Now we've got a fair idea of most of the squads who'll be lifting the trophy come the 11th July.

For me it's hard too see past France they've got a great blend of youth and experience, and crucially they also have a winning mentality at these major events now, Belgium, Germany, Italy and Spain are also the most likely to be in the mix, and if you fancy a couple of dark horses I'd look at Denmark & Wales both have matchwinners in their squads and both are well organised and in good form over recent games.

I'm having a tenner on Portugal I think. They seem to be going under the radar a bit, but their squad is miles better than when they won it 5 years ago. And with Ronaldo upfront you've always got a chance.

Joachim Low will want to leave on a high note, so Germany could be worth keeping an eye on.

France have Benzema back in the fold and he's still a top striker with a point to prove.

I think it could be France though.

France have got to be favourites.

I think England have got a pretty decent chance.

Not England....no chance.

Scotland

Zlatan wrote: ↑

Tue May 25, 2021 8:00 pm

Scotland

More chance of that than England

Andorra!

France.

Whoever gets out of the group of F, plumping for France and Germany and out of those two, I think France.

Spain runners up Denmark
Vyds to score at Wembley after running Englands cb pair ragged

I've banged twenty quid on Denmark to reach the semis.

Woodleyclaret wrote: ↑

Tue May 25, 2021 8:40 pm

Vyds to score at Wembley after running Englands cb pair ragged

i would love it!

Italy to complete the double but will Southgates England get nil poi

I’d have thought Leeds would win it seeing as they’re the biggest team in the universe?

Scotland.
It is a bit like Eurovision.

credit to southgate for taking the job on, highly paid, but our gutter media always like to ruin the managers prior to every tournament.
We have a chance, but france will emerge victorious. their press dont even bother much with the national team. try as they might, the french public seem to be savvy enough to ignore the pap headed journos that try to derail them.

Italy.
Mancini has revolutionised them. No injury concerns as yet. Got them solid and working hard. Got some good individuals but a great team spirit overall.

England, fantastic players, home advantage much of the time, they should be the team to beat.

Yep deffo us. We invented it after all

England or Portugal for me

Italy won it on Saturday night

Australia

England have no chance. If we win the group, we play whoever finishes 2nd in the group containing France, Germany and Portugal

We're actually better off finishing 2nd in the group, thereby playing the team that also finishes 2nd in Group E; Spain, Sweden, Poland and Slovakia.

If you’re going to win anything you have to beat the best eventually. I’d fancy us against any of those 3 albeit France would be the toughest fixture.

England and all their talent cant do it on the big stage
They are a team of bottlers

I dont expect us to get past round 2
France will win it

arise_sir_charge wrote: ↑

Wed May 26, 2021 9:12 am

If you’re going to win anything you have to beat the best eventually. I’d fancy us against any of those 3 albeit France would be the toughest fixture.

I'd fancy us to at best get a point against Germany and lose against the other 2. If we had a half decent manager I'd agree with you

We aren't strong enough defensively, unfortunately.

France look very good but no one has a better squad than England IMO

Our midfield is the best in the world.
If Foden and Grealish can produce I can’t see any team handling them.


I don’t think we will win because we are crap in tournaments but England seem to have a good balance of experience and exciting youth

France, with Belgium and England coming close

With a decent manager I would have gone for England but doubt if Southgate can repeat his World Cup form. We do have some outstanding players but the tournament might be a bit soon for them and our defence always looks vulnerable when we come up against quality opposition.

Probably France to win it.

Portugal look strong but it may be a case of too many individuals for them.

England look great going forward but the defence looks as weak as I've ever known it in 40 years.

Bcrollerz wrote: ↑

Wed May 26, 2021 9:21 am

England and all their talent cant do it on the big stage
They are a team of bottlers

I dont expect us to get past round 2
France will win it

Which players are bottlers ?

England will get through their group but then be beaten by either one or a combination of .....

a) Tactically out-thought by Spain in the 1/4 Final
b) A Jordan Pickford " rick "
c) One of the Central Defenders trying to play out from the back
d) A controversial VAR sending off by a Referee from either France, or an Eastern European country ending in " ia "

On the positive side, we will beat Scotland, the squad will be praised for their " togetherness ", give some lovely press conferences and Gareth will donate his waistcoat to be auctioned off for Marcus Rashford's charity.

In 2041, it will be revealed that the Referee who awarded the dodgy penalty, spent the evening after the game counting out his brown envelope ( courtesy of an EU " slush fund " run by Ms. Von de Leyen ), drinking vintage Champagne ( Thank you, Pres. Macron ) and partying with 3 beautiful Italian models, ( Grazie, Signor Berlusconi ) ....

Italy or Belgium.

France looks good , now for an outside bet Poland

France and if not them Portugal.

Italy

Can't see past France who are rightfully favourites.

They have bags of talent all over the field, and their 2nd string is just as good.

I'd love England to do well at home, but there's at least 4 sides that are better than us.

From a Clarets perspective, I hope Vydra fires the Czechs out of our group at Scotland's expense.

France hot favourites with everyone else a long way back.

Germany will probably flop. Low's a lame duck manager which rarely ends well. Could even go out in the group stage.

Spain have a good manager but inexperienced squad. Will probably do well but might just fall short.

Italy dark horses. Young and exciting side. Again will do well but probably fall short.

Portugal should be right up there. As good a midfield as anyone but not sure if everything being about Ronaldo is a help or a hindrance. They've got a strong chance though.

Belgium have the talent but look less impressive than they were three years ago. Maybe past their best.

England are a strong team but still question marks about their ability to beat top sides. If they get past a second round tie against France/Portugal/Germany then maybe.

Holland look a mess since Koeman left but they always have the ability to surprise at tournaments when not much is expected of them (see 2010 and 2014).

Could be a surprise package because everyone is knackered.... maybe Turkey?

But yeah... France.

Penalty shoot-out.

Not us

diamondpocket wrote: ↑

Tue May 25, 2021 10:57 pm

Italy.
Mancini has revolutionised them. No injury concerns as yet. Got them solid and working hard. Got some good individuals but a great team spirit overall.

That would be a first!

joey13 wrote: ↑

Wed May 26, 2021 11:39 am

Which players are bottlers ?

All of them as an accumulative

I got England in the sweep at work ............... It's a bit like losing your car keys feel to it really .

Just bumping this thread.

Well done BillyBalfour that was a solid £20 bet!

arise_sir_charge wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 04, 2021 6:58 pm

Just bumping this thread.

Well done BillyBalfour that was a solid £20 bet!

Definitely.

Having watched all Denmark’s games I do think they will be our first real test.

Jakubs Tash wrote: ↑

Wed May 26, 2021 11:22 am

England look great going forward but the defence looks as weak as I've ever known it in 40 years.

5 games played - nil conceded (though goodness knows how) Always a mistake in them but they have covered each other well.

Tribesmen wrote: ↑

Thu May 27, 2021 9:14 am

I got England in the sweep at work ............... It's a bit like losing your car keys feel to it really .

How do you feel now??

SalouClaret wrote: ↑

Wed May 26, 2021 10:12 am

I'd fancy us to at best get a point against Germany and lose against the other 2. If we had a half decent manager I'd agree with you

We aren't strong enough defensively, unfortunately.

Jesus, you couldn't be more wrong if you tried. The only team in history to keep 5 consecutive clean sheets in the Euros.

KRBFC wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 04, 2021 7:27 pm

Jesus, you couldn't be more wrong if you tried. The only team in history to keep 5 consecutive clean sheets in the Euros.

you sound like you've been lucky enough to have only watched England in 3 tournaments, the rest of us have been left traumatized over the decades !!!