UEFA euro 2016

[Meelis13]

Today draw for UEFA Euro 2016 qualifiers took place. As you may already know, 24 teams in total are qualifying for UEFA Euro 2016 (including France as host)- 2 best from each group+best 3rd placed team will qualify directly and 4 rest will become clear in play-offs. Qualifiers will be part of new concept- game week.
Groups are following:

A-Group

Netherlands
Czech Republic
Turkey
Latvia
Iceland
Kazakhstan

B-Group

Bosnia & Herzegovina
Belgium
Israel
Wales
Cyprus
Andorra

C-Group

Spain
Ukraine
Slovakia
Belarus
Macedonia
Luxembourg

D-group

Germany
Ireland
Poland
Scotland
Georgia
Gibraltar

E-group

England
Switzerland
Slovenia
Estonia
Lithuania
San Marino

F-Group

Greece
Hungary
Romania
Finland
Northern Ireland
Faroe Islands

G-group

Russia
Sweden
Austria
Montenegro
Moldova
Liechtenstein

H-group

Italy
Croatia
Norway
Bulgaria
Azerbaijan
Malta

I-group (5 teams only)
Portugal
Denmark
Serbia
Armenia
Albania


So, what do you think of groups- who will qualify, who will not? I will also try to update table after every gameweek

[Charlatan]

First impressions I'm very happy with England's group but I'm not too keen on the 24 team format that they've changed it into, much prefer to keep the 16 team format as the group stages are far more interesting with 2 teams definitely going home at the end of them.

[Meelis13]

First impressions I'm very happy with England's group but I'm not too keen on the 24 team format that they've changed it into, much prefer to keep the 16 team format as the group stages are far more interesting with 2 teams definitely going home at the end of them.

I can say same (for reason- im Estonian). For Estonia, every opponent is beatable (though in England's and Switzerland's case its going to be very hard- but as we showed vs dutch, its possible). But of course, that is only the case, if team managed to wake up from wc 2014 qualifiers letdown. Personally i am really happy about San Marino- been wanting that draw for over a decade now (as it really should be a easy game in which i expect lot of goals).

I do feel sorry for latvians though- they got really tough group, especially if Iceland can keep up good form.

[Sir Adrian]

Wow, for the time in like ever Romania gets the easiest group possible.


Overall all groups look very balanced, with the exception of Spain and Germany. But that is to be expected.

[Petrucci]

Group D is the group of death IMO. Group B is the easisest on, no competition for Belgium in group phase.
Serbia got medium difficulty group,it will be fun.

[Sir Adrian]

Group D will be a stroll for Germany and Poland and Scotland are not teams they used to be. Group A o nthe hand looks tougher, with the Netherlands, a resurging Turkey, Iceland (who almost made it to the WC) and the Czechs - who despite poor form are always dangerous.

[Knight of Heaven]

Nah the group of death is the last one I group... You put Portugal, serbia, and Denmark... i have no doubt Portugal is the favorite, but Serbia, and Denmark, are not easy teams.

[Meelis13]

Nah the group of death is the last one I group... You put Portugal, serbia, and Denmark... i have no doubt Portugal is the favorite, but Serbia, and Denmark, are not easy teams.

Serbia has rather poor form lately, thus i'd favour Danes here. But you are right- Serbia aint easy to beat

[Petrucci]

True, but it has good potential. If we manage to consolidate our team we could preform really good in I group.

[Acco]

I wouldn't underestimate Armenia - remember that they beat Denmark 4-0 in Copenhagen in 2014 WC qualifying. Albania also has a good squad with some promising young players. It should be an interesting group, plus you have the Serbia-Albania rivalry.

I'm quite happy with Macedonia's group, Ukraine and Slovakia are quite weak so we could try to challenge them (probably won't, but still).

[white-wolf]

A-Group

Netherlands
Czech Republic
Turkey
Latvia
Iceland
Kazakhstan

B-Group

Bosnia & Herzegovina
Belgium
Israel
Wales
Cyprus
Andorra

C-Group

Spain
Ukraine
Slovakia
Belarus
Macedonia
Luxembourg

D-group

Germany
Ireland
Poland
Scotland
Georgia
Gibraltar

E-group

England
Switzerland
Slovenia
Estonia
Lithuania
San Marino

F-Group

Greece
Hungary
Romania
Finland
Northern Ireland
Faroe Islands

G-group

Russia
Sweden
Austria
Montenegro
Moldova
Liechtenstein

H-group

Italy
Croatia
Norway
Bulgaria
Azerbaijan
Malta

I-group (5 teams only)
Portugal
Denmark
Serbia
Armenia
Albania

So, what do you think of groups- who will qualify, who will not? I will also try to update table after every gameweek

Methinks the ones with red will qualify.

[Wulfburk]

^ Switch Austria with Sweden and Slovakia with Ukraine and i'll agree.

[Erebus Pasha]

Turkey should be sick of the site of the Dutch by now white wolf.

Easy group for England - if we don't qualify after playing against that lot then some serious questions have to be asked.

Which clown picked out Serbia and Albania to play each other? Poland and Germany might be tasty as well.

[Cold_Mac]

Which clown picked out Serbia and Albania to play each other? Poland and Germany might be tasty as well.

I'm afraid there isn't any rivalry between Germany & Poland anymore and competitivly, they're both destined to qualify. Scotland & Ireland to brawl over the 3rd.

You still get the retards that prolong the hostility but it's the place where most of their players earn their €, with a few polish-born/descending players being part of the german national team and most polish fans I've met are fine with it. Other case than the irish armchair Up-da-RA brigade that supports Man Utd/Liverpool I've experienced.

[Meelis13]

Easy group for England - if we don't qualify after playing against that lot then some serious questions have to be asked.

Switzerland aint going to be easy opponent, even for England. And if that is the attitude England team faces Slovenia and Estonia (which i doubt) then it can very well happen, that England finishes 4th- both Estonia and Slovenia have shown in recent years what underestimating them can cause.
So dont say its impossible for England to not reach Euro 2016 as it isnt. While true, chances for that are very slim, it is still possibility

[The Despondent Mind]

For once Bosnia seems like a an almost clear favorite , I don't watch football but if those guys qualify they will be my fav underdog .

Which clown picked out Serbia and Albania

Maybe after that incident in Italy , UEFA/FIFA are testing Serbia's football union , to see if they can control their fans.Since in the WC qualifiers they were in the group with Croatia and Macedonia (and surprisingly there was more problems in Macedonia)Because if they can't handle Albania and Croatia than they can say goodbye to international competition.

[Cold_Mac]

It might not be the best idea for all concerned parties to "test" serbia's fans. No doubt the majority are alright and a non-issue, but the troublesome quarter seem very troublesome and I wouldn't trust their FA.

Might just be personal prejudice. The only dangerous physical (football & non-football) confrontation I ever encountered was when a drunken serbian fan attacked me with a knife during the 2010 WC. And they won that delightful game 1:0.

[Petrucci]

What are you talking about Cold_Mac ? At what game has the drunken Serbian fan attacked you with knife?

[Cold_Mac]

What are you talking about Cold_Mac ? At what game has the drunken Serbian fan attacked you with knife?

WC 2010, Serbia vs Germany.

Thats what international friendlies do to you - injuries Our best player of the last week has gone off with a torn groin. Yippie Yeah!

[The Despondent Mind]

It might not be the best idea for all concerned parties to "test" serbia's fans. No doubt the majority are alright and a non-issue, but the troublesome quarter seem very troublesome and I wouldn't trust their FA.

Might just be personal prejudice. The only dangerous physical (football & non-football) confrontation I ever encountered was when a drunken serbian fan attacked me with a knife during the 2010 WC. And they won that delightful game 1:0.

I'm not surprised at all .

What are you talking about Cold_Mac ? At what game has the drunken Serbian fan attacked you with knife?

Common 2010 WC 1:0 , if you followed Serbia's football team then you ought to know , it's their only significant victory .