Rousseau

Welsh defender last touch. Great call from the linesman !

Yes, saw it. Brilliant call.

Quite a high scoring game. 7 players get full points, and 8 get 1 point.

I extend my lead by a point, but we have 3 tied for 2nd!

Latest Standings:

Yaaassss!! 2-1 England! Sturridge! 4 lovely points!

Gutted for Mrs Craig.

I think wee Jonny Williams is a good player for Wales. Terrific the first game, and being a real nuisance today too.

Ooft: Rashford coming on too!

Mrs Craig, rbr and Bearman are all currently on full points!

Vardy scores! 1-1!

Offside?!

That hit isn't my definition of a screamer. Cooper's against Aberdeen is a screamer. Beckham against Greece is a screamer. Carlos for Brazil against France was a screamer.

 

Only my personal opinion but I think we throw out superlatives far, far too easily these days.

 

Bale's was a decent hit, powerful enough and it dipped. However, from that distance he has ample time to get it up and over the wall and for it to dip. It wasn't even in the corner, let alone top corner. He simply hit it well and it hit the target.

 

From that distance I would expect far lesser keepers than Joe Hart to save it... and if it was saved... would we really be saying it was a screamer ?

On reflection, I agree it wasn't really a screamer. I was, perhaps, focusing too much of the distance? I was grasping for an appropriate description! "Bale has just scored a... goal" doesn't have the same power.

I think I have 3-1 for England so I am on my way to a correct score.

You do indeed. I have a 2-1 England victory. With Vardy and Sturridge on, we may have a shot.

Holy smokes! Vardy AND Sturridge coming on!

His game awareness, pitch geography and decision-making are horrible. He is rapidly turning into the new Theo Walcott... can beat you for pace but can do little else with it.

 

I think Hodgson has made a howler sticking by him. Play a straight 4-4-2 with Vardy up beside Kane, playing on the shoulder of the Welsh CB's.

Agree completely on Stirling. Too much emphasis on pace and athleticism at times; even if you have it, without the technique, decision-making etc. it's worthless.

I liked the 4-4-2 diamond they were playing. It suited the midfield, and allowed them to play Vardy and Kane. I don't know why he reverted to 4-3-3 in the tournament?

No way was that a screamer, sorry Rousseau but I'm just not having that. Decent hit but I would expect any pro keeper to be saving it - watch it from Behind Bale, it isn't even in the corner. Two goals from Bale, two free kicks and both times the keeper to blame !

What's the definition of a "screamer"?

There is a lot of pace and dip on it, but yes, Hart should be saving that. Like the guys in the studio say, if Hart stands in the middle of the goal, and asked someone to smash it from 35-yards, 99 times out of 100, he saves it. His positioning is off slightly, but even then he should be saving it. Good hit though.

Sterling has been woeful as per... Get Sturridge or Vardy on, probably better with Vardy for his pace.

Stirling has always been poor in an England shirt IMO, and his form for Man City has hardly been noteworthy; he's just an average winger, for me.

Bale has just scored a screamer of a free-kick! 0-1 Wales!

From 35-yeards, Hart should be saving it. Although there is some pace and dip on it.

It's a cagey game thus far; neither side showing any quality in the final third.

I'm really looking forward to the England-Wales game; it's got the feel of a British derby. England need to win so I expect them to be on the front-foot, but that allows Wales to counter, which will be interesting with Bale. It should be a superb game.

Rousseau

 

Quick question on rules

Can you change a prediction prior to KO in any game or are you locked in once the 'round of games' start ?

You can edit any game up until kick-off. Give me a heads-up though, as I have all the predictions on a spreadsheet. I read through the posts several times looking for amendments, but I can miss some if people change a lot.

I've noted your changes.

Russia-Slovakia saw dB as the only one to pick up full points, with 2 others picking up a Correct Result point.

Romania-Switzerland saw the majority get wrong, except for onevision, buster., dB, stewarty and Pete, who all got full points for Correctly predicting the 1-1 draw.

France-Albania was the highest scoring game, with all who entered predicting the Correct Result; Rousseau, buster., BEARGER, whosthedado, Yorkshire Bear, Germinal, blueflag, trublusince1982, Pete and Mrs Craig each got the full points for Correctly predicting the 2-0 score.

I still lead by a point, but the high scoring round meant the top 9 are all bunched up, with only 4 points separating us.

Latest Standings:

Switzerland grab the equaliser! 1-1.

Damn! Penalty to Romania...

...and they score! 1-0.

I'm out..couldn't make the deadline ...sorry.

I can still accept predictions from after the Romania-Switzerland game. It's still a fairly tight contest; a wee run can see you shoot up the table. You've only missed two games.

Mrs Craig picks up a cheeky point, dB shoots up the table with a full 4 points, and I sneak into the lead by a solitary point.

Latest Standings:

Slovakia win 1-2!

Russia's last 3 games they have scored in 88 mins or later

Great...

Russia are banging on the door! Slovakia hanging on for dear life!

Panic stations! Russia pull a goal back. 1-2, with 7-8 minutes to go.

dB is on for a Correct Score.