Euro 2024 & Copa America 2024

[Crystal]

...discussion time.

England looks very iffy against Serbia. To Serbia's credit they pushed the whole match and looked like a very solid team, but England had obvious deficiencies in midfield and in the back four. Lots to work on there...

 

[Quagmire]

Rooting for Germany

Good first match, sure it was Scotland, but Germany hadnt looked good against teams like Scotland.

 

[Crystal]

Rooting for Germany

Good first match, sure it was Scotland, but Germany hadnt looked good against teams like Scotland.

That was a good showing. Scotland were flat and totally outmatched

 

[dimmerwit]

Me watching last night.

 

[a dip goblin]

I am also looking forward to the Copa America.

Wait what

 

[a dip goblin]

(but seriously the larger format that also includes CONCACAF teams should be the norm and put it more in line with Euro)

 

[Crystal]

France up on Austria right now, as it should be.

(but seriously the larger format that also includes CONCACAF teams should be the norm and put it more in line with Euro)

I hope this happens, so many strong nations in CONCACAF!

 

[a dip goblin]

I hope this happens, so many strong nations in CONCACAF!

It's also more fun to have an Americas' Cup that includes all of the Americas. Plus it's better for the top nations in CONCACAF to have more competition against the strong teams in CONMEBOL.

 

[dimmerwit]

I agree, but perhaps some of the smaller CONCACAF teams probably aren't as keen.

 

[Crystal]

It's also more fun to have an Americas' Cup that includes all of the Americas. Plus it's better for the top nations in CONCACAF to have more competition against the strong teams in CONMEBOL.

Absolutely agreed! Stronger competition means everyone improves. If everyone improves in the Americas, then come the World Cup everyone plays strong team after strong team and all teams improve. It's best for the game for all regions to face the best possible competition.

 

[Crystal]

I agree, but perhaps some of the smaller CONCACAF teams probably aren't as keen.

No, but it's a chance for them to improve. If Horsham FC faced Liverpool a few times, they'd improve tremendously, lol by facing and trying to keep up with them.

 

[a dip goblin]

I agree, but perhaps some of the smaller CONCACAF teams probably aren't as keen.

Gold Cup can still be a thing.

But at the same time...


The smaller nations don't do well there either, whereas two CONMEBOL nations have been runners up as well. And for the Copa America:



All of the teams who have done well in the Gold Cup have participated, with Mexico going to every one since they opened up to beyond their boarders and Costa Rica and the US each going to about half (and those are historically the top 3 CONCACAF teams). There are only 6 CONCACAF teams participating this year, the smaller ones aren't doing it. So it could easily be a thing where the "top X" from the gold cup or other standings get invites each year, while all 10 CONMEBOL teams are in.




Sorry for the distraction from Euro. We can have a separate thread for Copa America when that kicks off later this week if needed.


(edit: every single team who has at least finished as Runners-Up in the Gold Cup is in Copa America this year, minus Honduras)

 

[Crystal]

Sorry for the distraction from Euro. We can have a separate thread for Copa America when that kicks off later this week if needed.

Not at all, let's have it all

 

[a dip goblin]

Also I just realized Slovakia beat Belgium, wow.

 

[a dip goblin]

Not at all, let's have it all

Argentina vs. Canada Thursday night on FS1!

 

[Crystal]

Also I just realized Slovakia beat Belgium, wow.

They sure did! Slovakia and Serbia both looking good early

 

[Crystal]

Argentina vs. Canada Thursday night on FS1!

Go Canada! Time to slay the big boys. They're improving as a squad, they should be trouble

 

[dimmerwit]

Review of England v Denmark:

 

[Crystal]

Review of England v Denmark:

Not accurate enough. It wasn't even good enough to be dreadful. It was nothing on a pitch. The one still water among glasses of sparkling. Nothing happening.

 

[a dip goblin]

Sadly Canada very expectedly is going to fall to Argentina in the opening game of the Copa America.

 

[Crystal]

Sadly Canada very expectedly is going to fall to Argentina in the opening game of the Copa America.

Most likely, but put up a good fight, Canada!

 

[canadaguy]

Most likely, but put up a good fight, Canada!

If you had told me even like 2 years ago, Canada would play Argentina in a major international tournament, and the final would only be 2-0 Argentina, I would call you crazy.

 

[Crystal]

Scary scenes in the Scotland/Hungary game, hoping all is well for Barnabas Varga after a nasty looking incident on the pitch. Taken off shielded by blankets, was clearly unconscious on the pitch.

 

[dimmerwit]

It's been confirmed that he is stable. Took a forearm to the face from Angus Gunn.

Since technically I am half Scottish I should feel bad, but attacking wise they are basically the only team worse than England.

 

[Crystal]

Yeah, hard to tell from the angles I could find if it was a knee or an elbow, but glad that he's in stable condition!! Horrible scenes.

Scotland were horrendously poor today, deserved the loss.

 

[a dip goblin]

Team USA came out strong today, scored within 3 minutes and then got another to close the first in half.

 

[a dip goblin]

No shocks so far, which means we should expect Brazil and Colombia to win today:

 

[dimmerwit]

It's good that Brazil have firmly given up on their traditional idea of treating the Copa as an afterthought. They need to with their current results.

As an Arsenal fan I'm hoping Martinelli will get some minutes, but he's had a modest season and Brazil are stacked in that area.

 

[a dip goblin]

It's good that Brazil have firmly given up on their traditional idea of treating the Copa as an afterthought. They need to with their current results.

As an Arsenal fan I'm hoping Martinelli will get some minutes, but he's had a modest season and Brazil are stacked in that area.

Well Brazil did the unexpected and only tied Costa Rica yesterday. I expect Colombia to beat Costa Rica, but if Brazil doesn't take care of business against Paraguay there's a chance they could be left behind in the next round (Costa Rica beating Paraguay and Brazil either losing to Colombia or tying them with GD being in Costa Rica's favor).

Croatia got a draw with Italy as well yesterday, so another interesting result.

 

[a dip goblin]

And the Netherlands are out! Austria is in!

 

[a dip goblin]

Also lets go Canada later today! Gotta beat Peru by a couple of goals here to get a neutral GD at least. Presumably, should Argentina take care of business, they'd then only need a draw with Chile to advance.

So far only the US and Mexico have gotten victories out of CONCACAF, however Jamaica played Mexico and Costa Rica got a draw on a very good Brazil.

 

[Ben]

I don't care about sports, I just need to post that every time I see this thread title in the latest posts block, I think of COPPA and @Fire Queen.

 

[Crystal]

Come the fuck on, England....

 

[Ben]

Come the fuck on, England....

 

[dimmerwit]

Simpsons predicted it.

 

[Crystal]

View attachment 17384

 

[a dip goblin]

Oh apparently I was premature in saying the Netherlands were out. Didn't realize there would be 4 additional 3rd place finishers advancing as well. How sad that it's not a crazy result yet.

 

[canadaguy]

Also lets go Canada later today! Gotta beat Peru by a couple of goals here to get a neutral GD at least. Presumably, should Argentina take care of business, they'd then only need a draw with Chile to advance.

So far only the US and Mexico have gotten victories out of CONCACAF, however Jamaica played Mexico and Costa Rica got a draw on a very good Brazil.

Well we got the win, not by a couple but it still counts

 

[a dip goblin]

I'm very happy that the games I don't get on regular Fox are available on Univision. Honestly, the announcers are great even though I don't speak Spanish.

 

[dimmerwit]

Oh apparently I was premature in saying the Netherlands were out. Didn't realize there would be 4 additional 3rd place finishers advancing as well. How sad that it's not a crazy result yet.

Yeah, I'm not a fan. It does take a lot of the tension out of it.

On a similar vein, Denmark beat out Slovenia for 2nd because Slovenia's assistant manager got a yellow card. They were tied on points, goal difference, goals scored and yellow cards shown to their players.

But even if they hadn't had that yellow card, then Denmark would still have qualified. The next tie-brakers are on qualifying performance, but remarkably both had 22 points. They were in the same qualifying group as well, so it would have been decided on head-to-head and Denmark's 2-1 win in Copenhagen in November last year after the first group game between them ended 1-1.

But again, not much tension because Slovenia are still through in 3rd.

 

[dimmerwit]

Well we got the win, not by a couple but it still counts

Well, maybe you would have if the VAR does its job and sends someone off for a headbutt.

 

[a dip goblin]

In a bit of a surprise, Venezuela beat Mexico last night 1-0. They managed to stop a PK as well that was awarded after an unintentional hand ball in the box.

 

[Crystal]

In a bit of a surprise, Venezuela beat Mexico last night 1-0. They managed to stop a PK as well that was awarded after an unintentional hand ball in the box.

Damn, quite a few upsets in these tournaments

 

[a dip goblin]

Damn, quite a few upsets in these tournaments

For sure - and now Mexico is in danger of not moving on into the next round. Venezuela has beaten both Ecuador and Mexico, who have both beaten Jamaica. I'd expect Jamaica to unfortunately not pick up a W, which would mean it comes down to Ecuador vs. Mexico for the final spot.

Mexico would need to win. If there's a draw Ecuador has them beat on GD due to beating Jamaica by 2 as opposed to just 1.

US takes on Panama tonight. A win would guarantee moving on. A draw would be a pretty safe bet for it, but risky. Uruguay is almost certainly going to win over Bolivia. This group might play out exactly as expected (Uruguay potentially sweeping, US beating everyone but Uruguay).



No Euro games for a few days though.

Tomorrow has a potential fun one tomorrow with Colombia and Costa Rica (fresh off their draw with heavily favored Brazil).

 

[a dip goblin]

Sadly it looks like the early red card the US took is going to doom us in this game. Uruguay might end up being a must win unfortunately (if Panama wins again they can move on).

 

[canadaguy]

Canada got the draw against Chile and with Argentina beating Peru (even with Argentina resting a few of their top players), Canada is moving on.

This is pretty incredible for us honestly. The last 3 years or so this team has just improving beyond belief

 

[a dip goblin]

Canada got the draw against Chile and with Argentina beating Peru (even with Argentina resting a few of their top players), Canada is moving on.

This is pretty incredible for us honestly. The last 3 years or so this team has just improving beyond belief

Gotta love it! You'll probably do better than the US.

 

[dimmerwit]

 

[a dip goblin]

And Mexico is out. Canada might be the only hope for concacaf.

 

[Crystal]

And Mexico is out. Canada might be the only hope for concacaf.

Damn, Mexico!