Euro: UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifying

[HajdukSplit]

So with 1 matchday remaining 16 of the 20 automatic spots are known so there is little drama in the final MD with the exception of a few games

QUALIFIED (bold = group winners)
A: England, Czech Republic
B: Ukraine
C: Germany, Netherlands
D: -
E: Croatia
F: Spain, Sweden
G: Poland, Austria
H: France, Turkey
I: Belgium, Russia
J: Italy, Finland

Both Germany and France control their destiny to win their group, Group D is the only group without an automatic qualifier but with the Swiss playing Gibraltar they are expected to do it. The key matchup is Ireland-Denmark in that group, Ireland must win while Denmark only need a draw. The other key game is in Group E between Wales-Hungary where they winner qualifies, if they draw that opens the door for Slovakia. In Group B, Portugal should finish 2nd as they go to Luxembourg needing to win

PLAYOFFS
League D is set, the following matches will be played March 26, 2020 in a single elimination match with UEFA conducting a draw to see who hosts the 'final'

Georgia vs. Belarus
Macedonia vs. Kosovo

These teams are eliminated from automatic qualification but guaranteed playoffs: Iceland (A), Bosnia-Herzegovina (B), Northern Ireland (B), Scotland (C), Norway (C), Bulgaria (A or C), Israel (A or C), Romania (A or C). Still in contention but have the playoff backup: Portugal, Denmark, Wales, Slovakia, Rep of Ireland, Serbia, Hungary

 

[Uncle Rotter]

PLAYOFFS
League D is set, the following matches will be played March 26, 2020 in a single elimination match with UEFA conducting a draw to see who hosts the 'final'

Georgia vs. Belarus
Macedonia vs. Kosovo

These teams are eliminated from automatic qualification but guaranteed playoffs: Iceland (A), Bosnia-Herzegovina (B), Northern Ireland (B), Scotland (C), Norway (C), Bulgaria (A or C), Israel (A or C), Romania (A or C). Still in contention but have the playoff backup: Portugal, Denmark, Wales, Slovakia, Rep of Ireland, Serbia, Hungary

These playoffs are a monstrosity. Bulgaria, Belarus and Scotland advance despite being hideous while more deserving teams like Slovenia, Armenia and Albania are eliminated.

 

[Lepardi]

These playoffs are a monstrosity. Bulgaria, Belarus and Scotland advance despite being hideous while more deserving teams like Slovenia, Armenia and Albania are eliminated.

Scotland beat Albania 2-0 at home and 4-0 away to earn that spot in the playoffs. Whining about how Albania is "more deserving" makes no sense.

 

[Savi]

Not to mention Albania just tied Andorra at home, that by default should mean you don't deserve to be at a tournament

 

[HajdukSplit]

I do kind of agree with Uncle Rotter though, a team like Bulgaria is without a win and makes the playoffs because of some NL results which wasn’t even part of Euro qualifying. Israel is in the playoff but could finish below Slovenia who are already eliminated

The big question I have going forward is how it will be used for World Cup qualifying, I doubt we will see UEFA use the same format of League D teams having a chance to make the WC

 

[Lepardi]

I do kind of agree with Uncle Rotter though, a team like Bulgaria is without a win and makes the playoffs because of some NL results which wasn’t even part of Euro qualifying.

The NL is a part of Euro qualifying. This was made pretty darn clear to every team taking part. If this came as a surprise to Slovenia, they've only got themselves blame.

Instead of friendlies we got to watch competitive football. That's definitely an improvement.

 

[Savi]

The big question I have going forward is how it will be used for World Cup qualifying, I doubt we will see UEFA use the same format of League D teams having a chance to make the WC

While nothing has been confirmed yet, the WCQ group winners would go directly to the WC, while the group runners-up and a bunch of eligible Nations League teams will go to a playoff for the remaining UEFA WC spots

Lol June/July 2021 going to be very busy. The Nations League finals, FIFA with their new Club World Cup, also the AFCON tournament. Some top players will have to take their vacation days in August.

 

[HajdukSplit]

Not much drama in today's games but they are spread out

In the first kickoffs, Portugal need to beat Luxembourg to qualify while Serbia must hope for Portugal to drop points and they must beat the inform Ukraine at home who are emerging as a potential dark horse at Euro if their young players develop

In the early evening kickoffs there isn't much to play for, Kosovo host England is whats their biggest game in their history. In the late evening kickoffs France will go to Albania to open the new stadium there needing a win to win the group

 

[Pouchkine]

Northern Ireland are in the playoffs regardless, they will likely play Bosnia-Herzegovina away in the semifinals

Who are the idiots who tought about a system so stupid and incoherent????

 

[Pouchkine]

The NL is a part of Euro qualifying. This was made pretty darn clear to every team taking part. If this came as a surprise to Slovenia, they've only got themselves blame.

Instead of friendlies we got to watch competitive football. That's definitely an improvement.

I remember watching better friendlies over the years than the crap we got to see last year in the garbage NL. Anyway not every game needs to be "competitive" or else everybody will play boring and not use younger players... 1-2 friendly a year to try young players and play a bit more relax was never a problem AT ALL.

This format is a complete joke I don't see it lasting very long.

 

[Savi]

Ukraine with a well deserved 93th minute equaliser against Serbia, doesnt't really matter since Portugal will beat Luxembourg though

I was impressed with Ukraine though, played some excellent football. I think this team can make some noise at the EC

 

[Pouchkine]

Really too bad tha the 24 teams format is garbage with 16 teams going through makes for a boring group stage with teams playing for the draw and then weak teams playing for the penalties in the knockouts.

16 Teams Euro was the best, I'd prefer 32 teams than 24 to be honest then you couldn't qualify with 3 draws...

 

[HajdukSplit]

Ukraine are seeded for the finals draw but because they cannot go into Russia's group they will be placed in either Group C (Netherlands) or F (Germany), whoever is not seeded amongst those two

So far England, Italy and Netherlands are guaranteed three home games in the group stage, with Germany getting the same should Hungary not qualify and Spain should Ireland not qualify directly

 

[Chimaera]

Harry Wilson upping that sale value.

 

[Pouchkine]

Ukraine-Russia final would be played or not? Sports shouldn't mix with politics they say no?

 

[HajdukSplit]

Ukraine-Russia final would be played or not? Sports shouldn't mix with politics they say no?

UEFA doesn't allow it, which is why Belgium was pretty much 'stuck' with going into Russia's group while Ukraine will almost certainly go into Netherlands' group. If Kosovo qualify they won't be able to draw Russia either

Today not much of note happened, Portugal qualify but must wait to see what pot they are in, France win the group but must wait and see if they will be seeded (probably not). Czechs losing today gives Finland some hope to move up to Pot 3 but they must beat Greece, its possible but who knows how much they partied after Friday The runner-up in Group E (Wales/Hungary/Slovakia) will almost certainly be in Pot 4 along with likely the Czechs or Finland depending on what Finland does on the final MD

Here are the teams officially locked into their pots

Pot 1: Belgium, Italy, England, Ukraine
Pot 2: Russia, Croatia
Pot 3: Austria, Turkey
Pot 4: -

 

[Venkman]

First England goals for Winks and Mount. Nice first time finish by Rashford too. Sloppy performance at times, Winks and Rice played well.

 

[Pouchkine]

UEFA doesn't allow it, which is why Belgium was pretty much 'stuck' with going into Russia's group while Ukraine will almost certainly go into Netherlands' group. If Kosovo qualify they won't be able to draw Russia either

Today not much of note happened, Portugal qualify but must wait to see what pot they are in, France win the group but must wait and see if they will be seeded (probably not). Czechs losing today gives Finland some hope to move up to Pot 3 but they must beat Greece, its possible but who knows how much they partied after Friday The runner-up in Group E (Wales/Hungary/Slovakia) will almost certainly be in Pot 4 along with likely the Czechs or Finland depending on what Finland does on the final MD

Here are the teams officially locked into their pots

Pot 1: Belgium, Italy, England, Ukraine
Pot 2: Russia, Croatia
Pot 3: Austria, Turkey
Pot 4: -

But what will happen if they are to meet in the knockout rounds?

 

[gary69]

France not being seeded would be quite weird, reigning WC winners and EC finalists, won their qual.group. If that's the case, the seedings must be calculated/weighted wrong. Why not put Ukraine in the same Pot 2 than Russia, that way they can't face each other.

 

[Savi]

But what will happen if they are to meet in the knockout rounds?

I wonder about that as well. With Russia being in Group B, and Ukraine likely in Group C, they could meet in the QF. For instance lets say Ukraine wins their group (not impossible) and Russia finish 2nd behind Belgium (very likely) and both survive the 2nd round, they will meet in a QF in Baku, Azerbaijan what could go wrong

 

[koyvoo]

I believe this could still change over the next two days, but-

 

[Eye of Ra]

Georgia

They should give the spot for free to Serbia or something.

 

[Lepardi]

I remember watching better friendlies over the years than the crap we got to see last year in the garbage NL.

I remember watching Finland win their group in the Nations League and celebrate with the fans away at Greece after only losing 1-0 (they'd beaten Greece 2-0 at home). That was certainly way more enjoyable than watching friendlies.

I do kind of agree with Uncle Rotter though, a team like Bulgaria is without a win and makes the playoffs because of some NL results which wasn’t even part of Euro qualifying.

This is how Bulgaria beat Slovenia for that playoff spot. Doesn't leave much room for complaining on Slovenia's part:

2018–19 UEFA Nations League C - Wikipedia

UEFA doesn't allow it-

Ofcourse they allow it. You can't stop teams from meeting in the final because of political reasons if they make it that far.

But what will happen if they are to meet in the knockout rounds?

https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/competitions/EURO/02/62/53/02/2625302_DOWNLOAD.pdf

From section 4, "draw procedure":

The “prohibited team clashes” known today are:

• Armenia / Azerbaijan
• Bosnia-Herzegovina / Kosovo
• Serbia / Kosovo
• Spain / Gibraltar
• Ukraine / Russia (the restriction also applies to St. Petersburg as group match venue)

Note that the “prohibited team clash” restriction only applies to the group stage. It can therefore not be excluded that the above-mentioned teams would meet during the knock-out stage of the tournament.

I believe this could still change over the next two days, but-

With a win at Greece today Finland would have about a 99 percent chance of moving into pot 3, but the players were drinking after the Liechtenstein match on Friday and might be a bit hungover. The coach already said Hradecky probably isn't playing and there will be other changes in the line-up too.

What a bunch of amateurs.

France not being seeded would be quite weird, reigning WC winners and EC finalists, won their qual.group. If that's the case, the seedings must be calculated/weighted wrong.

How would you calculate the seedings? France was only able to pull one point out of their 2 matches against Turkey. That's how they blew it. By drawing Turkey both at home and away they would have made it.

 

[HajdukSplit]

I believe this could still change over the next two days, but-

Yes it can change. For example if Germany somehow lose to NIR at home they won't be seeded, Finland could move up to Pot 3 and five teams from Pot 4 in Johnson's post haven't even qualified yet. Though if all results go as expected that's how the seeding will be though I'm not totally confident about his predictions on the playoff winners

 

[Lepardi]

Though if all results go as expected that's how the seeding will be though I'm not totally confident about his predictions on the playoff winners

I don't think of those as predictions. He's just taken the top-ranked team from every playoff path and gone with that. It is a bit misleading and even if they all go into their playoff path as slight favorites, it's highly unlikely they all manage to qualify.