Euro 2012: Day 12 Thread

[Duty281]

Sweden v France (ITV 4, 19:45)
England v Ukraine (ITV 1, 19:45)

Current Group Standings:

France - 4
England - 4
Ukraine - 3
Sweden - 0


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.

And this is what each team needs to do:

France (v Sweden)
Win - Secures qualification. Top spot depends on the result between England and Ukraine. If England also win, top spot goes to the team with the superior goal difference.
Draw - Secures qualification. Will still progress as group winners if England v Ukraine ends in a draw courtesy of their superior goal difference over Roy Hodgson's men.
Lose - Through as second-placed team if England beat Ukraine. If England and Ukraine draw, France will still qualify courtesy of their better head-to-head record against the co-hosts. If both England and France lose the team which has the superior goal difference between the pair will qualify.

England (v Ukraine)
Win - Secures qualification and they will progress as group winners if France fail to beat Sweden.
Draw - Secures qualification and they will progress as group winners if France lose to Sweden. If both final group games end in a draw, France will qualify as group winners courtesy of their superior goal difference over Roy Hodgson's men.
Lose - Out if France win or draw against Sweden. If both England and France lose the team which has the superior goal difference between the pair will qualify.

Ukraine (v England)
Win - Secures qualification. They will qualify as group winners if France fail to beat Sweden.
Draw - Out.
Lose - Out.

Sweden (v France)
Already eliminated.

Final day of the group stages, we have 6 teams through to the Quarters, 2 teams will join tomorrow. Sweden are already out courtesy of losing to the Co-Hosts and England. Ukraine need a win against England to qualify, nothing else will do and on their home patch they will be feeling confident. England only need to avoid defeat and they will make it to the quarters, whether they will make it to top spot or not depends on the French game and how many goals England can score with a certain Wayne Rooney back in the team (of course England could make it through with a defeat but that's a pretty unlikely scenario in which Sweden will need to beat France by a bigger margin than Ukraine beat England). For France, avoiding defeat will guarantee them qualification, a defeat and they will need to rely on England drawing or beating the Ukraine. And similar to England, they could make it through with a defeat.

Winners of Group D will face Italy.
Runners Up of Group D will face Spain.

Come on England!

[JamesLincs]

ukraine 0-2 england
sweden 0-2 france

[Leff]

ukraine 0-2 england
sweden 0-2 france

I like this and second the wishful prediction.

[GSC]

I suspect England will line up:

Hart
Johnson-Terry-Lescott-Cole
Ox-Parker-Gerrard-Young
Rooney-Welbeck

[mystiroakey]

i think walcott is a deffo starter.

[GSC]

Hes a doubt through injury iirc. With that in mind and his supersub antics he might start from the bench.

[Postie]

I think England will just swap Rooney for Carroll.Walcott is a doubt (hamstring) as is Shevchenko (knee).

France should at least draw v Sweden,England likewise v Ukraine.Although
Sweden have nothing to lose, so might just go all out to regain some pride, Ukraine will have to do the same (cheered on by the home crowd) to try and secure 3 pts.

That said, am going for France to win the group, England 2nd.

[Leff]

I believe Walcott will start.

[EnglishReign]

I suspect England will line up:

Hart
Johnson-Terry-Lescott-Cole
Ox-Parker-Gerrard-Young
Rooney-Welbeck

Walcott declared fit, so I reckon swap The Ox for Theo and it's bang on.

[Crimey]

I'm torn, because I think Carroll deserves the start as he was better than Welbeck overall in the game versus Sweden, despite Welbeck's wonder goal. Yet, it seems smart to use the club partnership of Welbeck and Rooney, and Rooney will do the things Carroll was doing last game like coming deep and helping out defending, winning the ball back and starting attacks, and he'll probably do them better.

On the other hand, Welbeck would probably make a better substitute than Carroll. I think if Carroll doesn't start, he shouldn't play at all.

[Steffan]

I havnt worked out the difference but what happens if England and France lose. Which team would qualify with the Ukraine?

[mystiroakey]

well its head to head first- draw- so tie
then its GD- at present france ahead by 1
then its goals scored- at the moment eng ahead by 1

[mystiroakey]

However in this below scenario

england lose 0-1
fance lose 1-3

both teams have GD of 0 and scored 4- it goes to rankings and england go through

[JamesLincs]

if england and france win we top the group if we beat ukraine by more goals than they beat sweden? is that right?

[mystiroakey]

correct.

[Ent]

if england and france win we top the group if we beat ukraine by more goals than they beat sweden? is that right?

Frances goal difference is +2 at the moment, any win has to improve it. Englands is +1, if it goes to goal difference as the OP states England need to win by a goal more than France to even it up.

[mystiroakey]

no ent they dont they only need to win by 1 more

- sorry scrub that out your spot on- i thought you said 2

[JamesLincs]

indeed, as well will go through on goals scored

[Ent]

no ent they dont they only need to win by 1 more

- sorry scrub that out your spot on- i thought you said 2

I had to edit it, I meant 2 to go clear but I forgot England had scored more goals...

So you aren't seeing things.

[mystiroakey]

correct and if goals scored is even we top on rankings

[mystiroakey]

lol ent- i did wonder

[GSC]

Only change is Rooney for Carroll

[JamesLincs]

i dont think thats possible is it mysti? this is all confusing

[JamesLincs]

tbh im not suprised milner starts as i think he will be dropped should we get through tonight. either ox or theo WILL come on at some point, probably early in the second half if we need a goal

[Steffan]

Its gonna be well exciting. Come on Ukraine

[mystiroakey]

oh lol- your back to support against Eng er LAND...


COME ON ENGLAND

[Steffan]

Yes Ukraine all the way baby. Hopefully Shevchenko is gonna do the business

[azania]

England expects!!! I can see a game of sky ball with players running down unknown blind alleys before launching it 50m in the hope that someone gets a flick on for Rooney to score.

Interestingly the worst teams have been England, Ireland playing industrial football and Holland who do what Holland do all to often.....implode.

[mystiroakey]

Az thats not interesting or fact.

Lets not compare england to ireland. and if you want to talk about industrial football. greece is your team. Industrial has gotta work pal. Ireland didnt even turn up

[Crimey]

Shevchenko on the bench for Ukraine, that is a huge blow for them, even at his age he's looked like their best player.

No Andriy Voronin either, but I don't think they'll be as gutted about that.

[mystiroakey]

so he is abit injured it seems

[The Special Juan]

Voronin Awful player. So bad.

Really want Rooney to play well tonight but don't want England to do well. Hmmmm, want them to win tonight (because I predicted it on SportGuru) and then play Spain or something.

Italy v France next round (possible), that'll be a tasty matchup!! Round 2: Chiellini v Cabaye

[azania]

Az thats not interesting or fact.

Lets not compare england to ireland. and if you want to talk about industrial football. greece is your team. Industrial has gotta work pal. Ireland didnt even turn up

At least Greece manage to keep the ball on the ground more often than not. My problem with England is the long ball. They seem not to love the ball and want to leather it too often.

[mystiroakey]

Az you said england and ireland were the worst teams in this cup- do you really stand by that assesment

[Postie]

Walcott coming off the bench (if needed) against a tired Ukraine defence is our Plan B.

Plan C, Carroll for Welbeck.
Plan D, errr... Downing ?

[mystiroakey]

wlacott is starting isnt he?

[Postie]

Sub, according to BBC and Sky.

[Guest]

wlacott is starting isnt he?

The line ups:

http://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2012/06/19/europe/european-championships/england/ukraine/1063215/

[mystiroakey]

what - milner.. boring

[Postie]

Ashley Cole deserves a mention as he plays in his 21st game in tournament finals for England tonight, a new record.

[Steffan]

Ashley Cole deserves a mention as he plays in his 21st game in tournament finals for England tonight, a new record.

Ashley Cole

[mystiroakey]

steffan- your a closet england fan!! you just awarded cole a mention

[Postie]

hahaha

[Steffan]

steffan- your a closet england fan!! you just awarded cole a mention

Any man who puts a mobile phone up his backside when he has a smart misses deserves a mention...and not for the right reasons I will add

[Postie]

I was referring to his longevity and consistancy in an England shirt, but I think you knew that

[sportform]

The important factor tonight for me is Parker and Gerrard. They were the cause of most of England's problems against Sweden.

Firstly they tried to force the ball forward too much when simpler pass (ie keeping possession) were on. This made it hard to break down the opposition and often resulted in giving the ball away.

Secondly, they run all over the pitch and got forward a lot. This may look good and like they're giving everything but it loses the team shape, leave huge games and put the defence under pressure. No wonder our defence looked shaky.

It was noticeable we looked more solid defensively against France when these two didn't go forward as much.

If we are going to play two in the middle they have to sit, keep possession and let the front four do the damage up front.

[azania]

Az you said england and ireland were the worst teams in this cup- do you really stand by that assesment

So far yes. Their style of football can best be describes as industrial. All other teams pass and move. England hoof it upfield and run hoping for little flicks and lucky breaks.

And good rear guard Dunkirk style retreat and defense in the face of certain defeat.

If England get through, watch them play anti football against Spain.

[mystiroakey]

steffan- your a closet england fan!! you just awarded cole a mention

Any man who puts a mobile phone up his backside when he has a smart misses deserves a mention...and not for the right reasons I will add

A smart mrs

[azania]

what - milner.. boring

Milner.....for his defensive abilities and that he can run all day long.

[azania]

steffan- your a closet england fan!! you just awarded cole a mention

Any man who puts a mobile phone up his backside when he has a smart misses deserves a mention...and not for the right reasons I will add

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