UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifiers

[jamsieboy86]

Good result for Italy, still trying to figure out how good this team is though.

 

[Bluenine]

Good result for Italy, still trying to figure out how good this team is though.

Based on yesterday, it needs serious amount of work and maturity. Most of the players are very new to Azzurri, many of them kids. And it looked like it, both in a positive and negative way. Most of the players were inconsistent, some of the individual decision making very questionable and they lacked that something extra in the final third (possibly made worse by the absence of Insigne & Chiesa). Zaniolo looked like a fish out of water in his cameo, not a memorable debut. Mancini had his poker face on all game to his credit, but you could see that he was screaming on the inside.

On the positive side, Kean played like he didn't give a fuck that he hasn't played at this level before - that kid has serious talent. The midfield trio (Jorginho, Veratti, Barella) are very good in retaining possession with the occasional moment of creativity. The 2 fullbacks (Biraghi, Piccini) were making good attacking runs and were surprisingly decent.

I am still impressed with the patience Mancini is showing with his youth project, and the amount of new talent he is trying to develop at this stage. I haven't seen a youth project of this scale at the Azzurri in my 30 years of following the team. This is new territory for Italy, but a much needed project. However this project will take a lot more time, perhaps its a good thing that Italy got an easier group for Euro qualification. Will these kids be ready by the time of the Euros? Very unlikely. But I guess World Cup 2022 should be the real target for such an ambitious project, by that time most of these players will have quality experience of playing with each other.

 

[YoramG]

I would have loved for Italy to put together a 2026 WC bid along with this young team. Proper reasons to do up the stadiums, and more importantly, a proper reason for an international side that has been lackluster for over 12 years now to really think they could and should the World Cup. The would all have been peaking or starting to at that point.

Although I'm fairly sure Europe wasn't allowed to host it in 2026, think it's one of the Americas' turn?

Regardless, 2030 would be too late for this group to win it in Italy, apart from maybe Chiesa, Kean and Donnarumma, so it's a shame. Who knows, maybe we'll see Inter legend Sando Tonali lead Italy as an experienced 29 year old, right next to Chiellini cos that man is never going to stop playing.

Ah well, speculating 11 years into the future may be a tad too much, hopefully this lot will do really well at the Euros.

 

[jamsieboy86]

Surprised that Germany won away in Netherlands, going to be a good battle in that group. Good win for Northern Ireland in that group too, both Irelands getting the job done so far.

 

[ADRossi]

I would have loved for Italy to put together a 2026 WC bid along with this young team. Proper reasons to do up the stadiums, and more importantly, a proper reason for an international side that has been lackluster for over 12 years now to really think they could and should the World Cup. The would all have been peaking or starting to at that point.

Although I'm fairly sure Europe wasn't allowed to host it in 2026, think it's one of the Americas' turn?

Regardless, 2030 would be too late for this group to win it in Italy, apart from maybe Chiesa, Kean and Donnarumma, so it's a shame. Who knows, maybe we'll see Inter legend Sando Tonali lead Italy as an experienced 29 year old, right next to Chiellini cos that man is never going to stop playing.

Ah well, speculating 11 years into the future may be a tad too much, hopefully this lot will do really well at the Euros.

I believe 2026 had to be in either North America or Africa.

 

[Besnik]

It's pretty quiet in here tonight. Though there are some entertaining matches actually.

I'm watching Kosovo-Bulgaria and the latter ones are leading with a minimal result so far although Kosovo was by far a better team as they played great and had like four crystal clear goal scoring chances, one of which was 1vs1 with goalkeeper. I can see a come back in the second half if they keep pushing like in the first half.

Those who are watching Portugal-Serbia would have been nice to update us regarding CR's substitution in the first half around 30th min, was it a serious injury or something? I was browsing through results in the flash score and noticed that.

 

[eduzee]

What a disastrous foul on Sane by some Serbian dickhead. This scum should never ever step to the field again.

[youtube]Jq5wSCZ12fM[/youtube]

 

[Besnik]

Such a shame that Kosovo didn't win tonight. A complete domination through the game with ball possession, goal scoring chances and everything else. Clearly deserved more than just one point as Bulgaria scored from their single chance through the entire game. It was an unlucky game for Kosovo though, but what's promising is that a massive progression has been made in the past year.

 

[dax21]

What a disastrous foul on Sane by some Serbian dickhead. This scum should never ever step to the field again.

[youtube]Jq5wSCZ12fM[/youtube]

Believe it or not it wasnt intentional, it was his first app for NT and he was a last minute addition because our forwards were injured so he was nervous as shit. By the way that was the guy who destroyed Liverpool a few months ago.

Inexcusable foul, for sure, just providing the context.

 

[monster09]

England have some superb youngsters, no wonder they dominated under age levels. The next generation have some superb talents, it's all on clubs to give them game time to develop.

Sancho did good job leaving City and playing regularly for Dortmund.
Callum Hudson Odoi has potential to be even better than Sancho, he wants to leave Chelsea now with Bayern making multiple bids for him.

 

[brehme1989]

England have some superb youngsters, no wonder they dominated under age levels. The next generation have some superb talents, it's all on clubs to give them game time to develop.

Sancho did good job leaving City and playing regularly for Dortmund.
Callum Hudson Odoi has potential to be even better than Sancho, he wants to leave Chelsea now with Bayern making multiple bids for him.

Their current U19 is average at best, don't see any domination anywhere. Greece almost got through from their group but managed to screw up against the Czechs despite leading early on and needing a draw. England ended up 3rd in the group, Czechs topped it and Greece was 2nd.

The Irish on the other hand managed 3 wins vs Romania, Russia and Azerbaijan.
Norway also managed to eliminate Germany and we have a great game between Netherlands and Spain at the momen to decide who is through.

The English literally only had an amazing year in 2017 with several trophies won across different age groups but apart from that, it was mostly underwhelming performances. They can salvage something if their u17 qualifies to the European championship, which they should do, but their chances aren't that great.

 

[jamsieboy86]

Ireland much improved tonight, 1-0 up vs Georgia at Half Time, quality free kick from Hourihane. Georgia are there for the taking, had a few decent chances, could easily be up 2 or 3 in this one. I hope we push on for 2nd goal otherwise it will be a nervy one.

 

[Adriano@10]

LOL the swiss just threw away a 3:0 lead in 10 minutes they simply stopped playing when xhaka left the field!
Also the 3:0 was one of the shittiest goals i ever saw.

 

[jamsieboy86]

Ireland got the job done, never got a 2nd goal and it was very nervy at the end. 2 games, 2 goals, 2 wins and sitting top of the group. Can't ask for much more, bigger tests to come, this team has to improve.

 

[monster09]

Shit, shouldn't have missed those games.

Swiss from 3-0 up to 3-3 in last 10 mins. Norway from 2-0 up to 3-2 down conceding goal in extra time to scoring equaliser in extra time. Should catch highlights. Was always a fan of Josh King, happy he is playing well for both club and country.

 

[Matt90]

Some unbelievable comebacks last night, Greece against Bosnia, Sweden against Norway and Denmark away to Switzerland. Also you could say some nice bottle jobs too.

 

[Pajo]

We play Poland now. For those who wanna see Elmas, he is a starter.

 

[CafeCordoba]

Finland beat Bosnia 2-0 at home. We rock! Dzeko was pretty shit.

 

[Ziyad]

Barella scores

 

[YoramG]

2-0, Insigne. Italy bossing it.

- - - Updated - - -

3-0, but Bonucci can still fuck off.