Rousseau

That's my 1-1 prediction up the chimney

Aye! Only 3 have Slovakia down for a win, which seems quite likely at the moment. Russia have been pummeling them, but Slovakia have countered a few times to great effect. Don't rule out a draw...

Hamsik has just scored an absolute beauty for Slovakia! 0-2.

(Only 3 have Slovakia down for a win...)

Ha! Slovakia take the the lead! Wonderful finish from Vladimir Weiss! (I'd take Weiss back in an instant.)

I'm seriously worried about my 0-1 Slovakia prediction already; Russia are pummeling them. The Russian right-back is incredibly quick!

Western European countries don't seem to give many Russian players a chance? I only recall Alenichev for Mourinho's Porto a few years back; and Bilyaletdinov at Everton more recently. There has to be talent in a country that large.

Predictions can now only be accepted for games that have not kicked-off.

You are doing a fine job mate with the help of Blueflag of course. Quite impressive.

Blueflag has been a great help, with his technical expertise.

That brings to a close the first series of matches.

We have Whosthedado, rbr and myself as joint-leaders; Germinal and trublusince1982 are just 1 point behind.

I think the scoring system has worked quite well: we have a really close contest.

A wee bump!

Get your predictions in for Match Day 2. You've got until 14:00!

We're still waiting on: Little General, stewarty, SBS and thomasbee!

(And, Germinal: you've still to predict the final two games.)

Well, those final games were disastrous for most of us. No one picked up a single point in the Austria-Hungary game, and only buster and thomasbee gained 1 point for predicting the Portugal-Iceland draw; thomasbee gained a further 3 points for correctly predicting the 1-1 draw.

These two games absolutely stumped us!

Latest standings:

Incredibly, Hungary take the lead! And, Austria are now down to 10-men.

No one has Hungary down for a win!

I suppose to history buffs the Austria-Hungary game has a air of intrigue about it historically, but does anyone know if this carries to the modern day situation?

Habsburgian joke:

Did you see the Austria-Hungary game last night?

No, who were they playing?

(Or, variations on that theme. Don't laugh too hard!)

Bradshaw wasn't included in the Wales squad for the Euros as they must rate Robson-Kanu higher. The latter is without a club currently. Wouldn't we be better going for him? Or is Bradshaw being lined up for his potential?

Technically Robson-Kanu is a winger but he does very well as a striker for Wales -- and Reading, at times. I'm surprised he's a free agent TBH. I agree, he'd be a good target. He'd play on the shoulder and push the defence back.

Maybe we have the same issue again: a player who performs best in a side that counter-attacks? Not sure how Bradshaw is any different, but I haven't watched him much -- other than a few games where Walsall did dominate possession.

Russia 0 - 1 Slovakia

Romania 0 - 1 Switzerland

France 2 - 0 Albania

England 2 - 1 Wales

Ukraine 1 - 0 Northern Ireland

Germany 2 - 1 Poland

Italy 2 - 0 Sweden

Czech Rep 0 - 1 Croatia

Spain 2 - 0 Turkey

Belgium 2 - 1 R. of Ireland

Iceland 2 - 0 Hungary

Portugal 2 - 0 Austria

Please post your predictions for Match Day 2.

The fixtures are:

Russia - Slovakia

Romania - Switzerland

France - Albania

England - Wales

Ukraine - Northern Ireland

Germany - Poland

Italy - Sweden

Czech Rep - Croatia

Spain - Turkey

Belgium - R. of Ireland

Iceland - Hungary

Portugal - Austria

We only have 2 games today -- Austria-Hungary and Portugal-Iceland -- which brings to an end the first round of matches.

Spain-Czech saw a majority get CR, with only rbr, dB and Bearman getting full points

Ireland-Sweden was a low scoring round, with the majority scoring null points; compo got 1 point, but cooponthewing, buster., and myself gain full points.

Belgium-Italy saw no one gain full points, but onevision, BEARGER, compo, dB, Little General, blueflag, trublusince1982 and Pete gain 1 point.

Latest standings:

Stupid tapatalk...

I think you forgot me when adding up the scores this time.,...not that it makes much difference !!

Apologies, mate. I see it now. I'll write it up properly tomorrow when I have the data sheet at hand.

First game results are in: Everyone that entered a prediction gets 1 point for correctly predicting the Correct Result (France Win), but Compo, Whosthedado and Germinal get an extra 3 points for predicting the Correct Score.

 

Cooponthewing, compo and myself get CR points. Both myself and cooponthewing get full points for predicting Correct Score!!

(Sorry Craig -- maybe I did jinx it...)

Latest standings:

Come On!!

Correct Score!

Away... Common Sweden 1 more.... 2.1 will do nicely

I wouldn't be too upset at that!

Sweden equalise!! Zlatan making the difference.

No more goals please!

Bugger. I can't say it wasn't coming, but Ireland are ahead.

Silver lining is I'm still on for my prediction; just need Sweden to equalise...

Although, as it stands everyone is getting it wrong apart from Craig!

Next up, Zlatan!

I think we all expect Spain to be better because of the perception around them, but in fact many teams know how to set up against them now. Czech's were quite solid -- as I suspect most teams will be against Spain -- with Spain only getting their goal 4 minutes before the end.