Think Spain will have a disappointing tournament. Germany to win it. Croatia the darkhorse.

How many minutes into England's first match before the media are calling for Hodgson's sacking and Redknapp's immediate appointment?

-3 weeks evidently ...

Winners - Germany
Runner-up - Netherlands
Darkhorses - Poland to give a good show as hosts
Top Goalscorer - Muller
Flops - Italy

How many minutes into England's first match before the media are calling for Hodgson's sacking and Redknapp's immediate appointment?

i thought they were already calling for his sacking based upon his squad selection? cos england have such a wealth of talent to call upon...

i thought they were already calling for his sacking based upon his squad selection? cos england have such a wealth of talent to call upon...

This is true. The only very strange decisions for me were Micah Richards being left out and Downing being included over Adam Johnson. But at least give the guy the entire group stage (of which only the last game he'll have his arguably one world class attacker available) before passing judgement on a coach with a record that deserves far more respect.

I think I'll tip Germany for the crown, though my loyalty is to Ireland.

Richard always getting left out. I'd take him over Johnson. Can understand Jones' selection. He can play right across the back and in midfield - great versatility.

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League Code: 20050-13149

i'll get in on this.

Michael Cox wrote a great piece for the Guardian explaining that the circumstances meant Hodgson was a shrewd choice as manager. if nothing else, his England will be disciplined, organised and have clear tactical plans for each game. that may not be enough to win much, but that's largely because of the talent pool.

and who on earth were his critics asking be picked instead: Rio? Scholes? Grant Holt? what fucking difference would any of the above actually made?

i joined up to the league

tough to get that team under the cap, especially cause I wanted RVP and Ronaldo in the team

Dutch to take it out!

I think Hodgson is a good choice. He's got international experience and work every where. Can't understand why people are criticising his choices - he's picked a team that Capello would have picked as well.

Scholes is, as far as I know, still retired from internationals. I would have taken Ferdinand over Terry only because Terry is a massive dickhead. Defoe's not in good form, so would have preferred Holt, who I've been really impressed with. Other than that, it's as strong a team and England can muster at the moment.

Good to see Oxlade-Chamberlain in there - that guys going to be a superstar.

Winner: France
Darkhorse: Portugal
Top goalscorer: Gomez

Winner: Germany dark horse: Denmark Top goalscorer and most annoying player of the tournament: balotelli

Rumour going around like wild fire just before the England squad announcement last night was that Danny Murphy was to be included, and everyone was up in arms that Roy had lost the plot. There seems to be a strange desire from many in England for him to fail miserably. Don't understand it at all.

England don't really want to win. It's always been like that. It's something strange and embedded in their weak, cold, English blood.

Final: Germany v Netherlands - if they remember it's football and not gladiatorial combat, the Dutch could take it.

For me, Spain still the best national team in the world, but suspect some kind of implosion is due...

Hodgson was a pragmatic appointment; he's a humble, thoughtful man and a conservative manager with a speech impediment. Churchill declaring that all of Ingerlund will fight them on the beaches he ain't, and the English press will never forgive him for not being an arrogant, pompous braggart with delusions of grandeur (ie British Bulldog). and they just cannot let go of the fact that England just don't figure in the Euro 2012 reckoning as anything other than an also ran, particularly as they have the Best League in the World (TM).

shame, as he's a very accomplished manager who can get them out of their group and could get a decent underdog performance out of them in the latter stages of the tournament.

Love the England-bashing! It just makes us even more arrogant than we already are :)

I'd like to see the Dutch go out early - fuck the Oranje!

If England get through the group stage, I'll be happy.

Nice post re Hodgson, HRS. Given more time I think he could have got England performing above their ability.

...and I wouldn't be writing Spain off just yet. They can win it.

Nice post re Hodgson, HRS. Given more time I think he could have got England performing above their ability.

Hodgson's Fulham and WBA teams were genuinely good teams who were hard to break down and were capable of attacking intelligently and swiftly. he had limited resources in both jobs, but had both teams punching above their weight. remembering also that he pieced a most excellent cup run together with Fulham which involved brilliantly entertaining matches with Juventus and Hamburg which were some of the most exciting and attack-happy games I've ever watched.

Winners: France.
Prediction: Spain don't make the second round
Dark horse: Rep of Ireland
Golden boot: RVP

the Cron's choked in a few shoot-outs before, so I wonder whether that bullet-proof confidence wasn't what it normally is, such that he might have dodged taking the earlier ones.

Portugal started well then retreated, such that I can't say I'm sorry to see them go. Spain just have no edge without Villa or any kind of wingers/full-backs.

He's a Rona-ound choker

Nani jumping the queue (or whatever that was) was always a recipe for disaster

the word is that Alves jumped the gun and walked up to take his penalty early.

was probably wiser to let him just take it rather than have to stew over it, but either way it was going to throw one guy off.

Who puts a defender into a shoot out like that? The pressure is surely too huge for someone not accustomed to shooting goals. No matter how good your training ground shot is.

Sucked in Ronaldo. Glad I don't have to see your face anymore this tourney.

Who puts a defender into a shoot out like that? The pressure is surely too huge for someone not accustomed to shooting goals. No matter how good your training ground shot is.

didn't seem to bother the other three centre-halves who took pretty good penalties ...

Super Mario!

that second goal was an incredible link-up and shot. goddamn.

If there's one thing we've learned from Euro 2008 it is that the quality of your national football team is inversely proportional to the quality of government running your economy.

close to a perfect game from Italy. masterclass from Prandelli, great finishing from Balotelli.

Germany lost their composure after the first goal. in hindsight, Low maybe overthought his selection and tactics. he probably would have been better off with Klose, Reus and Shurrle or Muller from the start. I still think they've got a major title in them though.

I'm thinking Podolski must be glad he signed for Arsenal before the tournament: couldn't have provided a worse advertisement for his services than he has over the games here.

If there's one thing we've learned from Euro 2008 it is that the quality of your national football team is inversely proportional to the quality of government running your economy.

Greece would have destroyed all before them according to that logic no?

The thing that's got me about the tournament is the flow of the games.
I've generally been recording the games, then getting up at 6am and trying to have them watched by 7.30am. There's not been any fast forward moments though. Hardly any time is being spent giving players onfield treatment. Goal kicks and throws are being taken immediately. It just doesn't stop.
There's barely been any diving either.

Just about the cleanest and most sporting tournament I've seen in years and years.

If there's one thing we've learned from Euro 2008 it is that the quality of your national football team is inversely proportional to the quality of government running your economy.

On top of what HRS said wouldn't Germany have lost their group games by many goals?

Germany wouldn't have qualified for the finals, finishing with zero points and a goal difference of -2435452 if that were the case.

Damn all your logic to hell! :D

(Ireland would have been up there).

I like this remix

I watched the match with no sound. I thought I'd check out what the expert panel were saying at half time. Listened to Foster's striker philosophy about Fabregas and how a left back can even be a striker. 45 seconds to mute. It was spinal tapesque.

Spain really showed some attacking intensity in this game and were defensively awesome as well apart from Ramos. Jordi Alba was surely in the top few of the tournament but I'm fairly sure I'm right in saying that if poohole didn't get injured he wouldn't have had a look in.

Chielinni was pretty funny before he got injured, he was hopeless unless the injury was affecting him, and how long did Thiago Motta actually last; that's why we always warm up kids.

how long did Thiago Motta actually last

4 minutes.

that Alba goal ... lordy me that was some good stuff.

thought Italy would give Spain a bit of a run for it, but hard to go past a Spanish side playing like that, especially when they had a point to prove given the amount of stick they've copped.

amazing team this one, looked so good

Balotelli storming off at the end as well, brilliant

I watched the first half before heading to work. Spain looked the shit.

Listened to Foster's striker philosophy about Fabregas and how a left back can even be a
striker. 45 seconds to mute. It was spinal tapesque.

He sure as hell sounded like an idiot when he was saying that - ''Hell, even the goalkeeper could be a striker.''

Agree re: Alba. He played great throughout.