Contrived Euro 2020 draw

I knew it was but I didn't really know it was as bad as this.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50070549

So host nations, all of them, have a home advantage.

Even those, such as Scotland, who may only qualify through the back door hidden behind the back door.

And after the full round of qualifying group fixtures 36 of the 55 nations are still in with a chance of qualifying.

And we, even as the last Euros beaten semi finalists, still manage to find ourselves in Pot 4 amongst the weakest sides.

And potentially may not leave these shores in the group stages with games against England at Wembley and Scotland at Hampden.

Not sure what the point of the finals draw is as well over half of it already mapped out.

Everything about this next Euros just shows how much of s joke UEFA are.
World champions in pot 2 and reigning champs in pot 3

Absolute joke.

Having numerous hosts a joke... but IF they were to do it that way, put each group in ONE country, making 6 hosts, that would make more sense! Scotland, Ireland, Romania, Hungary, Why each of them? Not needed!

We could be playing group matches in either Baku/Rome or St Petersburg/Copenhagen!

At least the final is in London

Trying to work it out is a nightmare but from what I can see it is very likely that we will play Italy in the group stage

Trying to work it out is a nightmare but from what I can see it is very likely that we will play Italy in the group stage

Can you explain this? I haven't looked through the rules but I was guessing this would only be very likely if all the host countries in the play offs qualified, thus leaving just us and Finland in pot 4 to fill one of the remaining two groups, one of which is Italy's groups. Cant see Hungary qualifying and both Republic of Ireland and Scotland chances are less than 50/50, so if they don't qualify we are just as likely to be playing in those countries i.e .Germany, Spain or England's group. Is this wrong?

More spots in other groups will open up as it is impossible for all of Scotland, Romania, Hungary and Republic of Ireland to qualify

Having read the explanation on ESPN, it does appear that the only 2 groups available to us are group A - Italy and group B - Russia, Denmark and Belgium

Having seeded teams at home ensures that games are not played in half empty stadiums! Its a totally stupid idea though having games in about 12 different countries as teams and fans could be going to several different countries in couple of days madness..

Trying to work it out is a nightmare but from what I can see it is very likely that we will play Italy in the group stage

the draw for us is either baku/rome or st Petersburg/ Copenhagen..thats it..
and if its the former its 1 game in rome and 2 games in baku

Trying to work it out is a nightmare but from what I can see it is very likely that we will play Italy in the group stage

the draw for us is either baku/rome or st Petersburg/ Copenhagen..thats it..
and if its the former its 1 game in rome and 2 games in baku

probably the best option with two games in neutral venues, rather than having to play russia in russia, and denmark in denmark

Trying to work it out is a nightmare but from what I can see it is very likely that we will play Italy in the group stage

the draw for us is either baku/rome or st Petersburg/ Copenhagen..thats it..
and if its the former its 1 game in rome and 2 games in baku

probably the best option with two games in neutral venues, rather than having to play russia in russia, and denmark in denmark

I agree.
but it would be nice if the draw was actually a draw ..

Trying to work it out is a nightmare but from what I can see it is very likely that we will play Italy in the group stage

the draw for us is either baku/rome or st Petersburg/ Copenhagen..thats it..
and if its the former its 1 game in rome and 2 games in baku

probably the best option with two games in neutral venues, rather than having to play russia in russia, and denmark in denmark

I agree.
but it would be nice if the draw was actually a draw ..

Isn't that happening on 30th? Or is that just to decide which country we play in 1st?

Trying to work it out is a nightmare but from what I can see it is very likely that we will play Italy in the group stage

the draw for us is either baku/rome or st Petersburg/ Copenhagen..thats it..
and if its the former its 1 game in rome and 2 games in baku

probably the best option with two games in neutral venues, rather than having to play russia in russia, and denmark in denmark

I agree.
but it would be nice if the draw was actually a draw ..

Isn't that happening on 30th? Or is that just to decide which country we play in 1st?[/quote

yes bit there are 6 groups and there are only 2 that we can feasibly be in..

Trying to work it out is a nightmare but from what I can see it is very likely that we will play Italy in the group stage

the draw for us is either baku/rome or st Petersburg/ Copenhagen..thats it..
and if its the former its 1 game in rome and 2 games in baku

probably the best option with two games in neutral venues, rather than having to play russia in russia, and denmark in denmark

I agree.
but it would be nice if the draw was actually a draw ..

Isn't that happening on 30th? Or is that just to decide which country we play in 1st?[/quote

yes bit there are 6 groups and there are only 2 that we can feasibly be in..

As said before simples!

Trying to work it out is a nightmare but from what I can see it is very likely that we will play Italy in the group stage

Can you explain this? I haven't looked through the rules but I was guessing this would only be very likely if all the host countries in the play offs qualified, thus leaving just us and Finland in pot 4 to fill one of the remaining two groups, one of which is Italy's groups. Cant see Hungary qualifying and both Republic of Ireland and Scotland chances are less than 50/50, so if they don't qualify we are just as likely to be playing in those countries i.e .Germany, Spain or England's group. Is this wrong?

but the draw is next week...and those play offs next march...don't see much option for eufa but to allocate the play off spots to the hosts in those play offs ?

More spots in other groups will open up as it is impossible for all of Scotland, Romania, Hungary and Republic of Ireland to qualify

But the draw is in a week and a half and the play offs aren't until March. It may become a bit clearer after this weekend when they have the draw for the play offs.

Its difficult to follow but I have a suspicion one group will open up. That's because there are 4 hosts playing in 3 play off paths. Ireland in Dublin is set. I think Scotland in Glasgow is set but there could be a possibility that either Budapest or Bucharest becomes available. Lets hop its A or B otherwise we'll be in for a right messing around.

More spots in other groups will open up as it is impossible for all of Scotland, Romania, Hungary and Republic of Ireland to qualify

But the draw is in a week and a half and the play offs aren't until March. It may become a bit clearer after this weekend when they have the draw for the play offs.

Its difficult to follow but I have a suspicion one group will open up. That's because there are 4 hosts playing in 3 play off paths. Ireland in Dublin is set. I think Scotland in Glasgow is set but there could be a possibility that either Budapest or Bucharest becomes available. Lets hop its A or B otherwise we'll be in for a right messing around.

Scotland are not set as hungary or Rumania could be in the lge c play off path..
ive got my head around doing 2 games in baku ..

Could be worse. We could be at home watching it on TV.

Whoever we play. Wherever its played - Lets enjoy it.

Its a new concept. A new idea. I dont know whether it works - but we still have to beat whoever is in front of us.

Trying to work it out is a nightmare but from what I can see it is very likely that we will play Italy in the group stage

Can you explain this? I haven't looked through the rules but I was guessing this would only be very likely if all the host countries in the play offs qualified, thus leaving just us and Finland in pot 4 to fill one of the remaining two groups, one of which is Italy's groups. Cant see Hungary qualifying and both Republic of Ireland and Scotland chances are less than 50/50, so if they don't qualify we are just as likely to be playing in those countries i.e .Germany, Spain or England's group. Is this wrong?

but the draw is next week...and those play offs next march...don't see much option for eufa but to allocate the play off spots to the hosts in those play offs ?

Yes I can see this now.

Trying to work it out is a nightmare but from what I can see it is very likely that we will play Italy in the group stage

Can you explain this? I haven't looked through the rules but I was guessing this would only be very likely if all the host countries in the play offs qualified, thus leaving just us and Finland in pot 4 to fill one of the remaining two groups, one of which is Italy's groups. Cant see Hungary qualifying and both Republic of Ireland and Scotland chances are less than 50/50, so if they don't qualify we are just as likely to be playing in those countries i.e .Germany, Spain or England's group. Is this wrong?

but the draw is next week...and those play offs next march...don't see much option for eufa but to allocate the play off spots to the hosts in those play offs ?

Yes I can see this now.

its UEFA so things can change...
but thats how its looking at the moment.
might have been a better idea to play the play offs in December and draw the tournament the day after they finish ?

Trying to work it out is a nightmare but from what I can see it is very likely that we will play Italy in the group stage

Can you explain this? I haven't looked through the rules but I was guessing this would only be very likely if all the host countries in the play offs qualified, thus leaving just us and Finland in pot 4 to fill one of the remaining two groups, one of which is Italy's groups. Cant see Hungary qualifying and both Republic of Ireland and Scotland chances are less than 50/50, so if they don't qualify we are just as likely to be playing in those countries i.e .Germany, Spain or England's group. Is this wrong?

but the draw is next week...and those play offs next march...don't see much option for eufa but to allocate the play off spots to the hosts in those play offs ?

Yes I can see this now.

its UEFA so things can change...
but thats how its looking at the moment.
might have been a better idea to play the play offs in December and draw the tournament the day after they finish ?

Looks like the Italy group or the Russia/Denmark/Belgium group. A trip to Rome( good) and a couple of games in the back of beyond or two games against host nations and another against one of the favourites.

Trying to work it out is a nightmare but from what I can see it is very likely that we will play Italy in the group stage

Can you explain this? I haven't looked through the rules but I was guessing this would only be very likely if all the host countries in the play offs qualified, thus leaving just us and Finland in pot 4 to fill one of the remaining two groups, one of which is Italy's groups. Cant see Hungary qualifying and both Republic of Ireland and Scotland chances are less than 50/50, so if they don't qualify we are just as likely to be playing in those countries i.e .Germany, Spain or England's group. Is this wrong?

but the draw is next week...and those play offs next march...don't see much option for eufa but to allocate the play off spots to the hosts in those play offs ?

Yes I can see this now.

its UEFA so things can change...
but thats how its looking at the moment.
might have been a better idea to play the play offs in December and draw the tournament the day after they finish ?

Looks like the Italy group or the Russia/Denmark/Belgium group. A trip to Rome( good) and a couple of games in the back of beyond or two games against host nations and another against one of the favourites.

agree with Paul, from a footballing point of view Baku...but what a trip 3000 miles.. a 55 hour drive according to aa route planner

I’ve read earlier that we will possibly be in a group with Italy (as previously mentioned) and that we will be in group A or B, Groups C-F are for those qualified home nations to achieve an easier draw through to QF’s in their home stadiums

I’ve read earlier that we will possibly be in a group with Italy (as previously mentioned) and that we will be in group A or B, Groups C-F are for those qualified home nations to achieve an easier draw through to QF’s in their home stadiums

its here mate...yep group A or group B
don't think the QF thing is right though as England { groupD } will play their qf in Dublin should they win group

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_2020

It’s supposed to be a party to celebrate 60 years of EUFA but for Scotland to potentially qualify is a joke. Top 2 teams should only qualify with no play offs. There’s too many teams qualifying as it is.

I recall the 1974 World Cup qualifying group consisting of just 3 teams - Wales, Poland and England.

And whilst I’m at it:-

1. When are the whipping boy countries going to have to pre qualify to avoid one sided games and
2. Why do Wales never get a real whipping boy nation?

It’s supposed to be a party to celebrate 60 years of EUFA but for Scotland to potentially qualify is a joke. Top 2 teams should only qualify with no play offs. There’s too many teams qualifying as it is.

I recall the 1974 World Cup qualifying group consisting of just 3 teams - Wales, Poland and England.

And whilst I’m at it:-

1. When are the whipping boy countries going to have to pre qualify to avoid one sided games and
2. Why do Wales never get a real whipping boy nation?

there is very little point in playing what you call whipping boys as those results get rubbed anyway..
Scotland ?..Belarus are in the play offs ffs...1 win.{against Estonia } 1 draw { also against Estonia } and 6 defeats in their qualifying group

The bottom line is that anything involving UEFA or FIFA is purely about money.

Trying to work it out is a nightmare but from what I can see it is very likely that we will play Italy in the group stage

I had that down as the Final

It’s supposed to be a party to celebrate 60 years of EUFA but for Scotland to potentially qualify is a joke. Top 2 teams should only qualify with no play offs. There’s too many teams qualifying as it is.

I recall the 1974 World Cup qualifying group consisting of just 3 teams - Wales, Poland and England.

And whilst I’m at it:-

1. When are the whipping boy countries going to have to pre qualify to avoid one sided games and
2. Why do Wales never get a real whipping boy nation?

I agree totally Danny. With the qualifying group fixtures completed, 36 of the 55 countries affiliated to uefa are still in with a chance of qualifying. 16 just right. 4 groups of 4, top 2 in each qualify for knock out. Simples. None of this best third place shit.

It’s supposed to be a party to celebrate 60 years of EUFA but for Scotland to potentially qualify is a joke. Top 2 teams should only qualify with no play offs. There’s too many teams qualifying as it is.

I recall the 1974 World Cup qualifying group consisting of just 3 teams - Wales, Poland and England.

And whilst I’m at it:-

1. When are the whipping boy countries going to have to pre qualify to avoid one sided games and
2. Why do Wales never get a real whipping boy nation?

I agree totally Danny. With the qualifying group fixtures completed, 36 of the 55 countries affiliated to uefa are still in with a chance of qualifying. 16 just right. 4 groups of 4, top 2 in each qualify for knock out. Simples. None of this best third place shit.

not sure we would have qualified from harder groups this time or 2016 mind..