[Richard Keys]

Originally Posted by Gunner14

Because Fifa's epic absolutely flawless ranking system says so.



Italy have more chance than England. Any side that can set up knowing it's highly unlikely they will concede a goal has a chance. They keep the ball alot better than England do. If they get to the euro's with a side of

- Buffon, Criscito Barzagli Chielini Balzeretti, Pirlo, De Rossi Montolivo, Balotelli, Rossi, Gilardino

then that 11 can beat any side.

Highly doubt Italy win win this time though but a favorable draw i.e drawing England in the Quater Finals would see them reach the Semi's.

Love the Euro's near enough every game matters none of these pointless easy 3 pointer games like playing U.S.A and Algeria in the World Cup (oh wait....)

Or in Italy's case New Zealand and Slovakia (oh wait...)

But the Euro's and the World Cup (and similar tourneys in other sports like Rugby) have the same problem in terms of every game mattering- some of the 3rd group games won't affect qualification for the quarter finals. Should give the group winners a 1-0 aggregate lead going into the 1/4 finals. If the team I supported came second in the group I'd rather they proved themselves worthy of a semi place (or 1/4 final place at the WC) by overturning a 1 goal deficit in the quarter final/first KO round.

[Nitromalta]

Originally Posted by Seb

they're very good players, but not legends. and totti wasted his career at roma.

if u think that then gerrard,lampard and beckham aren't legends but only very good players...

[Kiz]

beckham is, other 2 arent

[Gunner14]

Originally Posted by steamed hams

Or in Italy's case New Zealand and Slovakia (oh wait...)

But the Euro's and the World Cup (and similar tourneys in other sports like Rugby) have the same problem in terms of every game mattering- some of the 3rd group games won't affect qualification for the quarter finals. Should give the group winners a 1-0 aggregate lead going into the 1/4 finals. If the team I supported came second in the group I'd rather they proved themselves worthy of a semi place (or 1/4 final place at the WC) by overturning a 1 goal deficit in the quarter final/first KO round.

Exactly my point.

Where as at the Euro's all the teams are to a good standard.

disagree totally on the last point no side should ever go into a game 1-0 due to something outside of that game. Imagine if your estonia you get a group of Germany, Italy, Denmark qualify 2nd on goal difference with 7 points but have to start 1 nil down to England in the quarter finals because they came top of their group with 5 points.

[Seb]

Originally Posted by Nitromalta

if u think that then gerrard,lampard and beckham aren't legends but only very good players...

agreed. all legends for their clubs (like del piero and totti are), but they're not legends of the game. beckham maybe because he's been the biggest sportsman on the planet alongside tiger woods for the last 10 years, but as a footballer, whilst he was one of the best in the world from about 98-03, he's not a legend of the game.

rooney might be by the end of his career though. cole definitely will be. that's it though in terms of england players.

[Richard Keys]

Originally Posted by Gunner14

Exactly my point.

Where as at the Euro's all the teams are to a good standard.

disagree totally on the last point no side should ever go into a game 1-0 due to something outside of that game. Imagine if your estonia you get a group of Germany, Italy, Denmark qualify 2nd on goal difference with 7 points but have to start 1 nil down to England in the quarter finals because they came top of their group with 5 points.

It happens in the Champions League every year and makes for some of the most exciting games. As for the second part, what if Estonia won such a group and then ended up playing Spain in the quarter finals, and had no advantage over them. All because Spain secured qualification after 2 games and played their reserves in the last game.

[Nitromalta]

Originally Posted by Seb

agreed. all legends for their clubs (like del piero and totti are), but they're not legends of the game. beckham maybe because he's been the biggest sportsman on the planet alongside tiger woods for the last 10 years, but as a footballer, whilst he was one of the best in the world from about 98-03, he's not a legend of the game.

rooney might be by the end of his career though. cole definitely will be. that's it though in terms of england players.

in terms of england players gerrard and lampard are bigger legends than cole

[Seb]

yeah, because cole is a defender and they generally receive less affection. he's still going to go down as one of the all time great left backs. he generally got the better of ronaldo and he made messi completely anonymous at stamford bridge in 2009.

[Gunner14]

Originally Posted by steamed hams

It happens in the Champions League every year and makes for some of the most exciting games. As for the second part, what if Estonia won such a group and then ended up playing Spain in the quarter finals, and had no advantage over them. All because Spain secured qualification after 2 games and played their reserves in the last game.

The stuff in the champions league happen in a game. I.e the 1st leg.

No side in the champions league finds themselves 1-0 down after what happens in the group stage. I fail to see any reason to logically give advantages to teams over things that happen in a group stage its just complete tosh.

[Richard Keys]

Originally Posted by Gunner14

The stuff in the champions league happen in a game. I.e the 1st leg.

No side in the champions league finds themselves 1-0 down after what happens in the group stage. I fail to see any reason to logically give advantages to teams over things that happen in a group stage its just complete tosh.

The reason would be that at the moment you get close to f*** all tournament advantage for finishing top of your group. Sometimes it's even better to finish second in the group.