Predictions for EURO 2016 Match Day 1

[Rousseau 10,640]

It was a decent start to the tournament. I think if Romania had taken that chance after five minutes it would have been very interesting to see the French reaction. I've got the Swiss in my work sweep so I might watch that although on paper it doesn't look the most attractive game

 

The sitter in the first 5 minutes was unbelievable: harder to miss! It would've changed the game completely. The French were a wee bit nervy, I thought and their Centre-Back pairing left a lot to be desired -- It's difficult when you're missing Varane and Laporte. Payet was outstanding; It'll be interesting to see if West Ham can keep him.

 

The Albania game might surprise us, as there is a bit of tension. Both have got good players, but we have the Xhaka brothers (one of which, Granit Xhaka, has just signed for arsenal) playing against each other, and Xherdan Shaqiri (Stoke) was born in Albania but plays for Switzerland. Albania's record is not great against Switzerland, but it should be an interesting game.

[pete 2,499]

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.

 

 

You missed me out Rousseau. I was a late entry but added about 15 mins before kick-off.

I had the wrong score anyway.

[the gunslinger 3,366]

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.

 

How come I'm not on there

[Rousseau 10,640]

Sorry, Pete and Gunslinger. I actually have your predictions, but failed to add you to the table! I'll get that done.

[pete 2,499]

Sorry, Pete and Gunslinger. I actually have your predictions, but failed to add you to the table! I'll get that done.

 

Oh come on Rousseau you will have to step up. The best two stallions in the stable and you forgot us. I'm shocked!

[Rousseau 10,640]

New table:

 

[Rousseau 10,640]

Any suggestions on the best way to post this data from a spreadsheet? Using imgur is a pain in the arse.

 

TEST:

 

[TABLE=width: 300]

[TR][TD=class:xl66, width: 64, align: center]Player[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]P[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]CR[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]CS[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]Pts[/TD][/TR]

 

[TR][TD=class: xl65, width: 64, align: center]compo[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]4[/TD][/TR]

 

[TR][TD=class: xl65, width: 64, align: center]Whosthedado[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]4[/TD][/TR]

 

[TR][TD=class: xl65, width: 64, align: center]Germinal[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]4[/TD][/TR]

 

[TR][TD=class: xl65, width: 64, align: center]Rousseau[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]0[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][/TR]

 

[TR][TD=class: xl65, width: 64, align: center]onevision[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]0[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][/TR]

 

[TR][TD=class: xl65, width: 64, align: center]rbr[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]0[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][/TR]

 

[TR][TD=class: xl65, width: 64, align: center]cooponthewing[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]0[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][/TR]

 

[TR][TD=class: xl65, width: 64, align: center]buster.[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]0[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][/TR]

 

[TR][TD=class: xl65, width: 64, align: center]BEARGER[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]0[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][/TR]

 

[TR][TD=class: xl65, width: 64, align: center]Tannochsidebear[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]0[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][/TR]

 

[TR][TD=class: xl65, width: 64, align: center]Craig[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]0[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][/TR]

 

[TR][TD=class: xl65, width: 64, align: center]der Berliner[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]0[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][/TR]

 

[TR][TD=class: xl65, width: 64, align: center]Little General[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]0[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][/TR]

 

[TR][TD=class: xl65, width: 64, align: center]Stewarty[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]0[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][/TR]

 

[TR][TD=class: xl65, width: 64, align: center]Bearman[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]0[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][/TR]

 

[TR][TD=class: xl65, width: 64, align: center]Yorshier Bear[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]0[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][/TR]

 

[TR][TD=class: xl65, width: 64, align: center]blueflag[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]0[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][/TR]

 

[TR][TD=class: xl65, width: 64, align: center]thomasbee[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]0[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][/TR]

 

[TR][TD=class: xl65, width: 64, align: center]trublusince1982[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]0[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][/TR]

 

[TR][TD=class: xl65, width: 64, align: center]the gunslinger[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]0[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][/TR]

 

[TR][TD=class: xl65, width: 64, align: center]Pete[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]0[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]1[/TD][/TR]

 

[TR][TD=class: xl65, width: 64, align: center]Ser Barristan Selmy[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]0[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]0[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]0[/TD][TD=class: xl66, width: 64, align: center]0[/TD][/TR]

[/TABLE]

Edited June 11, 2016 by Rousseau

[Tannochsidebear 2,414]

The sitter in the first 5 minutes was unbelievable: harder to miss! It would've changed the game completely. The French were a wee bit nervy, I thought and their Centre-Back pairing left a lot to be desired -- It's difficult when you're missing Varane and Laporte. Payet was outstanding; It'll be interesting to see if West Ham can keep him.

 

The Albania game might surprise us, as there is a bit of tension. Both have got good players, but we have the Xhaka brothers (one of which, Granit Xhaka, has just signed for arsenal) playing against each other, and Xherdan Shaqiri (Stoke) was born in Albania but plays for Switzerland. Albania's record is not great against Switzerland, but it should be an interesting game.

 

I have been quite confidently predicting that the Frogs will win the tournament on home soil (see '84 & '98) and also with some very good players in top form like Griessman, Payet & Konte. However nobody told me they had managed to get Wilson & Kiernan to be their centre backs!! Thats a total game changer - will need to be putting some cash on Spain or Germany now as France wont win with that defence. The centre backs were absolutely awful. I heard in commentary that they are missing three centre backs, and it looked like it.

 

An early contender for goal/player of the tournament was the wonderful display by Payet of West Ham/France. I hope the Hammers have a big release fee built in as if he continues like that he wont be playing at their new stadium next season. I have thought Payet was WH star man all season and I loved watching him when the Hammers were on tv, but I wasnt sure if this would transform to International football or indeed in France would allow him the freedom to play to his strengths. He was a joy to watch last night.

 

Moving on to today, I am meeting up with a few mates in town for the Wales/England double header but thanks to Rousseau for the heads up about the first game today, which I had been thinking was going to be an easy victory for the Swiss with nothing of note to look out for. Brothers playing against each other at International level? That must be a first?

 

I might have to re-think my betting strategy if it is going to be played like a derby match with a lot of in-built tension. Also going by the Romanian performance last night, these two might be eyeing up their sole chance of a victory in todays game and a chance to clinch a third place spot.

Edited June 11, 2016 by Rousseau

[Rousseau 10,640]

Don't quote me on the 'tension' of the Albania game! It's just something I'm inferring from the interesting situation with the players: Albanians playing for Switzerland, brothers playing against each other, and a number of Swiss-born players playing for Albania. Strange situation.

 

Although, BBC Sport are suggesting it is arguably the "first derby match" of the Euro's:

 

"The two countries are more than 500 miles apart, but Albania against Switzerland is arguably the first derby match at Euro 2016 - thanks to the remarkable links between the two sides. Ten members of Albania's squad were either born in Switzerland or grew up there, with seven of those even playing for the Swiss at under-21 level before switching allegiance.

 

Conversely, six Swiss players have family links to Albania or Kosovo. That includes soon-to-be Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka.

 

Both Granit and brother Taulant were born in Basel to parents who are ethnic Albanians from Kosovo, and represented Switzerland at youth level. However, Taulant - who is 18 months older - made slightly slower progress at club level and was persuaded to change nationality."

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36450647?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Edited June 11, 2016 by Rousseau

[Rousseau 10,640]

I was a little disappointed with the friendly way in which the players greeted each other in the tunnel, but the fans are really amping up the tension with several players being booed and some hard tackles already. My 0-1 prediction looks tame, as it looks like there will be several goals. The Swiss look good. Both look shaky at the back.

Edited June 11, 2016 by Rousseau