I think it was confirmed that, if England qualify, they'll play either Poland or (gulp) Germany in the last 16.

England are in a tough group, but on paper, Italy's looks more difficult...

Not a bad group for England (or Sweden) but our game against T'n'T could be explosive.

Coat please. Now.

quote:

Originally posted by Mezz:
I think it was confirmed that, if England qualify, they'll play either Poland or (gulp) Germany in the last 16.

* should Germany and Poland qualify at the expense of Ecuador and Costa Rica, of course.

quote:

Originally posted by Saviola:
Not a bad group for England (or Sweden) but our game against T'n'T could be explosive.

Coat please. Now.

This so you can head off into the (gelig)night?

<coat already on>

3 10-Jun-06 Frankfurt ENG:PAR
4 10-Jun-06 Dortmund TRI:SWE
19 15-Jun-06 Nuremberg ENG:TRI
20 15-Jun-06 Berlin SWE:PAR
35 20-Jun-06 Cologne SWE:ENG
36 20-Jun-06 Kaiserslautern PAR:TRI

So we play Sven's men last. Could be a pointless match or may have one team already through and one out so the other has to try very hard to win.

I'd expect four points from our first two games and England to have six.

England V Sweden since 1968

10-Jun-1979 Råsunda Stadion, Solna 0-0
10-Sep-1986 Söderstadion, Stockholm 0-1
19-Oct-1988 Empire Stadium, Wembley, London 0-0
06-Sep-1989 Råsunda Stadion, Solna 0-0
17-Jun-1992 Råsunda Stadion, Solna 1-2
08-Jun-1995 Elland Road, Leeds 3-3
05-Sep-1998 Råsunda Stadion, Solna 1-2
05-Jun-1999 Empire Stadium, Wembley, London 0-0
10-Nov-2001 Old Trafford, Manchester 1-1
02-Jun-2002 Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama, Japan 1-1
31-Mar-2004 Nya Ullevi Stadion, Göteborg 0-1

Just thought I'd mention it!

Through my foolproof method of form analysis....

Group A winners- Germany
runners up- Poland
Group B winners- ENGLAND!
runners up- Sweden
Group C winners- Argentina
runners up- Holland
Group D winners- Portugal
runners up- Mexico
Group E winners- Italy
runners up- Czech Rep.
Group F winners- Brazil
runners up- Japan
Group G winners- France
runners up- SOUTH KOREA
Group H winners- Spain
runners up- Ukraine

Phew..... now the 2nd Round...

1. Germany v. Sweden
2. Argentina v. Mexico
3. ENGLAND v. Poland
4. Portugal v. Holland
5. Italy v. Japan
6. France v. Ukraine
7. Brazil v. Czech Rep.
8. Spain v. S.Korea

Quarter Finals...

1. Germany v. Argentina
2. Italy v. France
3. England v. Holland
4. Brazil v. S.Korea

And the Semis...

1. Argentina v. France
2. England v. Brazil

Woo hoo! The Final...

Argentina v. Brazil

Make your way to the bookies right away to claim your winnings (although Brazil are probably about 100/99 by now).

FORZA ENGLAND AND KOREA!

Why am I not surprised that Germany got an easy group. Home team needs to advance I think, just like last time with S.Korea. Figures

Italy has a very tough group! They are going to have to win it if they want any chance of advancing to the latter stages. I

I really didn't want the USA and italy in the same group. Makes it too nerve wracking for me.

For Italy the Ghana game has draw written all over it, the USA game should be a win but will be VERY tricky and the Czech Republic I will go out on limb and say a win. I think the Czechs are falling a bit and their best players are aging.

My early prediction is a Brazil-England/Italy final.

I've actually looked at the feasibility of returning to Malmo for the England - Sweden match. I couldn't bare to be in England when it takes place for two reasons:

(i) The media-induced vomiting I'll experience from their sheer bias and lack of knowledge of Swedish football, exacerbated by the need to keep mentioning that England haven't beaten us for 37 years and how the world of football has been turned on its head by beating us, most likely as a result of a Teddy Lucic own goal.

(ii) I'm likely to get my head kicked in.

Looks like there are some really competitive groups for Euro 2008. Fewer boring matches, one hopes.

Surprised no African Nations stuff on here. I'm not the only one who hasn't got BBC3? Anyway, good to see Samuel E'too (biggest mouth in La Liga) miss the penalty that sends Cameroun home. When Pierre Wome missed the penalty that made them miss out on the World Cup, E'too said things that caused a lot of problems for his former team-mate. I.e. death threats, problems for his family, etc. Let's see how he likes it.

And well done Nigeria. Unfortunately, it means that Martins stays away a week longer and will miss the Juve game .

Incredible penalty shoot-out. 22 consecutive penalties missed, then it comes back round to the first takers, and Eto'o goes and misses it! Brilliant stuff. Just a shame it was Didier Dogs**t that scored the winner.

That went on for ever.

So who does everyone back to win the tournament?

No idea. The constant penalty shoot-outs are fun, though.

Some of the quality of the African nations cup has been poor. Ive Dr Congo twice and the fouls metted out have been appalling! Watched most of Cameroon/Ivory Coast and it was really really boring...didnt stick around the penalties...but they seem to sum up the game as a whole...endless and no drama

I wish people would stop saying that England could win the WC...does everyone have the same opinion!

I actually think England have a decent chance of winning. Besides Brazil, I think England could matchup with any of the other teams.

quote:

but they seem to sum up the game as a whole...endless and no drama

B*ll*cks! I'll probably never again see a penalty shoot-out with 22 consecutive goals. It was great, so much quality under pressure. There was drama - the anticipation built up for ages, before Etoo spooned it.

Another 0-0 draw, another penalty shoot out!

How many scored this time? 47 each before the Egypt kitman baloons it over the bar!?

Ah, not many after all.

Props to our Egyptian homies.