It almost doesn't even matter anymore with the 24 team format. Can finish 3rd in group and still get a favorable draw in the round of 16. So dumb

 

We'll get England or France from Pot 1.

 

We've had all the pot 1 teams in our group at previous EURO's except Belgium who we are very familiar with in last 13 years. I guess the most exciting prospect is being grouped with Serbia but I hope it doesn't happen.

 

Honestly is there that much of a difference between pot 2/3/4? Even with the scrub or two in pot 4 joining?

 

To me it doesn't really matter who you get from Pot 1 as long as you avoid Turkey/Denmark from Pot 2, not that they aren't beatable but they are teams who can take points off you. As I said in the opening post, I actually think Pot 4 has more dangerous teams than Pot 2, would prefer a playoff team rather than the three known ones, Serbia wouldn't be bad on football terms but I fear that match would take so much focus away from the other two games. At the end of the day, due to this stupid knockout format, at times being in a certain group is more advantageous than the potential opponents. For example, Group E if you finish in the top two you are guaranteed to play a runner-up of another group, Group B is the same etc

 

No Spain, France or England. Even Portgual would be something 'flesh'

 

I am in the camp that wants to avoid Serbia.

 

I agree would make for fun but create a massive buildup for a game. I can see players losing focus on other games or looking ahead to this.

 

I saw Serbia against Belgium in friendly match they were really not that dangerous

 

POT 1 Germany :
For me it's complicated to choose, but I would say that in pot1 given the poor form of the Germans, I would choose them first.
The rest would be cool, but if there is no var against us, it would be good for confidence but not good for the energy spent. Not Portugal or France as an entry.

POT 2 Albania :
I put Albania because the rest smells like matches with teams who are going to give everything. Not Hungary, they will go there 200%. Same, Denmark, Austria, Türkiye.
If the team is going to win this game, they will have to go.
I don't know how to completely compare, but I tell myself that Albania and Romania will have it easier. The only downside is that we haven't played against them yet.

POT 4 Playoff C :
I put this group in because the other two we could have difficulties or stumble on a misstep against them in A or B.
Switzerland too, why not?


I believe Croatia needs a big opponent to prepare their own "warm up" aswell but i have fear of a euro21 way of entering into the 3 games. As you know, they always step up their game when they win against a challenging team as it boost confidence.
I would like to see a win against Spain for example to end on a win over the last final lost.
I believe they should meet those teams that they know how to defeat them to not be 'surprised' in the tactics.
And not overplay the mala čuna tactic that is overcalculating. Ive rewatched the Nations league final. And the new team have something stronger. I hope they will enter a match by match way of doing.

 

Landing in one of those groups where if 2nd you play another group runner up is probably more important than who we actually get (only really want to avoid Italy). But we've seen in both 24-team tourneys that things generally don't pan out as expected anyway.

Pot 1 we're underdogs against all of them. The rest of them (barring Italy) we're favourites or even, so makes little difference. If we're up for it, we're just as likely to beat Romania or Denmark as we are Albania.

Serbia wouldn't be bad for us. I think their coach is terrible and they'd potentially be more affected by non-football factors than us.

 

Serbia wouldn't be bad for us. I think their coach is terrible and they'd potentially be more affected by non-football factors than us.

You're probably right too lol, I mean a few weeks ago Vucic took a random shot at Dinamo/Croatian football for the lack of European results when their clubs this season won 1 game in 25. Like I said in my other post, on strictly footballing terms it wouldn't be a bad draw but I fear all the attention would be on that game, like 3-4 years ago when they were potentially going to be in our group all the talk was about that game when they didn't even qualify yet. I was reading the BBC and the Scots had the same opinion about the last Euros when they drew England, that was the only thing that mattered. But in this case, the underdogs are probably under more pressure (in this case Scotland and Serbia)

 

Yeah. If already you only need to be 3rd to pass. They can afford to lose to the group's favorite team. Just don't finish 4th then if the last one is let's imagine :
Spain
Croatia
Albania
Luxembourg

It's already ok.
I watched the match with the Belgians against the Serbians. Honestly, nothing was happening.
I'm not exaggerating, the Serbs couldn't build correctly, almost like Latvia or I don't know Moldova. It was very very average.
Even if it's a friendly one. There wasn't much going on and it was approximate.

...

 

Looking at the odds to win it all, we are placed at 25/1. France, followed by England is favoured to win it all.

 

At first sight Belgium and Germany are the most wanted. Negative side would be 1) Play vs the local (Brazil 2014 match will be there in our memories forever) 2)Lukaku scoring all that he missed last time.

 

It will be the 4 best thirds, so that leaves room. On the other hand, you fall against a first from each group if you choose to be third. And we see that if the Germans are first or second, they will fall against a second.


There is no time to shaking balls only tonight.

 

I would do anything for this draw pageantry, forced humor and broken English to be eliminated immediately.

It’s a draw. Pull the names and numbers. Draw is over. Idemo dalje

 

We start against Spain.

 

FÚCK

 

Picku materinu.

 

Was looking promising until Italy, which will probably be the decider, though history/form goes in our favor. Not sure what to think of Albania, they were one of the teams I wanted to draw but we never played them

Looking beyond the groups, if they progress, its likely one of France, Portugal, Belgium if all goes to plan

edit: Maybe if both Italy/Croatia beat Albania they can arrange a draw in the final match

 

Tough group but whatever

 

YES Spain.
Italy is not The "Italy" we know.

You know what. We will have a final before the final and this is positive i think. I love that when Croatia give surprises. Something i know is that Croatia always give huge surprise with this kind of clash matches. If Perisic come back THIS is the best way to prepare themselves on the other hand.
Our group looks impressive, but after when i look at our two first and second place paths looks great.
I dont know..

To me i believe we can think this would be the first trophy Croatia will win. I fear honestly not all of them at all.
And quote then : Easy peasy!

 

 

Tough draw, Euro 2012 reunion with Spain and Italy. At least we won't have to worry about our players having to take it easy. Albania obviously the weakest team, but had an impressive qualifying campaign even though Poland suck.

 

Looks bad on the surface with Spain and Italy but we've got a potentially very winnable second round game if we finish top two.

 

Its for fun but it's more or less my bet.., i will print the paper and keep it until the competition. If you want do it for yourself i send the jpg below and the PDF with the teams name.

So i imagine something like this with optimism :

1/8 SCO - CRO//ENG - HOL BEL - GER//FRA - TUR POR - ITA//AUT - SVK ESP - CZE//HUN - DAN
1/4 CRO - ENG _ BEL - FRA POR - AUT __ ESP - HUN
1/2 CRO - FRA ___ POR - HUN
FINAL FRA - POR

Dalmate bet : ... ill ask him.