Euro 2016 group games predictions

After the disaster that was Poland 4 years ago 1 point will be an improvement. I think we will get a win and a draw or 2 draws. At least we should get something to cheer about which didn;t happen in Poland so that's a bonus.

BrendanD88 wrote: 1-1 v Sweden 1-1 v Belgium 0-0 v Italy

If we lose to Sweden you will get very good odds on us qualifying. The Sweden game is make or break; beat them and you have confidence and belief on and off the pitch, loseand you have lost to the team viewed as third best of the others in the group, huge pressure going into a game with the team viewed as the best in the group, a lack of confidence and a lack of belief etc. A draw won't do much good either really.

Based on other tournaments with a similar system, 2 points is extremely unlikely to be enough. Three points would likely be enough, four guaranteed. For the scenario of two points being enough, you are really looking at miracle territory.

I think Belgium aren't as good as some people reckon and Sweden aren't as bad as others reckon.

willmcc83 wrote: I think Belgium aren't as good as some people reckon and Sweden aren't as bad as others reckon.   I think it's a bit simplistic to present Sweden as a one man team. Zlatan had two very quiet nights when we met them in the last world cup qualifying campaign and they still took four points off us. I think they are very suspect at the back and I think who ever is in form going into this game will take the three points. A draw isn't the end of the world but a defeat is.   A draw against Belgium would be a great result irrespective of the result in the first game. I think we can carve out a draw here with a few very nervy moments.   I think most people are basing their prediction on the last game on Italy's historic performances at tournaments. Just because they generally leave it to the last game and just because they almost always go through doesn't mean it will be the case this time round. They're the second seed team and going on the coefficient points there is very little between them and Belgium. They were less than 10 minutes away from getting out of the group in the last campaign and they were knocked out. We played them just before that World Cup and performed relatively well. Again a draw is a realistic aspiration here.

I've said before and I'll say again

Sweden aren't Croatia of 2012 a team if imo were in any other group would have got to at least quarters or semis, I can see us nicking the game 2-1

Belgium ain't Spain far from it don't get me wrong they are a great team on paper but they don't always click the Spanish during that era were making poetry on the field I think that they'll most likely beat us but could see us getting 1-1

The Italians aren't the Italy of 2012 they have lost one their main midfieldersMarchisio as is the conductor which is Pirlo I can see us beating them too but I'll go for a 2-2 draw

Giving us 5 points which would be enough for at 3rd in the group

OnTheOneRoad wrote: willmcc83 wrote: I think Belgium aren't as good as some people reckon and Sweden aren't as bad as others reckon.   I think it's a bit simplistic to present Sweden as a one man team. Zlatan had two very quiet nights when we met them in the last world cup qualifying campaign and they still took four points off us. I think they are very suspect at the back and I think who ever is in form going into this game will take the three points. A draw isn't the end of the world but a defeat is.   A draw against Belgium would be a great result irrespective of the result in the first game. I think we can carve out a draw here with a few very nervy moments.   I think most people are basing their prediction on the last game on Italy's historic performances at tournaments. Just because they generally leave it to the last game and just because they almost always go through doesn't mean it will be the case this time round. They're the second seed team and going on the coefficient points there is very little between them and Belgium. They were less than 10 minutes away from getting out of the group in the last campaign and they were knocked out. We played them just before that World Cup and performed relatively well. Again a draw is a realistic aspiration here.   Zlatan dropped off behind the back four in Dublin and caused us all manner of problems. We were having a terrible campaign then but even so i still think we threw away that game and should have won it Agree about Italy. Saying a team 'normally picks up for tournaments' is about as unreliable as saying a team is 'due a win'. Belgium are class on paper, but they have shown no indication under their current manager that they can replicate that on the field. Belgium and Italy are significantly better than us on paper of course, but there's no match in this group that I'd be thinking of as absolutely daunting like the Spain game in 2012, or even when the Italians were in much better shape then. I do think we should be beating Sweden, and hopefully get a point out of the last two games.

From memory he had a below par performance in both games. He was in unreal form at the time, particularly before the game in Stockholm. Strangely enough - Paul Greene had a great game that night. Don't think Zlatan featured in either of the goals in Dublin.

Sweden seem to be written off when in all honesty they're as good as us plus they have a world class player who'll be asuch a threat playing deep or up front not to mention if we concede a free in a dangerous area, we could be in serious trouble.

I seen their play-off game away to Denmark and they played well. Thought they were a much quicker and better passing team than us.

It never ceases to amaze me the blind optimism Irish supporters have no matter how difficult a group may be.

We've gotten awful group draws for Euro 2012 and this year imo.

It'll be a tough slog to try and get out of this group

Beat the Swedes
Lose to Belgium.
Draw with Italy.
                  Randolph
Coleman       Clark.      Keogh/Duffy.     Brady

                      McCarthy

              Arter.           Hendrick

Walters.                                   McClean

                      Long.