UEFA European Under-21 Championship

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BobHelm
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Re: UEFA European Under-21 Championship

Post by BobHelm » June 24, 2017, 8:17 am

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It looks like the best second placed side who will go through to the semi-finals will be decided by goal difference. It was necessary for Portugal not only to win, but win well. They scored 2 in each half so had that part of the equation right, but will be disappointed to concede a goal in each half too.
As it stands now, they will go through to the finals unless either Italy (who are playing Germany) or the Czech Republic can win by 3 clear goals..

Spain came through the qualification process winning all 3 games while scoring 9 goals & conceding just 1. They only qualified after winning a 2nd. place qualification play off as they finished 2nd. to ex-World champions, Sweden. The difference between the 2 sides could not have been more reversed in these group games though..
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Re: UEFA European Under-21 Championship

Post by panmotor » June 24, 2017, 1:58 pm

Bob, I think Slovakia have +3 goal difference to Portugal's +2 so, unless I am missing something, they are presently qualifying as best placed runner up. That's bad news for England as, if Slovakia go through, they will meet a group winner in the semis and I think that means (probably) Germany. This best placed runner up stuff really is a nonsense!!

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BobHelm
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Re: UEFA European Under-21 Championship

Post by BobHelm » June 24, 2017, 2:18 pm

You are right PM...
I can't even read the tables.. :oops:

UEFA seem to have badly thought through how to increase the competition to 12 teams.
It would have been better to increase it to 16 & have 4 leagues of 4 with just the winners qualifying.
Or leave it at 8 & play straight knockout..
To think someone could actually get through to the semi-final just because their UEFA coefficient is higher than another team is rather poor, I think...

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Re: UEFA European Under-21 Championship

Post by BobHelm » June 25, 2017, 7:51 am

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Well Group C provided all the drama with the final matches.
The Czech Republic needed to win big in order to stand a chance of getting the highest placed second spot in the semis. Instead they found a Denmark side on fire. Their hero was 2 goal getter, 2 goal provider, Kenneth Zohore of Cardiff City.

Italy had the impossible task of beating a German side who had looked fairly imperious in their two opening games. However they were off colour in this one &, after having a goal disallowed for offside, allowed Italy to score after 30 minutes.
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Germany & Italy are locked on 6 points at the top of Group C. However, because Italy have a better 'head to head' against the Germans, they emerge as group winners. This also means, with a better goal difference than the other 2nd. place finishers of +4. Germany qualify as the best 2nd. placed side..
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Germany beat England 1 nil just a couple of months ago so it is not looking an easy draw...mind you, Italy or Spain don't look anything like a push over either!!

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Re: UEFA European Under-21 Championship

Post by BobHelm » June 28, 2017, 8:16 am

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As a friend of mine said to me yesterday
'You just want to hope that it doesn't come down to penalties'! :(

Saul Niguez of Atletico Madrid saw his value go up as the midfielder scored a hat trick. Roberto Gagliardini of Italy saw his go down as he got sent off with half an hour to go. Although Italy almost then immediately equalised, Spain went on to score 2 more for a pretty comprehensive victory.

It promises to be an interesting final...

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Re: UEFA European Under-21 Championship

Post by stattointhailand » June 28, 2017, 11:33 am

Dont think anyone would say that the jeermans didn't deserve to win though Bob.

Problems for Everton if Holgate is asleep at near post corners and Pickford out of position to deal with anything his defender doesnt. Twice in this comp against second rate opposition they have conceded, and I bet the likes of Jose,Rafa and Jurgen have all made a note :-"

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Re: UEFA European Under-21 Championship

Post by BobHelm » June 28, 2017, 11:51 am

stattointhailand wrote:
June 28, 2017, 11:33 am
Dont think anyone would say that the jeermans didn't deserve to win though Bob
No you are probably correct Statts..
All the more so when it is realised that their 6 best players were taken from the under 21s to play in the full (??) German side in the Russian Cup...

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Re: UEFA European Under-21 Championship

Post by BobHelm » June 30, 2017, 9:12 am

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Re: UEFA European Under-21 Championship

Post by BobHelm » July 1, 2017, 8:33 am

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Germany win the Under 21's after a fairly close encounter with Spain.
The Germans handled the any pressure Spain tried to create quite easily while not exactly creating many chances themselves.
However, given that a number of the 'better' German Under 21 squad are currently awaiting the final of the Confederation Cup in Russia, the future of the German national side is looking particularly bright at the moment.

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