- This topic has 18 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 17 years, 10 months ago by
.
- Posts
5/4 about Romania – looks a cracking bet to me.
Holland already qualified, already topped the group, and will surely play a weak team sent out with the instructions, "LET ROMANIA WIN"
Remember a win for Romania means Holland still qualify as group winners, but it also, more importantly, eliminates both France and Italy.
The conspiracy theorists will be out in force, and they have every right to be. Why should the Dutch try in this one? Their only agenda is to get to the QF with a fresh and fully fit ‘best eleven’ players, and if they can get rid of France and Italy on the way then great.
Grab the 5/4 about Romania now, they will be odds on tomorrow
Mike
I agree Mikky but I’m not backing them because I’m still pissed off at Mutu for missing that penalty and scuppering my 12/1 Romania-to-top-Group-C bet.
Sums up what is a really crap format for a tournament. How can it be that this is how it ends up? Italy or France go out cos Holland weren’t trying?? and Romanis sneaked in.
It’s farcical IMO. I don’t know what the answer is but there has to be one.Crizzy, the answer is that Italy or France should just have played better and score some goals. So far Romania have played just as well as either of the latter two.
However I cannot see the Dutch lying down here. They are playing for fun now and some of those in the "second" team will want to impress and get into the "first" team. Think they will still be too good for a Romanian team flattered by a poor France. Italy should win tomorrow and go through in second.
But what do I know. I though the Czech Rep were certainties against Turkey last night.
Italy or France (or both) aren’t going out because Holland aren’t trying – they are going out because they weren’t good enough.
However I cannot see the Dutch lying down here. They are playing for fun now and some of those in the "second" team will want to impress and get into the "first" team. Think they will still be too good for a Romanian team flattered by a poor France. Italy should win tomorrow and go through in second.
Wasn’t that what we thought about Portugal’s second string – they will be trying, they won’t lie down, they will want to impress so they have a chance of getting in the first eleven etc.
Result; Switzerland 2, Portugal 0
Like David (and Kevin) has said, Italy and France will go out because they weren’t good enough, not because Holland stitched them up.
Italy and France have both had a crack at Romania and Holland, and have both failed to register a win, so with Holland and Romania currently 1st and 2nd in the group will it not be a case of the two ‘best’ teams going through anyway, regardless of Holland maybe doing Romania a favour?
Mike
I can also see Romaina winning this one tonight, i know people will be going mad at Holland if they give other Squad members a chance but to say who ever comes in wont try is a load of bull Italy & France should have done better so if Romania win and go through fair play to them…
Sums up what is a really crap format for a tournament. How can it be that this is how it ends up? Italy or France go out cos Holland weren’t trying?? and Romanis sneaked in.
It’s farcical IMO. I don’t know what the answer is but there has to be one.I agree with Crizzy on this one and it is blatantly unfair that one team may qualify because they are playing a team which is deliberately below strength or may deliberately lose but the problem is that I cannot see how anything can be done about it with the format used. This type of thing has happened more than once in the past and I remember two european teams playing each other in the last game of the group stages of the WC and deliberately playing out a 0-0 bore draw because both teams knew that a draw would put both of them through to the next stages…..an unfair situation but what can be done?
I wish some answer could be found but until it is or the format is changed then we have to accept it. Whether Holland will throw this game to get rid of France and Italy is debatable. Holland will field a weakened team but will not want to lose their momentum and they are a naturally attacking team. Romania have played defensively so far and could qualify for the QF with a draw but will probably need to attack which will open them up for the dutch attack to score goals.
It is also debatable whether Holland will prefer Romania to qualify for the QF as this will mean that Spain will meet the Romanians and arguably give the Spanish an easier passage to the SF where they will play Holland if they get there. The Dutch may prefer that the Spanish have to play France or Italy in the QF as it will give Spain a harder task and the dutch may prefer playing France or Italy in the semi’s rather than Spain as they have already shown that they are better than them.
Confused
Not half as confused as I am by reading that the French and Italians may have to take part in a penalty shoot out if they draw tonight ( and Romania qualify ) to decide who finishes 3rd …as if anybody cares Pete
EDIT – I am glad to say that UEFA have now changed their minds and a penalty shoot out will not take place.
The only alternative as far as I can see is straight knockout and I don’t think anybody wants that.
in Fairness if France or Italy were in same position they would do exact same, no one said anything about Portugal the other night just cause the result would not affect any team but it could affect a lot of people’s bets, Dreamteams etc… but still nothing said so i dont see anythin wrong with giving othe rmembers of the squad a chance it’s not as if they will roll over and get hammered they could even win as no pressure on them….it’s a fact of this competition and others…….
Right I have a way around it.
FIFA take note
The quarter-finals should be seeded depending on how well teams have performed in the group stages. Therefore this means that the more points a team gets in the group stages, the "easier" their quarter-final becomes. This would mean leaving a gap of about 3 days between the last group match and the first quarter-final but it’s do-able.©
Seems like a good idea David. I see no good reason why the draw should be predetermined from outset.
Only problem is that it may be too sensible for the football authorities to take any notice of.
Pete
A tough call regarding which game to watch tonight. Pity the competition wasn’t on Sky.
I’m no football manager, but I’d guess the Dutch won’t do major surgery on their starting eleven. Can’t see their tactics changing either, in fact the position might even encourage them to be even more swashbuckling and to hell with the consequences. It might backfire, but I won’t be laying them.
Having said that, if I HAD to have a bet, I’d back the under 2.5 goals (currently 1.80) and hope to be able to sell to go all green after 20 mins in or so.
France and Italy, might be a nervy, edgy game where winning is more important than flair.
Think I’ll watch the Dutch and Romanians.David, Your suggestion is very good and far better than the idiotic format we now have.
Well done…write to someone!!!Italy v France was crap was so looking forward to it and such a let down to be watching prob one if not the worst games so far…..
And to all the people who thought it was wrong for holland to play their "2" team people forget that although it might not be their 1st team they are still professional and are not going to lie down and roll over….anyway they play Spain in next match and will prob be on way home after…
I wouldn’t write Italy off against Spain. Spain have a habit of coming unstuck when facing teams that are likely to frustrate them , as Italy will undoubtedly set out to do. I’d be taking the Italians to win 1-0 or on penalties (after 0-0 or 1-1) in that one.
Well done to all who stuck with Holland, you got a nice price there.
Does this result indicate that Holland have a better squad than Portugal? Switzerland and Romania are no great shakes yet Portugal’s second string stuggled badly against the Swiss, whereas the Dutch swept aside Romania no problem having made nine changes to their team.
It’s gearing up to some mouthwatering clashes in the latter stages – who needs England?
Mike
It’s farcical IMO. I don’t know what the answer is but there has to be one.
Not half as confused as I am by reading that the French and Italians may have to take part in a penalty shoot out if they draw tonight ( and Romania qualify ) to decide who finishes 3rd 
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.