Euro 2016 Qualifying Draw

[flibbertyjibber]

Happening this morning with England in pot 1, Scotland and Wales pot 4, Northern Ireland 5, Ireland in 2 and Gibraltar in 6.

Tournament being turned into a cash cow as it is extended from 16 to 24 teams for the finals. WHY?

 

[marc71178]

Apparently it was Scotland and the Republic of Ireland that orignally suggested it. Only 3 voted against (England, Germany and one other).

Further proof it's about money is qualifiers being spread over 6 days each round of matches (playing Thursday/Sunday, Friday/Monday or Saturday/Tuesday)

Equally silly is that France are in a qualifying group but are already there as hosts.

Gets worse for 2020 doesn't it with about 10 hosts?

 

[BoyBrumby]

Ha, go team Gib!

But agree with marc; 24 teams is silly. Is Wafer going to use the same format as the WC had when it was 24? Six groups of 4 with the best 4 third placed teams advancing with the winners and runners-up?

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Good draw for Northern Ireland getting Greece as their top seed.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

We have a great draw there. Couldn't have picked a much easier group when the top 2 qualify automatically.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Ha, go team Gib!

But agree with marc; 24 teams is silly. Is Wafer going to use the same format as the WC had when it was 24? Six groups of 4 with the best 4 third placed teams advancing with the winners and runners-up?

Yes.

This will be tedious in the extreme.

 

[Furball]

Delighted we've drawn Germany, will definitely be seeking out tickets for that one.

 

[BoyBrumby]

I love how Wafer inbuilt caveats into the draw where Gibraltar couldn't be drawn to face Spain nor Armenia with Azerbaijan.

Must admit I'm not very au fait with the political situation between the latter pair of nations, but the Spain/Gib thing is a joke, surely? Spanish have just had a three hundred year monk on, whereas countries who've actually been at war in the last 25 years (say, Bosnia and Serbia) get no such concessions.

Anyway, fairly cushy draw what with three teams going through.

Mildly counter-intuitive that two top seeds for the world cup finals tournament were in pot 2 for European qualifiers tho, but.

 

[Furball]

Apparently it was Scotland and the Republic of Ireland that orignally suggested it. Only 3 voted against (England, Germany and one other).

Further proof it's about money is qualifiers being spread over 6 days each round of matches (playing Thursday/Sunday, Friday/Monday or Saturday/Tuesday)

Equally silly is that France are in a qualifying group but are already there as hosts.

Gets worse for 2020 doesn't it with about 10 hosts?

I actually think the idea for Euro 2020 is genius, but a 24 team finals is ridiculous. 16 teams was perfect.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

I actually think the idea for Euro 2020 is genius, but a 24 team finals is ridiculous. 16 teams was perfect.

I'm intrigued as how it will work, will either be brilliant or a total shambles.

16 teams is enough for europe, with 24 you make it too long and have too many average sides in it.

 

[Pothas]

Yeah I am not against the 2020 idea but I don't think anyone thinks that 24 teams is a good idea.

Qualification is going to be so very boring as well.

 

[GIMH]

“@SkySportsNewsHQ: Sky Sources: England side vs Switzerland: Hart, Stones, Cahill, Jones, Baines, Delph, Henderson, Wilshere, Sterling, Rooney, Welbeck #SSNHQ”

 

[BoyBrumby]

Delph?

WTF?

Is the Ox dead or something?

 

[grecian]

Delph?

WTF?

Is the Ox dead or something?

Utterly bizarre, I thought he was average when playing for Leeds in the 3rd division.

 

[Cabinet96]

They go to the diamond against the side with the best fullbacks in the group? Fantastic.

 

[GIMH]

They go to the diamond against the side with the best fullbacks in the group? Fantastic.

Will be 433 IMO

 

[Pothas]

Yeah I looked at the side and thought 433 but then they did try the diamond against Norway.

 

[Uppercut]

Yeah I think it'll be Welbeck on the left wing and Sterling on the right. Chelsea-style 4-3-3/4-5-1.

Hodgson's comments about this game have all been very negative and the diamond would be, as Cabs points out, ridiculously attacking. Especially with Sturridge out.

Also Delph is a counter-attacking midfielder, so his selection suggests they'll be sitting back.

 

[Uppercut]

But everyone in the know seems to think it's a diamond, so looks like I'm wrong and Hodgson really is doing something crazy.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Even if we have to play a diamond, surely to feck Henderson is better suited to be at its base?

Must be one of the most workmanlike England sides since the dog days of Taylor.

Take Sterling out and it looks cod-ordinary.