made even worse by the fact that, unlike Cameroon, they were actually trying. Now they don't even have a proper coach (he coaches both his club and the national team at the same time). If England are concerned about losing to Russia, I'd be really concerned.”
“BIB - sorry, but what?!
Russia were literally the worst team at the 2014 WC. There really was no team that played worse football than them. It was made even worse by the fact that, unlike Cameroon, they were actually trying. Now they don't even have a proper coach (he coaches both his club and the national team at the same time). If England are concerned about losing to Russia, I'd be really concerned.”
Fair enough. The bookies have Russia second favourite's for the group though (England favourites but this will be partially due to them being favoured by patriots).
Maybe Slovakia worth a punt to win the group then at 15/2?
Originally Posted by johnF1971:
“Fair enough. The bookies have Russia second favourite's for the group though (England favourites but this will be partially due to them being favoured by patriots).
Maybe Slovakia worth a punt to win the group then at 15/2?”
“Fair enough. The bookies have Russia second favourite's for the group though (England favourites but this will be partially due to them being favoured by patriots).
Maybe Slovakia worth a punt to win the group then at 15/2?”
Not a bad shout, I'll go for a dual forecast with them and England in my accumulator bets.
Well in theory even if we lost to Wales nd Russia won we still might not be out..
Just have to win our 3rd game and 4 points might be enough!
Just have to win our 3rd game and 4 points might be enough!
Originally Posted by Mark F:
“Well in theory even if we lost to Wales nd Russia won we still might not be out..
Just have to win our 3rd game and 4 points might be enough!”
“Well in theory even if we lost to Wales nd Russia won we still might not be out..
Just have to win our 3rd game and 4 points might be enough!”
Good luck pining your hopes on that Russian team winning a game.
We will be very lucky to get anything from Wales, they are in a positive frame of mind, and will be seeking to knock us out of the tournament (as with all of the pressure on us going into the last match, you just know that we will crumble).
Originally Posted by Mark F:
“Well in theory even if we lost to Wales nd Russia won we still might not be out..
Just have to win our 3rd game and 4 points might be enough!”
“Well in theory even if we lost to Wales nd Russia won we still might not be out..
Just have to win our 3rd game and 4 points might be enough!”
We wouldn't need Russia to win. 4 points is likely to be enough whatever happens.
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