Ego and pride is still at stake though and I bet a few of their strikers will have their eye on the golden boot.

As bad as they have been, I still reckon they'd beat Turkey, or Ukraine

oh my i took out walker for chester after englands first game as i needed ronahldo but he was utter garbage, so now i have giroud in my team,, thomas muller up front.

I think they are very strong contenders. Their only interest for me is if they can go the whole tournament without having a shot on target.

I read this morning that Gigi hasn't trained today because he's a bit under the weather. Also because he picked up that yellow card yesterday, he might be rested for the next game.

Thanks for coming Ireland, but it is over and done with now, just got to hope that they don't get too badly beat by the Italians.

Ireland outclassed in that second half, pure and simple.

Convincing second half from Belgium with three terrific goals. Ireland were never at the races today and now face an uphill struggle.

Oh no, I hope that he is okay, as he is a true legend of the game.

Italy guaranteed top?

What if Belgium hammer the Swedes, they'd have 6 points, and Italy lose to Ireland, they'd stay on 6 and Belgium could top the group on GD?

Yeah I also had that young Pole up front as well, safe to say that I won't be winning anything!

I take it you are banking on Turkey and Ukraine scoring own goals, because Sweden have shown no ability what so ever of being able to do so on their own.

(Actually I think Sweden would give both those teams a run for their money, I'm just enjoying milking their 180+ minutes without hitting the target)

It is head to heads before goal difference.

I can see the former happening but not the latter.

ireland sucked today... belgium were lacklustre in the first half but looked so much better in the 2nd half... when they play with pace & real intent they look very good.

Just a bit of a cold apparently. Indeed he is, if he keeps swinging off the cross bar at the end of the game he's going to do himself an injury.

Italy would finish above Belgium on the head-to-head.

Fair enough. I think they have played badly with that stat, but I do think they'd get some shots against those teams and yes I do think they'd probably win against Turkey or Ukraine, but only because I think they are two of the worst teams in the tournament.

True, I just love watching him play, you can feel the passion that he has everytime he plays!

Ah ok.

My point wasn't really about how likely it was though.

More Ireland being way below par and disorganised than Belgium being brilliant I would say.

I wouldn't be putting anything on Belgium to win the Euros at this point, too many mistakes and poor defending decisions from Ireland.

Italy now know they will be playing the runner up of the Spain group probably Croatia on the 27th June so they will be looking beyond the Ireland game

I know that. I was just saying that they haven't got a snowflake's chance in hell of that happening.

Well yeah, true.