Euro 2012: Day 11 Thread

[Duty281]

Croatia v Spain (19:45, BBC 1)
Italy v Ireland (19:45, BBC 3)

Current Group Standings:

Spain - 4
Croatia - 4
Italy - 2
Ireland - 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:

Spain (v Croatia)
Win - Secures qualification and top spot.
Draw - Secures qualification as overall goal difference better than Croatia's.
Lose - Out if Italy beat Republic of Ireland.

Croatia (v Spain)
Win - Secures qualification and top spot.
Draw - A 2-2 (or higher-scoring) draw will see them through. If it is 0-0, they are out. If they claim a 1-1 draw, Croatia will only be eliminated if Italy better or equal their 3-1 win over the Republic of Ireland.
Lose - Out if Italy beat Republic of Ireland.

Italy (v Republic of Ireland)
Win - Secures qualification if Spain or Croatia win or is a scoreless draw. If that game is a 1-1 draw, then Italy need to better or equal Croatia's 3-1 win over Ireland. If they equal it, Italy will go through because they are ranked higher than Croatia by Uefa. However, if Spain and Croatia draw 2-2 or more then Italy are out.
Draw - Out.
Lose - Out.

Republic of Ireland (v Italy)
Already eliminated

Group C comes to a close on Monday evening with three teams battling for two spots. Spain only need to avoid defeat against the Croatians to go through but as for the other two teams it is slightly more confusing. Look above for all the permutations and suchlike. My prediction is for Croatia to shock Spain 1-0 and Italy to win 2 or 3 nil.

[Thomond]

Hoping the lads put some pride back in the shirt but can't see anything other than an Italian win. They're better than they've played. Giving away stupid goals too.

[JamesLincs]

that rule about being higher ranked is absolutely disgraceful! just awful!

spain 1-1 croatia
italy 2-0 roi

[GSC]

Well I'd imagine UEFA never expected it to ever get this far anyway. Not really a satisfactory way to resolve it either way. Isn't time to play a 1 off game, coin toss would be awful as well. Penalty shootout at a neutral camp would just be silly.

[Duty281]

that rule about being higher ranked is absolutely disgraceful! just awful!

spain 1-1 croatia
italy 2-0 roi

I remember when it got to the last games of England's group at the 2010 World Cup, if USA drew with Algeria 2-2 and the same scoreline was repeated in England-Slovenia it would have been settled by the drawing of lots! Now that really would have been awful.

[GSC]

Plumped for a 3-1 Spain win and 3-0 Italy win.

With Torres and Cassano opening the scoring. Hoping to improve on my solitary 1 winning bet so far.

[lorus59]

"Group C comes to a close on Monday evening with three teams battling for two spots. Spain only need to avoid defeat against the Croatians to go through but as for the other two teams it is slightly more confusing. Look above for all the permutations and suchlike. My prediction is for Croatia to shock Spain 1-0 and Italy to win 2 or 3 nil."

Duty, you really hate Spain so much, your prediction is wishful thinking. I can imagine it is your hope that England don't have to face them. Be nice if Ireland can win.

[westisbest]

C'mon Ireland, one last go at it.

1-1, If we're going down, we're taking Italy with us.

[Josiah Maiestas]

Regardless what happens, you will atleast equal the points tally of the Netherlands. Great achievement by the Oirish

[Duty281]

"Group C comes to a close on Monday evening with three teams battling for two spots. Spain only need to avoid defeat against the Croatians to go through but as for the other two teams it is slightly more confusing. Look above for all the permutations and suchlike. My prediction is for Croatia to shock Spain 1-0 and Italy to win 2 or 3 nil."

Duty, you really hate Spain so much, your prediction is wishful thinking. I can imagine it is your hope that England don't have to face them. Be nice if Ireland can win.

My prediction is based on the fact that Croatia are a well organised team and massively underrated. Is it because I don't want England to face them? Nope, wouldn't mind having a crack at Spain but their are tougher teams out there like Germany. Now Germany would be a proper test, Spain not so much.

[Duty281]

Any Irish fans who want a boost...this fixture takes place on the 18-year anniversary of Ray Houghton's famous winner for Ireland in their 1-0 win over Italy at the 1994 World Cup in New York.

[Crimey]

Italy have changed back to four at the back, dropping Maggio and moving De Rossi into midfield. Disappointed by that, I thought the 3-5-2 formation was refreshing to watch and quite effective. I've been impressed with Maggio and liked De Rossi in the back three.

[Duty281]

LINE-UPSItaly v Republic of Ireland (19:45 BST)
Italy: Buffon, Abate, Barzagli, Chiellini, Balzaretti, Pirlo, Marchisio, Thiago Motta, De Rossi, Di Natale, Cassano. Subs: Sirigu, Maggio, Ogbonna Obienza, Balotelli, Giaccherni, Borini, Montolivo, Bonucci, Giovinco, Diamanti, Nocerino, De Sanctis.

Rep of Ireland: Given, O'Shea, Dunne, St. Ledger, Ward, McGeady, Whelan, Andrews, Duff, Keane, Doyle. Subs: Westwood, Kelly, McShane, Walters, Gibson, Hunt, O'Dea, Long, Cox, Green, McClean, Forde.

Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey)

LINE-UPSCroatia v Spain (19:45 BST)
Croatia: Pletikosa, Vida, Corluka, Schildenfeld, Strinic, Vukojevic, Rakitic, Srna, Modric, Pranjic, Mandzukic. Subs: Kelava, Simunic, Buljat, Jelavic, Badelj, Vrsaljko, Dujmovic, Kalinic, Kranjcar, Perisic, Eduardo, Subasic.

Spain: Casillas, Arbeloa, Pique, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba, Xavi, Busquets, Alonso, Silva, Torres, Iniesta. Subs: Valdes, Albiol, Javi Martinez, Juanfran, Pedro, Fabregas, Negredo, Mata, Llorente, Santi Cazorla, Jesus Navas, Reina.

Referee: Wolfgang Stark (Germany)

[mystiroakey]

so if italy and croatia win spain is out!!!

come on italy and croatia then.

If not i have backed both draws so that would be nice as well

[Duty281]

Bloody biased referees, Croatia should have had a penalty there.

[mystiroakey]

come on ireland

[mystiroakey]

that irish lad just had a mare... why get so stressed dude- its game over anyway

[mystiroakey]

GOALAAAA bolatelli!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Duty281]

And Spain looked to have pulled off a 1-0 victory with a late goal by Navas. For what it's worth, Croatia have had better chances than Spain. Anyway, Spain v runner-up of Group D (probably England) on Saturday and Italy v the winners of Group D on Sunday. I hope it is England v Spain on Saturday, bring it on!

[mystiroakey]

Its only 22 hours to go

[Duty281]

England's probable route then :

Runners Up in Group D: Spain then probably Portugal then probably the Germans.

Winners in Group D: Italy then probably Germany then probably Spain.

[Hibbz]

England's probable route : Donbass Arena - Airport - Home.

[Duty281]

England's probable route : Donbass Arena - Airport - Home.

Hibbz, with your defeatist attitude and willingness to join sides with the Germans.....are you sure you're not French?

[Hibbz]

Ha ha reel 'im in.

[westisbest]

Well thats the ned of our Euro 2012,(ok so it was over after spain game).

As proud as I am for the team getting there, I'm dissapointed, down, also pretty pist off.

I'll enjoy listning to my brother and the lads telling me their storys of the last 10 days.

I probably get to emotional when it comes to sport, internationally and domesticly(Villa), christ I'm used to it .
Oh well, onto the WC qualifiers.

I look forward to seeing some new faces in the team.
Roll on Kazakhstan. I LIKE

[Crimey]

Spain didn't look too great against Croatia to be honest, apart from their goal they failed to carve out any good chances and were resorting to long shots from the centre backs by the first half. Encouraging for England if they do face them in the quarter final.

[mystiroakey]

I THINK YOU HAVE Every right to be pist mate. id be livid - your team was basically good enough to qualfier for the last two major tournies. i dont wanna sound to harsh, but you were gash.. good luck in the next- get rid of your manager..

[Leff]

That Navas goal, my grandma would have scored too. Credit to Fabregas and Iniesta for those lovely passes. Casillas had a good game as he always does. Their offense is struggling without Villa.

If we have to face them, I don't see them as invincible though.

[westisbest]

I certainly wouldnt lose any sleep if Trapp left.

[Crimey]

My worry if England do face Spain is that the players, particularly Gerrard and Parker who would be crucial, will be too knackered after playing three games. I know it sounds like making excuses already, but we'd have to do so much pressing over the 90 minutes to stand a chance I'm not sure our players have the legs.

[Postie]

Let's worry about getting a point against Ukraine first....

[Sponsored content]