[Football] England's R16 Opponents - Confirmed as Slovakia

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Peacehaven Wild Kids

Well-known member
Jan 16, 2022
3,387
The Avenue then Maloncho
Worth a reminder

Well I appreciate Scotland are a bit of a joke so here’s a picture of their trophy cabinet of what they’ve won since I was born in 1967. I am half English so just for balance I’ll post the English one from the same period tomorrow.
IMG_4322.jpeg
 






Herr Tubthumper

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 11, 2003
62,677
The Fatherland


Seagull58

In the Algarve
Jan 31, 2012
8,485
Vilamoura, Portugal
Well I appreciate Scotland are a bit of a joke so here’s a picture of their trophy cabinet of what they’ve won since I was born in 1967. I am half English so just for balance I’ll post the English one from the same period tomorrow.View attachment 184550
Well, they have at least qualified for 8 World Cups, as detailed in these statistics:-
No country in the world comes close to Scotland's record of qualifying for 11 major tournaments -- eight World Cups and three European Championships -- and crashing out at the first hurdle each time, but Clarke's team now has the chance to make history on Sunday in Scotland's 12th tournament of asking and fourth Euros.
 


Bodian

Well-known member
May 3, 2012
14,209
Cumbria
If we come second, we'll get the Germans. So I guess we need to beat Slovenia really. Probably another dire 1-0 incoming?
 




Midget

Amexgemeinschaftsstadionhallebierschluckerinchen
Aug 16, 2015
1,190
Lurking
**Update** Scotland out of the tournament, giving @hart's shirt the most obvious "told you so" ever. Also: Germany finished top of Group A (after a bit of a scare for everyone's fantasy team :lolol: )

Now 12 possible opponents as we can't face Switzerland.

If England finish top of the group:
3rd place from Group D, E or F, depending on where the four highest 3rd place teams come from. Any team in those groups could finish 3rd as things stand, except Poland and Portugal.
  • Our opponent would depend on which groups the four highest 3rd placed teams come from. No certainty on that yet.
  • [Hungary (A) are currently in position 3 out of the teams currently in 3rd, but with only 3 points and the rest still to play could easily be overtaken. This is only relevant for determining which of Groups DEF we would face - we won't face Hungary.]
Possibles: Netherlands, France, Austria, Romania, Slovakia, Belgium, Ukraine, Czechia, Türkiye, Georgia.


If England finish 2nd:
Winner of Group A. Germany.

Possibles: Germany.


If England finish 3rd:
Winner of Group E or F (again depending on which '3rd placed's go through).
  • Any team in Group E could finish 1st as things stand. Portugal are winners of Group F.
Possibles: Romania, Slovakia, Belgium, Ukraine, Portugal.


All possibles: Netherlands, France, Austria, Romania, Slovakia, Belgium, Ukraine, Portugal, Czechia, Türkiye, Georgia, Germany.
 


Lenny Rider

Well-known member
Sep 15, 2010
6,009

Clearly nothing to worry about Nostradamus’s Great x 6 Grandson says we’re going to win the whole thing 👍

And we’ve still got 9 goals to come from Harry Kane ⚽
 


stewart12

Well-known member
Jan 16, 2019
1,918
Well, they have at least qualified for 8 World Cups, as detailed in these statistics:-
No country in the world comes close to Scotland's record of qualifying for 11 major tournaments -- eight World Cups and three European Championships -- and crashing out at the first hurdle each time, but Clarke's team now has the chance to make history on Sunday in Scotland's 12th tournament of asking and fourth Euros.
from a historical, nerdy perspective, Scotland's issue in terms of getting past the first round is that the point where they were producing top level players- the 70's and 80's, came when World Cup's were 16 or 24 teams rather than 32. Even into the 90's they qualified for an 8 team Euro 92 with a good squad.

There's also an issue that they'd shot themselves in the foot a bit by under utilising the small pool of talent that they have, in particular turning their noses up a bit at players playing in England. For example:

Alan Hansen- 26 caps
Steve Nicol- 27 caps
John Robertson- 28 caps
Gary Gillespie- 13 caps
John McGovern- 0 Caps
Steve Archibald- 27 caps
Mark McGhee- 4 caps
Brian McClair- 30 caps
Pat Niven- 28 caps
Graeme Sharp- 12 caps
Robert Fleck- 4 caps
Duncan Ferguson- 7 caps
Steve Clarke- 6 caps
 




The Lemming Stomper

Under the flag
Apr 1, 2007
2,739
Saltdean
from a historical, nerdy perspective, Scotland's issue in terms of getting past the first round is that the point where they were producing top level players- the 70's and 80's, came when World Cup's were 16 or 24 teams rather than 32. Even into the 90's they qualified for an 8 team Euro 92 with a good squad.

There's also an issue that they'd shot themselves in the foot a bit by under utilising the small pool of talent that they have, in particular turning their noses up a bit at players playing in England. For example:

Alan Hansen- 26 caps
Steve Nicol- 27 caps
John Robertson- 28 caps
Gary Gillespie- 13 caps
John McGovern- 0 Caps
Steve Archibald- 27 caps
Mark McGhee- 4 caps
Brian McClair- 30 caps
Pat Niven- 28 caps
Graeme Sharp- 12 caps
Robert Fleck- 4 caps
Duncan Ferguson- 7 caps
Steve Clarke- 6 caps
John McGoven an excellent player...Can't believe he never got a senior international cap. Mark Noble you are not alone !
 


stewart12

Well-known member
Jan 16, 2019
1,918
John McGoven an excellent player...Can't believe he never got a senior international cap. Mark Noble you are not alone !

yes mind blowing really

even in recent years, two vaguely competent strikers- Steven Fletcher and Kris Boyd both fell out with managers and didn't get anywhere near as many caps as they should have

shooting themselves in the foot as I said earlier- I'm not sure Wales, Northern Ireland and Rep. Ireland have had these problems
 


Stato

Well-known member
Dec 21, 2011
7,365
John McGoven an excellent player...Can't believe he never got a senior international cap. Mark Noble you are not alone !
Mark Noble didn't captain a side that won two European Cups!!

Although, at the time, he was up gainst Souness, Rioch, Masson, Hartford etc. McGovern tells a story that hints as to why he wasn't picked:

“When I was at Forest, Ally MacLeod took over. After we beat Manchester United 4-0 at Old Trafford he said all the Scottish players at Forest would be in his squad for Argentina. Then the squad was named and I wasn’t there. Somebody asked him about that and he said he didn’t know I was Scottish!"

He played twice for Scotland's U23s.
 




medwayseagull reborn

Well-known member
Oct 12, 2022
512
Mark Noble didn't captain a side that won two European Cups!!

Although, at the time, he was up gainst Souness, Rioch, Masson, Hartford etc. McGovern tells a story that hints as to why he wasn't picked:

“When I was at Forest, Ally MacLeod took over. After we beat Manchester United 4-0 at Old Trafford he said all the Scottish players at Forest would be in his squad for Argentina. Then the squad was named and I wasn’t there. Somebody asked him about that and he said he didn’t know I was Scottish!"

He played twice for Scotland's U23s.
Why would you even suspect it with a name like McGovern
 


Justice

Dangerous Idiot
Jun 21, 2012
20,653
Born In Shoreham
If we come second, we'll get the Germans. So I guess we need to beat Slovenia really. Probably another dire 1-0 incoming?
Looking at recent results any team left in the competition is a threat for England.
Southgate is so out of touch with the modern game, any side that presses and moves the ball quickly will have England in a flap.
Stuck in the 90’s Gareth would prefer a team of workers and probably gutted he couldn’t select the likes of Henderson due to media pressure.
 


Midget

Amexgemeinschaftsstadionhallebierschluckerinchen
Aug 16, 2015
1,190
Lurking
Update: nothing certain for R16 potential opponents following tonight's games, other than that England are through.

Now very unlikely that the four highest 3rd place teams will include Croatia (Group B). But won't be certain until tomorrow or Weds. So as per post #46.
 




Herr Tubthumper

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 11, 2003
62,677
The Fatherland
Update: nothing certain for R16 potential opponents following tonight's games, other than that England are through.

Now very unlikely that the four highest 3rd place teams will include Croatia (Group B). But won't be certain until tomorrow or Weds. So as per post #46.
Unlikely? Excuse my ignorance, but isn’t now it impossible for Croatia to qualify via 3rd place? They’re currently in 5th place in the league of 3rd places; how can they move up a spot?
 






Triggaaar

Well-known member
Oct 24, 2005
53,089
Goldstone




Midget

Amexgemeinschaftsstadionhallebierschluckerinchen
Aug 16, 2015
1,190
Lurking
Unlikely? Excuse my ignorance, but isn’t now it impossible for Croatia to qualify via 3rd place? They’re currently in 5th place in the league of 3rd places; how can they move up a place?
Slovenia also have 2 points and are yet to play. So if they lose to us by more than 3 (very very unlikely) their goal difference would be worse.
 




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