Jejima 1,427 Posted June 1, 2021 I think that I have mentioned in previous Bench World Cups / Euros why bookmakers odds are used for this game and not FIFA world rankings. An easy example for this is the case of Hungary. Based on FIFA rankings, it should be higher ranked than the very lowest position, as it is currently ranked higher than several other of the countries. However, Hungary is in a very difficult group, out of which they are not expected to progress - or even win a single game. Therefore, they are grouped with North Macedonia as the 'also ran' teams. I have also mentioned why England tends to get a little higher odds than maybe otherwise, because a lot of people do bet on England with those bookmakers, so the odds are shortened a little, just in case. As it happens, England are fourth in the FIFA World rankings, behind Belgium (1), France (2) and Brazil (3). Additionally, bookmakers take into consideration the difficulty of the groups - I *think* England has an easier group than Group F, for example. Recent success in competitions (England came 4th at the last world cup), and other factors, such as home advantage. Despite this supposedly being a pan-European, there are a lot of matches taking place At Wembley, England. All of England's group matches are taking place at Wembley. If they top group D, their octofinal match will also be in Wembley. Both semi-finals and the finals are taking place in Wembley. So, the route to final for England, could be pretty much with home advantage all the way (with a quarterfinals match in Rome?). So, not much travelling - and if they get that far, they will definitely have had more 'Wembley' experience - with a predominantly English crowd - than any other team reaching the semi-finals and/or finals. So, I think on this occasion, England merit the Yokozuna status, more so than (say) Germany, who are in a difficult group, did very badly at the World Cup, are only ranked 12 in the world (Denmark are at number 10). If anything, the bookmakers are being generous to Germany. For those interested, France are the slight overall favourites (according to the average of the bookmakers), a little ahead of England, with Belgium easily within touching distance. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jejima 1,427 Posted June 1, 2021 11 hours ago, Ganzohnesushi said: Yeah, English bookmakers are funny guys, I guess they are dreamers. For each World Cup, for each Euro they declare England as a co-favorit. Absolutely ridiculous. Just look at the list of former Euro Champions: Not really true during the era of Bench World Cups and Euros (so since 2010), as I have been using bookmakers odds each time. I believe that this is the first time that England are ranked as Yokozuna in these games (I haven't checked, so I could be wrong), and that they are usually ranked as either Ozeki (possibly a tad too high) or Sekiwake (about right, in my opinion). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ganzohnesushi 528 Posted June 1, 2021 19 minutes ago, Jejima said: So, I think on this occasion, England merit the Yokozuna status, more so than (say) Germany, who are in a difficult group, did very badly at the World Cup, are only ranked 12 in the world (Denmark are at number 10). If anything, the bookmakers are being generous to Germany. For heavens sake, don't mention Germany in context with Yokozuna status. Lately they have performed not even at Komusubi level. Evil to watch. Here is hope that after the Euro's Hansi Flick will build a strong team again. Ganzohnesushi 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jejima 1,427 Posted June 1, 2021 (edited) Update.... A little key to how you have done.... = I have your squad - and it has been checked to be 100% okay! = I have your squad, but you made an error (either NOT selecting your (R) representative team or your (C) Counter-balance team - or both) - but easy for me to fix. = I have your squad, but at least one of your 2 substitutes is also a squad member - please redo your substitutes poll! Missing part of your squad/substitutes (you have only answered one of the questionnaires, so far - please answer the other!) Group A - Refioji Pitinosato Italy (Czechia) - Switzerland (Poland) - @furanohana Turkey (Sweden) - Baku Wales (Portugal) - Andrasoyama Group B - Refioji Godango Belgium (Finland) - Athenayama Denmark (Ukraine) - Fujiko Finland (Belgium) - Kaba Russia (Croatia) - Nekonishiki Group C - Refioji Jakusotsu Austria (Netherlands) - Ganzohnesushi Netherlands (Austria) - Pitinosato North Macedonia (France) - Ukraine (Denmark) - Shounokuni (@Atenzan) - your second substitute is already a squad member - please redo your substitutes. Group D - Refioji Achiyama Croatia (Russia) - Kuma-Koma Czechia (Italy) - @Atenzan England (Hungary) - Jejima Scotland (Germany) - Jakusotsu Group E - Refioji Nekonishiki Poland (Switzerland) - Djodjoyoshi Slovakia (Spain) - Chijanofuji Spain (Slovakia) - Achiyama Sweden (Turkey) - Ojisan (@LazySwede) Group F - Refioji Athenayama France (North Macedonia) - Terarno Germany (Scotland) - Hungary (England) - Godango Portugal (Wales) - chishafuwaku Edited June 2, 2021 by Jejima Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ganzohnesushi 528 Posted June 1, 2021 8 hours ago, Athenayama said: Haha, I'm living in France and that evening when Greece scored, all the neighbourhood heard me screaming while all was silent. 2 days before the final I was invited in a house where 95% of the guests were Portuguese. They were all making fun of me saying that Greece would lose 4-1 (although we had beaten them in the group stage already!). Of course all the discussion was in a fun way, Portuguese are very nice people. Yes, Portuguese are very nice people. I remember 2004 very well, it was so funny to watch Greece on their sensational path (left Spain behind in group stage, eliminating France in QF and Czechia in SF) to the final where they beat Portugal a second time on their home ground. Miraculous. Greek restaurants everywhere in Germany served the "Rehakles plate" to give kudos to the German team manger Otto Rehhagel. Needless to say guests received a double extra Ouzo... γεια μας! Ganzohnesushi 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Athenayama 1,081 Posted June 1, 2021 11 minutes ago, Ganzohnesushi said: Yes, Portuguese are very nice people. I remember 2004 very well, it was so funny to watch Greece on their sensational path (left Spain behind in group stage, eliminating France in QF and Czechia in SF) to the final where they beat Portugal a second time on their home ground. Miraculous. Greek restaurants everywhere in Germany served the "Rehakles plate" to give kudos to the German team manger Otto Rehhagel. Needless to say guests received a double extra Ouzo... γεια μας! Ganzohnesushi Haha nice ! Otto Rehhagel is definitely a hero in Greece forever. In 2000 years, when archeologists will do researches on Greek ground they might find one statue of him. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pitinosato 120 Posted June 1, 2021 King Otto forever Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pitinosato 120 Posted June 1, 2021 Hi, I was to lazy to do the refioji'ing manually So I created an Excel file to do the results of a BS-Euros-Match to a great extent automatically I have only to enter the Team (R,C,N, any) and their result in the real Euros It's surely not perfect, but I think it really helps If anybody (of the Refiojis) is intrested in my file I would of course share it If you want it, write me Peter/Pitinosato Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jejima 1,427 Posted June 3, 2021 (edited) We are almost there. I have just sent emails to Ojisan and Furanohana reminding them to make their picks. Update: Ojisan is in! I will shortly send an email to Atenzan, asking him to help out with Shonoukuni's second substitute. Update: Shonoukuni has redone his second substitute! There is still one bit of general administration - (picking your list of penalty takers for the octofinals (round of 16)) that needs doing, and then it is up to the refiojis to get the line-ups for the first round of matches. = I have your squad - and it has been checked to be 100% okay! = I have your squad, but you made an error (either NOT selecting your (R) representative team or your (C) Counter-balance team - or both) - but easy for me to fix. = I have your squad, but at least one of your 2 substitutes is also a squad member - please redo your substitutes poll! Missing part of your squad/substitutes (you have only answered one of the questionnaires, so far - please answer the other!) Group A - Refioji Pitinosato Italy (Czechia) - Nantonoyama Switzerland (Poland) - @furanohana Turkey (Sweden) - Baku Wales (Portugal) - Andrasoyama Group B - Refioji Godango Belgium (Finland) - Athenayama Denmark (Ukraine) - Fujiko Finland (Belgium) - Kaba Russia (Croatia) - Nekonishiki Group C - Refioji Jakusotsu Austria (Netherlands) - Ganzohnesushi Netherlands (Austria) - Pitinosato North Macedonia (France) - Joaoiyama Ukraine (Denmark) - Shounokuni Group D - Refioji Achiyama Croatia (Russia) - Kuma-Koma Czechia (Italy) - Atenzan England (Hungary) - Jejima Scotland (Germany) - Jakusotsu Group E - Refioji Nekonishiki Poland (Switzerland) - Djodjoyoshi Slovakia (Spain) - Chijanofuji Spain (Slovakia) - Achiyama Sweden (Turkey) - Ojisan Group F - Refioji Athenayama France (North Macedonia) - Terarno Germany (Scotland) - Finngall Hungary (England) - Godango Portugal (Wales) - chishafuwaku Edited June 3, 2021 by Jejima Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jejima 1,427 Posted June 3, 2021 (edited) Nearly there! Survey Monkey has made 'ranking' polls a paid for feature (34 pounds per month - cheapest option!). This is a little annoying, as it was free for the last Bench World Cup, which made picking penalty takers much easier. However, I have been given a 7 week free trial, and that should be more than long enough for selecting our list of penalty takers for the Octofinals (round of 16). Please select (from the 24 teams) your 11 penalty-takers in order of likelihood that you think that they will reach the quarter-finals. Please click the N/A button next to the remaining 13 teams. Only 8 teams can reach the quarterfinals, so at least three of your 'picks' will be missed penalty kicks. Please click here to choose your Octofinals penalty kick takers. Deadline is technically 30 minutes before the kickoff of the first, first round match (Turkey vs Italy), but as the 'free' monkey survey only lasts 7 days, a week from now is the 'soft' deadline. Edited June 3, 2021 by Jejima Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jejima 1,427 Posted June 5, 2021 I have just sent another email to @furanohana requesting that he picks his squad as soon as possible, so that I can announce the squads, and the refiojis can start making arrangements for sending in first round line-ups. I have not heard back from Gilles (Furanohana) to my first email request from a few days ago, which is very unusual for him. If anybody has another way to contact him (a different email address or whatsapp, for example), please can you contact him. I think that there needs to be a hard deadline of this Sunday evening (UK time) for Furanohana to get his picks in. Just in case there is a real problem with Gilles at this time, could @Athenayama ask his friend 'Shamrock' if he would still like to be on standby play (first back-up), and could @Achiyama ask his grandson Krisachiyama (second back-up) if he would like to be on standby too. If yes, please can they go to here - select your Bench Euro 2020 squad. This needs to be done as soon as possible (before the Sunday evening, UK time hard deadline.), otherwise, Mr Froggy (Peter's stuffed toy and third back-up), will make a reappearance in the game as a 'random drone. If any of the standby players do get to play, it will be to replace Furanohana, and so will have Switzerland as their representative team, and Poland as their counterbalance team - so those two teams need to be selected in the survey. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jejima 1,427 Posted June 5, 2021 (edited) Newsflash! Furanohana is in! No need for standby teams. Edited June 5, 2021 by Jejima Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
furanohana 3 Posted June 5, 2021 Sorry for the delay... I forgot to enter my team, and the first e-mail from Jejima didn't reach me (which is quite surprising)... Everything done now ! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jejima 1,427 Posted June 5, 2021 (edited) Here we go.... Can @Pitinosato please let the players in Group A know the best way to send him their line-ups for each round of matches? Group: A Refioji: Pitinosato Player ® © Y O S K U joi L joi U M L M Low S1 (R16) S2 (R8) Andrasoyama (Wales) Wales Portugal Belgium © Netherlands Denmark Switzerland Poland ® Scotland North Macedonia Spain France Baku (Turkey) Turkey Sweden Belgium Spain Italy Croatia ® © Russia Finland Hungary Denmark Poland Furanohana (Switzerland) Switzerland Poland France Spain Italy Croatia ® © Austria Finland North Macedonia England Germany Nantonoyama (Italy) Italy Czechia France Germany ® Croatia Switzerland Sweden © Scotland North Macedonia England Belgium Jejima's comments: I like the fact that Baku and Furanohana's (R) and (C) teams are in the same bracket. Good variety in the teams. Should be an interesting group. Additionally, no special teams for the Yokozuna picks, and only one for the Ozeki picks, may mean that this group will have matches decided deep into the squad line-ups? I have just noticed that half of the games for this group will be taking place in the city of Baku, in Azerbaijan. My son Peter's shikona of 'Baku' is completely coincidental - it means 'tapir' in Japanese, his favourite animal. Maybe a good sign for him, as his last two 'fantasy' matches will be taking place in that city! Round 1 Baku (Turkey) vs Nantonoyama (Italy) Andrasoyama (Wales) vs Furanohana (Switzerland) Round 2 Baku (Turkey) vs Andrasoyama (Wales) Nantonoyama (Italy) vs Furanohana (Switzerland) Round 3 Furanohana (Switzerland) vs Baku (Turkey) Nantonoyama (Italy) vs Andrasoyama (Wales) Edited June 5, 2021 by Jejima 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jejima 1,427 Posted June 5, 2021 (edited) Can @Godango please let the players in Group B know the best way to send him their line-ups for each round of matches? Group: B Refioji: Godango Player ® © Y O S K U joi L joi U M L M Low S1 (R16) S2 (R8) Athenayama (Belgium) Belgium Finland ® Spain Italy Croatia Turkey Sweden Austria © Hungary France England Fujiko (Denmark) Denmark Ukraine England Germany Italy ® Switzerland © Wales Finland Hungary Belgium France Kaba (Finland) Finland Belgium © Spain Italy Denmark Switzerland Sweden Austria ® North Macedonia England France Nekonishiki (Russia) Russia Croatia Belgium Germany Netherlands © Turkey Poland ® Slovakia Hungary Portugal France Jejima's comments: As far as I can tell, the matches involving Belgium will be the biggest factor for deciding the matches in this group, as Belgium is one of the tournament favourites, and is either an (R) team, a (C) team, a regular team or not picked for the four squads, with different meanings for each. The first round will feature mother against youngest son, when my wife, Fujiko, will take on our 4 year old, Kaba! Round 1Fujiko (Denmark) vs Kaba (Finland)Athenayama (Belgium) vs Nekonishiki (Russia) Round 2Kaba (Finland) vs Nekonishiki (Russia) Fujiko (Denmark) vs Athenayama (Belgium) Round 3Nekonishiki (Russia) vs Fujiko (Denmark) Kaba (Finland) vs Athenayama (Belgium) Edited June 5, 2021 by Jejima 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jejima 1,427 Posted June 5, 2021 (edited) Can @Jakusotsu please let the players in Group C know the best way to send him their line-ups for each round of matches? Group: C Refioji: Jakusotsu Player ® © Y O S K U joi L joi U M L M Low S1 (R16) S2 (R8) Ganzohnesushi (Austria) Austria Netherlands Belgium Spain © Denmark Switzerland Poland ® Slovakia North Macedonia Italy Germany Joaoiyama (North Macedonia) North Macedonia France © Germany Netherlands Denmark Switzerland Poland Wales Finland ® Belgium Portugal Pitinosato (Netherlands) Netherlands Austria England Spain ® Croatia Switzerland Ukraine © Slovakia North Macedonia Italy France Shounokuni (Ukraine) Ukraine Denmark France Portugal Italy © Turkey ® Russia Scotland Hungary England Belgium Jejima's comments: I have a feeling that this might be one of the most interesting of the groups, as there is a big variety in the picks. If you look at the 'key' sanyaku picks - the teams are very varied! So, every match with a 'tournament' favourite should have meaning, and will not cancel itself out, due to being on one's opponent's squad. Round 1Ganzohnesushi (Austria) vs Joaoiyama (North Macedonia)Pitinosato (Netherlands) vs Shounokuni (Ukraine) Round 2Shounokuni (Ukraine) vs Joaoiyama (North Macedonia)Pitinosato (Netherlands) vs Ganzohnesushi (Austria) Round 3Joaoiyama (North Macedonia) vs Pitinosato (Netherlands)Shounokuni (Ukraine) vs Ganzohnesushi (Austria) Edited June 5, 2021 by Jejima Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jejima 1,427 Posted June 5, 2021 Can @Achiyama please let the players in Group D know the best way to send him their line-ups for each round of matches? Group: D Refioji: Achiyama Player ® © Y O S K U joi L joi U M L M Low S1 (R16) S2 (R8) Atenzan (Czechia) Czechia Italy Belgium Germany © Croatia Switzerland Ukraine ® Scotland North Macedonia England France Jakusotsu (Scotland) Scotland Germany France © Italy Denmark Turkey Ukraine Russia ® Hungary England Belgium Jejima (England) England Hungary ® Spain Italy Croatia Switzerland Ukraine Wales Finland © Belgium France Kuma-Koma (Croatia) Croatia Russia Belgium Spain Netherlands ® Switzerland Sweden © Scotland Hungary Poland Portugal Jejima:s comments: There is more support in this group for Scotland than for England! Round 1Jejima (England) vs Kuma-Koma (Croatia)Jakusotsu (Scotland) vs Atenzan (Czechia) Round 2Kuma-Koma (Croatia) vs Atenzan (Czechia)Jejima (England) vs Jakusotsu (Scotland) Round 3Kuma-Koma (Croatia) vs Jakusotsu (Scotland)Atenzan (Czechia) vs Jejima (England) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jejima 1,427 Posted June 5, 2021 (edited) Can @Nekonishiki Banji please let the players in Group E know the best way to send him their line-ups for each round of matches? Group: E Refioji: Nekonishiki Player ® © Y O S K U joi L joi U M L M Low S1 (R16) S2 (R8) Achiyama (Spain) Spain Slovakia Belgium ® Netherlands Denmark Switzerland Sweden Wales © Hungary France Germany Chijanofuji (Slovakia) Slovakia Spain France © Netherlands Denmark Switzerland Ukraine Russia ® North Macedonia Germany Italy Djodjoyoshi (Poland) Poland Switzerland France Germany Italy Denmark © ® Wales Finland Hungary England Belgium Ojisan (Sweden) Sweden Turkey Belgium Germany Italy Croatia © ® Russia Slovakia Hungary Denmark Spain Jejima's comments: It seems to me that Achiyama and Chijanofuji have similar teams. Thankfully they have different Yokozunas, and the (R) and (C) teams special qualities will keep their direct match-up interesting. Round 1Djodjoyoshi (Poland) vs Chijanofuji (Slovakia)Achiyama (Spain) vs Ojisan (Sweden) Round 2Ojisan (Sweden) vs Chijanofuji (Slovakia)Achiyama (Spain) vs Djodjoyoshi (Poland) Round 3Chijanofuji (Slovakia) vs Achiyama (Spain)Ojisan (Sweden) vs Djodjoyoshi (Poland) Edited June 5, 2021 by Jejima Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jejima 1,427 Posted June 5, 2021 Can @Athenayama please let the players in Group F know the best way to send him their line-ups for each round of matches? Group: F Refioji: Athenayama Player ® © Y O S K U joi L joi U M L M Low S1 (R16) S2 (R8) chishafuwaku (Portugal) Portugal Wales Belgium ® Italy Croatia Switzerland Ukraine © Finland North Macedonia Spain France Finngall (Germany) Germany Scotland Belgium ® Netherlands Denmark Switzerland Ukraine Wales © Hungary France Italy Godango (Hungary) Hungary England © Portugal Italy Denmark Switzerland Sweden Austria Slovakia ® Belgium France Terarno (France) France North Macedonia ® Spain Italy Croatia Turkey Sweden Wales Finland © England Belgium Jejima's comments: Each squad has a special team for either the Yokozuna or Ozeki picks - which is going to make this group rather exciting. I like the fact that the three teams coming from the United Kingdom are all (C) teams here. Round 1Godango (Hungary) vs chishafuwaku (Portugal)Terarno (France) vs Finngall (Germany) Round 2Godango (Hungary) vs Terarno (France) chishafuwaku (Portugal) vs Finngall (Germany) Round 3chishafuwaku (Portugal) vs Terarno (France)Finngall (Germany) vs Godango (Hungary) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jejima 1,427 Posted June 5, 2021 (edited) Don't forget to pick your Octofinals (Round of 16) Penalty Takers - click here to do so. I have received complete octofinals penalty takers from the following:- Andrasoyama, Athenayama, Baku, Chijanofuji, Djodjoyoshi, Finngall, Furanohana, Ganzohnesushi, Jakusotsu, Jejima, Joaoiyama, Kaba, Kuma-Koma, Nantonoyama, Nekonishiki and Pitinosato. I am awaiting the list of octofinal penalty takers from the following:-@Achiyama, @Atenzan, @chishafuwaku, Fujiko (@Jejima), @Godango, Ojisan (@LazySwede), Shounokuni (@Atenzan), @Terarno Edited June 5, 2021 by Jejima Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nekonishiki Banji 382 Posted June 5, 2021 (edited) Group E - Refioji Nekonishiki @Achiyama , @Chijanofuji , @Djodjoyoshi , @Ojisan Please send your Round 1 line-ups to me in PM, the sooner is the better, but the hard deadline is June 11, 20:30 CEST (half an hour before the Turkey-Italy match begins). Or you can send it in e-mail to Edited June 10, 2021 by Nekonishiki Banji Status update Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Athenayama 1,081 Posted June 5, 2021 GROUP F - Refioji Athenayama Hi Gentlemen, Will the "Group of death" in the real Euro be also the group of death in the Bench Euro? Let's find out here! Kindly send your round 1 line-ups to me in PM. Please note that the later you'll send them, the less time you'll allow me to correct any mistakes so the choice is up to you. The final deadline is June 11, 20:30 CEST (30 minutes before the start of Turkey - Italy). @chishafuwaku @Finngall @Godango @Terarno Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chijanofuji 113 Posted June 5, 2021 4 hours ago, Jejima said: Don't forget to pick your Octofinals (Round of 16) Penalty Takers - click here to do so. I just completed my Octofinals penalty takers survey and in order to get a feel of how the tournament might go I went through a complete simulation of each match using Ye-Olde-Crystal-Ball (TM) to see into the future how each round 1 match would turn out, how the final standings in each group might turn out, how the octofinals, quarterfinals, semifinals and even the final would turn out... So now with 6 days to go until the first Euro 2020 match I'm finally ready for the tournament to begin and all revved up and in the mood! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Athenayama 1,081 Posted June 5, 2021 It seems that @Chijanofuji will definitely be one of the favorites... He even scared me ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chijanofuji 113 Posted June 5, 2021 16 minutes ago, Athenayama said: It seems that @Chijanofuji will definitely be one of the favorites... He even scared me ! It's the maniacal look of the emoji that that did it, isn't it? 1 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
