While Italy strolled past the Faroe Islands there were other countries with bigger games to play on Wednesday night. Most of the big guns who needed to get a result got what they needed. Except, of course, for England. Oh disappointed Scots rejoice!
That Steve McLaren's men had fought back to 2-2 will only make it a more bitter pill. After all the jubilation about the help they got from Israel they couldn't even manage to get a point off a team that had already qualified. No doubt there will be calls for the manager to be hung, drawn and quartered at the very least. All of which will, once again, mask their shortcomings as a team.
So the final line-up for Euro 2008 is as follows. Austria, Switzerland, Greece and probably Holland in pot one. Italy, Croatia, Germany and the Czech Republic in pot two. Romania, Portugal and Sweden in pot three where England should also have been. Presumably France will be promoted into that bracket. That would leave Poland, Spain, Turkey and Russia in the last bucket.
It leaves a wide range of possibilities open. Clearly Holland would be the one to avoid in the top tier, while Turkey, Russia or Poland might be alright from the bottom drawer. However, as we all know, maybe Italy are best getting the toughest draw possible. So bring on the French again!
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3 comments:
Holland
Italy/Germany
Portugal/France
Spain
What a cracking group that could be!
I watched both Italy v Faroe Is. overnight. Donadoni says he's got all but four or five places in the squad sorted. I hope Bonera isn't one of them. He's just not up to it. Gamberini should be ahead of him. Even Legrottaglie should be ahead of him!
And that was some strike by Chiellini.
I've never seen a team be so dominant and yet so wasteful as the 21s were away to the Faroes. They should have had five before being reduced to ten men, and then still should have had five more after it!
- Juventino
"No doubt there will be calls for the manager to be hung, drawn and quartered at the very least. All of which will, once again, mask their shortcomings as a team."
Can't argue with that. On the bright side. At least our football hoolies won't be there when it all kicks off betwwen the Poles/Russkies/Germans.
Who do I fancy ? The usual suspects. France, Italy, Germany, Holland. And Croatia. They are a good outfit with a very good midfield.
Juventino
That would be a hell of a group! And we rarely thrash anyone, no matter how much it looks like we should...
Trent
That is an aspect which has largely been overlooked. From what I saw Croatia were hugely composed on the ball compared to their blood and thunder opponents.
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