The stadium in Bucharest looks completely amazing; whether the match shapes up is another thing, but I can't see any of the teams playing out convenient draws in this final round of Group games. I mean, if Italy didn't then nobody will, right. Part of the reason surely is that no team actually has a clue what is needed to get through as a best 3rd place qualifier. Whilst really annoying, it is probably helping the group games to all be meaningful and competitive. It does throw in a nasty unfairness slant though, as by the time Group F come to their final games, the mathemeticians will have been at it and worked out the formula needed for qualification from that group.
So today Groups B and C get decided and my head hurts just trying to work out the permutations, but suffice to say the main interest will be (for me):
- whether Ukraine or Austria put the other team into peril by beating them
- whether Denmark can harness the positive energy being sent their way by the footballing world and come up with a last ditch qualification escape
- De Bruyne (if he plays)
The games have continued to be good fun, with Switzerland and Turkey serving up a treat for the hipster alternative channel watchers yesterday, and Italy vs Wales being tense in its own way. Certainly Italy (now on a 30 game unbeated streak) look very assured.
And tomorrow it is England again, with everything rather much on a knife-edge. Defeat could theoretically see us go out, and yet a confiudent win would see us re-installed as up there with the favourites. Southgate, I hope is looking into a mirror right now and asking himself "Do I want to let the great, in-form players in my team to thrive - or shall I grind out a joyless progression and inevitable exit somewhere along the line". Or to abbreviate, "shall I crack on and pick Grealish"?
Tomorrow we will know.
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