AsensioWillemsen

Going to watch the semi's live, the action is basically five minutes from home. The Netherlands and Spain should qualify comfortably.

Naturally the draw that I did not want. Supporting France it is.

Yeah, I agree that doping effects are probably way better (and thus worse) than lack of competition.

Any nation besides Ukraine won't boycot unless maybe when Ukraine asks them. And even then it is only maybe at best. What I think is most problematic is that many of these Russian athletes could have doped themselves to hell and back the last years because there was no regulation whatsoever. Really helps in training. On the other hand, missing relevant international competition really sets back, so maybe it evens out.

Only Ukraine will boycot probably.

They actually managed to pull this off somehow. Really thought England would go on to score another 3. What a crazy ending.

A group of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland would be fine. England and Ireland should not be allowed to draw Scotland/Wales/Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland only, respectively.

Tbh Netherlands also have been pretty prolific at recent tournaments and they didn't manage to score a lot against Scotland either. On the other hand, without Miedema I can't remember any standout match in offense.

I agree on VAR being useful/necessary. And I don't mean Scotland is going to throw it on purpose, but when you are 5 behind, it is so much different than defending the 2-0 or the 1-1 really.

Now that it is 4-0 there is no way Scotland is going to take it seriously anymore. There is little honour to be upheld now. This is all but over. I kinda expected Netherlands to lose against England over two matches, did not expect for it to go like this. This is kind of an ugly way tbh, especially with the layer of controversy over all of it. Although it should also be said that twice conceding a decider in extra time is also just plain poor. Especially the loss against Belgium was just poor. But the same could be said for England.

There is a P3 playoff anyway right?

I don’t see Belgium topping. Surely England is going to win their match. Scottish fans would be disgusted when they would give away a goalfest though, cannot see that happening so easily. even though this situation shouldn’t have happened.

*** show.

Yeah, any European sports fan should just have D+ anyway if they have the time to watch. For me personally I can watch whatever I want, but often I still use a television to watch the... well, sports coverage if we can call it like that... by the NOS. It's often just a good way to get some relevant news. But it is more about the fact that it is beneficial for the sports exposure in general and especially team sports just benefit from coverage, especially when the nation in question is in the tournament. And although I don't feel we deserve any tickets based on the OQT, both teams have a general streak of decent results.

So, that's that for any hopes to qualify for the men's tournament really. Hope then at least we don't attract all the bad luck on the women's side.

Basically Germany should not qualify, because probably Canada or Belgium will qualify, but not both. Then it will be tight again. Especially with these kinds of losses.

Well, if we would go through then Canada would be out. But it is risky business, Canada could just as well qualify with the sometimes randomness that the VNL is. It was hypothetically speaking. I would be gutted if both of our teams just miss the cut. I'm totally okay with just one team making it - just the media exposure at the Olympics alone is important. If they don't make it they will only show meh field hockey because we're good at it and waterpolo. Maybe football. Covering sports where we don't participate is just too much for the NOS.

0-3 against Belgium. So much for any Olympic hopes. Hope Canada gets in on the men's side to feel less bad when they would be denied by our girls on the women's side.

Not Hungary? One of the largest nations (sports-wise) to never host the Olympics. To me, Mexico would also come quite quickly after LA and Qatar.. well.. please no.

Quite a few of the 400 core come from sprint distance, but there has been a general professionalization really since the day she ran 22.35 at the Hypo Meeting. General level in heptathlon is basically something that really infused the level of athletics back here. That precedes 2014 really, I think that's something from maybe 2008-9 (not entirely sure though), to decide heptathlon is fruitful for wide development. It really spiked success with three athletes medaling at worlds/Olympics. And one at indoors too, Nadine is much better at the 60 anyway and didn't really keep up with the increase in pace of recent years however. Sad that with the success of Schippers also came poor sportsmanship: She never could replicate the wonder year of 2015 and it started to grow on her by the year.

Clutch win against England in a match that really could have gone either way. Lucky that a clear offside goal was ruled onside. Really weird that VAR is absent at the Q for the biggest women's tournament. Happy that Spain is doing well, Spain and Netherlands could still well both qualify, although Spain and England are still the favourites for the quota to me. Don't see any other country than France winning Group B and while Group C is open, Germany doesn't seem very solid and I don't think Denmark can upset against the top nations either.

50m at the olympics produces some surprising results sometimes, but this really seems too much of a long shot.

Football. And probably Judo in the end. If Canada still gets P2 this is totally crazy.

2-1 loss against Belgium basically means we need to get 4 points against England minimum or it is all but over already.

If Ukraine takes another set it will be all but over, but 3-1 is still just about manageable, maybe?