Euro 2016 Finals - Draw

I still think 3 points will have a great shout of a 2nd round spot although by no means guaranteed.  I'd be amazed if you had 4 3rd placed teams on 4 points.  Obviously Norway went home with 4 points in our group in 1994. 

It could be interesting to look back in late June and see what was enough.    

all the third place teams face a group winner in the 2nd round.

Gary McKay wrote: SuperDave84 wrote: Yeah, four points (aka a win and a draw, back in Italia '90 and Mexico '86) really increases the odds of progress. Five out of six in USA '94 progressed with a win and a draw (Norway, in our group, being the unlucky ones), four out of four in Italia '90, and four out of four in Mexico '86. It would even have been enough in Spain '82, had they used the same format, where six out of six teams on four points would have qualified (albeit of course the format was different and a number of teams failed to make it through). Getting knocked out on four points would be pretty unlucky, but being knocked out on three and you could have few complaints. In 82 Italy drew their 3 group games (ok they bribed Cameroon) and went on to win it.

rolo wrote: all the third place teams face a group winner in the 2nd round. That winner comes from Groups A-D. So to avoid playing France in Lyon in the second round, 4 points should be the target. Thats assuming France win their group.

Would gladly take France in Lyon in the 2nd round and take my chances.  In fact I'd bite your hand off for it.
We could face a lot worse.  

Note this has nothing to do with the fact that it is one of the 2 games I currently have a ticket for. 

I agree 4 points should be the target (and not go home on 4 aka Norway 1994).  Getting to the knockout stages would make it a very good euros.  Getting any further would make it a fantastic tournament.   

Definitely in the world cup there is rigging. When I say definitely I mean I have a strong suspicion that not only is the draw rigged but also that the referees are handpicked to offer favours to the home nations.

I doubt the draws are rigged as they are shown live and reporters would flag up their suspicions straight away. I've also watched the draws and never noticed anything untoward. There's also the fact they use various legends from the past and to rig the draws would surely mean involving the likes of Zidane, Figo and Pele.

As far as referrees being favourable to home sides I'd certainly go along with that. But that happens all the time, I think a ref will regularly be more favourable to a home side be it an U12 junior game in the Sligo/Leitrim league or a Euros or World Cup. Refs are treated very well at tournaments and get to live the high life for a few weeks. I think it's only natural that if you get to see the best of a country you would have a soft spot for them. Maybe then there's more sinister stuff going on like fifa hinting it would be good for a refs own career if he give any 50/50 decisions towards the host nation.

Drumcondra 69er wrote: Trap junior wrote: Definitely in the world cup there is rigging. When I say definitely I mean I have a strong suspicion that not only is the draw rigged but also that the referees are handpicked to offer favours to the home nations. Some of the decisions South Korea got in 2002 were laughable to he fair.... They were against top tier nations mind you...

I know the Italian conspiracy theorists had a field day after South Korea beat them in the 2nd round but it surely wouldn't have got to that stage if Vieri hadn't missed a sitter in that game.

What really started to get tongues wagging for me was Spain being absolutely robbed against Korea in the quarters. Remember the pull back for Morientes to head home only for the officials to disallow the goal saying the ball had gone out over the goal line before it was crossed and gave a goal kick instead. TV Replays showed the ball was nowhere near over the line! That was the pi** take for me.

The Irish co-commentator

Trap junior wrote: The Irish co-commentator

Some awful refereeing alright in that one and in that quarter-final I mentioned.

Surely there won't be any dodgy refereeing to help the hosts along at Euro 2016 will it? Still, I'd prefer if Ireland can avoid Group A to be on the safe side