Euro 2004 draw, prognostications etc

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England to face France !

Germany to face Czechs and Dutch in kind of Group of Death (excepting Latvia)!

Host nation to face neighbours in first ever competitive tussle !

Your comments pliz.

― darren (darren), Sunday, 30 November 2003 12:04 (twenty-one years ago)

I liked Sven's inability to hide his joy at getting Croatia rather than Holland.

June 13 - Fr v Eng
June 17 - Eng v Swi
June 21 - Eng v Cro

Aaaargh.. can't wait.

And thank the lord that rugby's brief period in the spotlight is now over.

― darren (darren), Sunday, 30 November 2003 12:08 (twenty-one years ago)

The draw in full

― ailsa (ailsa), Sunday, 30 November 2003 12:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Celtic-players-a-go-go in Group C. This will have to do in absence of Scotland.

― ailsa (ailsa), Sunday, 30 November 2003 12:13 (twenty-one years ago)

I think England may go through at the expense of Croatia - I imagine Group A would have been easier to get out of though.

― ailsa (ailsa), Sunday, 30 November 2003 12:16 (twenty-one years ago)

when did people first start using that phrase 'group of death'?
portugal v spain
england v france
sweden v denmark
grudge matches yum yum!

― zappi (joni), Sunday, 30 November 2003 12:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Group A looks the most manageable, with Greece and Russia surely beatable. England ought to be too strong for the Gorans and the Federers in group B but have a habit of coming a cropper to defensive sides who can hit on the break - cf the Croats. Group C looks the tightest but Italy and Sweden should prevail. Group D is a stinker but I think the Jerries luck could finally run out - the czechs are seriously good and the Dutch will surely rally themselves for the German match even if they aren't even talking to each other.

― darren (darren), Sunday, 30 November 2003 12:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Germany vs Holland - grudge match of the tournament shurely !

Pity Rijkaard is no longer Dutch boss so he can reprise his 1990 gob in Voeller's hair.

― darren (darren), Sunday, 30 November 2003 12:30 (twenty-one years ago)

I seem to recall the term 'Group of death' first appearing in the 1986 World Cup when Scotland were drawn with Germany at their most imperious, the 'Dynamite'-era Denmark, and Uruguay.

― darren (darren), Sunday, 30 November 2003 12:36 (twenty-one years ago)

I can't help wondering how jingoistic the UK tabloids are goiong to be before the game vs France - I fear it'll make the 'Achtung !' stuff in the Mirror during Euro 96 look like the New Statesman. I really do fear the worst.

― darren (darren), Sunday, 30 November 2003 12:44 (twenty-one years ago)

if england were playing latvia the tabloids would find something to get jingoistic about

― zappi (joni), Sunday, 30 November 2003 12:46 (twenty-one years ago)

What odds England to beat France and lose the other two?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Sunday, 30 November 2003 15:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Fairly small after the last World Cup group stages, I'd guess. England will get through.

― Markelby (Mark C), Sunday, 30 November 2003 15:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Play lots of scenarios with this fun to use spreadsheet...

― Dave B (daveb), Sunday, 30 November 2003 16:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Dom OTM.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Sunday, 30 November 2003 16:51 (twenty-one years ago)

I fancy our finishing in the top two there - that's not too bad, though obviously France will be very hard to beat. Anyone know how it works from there on? Who do we play in the quarters if we finish in 1st/2nd?

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 30 November 2003 21:02 (twenty-one years ago)

A "group of death" would have to have four excellent and reasonably well-matched teams IMHO. ireland's 94 World Cup group was one [Ireland (when we were reasonably formidable and difficult to beat) , Mexico, Italy, Norway - all teams finished on 4 points]. England's last World Cup group was another.

None of these groups fill that criteria IMHO. There's one weak-ish team in each (greece, switzerland, bulgaria/denmark, latvia). England will qualify with france. I have a feeling england will get something from the first game, then draw and win in the other two matches. not sure why i think this, it's a long way off anyway...

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Sunday, 30 November 2003 23:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Martin - download my super duper spreadsheet and you can plan a 1000 scenarios. Has a full torunament schedule. Link above.

― Dave B (daveb), Monday, 1 December 2003 00:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Funnily enough, I'm fairly relieved England have got France in the group stages - its better than running into them in a knockout game after they've got into their stride. Croatia and Switzerland are both beatable although I'm sure we'll get the demoralising 1-1 draw against one of them.

Group A looks the easiest from what I can see, but also the most unpredictable - are Portugal any cop these days, despite being on home soil? Also, can we safely assume Spain will find another way to cock this all up yet again.

Group D is a humdinger. The Czechs - AKA the Big Dark Horses in this tournament, plus Germans vs Dutch. I'm hoping this will be the tournament the Germans finally get found out after the travesty that was last year's World Cup.

Here's hoping for another early Italian exit as well - partly because they're the one team I think England definitely won't beat, but mostly because of the huge collective hissy fit that would inevitably ensue once again.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Monday, 1 December 2003 09:59 (twenty-one years ago)

More importantly - Germans vs Dutch = excuse to show lots more footage of Rudi Voller being spat on! Hurrah!

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Monday, 1 December 2003 10:10 (twenty-one years ago)

i think France will narrowly beat England but those two will go through anyway. fancy Portugal, Spain, Italy, Denmark/Sweden (very close, could go down to the last kick of their match), Holland and the Czechs. Germany rode their luck so much at the World Cup that i'd be amazed if they got thru their group, being as they are so incredibly average right now (then again they could just as likely win it i suppose). France to beat Holland or Italy in the final (mirroring Euro 2000 somewhat).

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 1 December 2003 10:25 (twenty-one years ago)

england to draw with France, beat Switzerland and then lose to Croatia, and I bet we'll get knocked out by the toss of a coin

― chris (chris), Monday, 1 December 2003 10:26 (twenty-one years ago)

England would play a team from Group A in the quarter-finals, then a team from either the C1 v D2 or D1 v C2 match.

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 1 December 2003 10:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Heskey to hit the crossbar from 3 yards out in the dying seconds

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 1 December 2003 10:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Odds on Beckham, Owen, Gerrard and Rooney ALL being fit for this tournament, anyone?

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Monday, 1 December 2003 10:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Cabbage back to his fogeyish best! And Matt, you hurt me with your anti-Italian jibes :(

― Markelby (Mark C), Monday, 1 December 2003 10:35 (twenty-one years ago)

I was just conjuring up the spirit of 1990

― chris (chris), Monday, 1 December 2003 10:41 (twenty-one years ago)

leave Shaun Ryder out of this!

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 1 December 2003 10:43 (twenty-one years ago)

check the Daily Mirror today - there is a 4 page special with fixture list and pictures of all the stadiums. Some of these stadiums look very modern.

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Monday, 1 December 2003 10:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Haha - J’ai très hâte de voir ça..

― Baaderist (Fabfunk), Monday, 1 December 2003 11:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Some of these stadiums look very modern.

of the ten stadiums, 7 have been built new and the other 3 remodelled.
athens & london, hang your heads in shame.

― zappi (joni), Monday, 1 December 2003 11:57 (twenty-one years ago)

that new one in Coimbra looks lovely, as does the Luz stadium.

― chris (chris), Monday, 1 December 2003 11:59 (twenty-one years ago)

No-one has commented on my spreadsheet, nor told me how after forwarding ti friends and colleagues, they became the toast of the office...

sobs quietly in the corner...

< / abject post >

― Dave B (daveb), Monday, 1 December 2003 12:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Dave, to be honest, I haven't let myuself anywhere near it. I need to get stuff done, however, once I get home and need a break from trying to get Sheff utd into the premiership with a transfer kitty of only 85k, I'm sure I'll geek out to the max on it ;o)

― chris (chris), Monday, 1 December 2003 12:37 (twenty-one years ago)

We can go through. And Matt DC is spot on, the French are more likely to be vulnerable in the group stages. Bring them on. We can do them and the Croats on our day, and err, probably draw with the Swiss. Anyway it's our time I reckon.

― Alex K (Alex K), Monday, 1 December 2003 12:43 (twenty-one years ago)

out of the last 4 tournaments England have only progressed past the group stage once, and that was when they were the hosts - time for change

i'm surprised they allowed teams to meet each other at the finals having already played each other in the qualifying stage - i didn't think they wanted that (swapping Spain with Holland would solve it)

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 1 December 2003 12:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Dave, your spreadsheet is fantastic. I've just used it and it turns out that France will win Euro 2004 with a silver goal (Henry) against Italy. Plucky England made it through the group stage (thanks to goal difference) only to be beaten 3-0 by Spain (own goal by Heskey trying to defend a corner, a Raul special and a defensive mix up that let in Valeron). Germany didn't make it through the group stage, but their 4-2 defeat by Holland was one of the games of the tournament. Latvia went home without scoring.

― Alfie (Alfie), Monday, 1 December 2003 14:19 (twenty-one years ago)

dave can you mail me the spreadsheet? ta!

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 1 December 2003 14:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Hurrah! Italy beat France 4-0 in the final! Portugal are surprisingly the only seed to be knocked out after a surprisingly strong Russian team win Group B!

― Markelby (Mark C), Monday, 1 December 2003 14:27 (twenty-one years ago)

how do u work this thing..?

― Baaderist (Fabfunk), Monday, 1 December 2003 15:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Go to the first sheet (the one in group order, not date order)

Enter the scores as you think they'll be and away you go.

― Dave B (daveb), Monday, 1 December 2003 15:35 (twenty-one years ago)

France just beat the Czechs 2-1 in a very close final, after England lost unluckily 1-0 to them in the semis, after going through the group stage on GD ahead of Croatia.

― chris (chris), Monday, 1 December 2003 15:44 (twenty-one years ago)

B-b-b-but the whole point is to very analytically work out that England will indeed win! Er...

― Dave B (daveb), Monday, 1 December 2003 15:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Dave, Italy will win. End of.

― Markelby (Mark C), Monday, 1 December 2003 15:48 (twenty-one years ago)

I've got a repeat of last editions' 2-1 win of France vs. Italy...

― Baaderist (Fabfunk), Monday, 1 December 2003 16:07 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah i can really see that as the final, annoyingly

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 1 December 2003 16:25 (twenty-one years ago)

four months pass...

More!

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 22:28 (twenty-one years ago)

one month passes...

Have done a version 2 of the super spreadsheet which now does penalties too.

England still win on my version. What a saddo.

― Dave B (daveb), Friday, 21 May 2004 09:45 (twenty-one years ago)

ha ha, i have decided that Germany will beat Holland but lose to Latvia

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 21 May 2004 09:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Germany losing to whoever will make my day(s, preferably)!

― t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Friday, 21 May 2004 10:04 (twenty-one years ago)

i have no idea who will win

i saw that germany were 20-1 somewhere or other, maybe this is worth a punt?

― charltonlido (gareth), Wednesday, 2 June 2004 13:03 (twenty-one years ago)

That doesn't sound like particularly great odds to me - they're very poor.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 2 June 2004 16:34 (twenty-one years ago)

I definately like Hollands chances in the tournament. Even though they are in a very tough group, they have the players to take them to the championship. 16 years ago it was the brilliance of van basten that won them euro 88. this year its ruud's turn. watch out.

― Ryan W, Thursday, 3 June 2004 01:09 (twenty-one years ago)

IT IS SO CLOSE.

― Gregory Henry (Gregory Henry), Friday, 11 June 2004 11:08 (twenty-one years ago)

i feel it in my fingers

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 11 June 2004 11:18 (twenty-one years ago)

i feel it in my toes.

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Friday, 11 June 2004 11:32 (twenty-one years ago)

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