[MTR_10]

(Original post by Multitalented me)
I reckon the Benders will be the stars of the tournament

and Gotze?

[Kevmeister]

Hatem Ben Arfa was named by France coach Laurent Blanc on Wednesday in his preliminary European Championship squad of players based abroad.
The Newcastle United forward, who won the last of his eight caps in a 2-1 defeat by Norway in 2010, was included in a list of 12 players also featuring club team mate Yohan Cabaye and Tottenham Hotspur defender Younes Kaboul.
Blanc, who has until May 29 to unveil his final 23-man squad, will name his preliminary squad of Ligue 1 based players next Tuesday.
France are in Group D with England, Sweden and co-hosts Ukraine.
Preliminary squad of players based abroad:
Defenders: Gael Clichy (Manchester City), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Younes Kaboul (Tottenham Hotspur), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal), Philippe Mexes (AC Milan), Adil Rami (Valencia)
Midfielders: Yohan Cabaye (Newcastle United), Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Samir Nasri (Manchester City)
Forwards: Hatem Ben Arfa (Newcastle United), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich)

Source.

No D. Cisse, Lass, Saha, Toulalan or Mathieu.

[marcusmerehay]

Posting to sub.

I've said it several times already, but I think Poland will get on well as they've got a very strong defensive unit - could be à la Paraguay in the Worlds in 2010.

Looking forward to Yarmolenko for Ukraine too.

[oldham_fran]

(Original post by marcusmerehay)
Posting to sub.

I've said it several times already, but I think Poland will get on well as they've got a very strong defensive unit - could be à la Paraguay in the Worlds in 2010.

Looking forward to Yarmolenko for Ukraine too.

Same I try and watch Ukrainian Vyscha League whenever I can, particularly Dynamo Kyiv. Yarmolenko and Milevskiy are a cracking pair. Add the fact that Shevchenko is back from injury (and has got a couple of goals and an assist for Kyiv since) makes it quite an exciting time for Ukraine at the Euro's!

We're without our best goalkeeper, Shovkovskiy, and best defender, Chygrynskiy, but I'm hoping our attacking options can compensate for a leaking defence.

Not confident that we'll get out of the group stages but I reckon we can give it a good go!

[Da_hopeful_1]

(Original post by oldham_fran)
Same I try and watch Ukrainian Vyscha League whenever I can, particularly Dynamo Kyiv. Yarmolenko and Milevskiy are a cracking pair. Add the fact that Shevchenko is back from injury (and has got a couple of goals and an assist for Kyiv since) makes it quite an exciting time for Ukraine at the Euro's!

We're without our best goalkeeper, Shovkovskiy, and best defender, Chygrynskiy, but I'm hoping our attacking options can compensate for a leaking defence.

Not confident that we'll get out of the group stages but I reckon we can give it a good go!

What's the starting 11 likely to be, do you know? Based on what you've played for the qualifying stages and your personal opinion

[oldham_fran]

(Original post by Da_hopeful_1)
What's the starting 11 likely to be, do you know? Based on what you've played for the qualifying stages and your personal opinion

It's a bit of a tough one to call, because we've not had any qualifying games so Oleg Blokhin hasn't been that consistent with his selections in the friendlies we've had. Also, a couple of our best players are injured so, regarding goalkeepers, we've had to call up 2 uncapped players. But I think it'll be something like this:

GK: Pyatov (Shakhtar Donetsk)

DF: Mykhylic (Dynamo Kyiv) Kucher (Shakhtar Donetsk)
Shevchuk (Shakhtar Donetsk) Rakitskiy (Shakhtar Donetsk)

MF: Yarmolenko (Dynamo Kyiv) Tymoshchuk (Bayern Munich)
Aliyev (Dynamo Kyiv) Rotan (Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk)

FW: Shevchenko (Dynamo Kyiv) Milevskiy (Dynamo Kyiv)

Those are, in my opinion, our strongest players. Luckily, Tymoshchuk has played enough games for Bayern to be match fit, but not be overused. We have another couple of forwards such as Seleznyov (Shakhtar Donetsk) and Voronin (Dynamo Moscow) who have been banging them in for their respective sides, so we're definately good for attacking options. I'm just a bit worried about our defence without Chygrynskiy! He was our rock!

[Da_hopeful_1]

(Original post by oldham_fran)
It's a bit of a tough one to call, because we've not had any qualifying games so Oleg Blokhin hasn't been that consistent with his selections in the friendlies we've had. Also, a couple of our best players are injured so, regarding goalkeepers, we've had to call up 2 uncapped players. But I think it'll be something like this:

GK: Pyatov (Shakhtar Donetsk)

DF: Mykhylic (Dynamo Kyiv) Kucher (Shakhtar Donetsk)
Shevchuk (Shakhtar Donetsk) Rakitskiy (Shakhtar Donetsk)

MF: Yarmolenko (Dynamo Kyiv) Tymoshchuk (Bayern Munich)
Aliyev (Dynamo Kyiv) Rotan (Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk)

FW: Shevchenko (Dynamo Kyiv) Milevskiy (Dynamo Kyiv)

Those are, in my opinion, our strongest players. Luckily, Tymoshchuk has played enough games for Bayern to be match fit, but not be overused. We have another couple of forwards such as Seleznyov (Shakhtar Donetsk) and Voronin (Dynamo Moscow) who have been banging them in for their respective sides, so we're definately good for attacking options. I'm just a bit worried about our defence without Chygrynskiy! He was our rock!

Thanks for that O_F

I forgot that Ukraine were hosting, so ofcourse you wouldn't have played in the qualifying games. Yarmolenko is quality, 1st time i saw him was in the Euro u21s tournament. Really unlucky with the goalkeeper situation. Your group is quite tough, but as the hosts anything can happen. Players may thrive on the pressure of being a host country. Think the Sweden game is the must win, so it's a tough ask.

[oldham_fran]

(Original post by Da_hopeful_1)
Thanks for that O_F

I forgot that Ukraine were hosting, so ofcourse you wouldn't have played in the qualifying games. Yarmolenko is quality, 1st time i saw him was in the Euro u21s tournament. Really unlucky with the goalkeeper situation. Your group is quite tough, but as the hosts anything can happen. Players may thrive on the pressure of being a host country. Think the Sweden game is the must win, so it's a tough ask.

Yep, I'm confident that we can beat Sweden, or atleast give them a bloody good game. Same with France, given their miserable run out in the World Cup.

I don't even want to think about the England game though. I have tickets to that match in Donetsk and as I'm of a mixed English and Ukrainian background, I'm not really sure where my loyalties lie for that one. I don't even know which end I'll be in for the game!

[Salu.]

Looking forward to the Group of death games.

Anyone put up an England flag on their car yet or is it too early? Only 30 days left for kick off..

[Kruz]

(Original post by Salu.)
Looking forward to the Group of death games.

Anyone put up an England flag on their car yet or is it too early? Only 30 days left for kick off..

Around Birmingham, I haven't seen anybody do it

[Da_hopeful_1]

What would Germany's most probable defence be if Mertesacker isnt fit in time?

[Luhar]

(Original post by Da_hopeful_1)
What would Germany's most probable defence be if Mertesacker isnt fit in time?

Lahm Badstuber Hummels Boateng - Probably this.

[robocop1andahalf]

Ukraine will beat England, believe me. It's the showdown final match and the tensions will run high especially with such a partisan crowd making it hostile for England and a must win game!

[Kruz]

The Ukraine hooligans, claim want to give England a bit of shake up.

[Da_hopeful_1]

(Original post by oldham_fran)
Yep, I'm confident that we can beat Sweden, or atleast give them a bloody good game. Same with France, given their miserable run out in the World Cup.

I don't even want to think about the England game though. I have tickets to that match in Donetsk and as I'm of a mixed English and Ukrainian background, I'm not really sure where my loyalties lie for that one. I don't even know which end I'll be in for the game!

You don't think either Nazarenko or Konoplyanka will start then?

Sweden should be a close game. France i think have improved since then and look like outside contenders after the likes of Germany/Spain. Would be great if an underdog wins it.

[Aaron9890]

Hope the Republic of Ireland get thrashed in that group they are in! Come on Germany!!! (From a Northern Ireland fan)

[Da_hopeful_1]

(Original post by Aaron9890)
Hope the Republic of Ireland get thrashed in that group they are in! Come on Germany!!! (From a Northern Ireland fan)

What do you make of McClean switching allegiances? Do most NI fans dislike him now?

[Aaron9890]

(Original post by Da_hopeful_1)
What do you make of McClean switching allegiances? Do most NI fans dislike him now?

All this abuse of him is unacceptable to be honest. If he is from a catholic background and has supported the republic his whole life, why wound't he play for them when he gets the opportunity? There is no point in him playing for an international team that means nothing to him.

A lot of N.I fans are frustrated with him though because he stayed with the northern irish team right through to under 19 level and then switched. Basically he took the best out of our training coaches and all that and then buggered off. Its not fair that the Republic have had to do nothing with him and still get a good player out of it. OUR time and money is being spent on these players and it comes to nothing, it's just not a fair deal. This is what frustrates me the most.

I just can't understand all of this switching allegiance business. I think they should sign some form of agreement during their young years as to whether or not the intend to play for Northern Ireland or the Republic. That way they cant change sides once they feel they have been trained up to the best of their ability.

If a young Northern Irish lad wants to play for the Republic, fair enough, but don't take the piss out our system like that and use our time and money and then leave.

Still i don't understand why all the fans insult him and all, better just to forget about him and think about the players that want to play for us.