Bench Women's Euros 2025

[Jejima]

Representative Team picks received from....

1. Jejima
2. Baku
3. Fujiko
4. Kaba
5. Nekonishiki
6. Asapedroryu
7. Koorifuu
8. Ryoshishokunin
9. Achiyama
10. Krisachiyama
11. Jakusotsu

We're past halfway!

@Ganzohnesushi, @Finngall, @Athenayama, @Pitinosato

Edited May 17 by Jejima

[Jejima]

Representative Team picks received from....

1. Jejima
2. Baku
3. Fujiko
4. Kaba
5. Nekonishiki
6. Asapedroryu
7. Koorifuu
8. Ryoshishokunin
9. Achiyama
10. Krisachiyama
11. Jakusotsu
12. Ganzohnesushi
13. Pitinosato
14. Athenayama

Just three two to go!

@Finngall, @Athenayama

Edited May 18 by Jejima

[Athenayama]

Will do later today and will inform Kimyama also.

[Jejima]

Representative Team picks received from....

1. Jejima
2. Baku
3. Fujiko
4. Kaba
5. Nekonishiki
6. Asapedroryu
7. Koorifuu
8. Ryoshishokunin
9. Achiyama
10. Krisachiyama
11. Jakusotsu
12. Ganzohnesushi
13. Pitinosato
14. Athenayama
15. Kimyama

Just waiting for @Finngall  Go here to make your picks!

[Jejima]

All picks are in.... 

Let's see how things pan out.... 

[Jejima]

Here we go... (Counter-balance teams in brackets)....

No 'twins' this time (when a representative team is in the same group as its counterbalance team) - the same as for 2024 Men's Euros.

Group A
Finland (France)
Iceland (Netherlands)
Norway (Italy)
Switzerland (Denmark)

Group B
Belgium (Germany)
Italy (Norway)
Portugal (Sweden)
Spain (Wales)

Group C
Denmark (Switzerland)
Germany (Belgium)
Poland (England)
Sweden (Portugal)

Group D
England (Poland)
France (Finland)
Netherlands (Iceland)
Wales (Spain)

[Jejima]

Let's have a look at the first choice picks for the groups....  If there is a '1' by the country, and you selected it as your first choice pick, then you know it will be yours.

Group A
Finland (France)
Iceland (Netherlands) - 1
Norway (Italy)
Switzerland (Denmark)
Just one first choice for this group - and not an obvious one (in my opinion).

Group B
Belgium (Germany) - 2
Italy (Norway)
Portugal (Sweden) - 1
Spain (Wales) - 3
This group will be almost complete from first choices.

Group C
Denmark (Switzerland)
Germany (Belgium) - 2
Poland (England) - 2
Sweden (Portugal)
No team uncontested as a first round choice.

Group D
England (Poland) - 4
France (Finland)
Netherlands (Iceland) - 1
Wales (Spain)
England gets the most first choice picks - and not just from my family!

[Jejima]

Let's fill in the uncontested team representations....

Group A
Finland (France)
Iceland (Netherlands) - Asapedroryu
Norway (Italy)
Switzerland (Denmark)
Asapedroryu is going to have to wait awhile to discover his competition.

Group B
Belgium (Germany) - 2
Italy (Norway)
Portugal (Sweden) - Koorifuu
Spain (Wales) - 3
Koorifuu will soon know a couple of his group mates. 

Group C
Denmark (Switzerland)
Germany (Belgium) - 2
Poland (England) - 2
Sweden (Portugal)
Group C needs to wait a while.

Group D
England (Poland) - 4
France (Finland)
Netherlands (Iceland) - Ryoshishokunin
Wales (Spain)
Ryoshishokunin must wait to find out who wins the 'England' draw.

[Ryoshishokunin]

The bench euros aren't serious enough for me to be picking strategically, at least for my first few picks--the Oranje are my team, so I'll pick 'em when they're available.  We'll see how Group D goes--it's a heck of a group.

[Jejima]

Now we will allocate the teams contested by 2 players. We will do the rolling using this die, as is the tradition.....

First up is Belgium, which is contested between refiojis Achiyama (1,2,3) and Jakusotsu (4,5,6).....

It's a....

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2

Achiyama will represent Belgium.

Next is Germany, which will be either Kimyama (1,2,3) or Pitinosato (4,5,6).....

It's a

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4
Pitinosato will represent Germany.

Finally, for the 50-50 teams, it is Poland. This is going to Krisachiyama (1,2,3) or Nekonishiki (4,5,6).

It's a....

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6.

Poland will be championed by Nekonishiki.

[Jejima]

Okay, let's add those three to the groups....

 

Group A
Finland (France)
Iceland (Netherlands) - Asapedroryu
Norway (Italy)
Switzerland (Denmark)
Nothing more to be seen here.

Group B
Belgium (Germany) - Achiyama
Italy (Norway)
Portugal (Sweden) - Koorifuu
Spain (Wales) - 3
Achiyama says cheers to Koorifuu. 

Group C
Denmark (Switzerland)
Germany (Belgium) - Pitinosato
Poland (England) - Nekonishiki
Sweden (Portugal)
Long time players Pitinosato and Nekonishiki are in the same group.

Group D
England (Poland) - 4
France (Finland)
Netherlands (Iceland) - Ryoshishokunin
Wales (Spain)
Ryoshishokunin must wait to find out who wins the 'England' draw.

[Jejima]

Time for the last couple of choice teams to be decided.

First, Spain, which three players want. They are Athenayama (1,2), Baku (3,4) and Ganzohnesushi (5,6).
Rolls the die....

It's a ......

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4!

My oldest son Baku gets Spain! 

Speaking of my family, there are four players wanting England, so this will be decided with 'semi-finals'....

In the first semi-final, Finngall (1,2,3) is against Fujiko (4,5,6).

It's a.....

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5!

That's my wife, Fujiko.

Hmmm, England will definitely go to someone in my family. (After the Spain result, I fear accusations of 'fixing' - but I can assure you all that this is not the case.)

 

Right, the other semi-final....

Jejima (1,2,3) vs Kaba (4,5,6)

It's a....

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4!

So, my youngest son will be competing against his mother for England. Right, Fujiko (1,2,3) vs Kaba (4,5,6)....

 

It's a....

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3!

My wife Fujiko (who officially became British two weeks ago) will represent England!

 

[Jejima]

Let's complete the first round of first choice teams.... 

Group A
Finland (France)
Iceland (Netherlands) - Asapedroryu
Norway (Italy)
Switzerland (Denmark)
Still nothing more to be seen here.

Group B
Belgium (Germany) - Achiyama
Italy (Norway)
Portugal (Sweden) - Koorifuu
Spain (Wales) - Baku
Baku almost completes this group. 

Group C
Denmark (Switzerland)
Germany (Belgium) - Pitinosato
Poland (England) - Nekonishiki
Sweden (Portugal)
Pitinosato and Nekonishiki await their opposition.

Group D
England (Poland) - Fujiko
France (Finland)
Netherlands (Iceland) - Ryoshishokunin
Wales (Spain)
My wife Fujiko has joined Ryoshishokunin in group D.

[Jejima]

Half of the teams have been allocated - so just half to go.

Moving on to second choice teams.....

Nothing to add here!

So, let's get to third choice teams....

Four more teams can be added without resorting to die rolling.

Let's update the tables.....

Group A
Finland (France) - Kaba
Iceland (Netherlands) - Asapedroryu
Norway (Italy)
Switzerland (Denmark)
My youngest son represents Finland - which I think he has also done on in a previous tournament, due to one of his classmates being called 'Finn'.

Group B
Belgium (Germany) - Achiyama
Italy (Norway) - Jejima
Portugal (Sweden) - Koorifuu
Spain (Wales) - Baku
I complete Group B! Look forward to the third round match when father takes on son. 

Group C
Denmark (Switzerland) - Fingall
Germany (Belgium) - Pitinosato
Poland (England) - Nekonishiki
Sweden (Portugal)
This group is almost complete.

Group D
England (Poland) - Fujiko
France (Finland) - Kimyama
Netherlands (Iceland) - Ryoshishokunin
Wales (Spain)
Another group that is almost complete.

 

[Jejima]

Let's add the fourth choice teams.....

Just the one.....

 

Group A
Finland (France) - Kaba
Iceland (Netherlands) - Asapedroryu
Norway (Italy)
Switzerland (Denmark)
Not this one.

Group B
Belgium (Germany) - Achiyama
Italy (Norway) - Jejima
Portugal (Sweden) - Koorifuu
Spain (Wales) - Baku
This one was already completed.

Group C
Denmark (Switzerland) - Fingall
Germany (Belgium) - Pitinosato
Poland (England) - Nekonishiki
Sweden (Portugal) - Athenayama
It's this one! Athenayama completes group C.

Group D
England (Poland) - Fujiko
France (Finland) - Kimyama
Netherlands (Iceland) - Ryoshishokunin
Wales (Spain)
It was the previous one.

[Jejima]

Okay, fifth round picks. Two more here.

Group A
Finland (France) - Kaba
Iceland (Netherlands) - Asapedroryu
Norway (Italy) - Jakusotsu
Switzerland (Denmark)
Just one more country to be represented - I wonder who it will be?

Group B
Belgium (Germany) - Achiyama
Italy (Norway) - Jejima
Portugal (Sweden) - Koorifuu
Spain (Wales) - Baku
This one was already completed.

Group C
Denmark (Switzerland) - Fingall
Germany (Belgium) - Pitinosato
Poland (England) - Nekonishiki
Sweden (Portugal) - Athenayama
As was this one.

Group D
England (Poland) - Fujiko
France (Finland) - Kimyama
Netherlands (Iceland) - Ryoshishokunin
Wales (Spain) - Krisachiyama
Achiyama's grandson completes Group D.

[Jejima]

Only one country left unrepresented - and only one player left to represent it! So, no choice (sorry), and these are the final groups with representative teams!

Group A
Finland (France) - Kaba
Iceland (Netherlands) - Asapedroryu
Norway (Italy) - Jakusotsu
Switzerland (Denmark) - Ganzohnesushi
Ganzohnesushi completes the draw with Switzerland - and is the only player in this competition to not get one of their top 5 choice teams. 

Group B
Belgium (Germany) - Achiyama
Italy (Norway) - Jejima
Portugal (Sweden) - Koorifuu
Spain (Wales) - Baku
It was Group A with the final addition!

Group C
Denmark (Switzerland) - Fingall
Germany (Belgium) - Pitinosato
Poland (England) - Nekonishiki
Sweden (Portugal) - Athenayama
It was Group A with the final addition!

Group D
England (Poland) - Fujiko
France (Finland) - Kimyama
Netherlands (Iceland) - Ryoshishokunin
Wales (Spain) - Krisachiyama
It was Group A with the final addition!

[Ganzohnesushi]

1 hour ago, Jejima said:

Ganzohnesushi completes the draw with Switzerland - and is the only player in this competition to not get one of their top 5 choice teams.

 

Brilliant. Right from the start I'm already tired of this.

Ganzohnesushi

[Jejima]

Please go here to select your whole 8-team squad for the Bench Women's Euros 2025. 

Please remember....

You MUST select your representative team and counterbalance teams in your squad. So (for example) Kaba MUST select Finland (representative team) AND France (counter-balance team).

(If you don't, whatever team(s) you have selected in that bracket will be replaced with the correct teams - but please make things easier for me, by selecting the correct teams in the first place!)

Additionally, please select one substitute (free choice) - from teams which are NOT already in your squad.  This team will come into play in the quarterfinals.

Here are the groupings.  (The letter in brackets is the group that each is in during the group stages.):-
The groups are all just two teams to allow us to have as big a squad as possible.  The teams do have similar betting odds in the same groups. I have arranged the teams alphabetically within each grouping.

Yokozuna
England (D)
Spain (B)

Ozeki
France (D)
Germany (C)

Sekiwake
Netherlands (D)
Sweden (C)

Komusubi
Denmark (C)
Italy (B)

Joi-jin
Norway (A)
Switzerland (A)

Upper Makunouchi
Iceland (A)
Portugal (B)

Mid-Makunouchi
Belgium (B)
Finland (A)

Lower Makunouchi
Poland (C)
Wales (D)
 

@Asapedroryu, @Jakusotsu, @Ganzohnesushi, @Achiyama, @Koorifuu, @Finngall, @Pitinosato, @Nekonishiki Banji, @Athenayama, @Ryoshishokunin

[Jejima]

This is the update regarding squads and substitutes submitted via the Survey Monkey.

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 your substitute is also a squad member! Please let me know by PM a replacement substitute (who is NOT on your starting squad.) 

Group A
Refioji: Nekonishiki
Finland (France) - Kaba
Iceland (Netherlands) - Asapedroryu
Norway (Italy) - Jakusotsu
Switzerland (Denmark) - Ganzohnesushi 

Group B
Refioji: Athenayama
Belgium (Germany) - Achiyama 
Italy (Norway) - Jejima
Portugal (Sweden) - Koorifuu 
Spain (Wales) - Baku

Group C
Refioji: Achiyama
Denmark (Switzerland) - Fingall 
Germany (Belgium) - Pitinosato
Poland (England) - Nekonishiki 
Sweden (Portugal) - Athenayama 

Group D
Refioji: Jakusotsu
England (Poland) - Fujiko
France (Finland) - Kimyama 
Netherlands (Iceland) - Ryoshishokunin 
Wales (Spain) - Krisachiyama

Edited May 22 by Jejima

[Jejima]

 

@Pitinosato, @Asapedroryu

Almost there!

This is the update regarding squads and substitutes submitted via the Survey Monkey.

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 your substitute is also a squad member! Please let me know by PM a replacement substitute (who is NOT on your starting squad.) 

Group A
Refioji: Nekonishiki
Finland (France) - Kaba 
Iceland (Netherlands) - Asapedroryu 
Norway (Italy) - Jakusotsu 
Switzerland (Denmark) - Ganzohnesushi 

Group B
Refioji: Athenayama
Belgium (Germany) - Achiyama 
Italy (Norway) - Jejima 
Portugal (Sweden) - Koorifuu 
Spain (Wales) - Baku 

Group C
Refioji: Achiyama
Denmark (Switzerland) - Fingall 
Germany (Belgium) - Pitinosato 
Poland (England) - Nekonishiki 
Sweden (Portugal) - Athenayama 

Group D
Refioji: Jakusotsu
England (Poland) - Fujiko 
France (Finland) - Kimyama 
Netherlands (Iceland) - Ryoshishokunin 
Wales (Spain) - Krisachiyama 

Edited May 24 by Jejima

[Pitinosato]

Done 

And again in one Group with Athenayama and Nekonishiki, like in WC 2023

[Jejima]

Just two people left to enter their squads, that is @Asapedroryu and....  

oh, I'll do mine tomorrow morning 

[Athenayama]

5 hours ago, Pitinosato said:

And again in one Group with Athenayama and Nekonishiki, like in WC 2023

And remind me who won that?

[Jejima]

Everybody has entered - and (maybe for a first time ever?) there were no errors in the picking of the squads! So, (whilst I have the sumo on, on the 'other' screen), I will get the next bits of admin out of the way. This way the game will be fully set up for the start of the Euros whilst visitors are coming to the Sumo Forum, for sumo.