Euro Qualifiers - Matchday 7 & 8

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NoLogo said:
Jogi have mercy on Özil. He obviously doesn't want to play on the wing, sub someone on who is at least willing to put in some effort.
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He's really a bit of a problem at the moment. He's dreadful, but the same was true for the first 60 minutes against Poland when he played central. I really hope Jogi sticks with the 3 man midfield, which looks so much stronger. It won us the World Cup, with Lahm/Schweinsteiger as the holding midfielder and Khedira/Kramer next to Kroos as CMs. Now with Gündogan back in form, it looks even better. Kroos - Schweinsteiger - Gündogan is a wonderful combination. If Götze and Müller keep scoring, we need them in the team for goals, which leaves Özil or Reus for the left wing spot (if Reus ever is available with his fecking injury record). It's a no brainer really, with everyone fit our front 6 at the Euro has to be:

Reus - Götze - Müller
Kroos - Gündogan
Schweinsteiger

with Özil, Kruse, Draxler, Schürrle, Bellarabi as back ups in attack and Khedira, Kramer, Lars Bender and Geis back-ups in midfield.

We just need to sort out the fullback mess. If one of Höwedes or Badstuber is fit and in form, I'd still prefer them at leftback over Hector. Unless Schmelzer continues to impress and can replicate his performances for Dortmund in the nationalteam. Can needs to feck off at rightback, he's totally out of his depth in that position and not good enough to make the squad in midfield. Give one of the stronger box to box midfielders a run in that position, Sven Bender looked okay there at the last Euro for example. Unless Ginter continues to impress as a rightback for Dortmund of course, then he becomes an option.
 
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Only 21 years old!
 
Euro qualifiers today (tuesday): The most interesting match could/should be Sweden - Austria, since both teams still have the chance to qualify (Sweden needs three points, Austria seems nearly through).
 
Kant-ona said:
Euro qualifiers today (tuesday): The most interesting match could/should be Sweden - Austria, since both teams still have the chance to qualify (Sweden needs three points, Austria seems nearly through).
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A win for Slovakia against the Ukraine and a draw or win for Austria today could work miracles for Norway.

If that happens - a draw against Italy could still be enough for Norway to qualify even if Croatia go past them. If Sweden don't win - it should be impossible for the number 3 in that group to be best 3rd placed team if Norway get a draw against Italy - and if Slovakia beat the Ukraine - Ukraine will need at least a draw against Spain in their final match to have a chance to qualify as the best 3rd team. In Portugal and Denmarks group - Denmark need to beat Portugal away in their final game to get more points than Norway - it COULD happen.
 
lysglimt said:
A win for Slovakia against the Ukraine and a draw or win for Austria today could work miracles for Norway.

If that happens - a draw against Italy could still be enough for Norway to qualify even if Croatia go past them. If Sweden don't win - it should be impossible for the number 3 in that group to be best 3rd placed team if Norway get a draw against Italy - and if Slovakia beat the Ukraine - Ukraine will need at least a draw against Spain in their final match to have a chance to qualify as the best 3rd team. In Portugal and Denmarks group - Denmark need to beat Portugal away in their final game to get more points than Norway - it COULD happen.
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We won't be the best 3rd team. Hungary (1 game) and Russia (2 games) go past us if they win their remaining games. And those games are easy.
 
Balu said:
He's really a bit of a problem at the moment. He's dreadful, but the same was true for the first 60 minutes against Poland when he played central. I really hope Jogi sticks with the 3 man midfield, which looks so much stronger. It won us the World Cup, with Lahm/Schweinsteiger as the holding midfielder and Khedira/Kramer next to Kroos as CMs. Now with Gündogan back in form, it looks even better. Kroos - Schweinsteiger - Gündogan is a wonderful combination. If Götze and Müller keep scoring, we need them in the team for goals, which leaves Özil or Reus for the left wing spot (if Reus ever is available with his fecking injury record). It's a no brainer really, with everyone fit our front 6 at the Euro has to be:

Reus - Götze - Müller
Kroos - Gündogan
Schweinsteiger

with Özil, Kruse, Draxler, Schürrle, Bellarabi as back ups in attack and Khedira, Kramer, Lars Bender and Geis back-ups in midfield.

We just need to sort out the fullback mess. If one of Höwedes or Badstuber is fit and in form, I'd still prefer them at leftback over Hector. Unless Schmelzer continues to impress and can replicate his performances for Dortmund in the nationalteam. Can needs to feck off at rightback, he's totally out of his depth in that position and not good enough to make the squad in midfield. Give one of the stronger box to box midfielders a run in that position, Sven Bender looked okay there at the last Euro for example. Unless Ginter continues to impress as a rightback for Dortmund of course, then he becomes an option.
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I totally agree. I just hope Reus has a bit more luck with his injury record from now on.
 
Samid said:
We won't be the best 3rd team. Hungary (1 game) and Russia (2 games) go past us if they win their remaining games. And those games are easy.
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Greece away isn't easy even if they performed poorly so far. And Russia will be 2nd in the group if Sweden drop points tonight - and Sweden wont go past us as best third.
 
Balu said:
We just need to sort out the fullback mess. If one of Höwedes or Badstuber is fit and in form, I'd still prefer them at leftback over Hector. Unless Schmelzer continues to impress and can replicate his performances for Dortmund in the nationalteam. Can needs to feck off at rightback, he's totally out of his depth in that position and not good enough to make the squad in midfield. Give one of the stronger box to box midfielders a run in that position, Sven Bender looked okay there at the last Euro for example. Unless Ginter continues to impress as a rightback for Dortmund of course, then he becomes an option.
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I liked Lars Bender a lot when he played the right full back position. If he stays out of injuries now I hope he gets called again. And I could imagine that Khedira - same fitness isssues - could play the part, too - and a lot better than Can does. He usually played the 6/8 on the right side of the pitch and he and Lahm secured Müller's moves - so I guess that would be a big upgrade, too.

As long there is not a real good right fullback available...
 
I meant Lars Bander, no idea why I wrote Sven.
 
kouroux said:
I haven't enjoyed watching France in a long time, it's just 2-1 but the football played has been great. Totally dominating Serbia with lots of possession and incisive attacking with Griezmann and Valbuena. Only criticism is Giroud who has been awful, missed chances after chances.
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Excellent first half, not as good in the second. Giroud is really not good enough and shouldn't play, France should've been 3 or 4-0 up at half time. Schneiderlin was great, very solid in midfield and some very good passes to dictate the play (like the pass to Sagna for the first goal). And what a second goal by Blaise!
Sly said:
:lol: That´s as likely as Éder scoring a goal for us in the France Euro
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Make it interesting, bet on him scoring! :D I once bet with my French friends that Cuauhtémoc Blanco would score against them, in WC 2010, when he was overweight and on the bench. He came on during the game and scored from a penalty, we'd bet a few pints on it, I was very happy! :lol:
 
Gerrard in Istanbul said:
Excellent first half, not as good in the second. Giroud is really not good enough and shouldn't play, France should've been 3 or 4-0 up at half time. Schneiderlin was great, very solid in midfield and some very good passes to dictate the play (like the pass to Sagna for the first goal). And what a second goal by Blaise!

Make it interesting, bet on him scoring! :D I once bet with my French friends that Cuauhtémoc Blanco would score against them, in WC 2010, when he was overweight and on the bench. He came on during the game and scored from a penalty, we'd bet a few pints on it, I was very happy! :lol:
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He was bad but I didn't like how he was booed when he got substituted. That was incredibly stupid from the crowd.
 
Sir A1ex said:
Just seen the England line-up... has Martinez paid Hodgson off or what?
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To be fair, that's our strongest team. Anyone would have expected Stones and Barkley to make way for Smalling and Sterling. Jagielka for Cahill is the only contentious one there.
 
England side the best, most balanced we can put out.

Shame about the midfield, though. Henderson, Carrick, Wilshere would be the desired trio. The problem is that they're never all fit at once. Big night ahead for Shelvey.
 
I like Milner. Reason being he's a persistent reminder of not only how much I hate Hodgson but also how far we are from winning anything of note.
 
Big game for Sweden against top of the table Austria tonight. Need a win to be sort of sure of direct qualification (Liechtenstein away and Moldova at home left..). Seems we're going back to 4-4-2. Would have preferred 3 in central mid but oh well, back to basics. Thankfully Zlatan seems fit and is starting. Glad Källström is back from suspension (never thought i'd say that..). Just grind out a win, please.
 
Ok... maybe i started looking ABU in every single corner,but wasnt that commercial dig at United supporter? :lol:
 
Still no goals for Rooney.
 
Delph tears his hamstring in the opening 20 seconds.
 
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