Euro 2012: Day 9 Thread

[Duty281]

Greece v Russia (19:45, BBC 3)
Czech Republic v Poland (19:45, BBC 1)

Current Group Standings:

Russia - 4
Czech Republic -3
Poland - 2
Greece - 1

If points are level, sorting criteria is thus:

Equality of points after the group matches
8.07 If two or more teams are equal on points on completion of the group matches, the
following criteria are applied, in the order given; to determine the rankings:
a) higher number of points obtained in the matches among the teams in question;
b) superior goal difference in the matches among the teams in question (if MORE
than two teams finish equal on points);
c) higher number of goals scored in the matches among the teams in question (if
MORE than two teams finish equal on points);
d) superior goal difference in all the group matches;
e) higher number of goals scored in all the group matches;
f) position in the UEFA national team coefficient ranking system (see Annex I,
paragraph 1.2.2);
g) fair play conduct of the teams (final tournament);
h) drawing of lots.

So Group A reaches its conclusion tomorrow with all 4 teams alive and kicking (Greece are kicking feebly). Tomorrow, it's 1st v 4th and 2nd v 3rd. Russia will know that simply avoiding defeat will ensure they finish in the top 2. The Czechs will need a win to guarantee qualification but a draw will PROBABLY do (not definite). Poland and Greece both need wins to stand a chance. Enjoy the head-scratching!

(PS: I know this thread is early but I might forget after the England game!)

[mystiroakey]

ok - come on russia

[JamesLincs]

Greece 1-2 russia
poland 1-1 czechs

[Crimey]

If Russia turn up today they will destroy the Greeks I think.

It will be interesting if Poland do win, I think the Czechs will edge it, but if Poland do win it's likely that they'll face Germany in Poland in the next round. They can't get away from historically significant ties it seems.

[CFCNick]

I've got an accumulator with England, France, Poland, Russia, Holland and Germany on.

I'm going to go 3-0 Russia and 2-1 Poland for today.

[Duty281]

3-0 Russia and 2-1 Poland, probably a last minute winner for the Polish, a fairytale for their fans.

[Duty281]

The BBC explain it very well:

Russia (v Greece)

Win - Secures qualification and top spot.
Draw - They also go through, but would only finish second if Czech Republic beat Poland - or Poland beat Czech Republic by more than three goals (or if Poland win by three but score four or more goals more than the Russians).
Lose - Could be enough if Czech Republic draw with Poland as they have an advantage of three goals having beaten Czech Republic 4-1. If either Poland or Czech Republic win, and Russia do not pick up at least a point against Greece, then they are out.

Czech Republic (v Poland)
Win - Secures qualification.
Draw - Secures qualification if Russia beat or draw with Greece. If Greece win, Czech Republic would need the Greeks to beat Russia by more than five goals.
Lose - Out.

Poland (v Czech Republic)
Win - Secures qualification
Draw - Out.
Lose - Out.

Greece (v Russia)
Win - Secures qualification as their goal difference will still be superior to Czech Republic if they draw with Poland.
Draw - Out.
Lose - Out.

[Gregers]

Russia 4 - Greece 0

Czech 2 - Poland 1

[Duty281]

LINE-UPSGreece v Russia (19:45 BST)
Greece: Sifakis, Torosidis, Papastathopoulos, Kyriakos Papadopoulos, Tzavelas, Katsouranis, Maniatis, Salpingidis, Karagounis, Samaras, Gekas. Subs: Chalkias, Malezas, Makos, Liberopoulos, Mitroglou, Fotakis, Ninis, Holebas, Fortounis, Fetfatzidis, Tzorvas.

Russia: Malafeev, Aniukov, Berezutsky, Ignashevich, Zhirkov, Shirokov, Denisov, Glushakov, Dzagoev, Kerzhakov, Arshavin. Subs: Akinfeev, Sharonov, Izmailov, Pavlyuchenko, Kombarov, Granat, Pogrebnyak, Nababkin, Semshov, Shunin.

Referee: Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

LINE-UPSCzech Republic v Poland (19:45 BST)
Czech Republic: Cech, Gebre Selassie, Sivok, Kadlec, Limbersky, Hubschman, Plasil, Jiracek, Kolar, Pilar, Baros. Subs: Lastuvka, Suchy, Hubnik, Necid, Rezek, Rosicky, Petrzela, Rajtoral, Pekhart, Lafata, Darida, Drobny.

Poland: Tyton, Piszczek, Wasilewski, Perquis, Boenisch, Dudka, Polanski, Blaszczykowski, Murawski, Obraniak, Lewandowski. Subs: Szczesny, Wojtkowiak, Kaminski, Matuszczyk, Rybus, Wawrzyniak, Sobiech, Mierzejewski, Wolski, Grosicki, Brozek, Sandomierski.

Referee: Craig Thomson (Scotland)

[Crimey]

Rosicky will be a huge miss for the Czechs.

[mystiroakey]

Gonna watch the russian game

[Crimey]

I've got both on.

One on computer, one on TV. If one starts to become more exciting than the other, I will put that one on TV.

[mystiroakey]

nice work..

[Duty281]

Well watched Czech-Poland and that was an absorbing half with the Czechs happy to sit back, 0-0 HT with no real chances. Switched over for the last bit of the first half of Greece-Russia just in time to see Greece score! Certainly didn't see that coming. Looking at the criteria, it's Russia 1st, Greece 2nd and Czech Republic 3rd. I think I've got that right, not 100% sure.

[mystiroakey]

yep greece scoring has put them up there- the other two need to score

[Crimey]

Greece have really thrown a spanner in the works.

[Duty281]

Czech Republic score, I think it's them and Greece going through now.

[Crimey]

As it stands it is Czech Republic top, and Greece second, Russia out, absolutely mental.

[mystiroakey]

is it gola difference first or results between teams on same pts?

[mystiroakey]

omg if russia go out lol

[Crimey]

is it gola difference first or results between teams on same pts?

Head-to-head first.

[mystiroakey]

wow lol- bye bye russia

[Gregers]

What are Russia doing?!

[Duty281]

Germany-Greece Quarter Final looking possible now.

[Crimey]

Germany-Greece Quarter Final looking possible now.

Can Greece pay Germany back with a loss?

[Crimey]

We're really not likely to see a bigger shock than that in the tournament. Russia were dark horses to win it and they've lost to probably the worst team (bar possibly Ireland).

[Guest]

Basically Germany's ticket to the Semi's

[Duty281]

How unexpected. I thought it would be Russia and Poland going through tonight but instead it's the other 2 teams, Czech Republic and Greece. The Czechs may have took a 4-1 hammering but two wins in their other games have seen them through along with Greece who have only looked good for one half out of six so far in the tournament. Feel sorry for Russia, they played well in their first two games but overconfidence/complacency against Greece cost them dear. Football, bloody hell.

[Guest]

Quite stunning after their opening day performance that the Russians are heading home.

Is lightening about to strike twice with Greece?

[Duty281]

Quite stunning after their opening day performance that the Russians are heading home.

Is lightening about to strike twice with Greece?

I expect the Germans to stick a least 3 past them.

[Guest]

We're really not likely to see a bigger shock than that in the tournament. Russia were dark horses to win it and they've lost to probably the worst team (bar possibly Ireland).

That's quite harsh on Greece Crimey. Ireland are prone to the odd beating whereas Greece, despite their limited ability, always make a fist of things.

[mystiroakey]

Russia can play good football, but there arnt a good team. Greece showed them what a good team is today- well done

[Duty281]

Russia had 28 shots with 13 on target tonight, Greece only had 7 shots with 2 on target! Still the most important stat is the score - Greece 1-0 Russia.

[Guest]

Greece showed them what a good team is today

Your probably getting pi**ed off at me but come on!!!! Greece a good team, there a total embarrasment and are shocking. The Germans are already preparing for the semi's. I'm actually disappointed because it means that QF match will be a poor one sided affair and no real end to end knockout entertainment.

[GSC]

Wow, the only team with positive GD in that group goes out.

Big incentive for Germany now, a QF vs Greece is very enticing. The Czechs aren't going to scare the 2nd placed team in Group B either.

[GSC]

Greece showed them what a good team is today

Your probably getting pi**ed off at me but come on!!!! Greece a good team, there a total embarrasment and are shocking. The Germans are already preparing for the semi's. I'm actually disappointed because it means that QF match will be a poor one sided affair and no real end to end knockout entertainment.

I'm afraid I'm with John on this one. Greece are a very limited side.

[Guest]

Greece showed them what a good team is today

Your probably getting pi**ed off at me but come on!!!! Greece a good team, there a total embarrasment and are shocking. The Germans are already preparing for the semi's. I'm actually disappointed because it means that QF match will be a poor one sided affair and no real end to end knockout entertainment.

As were France in 2004 against the Greeks and look what happened there John. Has history not taught us anything?

[JamesLincs]

a typically good montage from bbc to end there

[Leff]

Germany vs Greece

Masters vs Beggars

[GSC]

Germany vs Greece

Masters vs Beggars

[Dave.]

Anything can happen. Although Greece will have to roll over to get the bailout funds.

But seriously, Greece can win this thing....

[Crimey]

Greece showed them what a good team is today

Your probably getting pi**ed off at me but come on!!!! Greece a good team, there a total embarrasment and are shocking. The Germans are already preparing for the semi's. I'm actually disappointed because it means that QF match will be a poor one sided affair and no real end to end knockout entertainment.

As were France in 2004 against the Greeks and look what happened there John. Has history not taught us anything?

John learn from anything. Although if Greece do knock out Germany he'll be the first to tell us it's obvious because of what happened in 2004.

[GSC]

They can in the sense that anybody still alive can.

Would be a bigger fluke than 04 though. Germans should coast.

[GSC]

Wonder if Angela Merkel's going to give the Greece team talk

[mystiroakey]

John I think its very valid to call greece a good team.

When we talk about a 'team' that requires 'team work', that team can be better than the sum of its parts. Greece were brilliant today and fair play to them- John i dont understand your use of words- why do you think they are embarrasing. I am starting to understand that you only relate what you think is good football(technical ability only) to the real meaning of being good at football.

[Guest]

haha i've loved winding you boys up, well mostly mystiroakey.

[mystiroakey]

it seems as though you are back tracking there boy- lost the argument have we

[Crimey]

haha i've loved winding you boys up, well mostly mystiroakey.

Translation: my argument has been torn to shreds so now I'm going to pretend I was on the wind up.

Classic defence.

[Crimey]

it seems as though you are back tracking there boy- lost the argument have we

Exactly.

[Guest]

haha i've loved winding you boys up, well mostly mystiroakey.

You'll never beat the MYST. He's a human boomerang that keeps coming back for more. Deep down he loves it!!

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