Can someone kindly explain to me how the system works for winners playing third-place teams in the Round of 16, ie how exactly is it determined which third place team they play? Maybe I'm just up late but I can't for the life of me make head or tail of the table in the Knockout phase structure section in the Euro 2016 Wikipedia article (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_2016#Knockout_phase_structure) - what does it mean by "Best ranked groups"? Even though it's been great in helping the smaller nations like Iceland, Northern Ireland and Albania to gain wider exposure on the footballing stage, I honestly hope that this experiment is short-lived and UEFA revert to the less headache-inducing 16 team/two qualification places per group format in all subsequent Euro Championships.
I think it is politically difficult to reduce number of teams in a finals once you expand it. Think it would be more likely to go to 32 than shrink back to 16?
When you mentioned that I thought I'd see what was being said about Euro 2020 and stumbled across this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018–19_UEFA_Nations_League http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/competitions/General/02/08/20/36/2082036_DOWNLOAD.pdf Anyone heard of it?
I remember hearing something about this a few years ago but presumed it had been shelved as it hadn't been mentioned for so long. Looks like it's definitely going to happen though. As for the format, I don't understand it at all, particularly how it interlinks with Euro 2020 qualifying! It makes the current 3rd in the group shenanigans look straightforward.
More teams have got through to the last 16 than got eliminated. Plus you got mullered by Poland and Germany and both scorelines flattered you. The Ukraine win was a great moment for NI and I'm glad you're through but I don't get the relevance of 'we got through a much tougher group than England'.
You finished 3rd on 3 points ahead of a shambolic Ukraine side. Poland and Germany completely outplayed you. Yeah well done for makking the last 16 but then again most teams have made it.
To be fair I would have picked Ireland to finish last in that group. They've done well I reckon give the their lack of star players.
Congrats on getting through! However, remember you have already lost to two of the teams that made it to the last 16 already whereas England haven't - great result against the Ukraine but England very much dominated most of their games unlike NI, we were just unfortunate not to find the back of the net. Wales or France in the next round, I imagine you'll be wanting Wales as that's the easier opposition and the easier side of the tournament to progress? I think the toughest opponents on that side are going to be Belgium and Croatia...much prefer that than Italy, Spain, Germany and France on our side!
I bet you were waiting anxiously for last night's results mate in the hope that the Czechs didn't win! Glad you've found out your impressive 3 points out of 9 has already been enough to see you through, I thought you'd have to wait until the outcome of Italy's group. In all seriousness, are you actually pleased with your team's performances in the finals so far? I hate to say this because I want all of the home nations + Ireland to do well but I have to say I've been very disappointed with them in the games I've seen (admittedly missed Ukraine). In both games with Poland (who are hardly world beaters - I'd probably put them in the same bracket as Sweden, Switzerland and the Belgium sides of yesteryear) and Germany (who have looked vulnerable on the few occasions their overly awed opponents have dared to venture forward), they looked tentative, unambitious, seemingly more content in damage limitation than creating anything, and both matches frankly have been a bore to watch. Considering they finished top of their group, scored a fair few goals and went into the tournament on a 12 match unbeaten run, I was expecting a lot more (maybe too much?) of them, especially when you consider Wales, who only scored 11 goals in qualifying, have been much more entertaining (never mind that they had an easier group). I've no idea who they will play in the next round thanks to this overly convoluted format, but needless to say they will need to step up a fair few gears to get through or at least make it look like they are giving it their all, and I hope they will.
In fairness to Northern Ireland they did have a tough group. If it had been Belarus, Faroe Islands and Latvia they'd have romped home.
Ha ha, just watched that miserable git Ronaldo grab a reporters microphone and throw it in a river! ;D Hope they get turfed out!
Hungary leading Portugal at the moment, would be hillarious if they went out, as it stands we would play Iceland.
We need another goal - Hungary, we play Iceland, Portugal, we play Hungary, Iceland, we play Iceland.
Would love to play Portugal next. They're even worse than us, won't park the bus against us like Iceland would and it would give us the chance to finally get some revenge for 2004 and 2006.
Well, well, well, Iceland it is. Fair to say that if we don't beat them, there will be trouble, despite their fantastic efforts so far this tournament.
Iceland it is then.. Ireland unlucky not to get a pen in their game. EDIT: Irish just gone 1 up and going through!
