Russia will beat Portugal

[Knight Theamion]

and spain will beat greece

[Deffeh]

Right. Thanks for clearing that up.

[LHC]

I dont believe you.

[ChubbyChecker]

Let's hope that's true. Then Spain will (probably) win the group.

Yay! \o/

[Rumad]

I think portugal will win - too much resting on it.

I think Espana will win though

[Stew]

Originally Posted by Rumad

I think portugal will win - too much resting on it.
I think Espana will win though

[Nondescript Human]

Exactly - too much resting on it, so they'll freeze. 0-0 draw imo.

[Zharkov]

Russia have been looking like arse and with Mostovoi sent home I cant see them winning.

They might squeeze out a draw though.

[Grimble v2.0]

Portugal will win big today, Spain will struggle their way to a 1-0 win.

[lokken]

To be fair when we hosted Euro 96 we started off with a shite result against the swiss, then beat the jocks and hammered the dutch - Portugal will prob tank Spain or Russia

[Bobzeh]

Portugal 3 - 1 Russia
Spain 1 - 0 Greece

[jerome]

2-1 Portugal
2-1 Spain

[Stew]

Originally Posted by Grimble v2.0

Spain will struggle their way to a 1-0 win.

Looks like you were wrong (as was I - I predicted 2-0 )

[Nondescript Human]

Originally Posted by Nondescript Human

Exactly - too much resting on it, so they'll freeze. 0-0 draw imo.

Bollocks. My prediction didn't last 8 minutes :(
1-0 to Portugal

[MrL_JaKiri]

Originally Posted by Nondescript Human

Bollocks. My prediction didn't last 8 minutes
1-0 to Portugal

And the russians down to 10 men.

Good thread theam.

[pablissimo]

Hey we got Benitez.

[MrL_JaKiri]

Originally Posted by pablissimo

Hey we got Benitez.

But will you get Aimar and Ayala?

[Boogster]

Whoops -you were wrong.

[JC]

Portugal dont look good enough to casue anyone problems if they get through the group, which i think they will be struggling to do. I thought the Russian keeper was unlucky to get sent off as well.

[MrL_JaKiri]

Frankly, they look a very weak group.

[Stew]

I thought the replacement Russian keeper did quite well.

[Knight Theamion]

more wishfull thinking i guess

[Grimble v2.0]

They definately need to put Simao on the bench, he's done next to nothing right in the first two games. I'm hoping Ronaldo gets played against Spain. He's maintained the good form from the last months of the premiership and could very well help Portugal gain an unlikely victory against Spain.

Ideally, I'd like to see this starting 11:

--------------------------------Ricardo-------------------------------
Ferreira-------Carvalho------------Andrade--------Valente
-------------------Maniche-----------Costinha----------------
--Figo----------------------Deco------------------Ronaldo-------
-----------------------------Pauleta----------------------------------

(Pauleta hasn't done much, but Nuno Gomez seems off form as well, and Postiga really isn't an option in my eyes)

[Stew]

As much as I hate Ronaldo, he does deserve to start.
As does Rui Costa, just cos hes in my fantasy footy team.

[Deffeh]

The russians were ****ing robbed. That keeper didnt touch the ball with his hands outside the box



The matchfixing bastards will still go out though

[lokken]

Originally Posted by Deffeh

The russians were ****ing robbed. That keeper didnt touch the ball with his hands outside the box



The matchfixing bastards will still go out though

Look at if from the ref's (THE REF'S) not the replay's point of view - the keeper has put his arm over the ball and it's stopped right there. What is the ref supposed to think?

It's an unfortunate decision (and a wrong one) but that's the way football goes, cos the ref only sees it once, at full speed from where he is on the pitch.

All in all, Russia should get the red card recinded, and will be well and good.

[Deffeh]

Originally Posted by lokken

Look at if from the ref's (THE REF'S) not the replay's point of view - the keeper has put his arm over the ball and it's stopped right there. What is the ref supposed to think?

It's an unfortunate decision (and a wrong one) but that's the way football goes, cos the ref only sees it once, at full speed from where he is on the pitch.

All in all, Russia should get the red card recinded, and will be well and good.

Ok, tough decision to make. But the card being recinded doesnt change the fact that Russia are out.


Also whoever that ITV commentator was tonight, he has no clue. Not only was he trying to tell off McCoist over that ball incident, but he doesnt even realise that portugal beat spain or their out guarenteed.

[lokken]

Originally Posted by Deffeh

Ok, tough decision to make. But the card being recinded doesnt change the fact that Russia are out..

I don't deny it's rough justice, but it's the best they can (and should) get.

[Deffeh]

Yeah.

But i still say the ITV commentator should be fired for grand idiocy

[lokken]

ITV have always been shite

[MrL_JaKiri]

Originally Posted by lokken

ITV have always been shite

They should make 'England are going to lose' their manta, and then we'd win EVERYTHING.

[JC]

Originally Posted by Deffeh

Also whoever that ITV commentator was tonight, he has no clue. Not only was he trying to tell off McCoist over that ball incident, but he doesnt even realise that portugal beat spain or their out guarenteed.

Greece have 4 points.
Spain have 4 points.
Portugal have 3 points.

If Portugal draw with Spain and Russia beat Greece the group ends up with:

Spain 5 points.
Greece 4 points.
Portugal 4 points.

I havent looked into goal difference etc but it seems to me that Portugal could draw and end up with the same number of points. Its pretty unlikely seeing as Greece will fancy their chances against Russia, but still possible.

[MrL_JaKiri]

If that happens, portugal are through, as they'd have +1 goal difference, not a maximum (for greece) of 0. Beyond that second goal, the result against Russia didn't matter at all, so 'pushing forward for goal difference' wasn't what they wanted at all.

[edit]

But Russia WON'T beat greece. They're without their first 4 choices of CB (assuming the guy from the first match got a 2 match ban instead of just 1) but even if that's not true they're missing their captain, their stand in captain, their best player and their goalie.

[LHC]

Doesn't the "Greece beat Portugal so go through" rule apply?

edit: Yes

TIE-BREAKER RULES :
If two or more teams finish equal on points after all the group matches have been played, the following criteria will be applied to determine the ranking :


(a) Greater number of points obtained in the matches between the teams in question.
(b) Goal difference resulting from the matches between the teams in question (if more than two teams finish equal).
(c) Greater number of goals scored in the matches between the teams in question (if more than two teams finish equal).
(d) Goal difference in all the group matches.
(e) Greater number of goals scored in all the group matches.
(f) Coefficient of points from the last two qualifying competitions for the final rounds of the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004 (points gained and divided by the number of matches played).
(g) Fair Play conduct of the teams (final tournament).
(h) A drawing of lots by the Organising Committee.

[Deffeh]

Thankyou LHC.

Indeed, head 2 head is the first determinant. Greece 2-1 Portugal etc.