meant to also click willing to pay a buy in. in fact, i wont play unless there is money because its such a different game.



just pick a poker client (any will do), and we can organize a private free game using free play chips. Keep track of the private tournament results, paypal out the winners. edit: im gunna suggest pokerstars because its what i use. free accounts are free to open, too.

if in the meantime we just want a free game, we can use facebook poker and play a private game.

So, Euro 2008 is here next year, but who will qualify?

So far on the British front, the English have been lacking, up until the most recent game against Israel, where we had a very decent performance (though Israel are hardly world-beaters).

The Scots are surprising everbody, currently 2nd in their group, a group containing some pretty difficult teams, namely France, Italy and Ukraine.

The Welsh are really struggling, currently only 5th in the group, with Germany and the Czech Republic topping the table. The Republic of Ireland are also third.

Fixtures for today (12th September)

Grp A Armenia v Azerbaijan 
Grp E Andorra v Croatia
Grp F Iceland v Northern Ireland
Grp D Slovakia v Wales
Grp A Finland v Poland
Grp C Norway v Greece
Grp G Slovenia v Belarus
Grp D Cyprus v San Marino
Grp F Denmark v Liechtenstein
Grp C Bosnia-Herzegovina v Moldova
Grp E England v Russia
Grp B Lithuania v Faroe Islands
Grp C Turkey v Hungary
Grp E F.Y.R. Macedonia v Estonia
Grp D Czech Republic v Republic of Ireland
Grp G Bulgaria v Luxembourg
Grp G Albania v Netherlands
Grp A Kazakhstan v Belgium
Grp A Portugal v Serbia
Grp B France v Scotland
Grp B Ukraine v Italy
Grp F Spain v Latvia

(Bolded are the ones I think will be particularly exciting.)

Norway are a very good team, but Greece won the tournament in 2004, so I definitely think it could be a good match, though Greece are lacking as of late. England have got Russia, and as long as we put in a similar performance as we did against Israel, I think we're in with a shot. We definitely have the talent. Scotland take on France in Paris, which will be an exceptionally difficult game for them, though the Scots have proved pretty resilient so far. Also in group B there's Ukraine v Italy, and that could definitely mess up the group's table a bit if Ukraine can cause an upset.

http://pda.sky.com/sports/pda_football_comp_groups.asp?path=football--international--european_championship&sport=Euro%202008
The full group standings here.


So what are your predictions for the rest of the qualifying stages? Will England make it? (I hope so!) Will Scotland surprise everybody and qualify from their incredibly tough group?

The pressure's on!

Russia lead by the legendary coach himself, the man who brought South Korea to the World Cup 2002 semi-finals, and Australia to the World Cup quarter-finals.

I look forward to this game.

Go Poland whoooooo kick some Finn ass!

I don't follow soccer much, but my dad gets really excited about these things and tells me when Poland is playing and such, so hopefully I'll be able to see the Poland vs. Finland match (don't really care about the others)

I hope Scotland kicks France's ass.

But I think 0-0 will be the result, and an extremely positive one for us.

I have a feeling this might be our (Scotland's) year. We're doing brilliantly.

Go Poland whoooooo kick some Finn ass!

I don't follow soccer much, but my dad gets really excited about these things and tells me when Poland is playing and such, so hopefully I'll be able to see the Poland vs. Finland match (don't really care about the others)

Bah. Finland would really like to win this. If Finland does win it, it could mean that Finland will go to a real men's championship for the first time ever. They've played decently and are close... oh so close... They just need to get points in the following couple of games. (and preferably not lose any of them)

Knowing Finland though we will never make it. But damn... It's not so far away. Especially if Portugal and Serbia... Tie or something like that.

EDIT:
0-0... Damn, it seems as if we were pretty close... pretty close... but at least that's one point.

So, yeah.

The league's been under way for a few weeks now so I thought we could start a thread about it in which to discuss, as I think any football fans will be watching the English league this year.

The league so far:



My opinions on the contenders:

Now, I'm a Liverpool fan, so this table pleases me a lot at the minute. First of all, I think they have the best chance of winning the league than they have had for a long, long, time. They've finally got an out-and-out striker in Torres, and with Kuyt and Crouch, both are equally adept at partnering him. I feel Torres will be the key.
Man Utd, though, have an extremely strong squad. They're not doing brilliantly at the minute, but that's not gonna last long. With Rooney and Ronaldo set to return, two of the best players in the league/world, they'll start winning matchs and racking up points.
Chelsea are going to be there no matter what. It'll be up to Liverpool or Man Utd to stop them winning the title, as they will always churn out victories from the poorest performances, and I think they'll be hard to stop. But, I don't think they'll win it this year.
Arsenal are too young. They have a fantastic team, and are a great prospect, especially for spectators, for the future. But they just don't have the experience to win it this year. I think Henry's abscence, although providing them with a huge hole to fill, has allowed Fabregas, Rosicky, Hleb and Van Persie (those in particular) to step up and show what they are capable of. I just don't think that includes winning the league.


As for relegation, I think Derby are the whipping boys this year, and will probably go down with Birmingham and Reading. Maybe Bolton, unless they get their act together.

So, what are your opinions? And I think this topic is a good start for discussing the league here every week.

Reading go down? pff. You clearly don't know Reading.

I tend to not care much after only five rounds of play. Half-way through the season is probably the time to draw conclusions. Until then I just enjoy the occasional game I catch on TV. I haven't managed to follow much but looking at the table right now it seems that all the expected ones are up there and I wonder how long Manchester City will go before falling to the lower half of the table by the end of the season.

Northern Ireland pulled off two shockers against England and Spain so who knows what'll happen.

Rock on Scotland. Rock on.

Myself and every other Liverpool supporter I know is in a feverish frenzy right now. We're back where we're supposed to be and it feels excellent.

That table is beautiful.

Torres has looked great, and if it wasn't for a certain official who will go nameless, we'd have 12 points. YNWA

Good results for the British nations then!

(Except NI)

Norway v Greece finished 2-2, I knew that would be a close one too

Well done Scotland especially!