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Euro 2020
Jun 17, 2021 0:05:16 GMT
via mobile
Post by šrincess šµuvstarr on Jun 17, 2021 0:05:16 GMT
Wales! Woohoo! The dragon strikes. A very impressive result.
Bale seemed a mix of J. Henderson and Archie Gemmel.
One of our teams through surely! Two to go! |
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Post by dem on Jun 17, 2021 9:33:04 GMT
Shows what I know. Missed Finland versus Russia, was surprised at the result - was it a good match or a drawn out battle? . Attritional, from what I saw of it, no game of the tournament contender, that's for sure. Fins deprived lightening-quick opening goal by narrowest offside decision. Fell asleep nearing half time. Awoke as the talismanic Mr. Pukki trudged off with the Russian's 1-0 up and the game seemingly gone stale. Nothing happened until final whistle. Turkey 0 Wales 2. Vanquished the S****e irritant by simple expedient of muting sound on TV and substituted commentary with selections from the Showbiz All-stars flawless Showbiz Soccer album (even then, swear I could still hear him droning throughout tender father-son dialogue. 'Why did they take Heaven?' With perfect timing, Gareth Bale's hilariously skied penalty coincided with a Jess Conrad wolf-whistle (the raunchy Black Stockings - always gets everyone in a mood!). Turkey have been disappointment of tournament, not one of them worthy of Jess & Tanya's sweetly sung 'Soccer Superstar' accolade, Italy 3 Switzerland 0. The Azzuri (it's the only Italian I know) first team to confirm their place in knock outs, and very deservedly so. They've been a joy to watch. Proud Moment Randomly selected photo of scrumptious-legged England goal-poacher Jimmy Greaves, here seen making his Wealdstone debut in crunch winner-takes-all testimonial match vs. the Wolverhampton Wanderers (who are also known as "the Wolves"!). TodayGroup BBelgium V Denmark. Can't help but feel for the Danes who will be good as on plane home if they lose tonight. Group CN. Macedonia V Ukraine
Austria V NetherlandsOn paper, relatively straightforward wins for Ukraine and Dutch assured, but how many times do we have to remind you: football is played on grass, not paper. Very pleased that Aus-Neth is the evening kick off. Expect goals. I have a question. Isn't there football at the Olympics? Yes. The home nations are represented by a combined GB team. The women's team have qualified for this summer's competition. |
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Post by ripper on Jun 17, 2021 11:20:47 GMT
Wales much better than against Switzerland, but Turkey a big disappointment. More clinical and they could have punished the Welsh. Italy very good. I am not sure that Italy vs Wales will tell us how either team will fare in the last 16. Italy may be tempted to rest some first choice players having already booked their place. If they can replicate what they did in the first two games then they will be a real threat to favourites France.
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Post by johnnymains on Jun 18, 2021 7:58:59 GMT
Only watched Belgium Denmark yesterday and I really thought Belgium looked flat and out of ideas until they brought on Kevin 'Faceache' De Bruyne who turned the game around instantly. What a player. A shame for Denmark, but after the week they've had they've done themselves very,very proud.
Now, for tonightāgood luck to fans of both sides. All I care about is that it's an entertaining game, saying that - a massacre I can't handle.
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Post by dem on Jun 18, 2021 11:05:04 GMT
N. Macedonia 1 Ukraine 2
At half-time it looked all over, the team nobody calls the yellow peril two up and coasting. But, as the Austrians found out almost to their cost, the Mac lads can play a bit and are not easily dispirited. At 2-1, a nervy Ukraine had a chance to make it safe, only for keeper to save a penalty. Exciting game. Have enjoyed watching North Macedonia, who now need an unlikely 200 goal victory versus Netherlands to have any hope of progress.
Belgium 2 Denmark 1
This was even better. Super fired-up Danes came tearing into FIFA world #1's from the off, scored after two minutes, could have been two or three to the good by half time. Belgium came back strongly after break, scored two marvellous team goals, and clung on as Denmark resumed all out attack mode. As in earlier game, a player booked for diving in penalty area (the Danish lad had the good grace to look embarrassed). Gareth Bale must be green. "What more do I have to do?"
Austria 0 Netherlands 2
Stroll for Dutch, against woeful-on-the-night opposition. Austrian's tough job made that bit harder by absence of Marko the mad talisman, suspended for attempted spontaneous human combustion during added time in opening match. Without him they offered no attacking threat. It made for dull viewing.
Today
Group D
My extraordinary psychic powers tells me this will be the day of the low scores, so we can safely ignore them. Having said that, I'm struggling to spot the goal fest among this bunch.
Croatia v Czech Republic. Croats will need to show more in attack than they did against England. Group outsiders looked confident and superbly organised against Scots - win this and they'll be through.
England v Scotland. Draw would be fine by me, too, as I want for Scotland to do what Wales did at the last Euro's. Will England achieve a fourth 1-0 win in consecutive games. Will the Scots boot U. Gellar's head around Wembley if he claims credit for a famous victory? I sincerely hope so.
Group E
Slovakia v Sweden. Both impressed in opening games in entirely different ways. Slovaks thoroughly deserved surprise win over strangely out-of-sorts Poles, Swedes withstood a 90 minute battering from Spain and could conceivably have won, though we saw nothing to suggest they've many goals in them. Such a shame Big Zlat didn't make it.
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Post by johnnymains on Jun 19, 2021 6:24:56 GMT
One could ask me if I have a hangover this morning. I would reply in the affirmative. Properly happy with the Scotland England result. Gave as good as we got.
Didn't watch any of the other matches as my stomach was feeling rather peculiar all day.
Yes sir, I can boogie.  |
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Post by ripper on Jun 19, 2021 9:16:48 GMT
A disappointing result for England and a boost for the Scots. However, with England and Czechs on 4 points each, and Croatia and Scotland one each, a draw between the first two will satisfy both whereas Scotland and Croatia will have to go for it to stand any chance, a draw for them is no good at all. All day I had a feeling that the game would be a draw, though I was also expecting Croatia to beat the Czechs. Whoever emerges from the group will have to improve markedly if they want to progress much further.
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Post by dem on Jun 19, 2021 10:43:45 GMT
Slovakia 0 Sweden 1: First half, both sides fielded their training cones while players enjoyed a few frames in billiard room. Second period, Swedes gradually upped tempo until before we knew it we had flying saves at both ends and the decisive penalty.
Czech Republic 1 Croatia 1: Croatia briefly stung into action by sense of injustice at ridiculous penalty decision, equalised shortly after half time with days only goal in open play, a venomous strike from Ivan Peresic (aka, England's nemesis in Russia). Game fizzled out, both sides seemingly content with a point. Czechs supposed also rans of group, now through to last 16.
England 0 Scotland 0: England ran out of steam and ideas after initial spurt of activity when John Stones hit post. Maybe this will put a stop to the 'So Marcus, who do you fancy in the semi's?' bollocks in terminally gormless Eng press. Scotland were inspired, a draw the least they - and their marvellous fans - deserved.
Today ..... looks like it will be much livelier on the goals-per-game front.
Group E
Poland - Spain.
Group of Death-ish
France V Hungary
Germany V. Portugal
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Post by johnnymains on Jun 20, 2021 7:04:53 GMT
Was recording a bluray commentary yesterday so only managed to watch snatches of Spain Poland - so feel for the Polish who must have thought they had Spain beaten, only to come back to see they had equalised. Good result. No surprises with Portugal Gaermany - Portugal; they're unstoppable.
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Post by ripper on Jun 20, 2021 8:33:39 GMT
Even when you think they may be stuttering like after the game with France, they have a habit of coming back. They have a self-belief about them. I don't think their players are individually much better than those of England, but Germany has the knack of getting the best of them as a team, whereas we do it on a much less consistent basis--the whole being too often less than the sum of the parts as I have said before.
The Spain Poland result keeps the latter in the competition. Spain don't seem the force they were a few years ago.
Looking forward to the Wales Italy game. Will the Italians rest some key players I wonder?
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Post by dem on Jun 20, 2021 8:52:36 GMT
Germany 4 Portugal 2
France 1 Hungary 1
Spain 1 Poland 1 No surprises with Portugal Gaermany - Portugal; they're unstoppable. Germany managed to stop them. Very comfortably at that - 4-2 actually flattered the holders, who looked well beaten by half time, and that after taking lead with first attack. The worst-Germany-squad-in-living-memory need only take a point from Hungary to be through, though on yesterday's evidence, that won't be so easy (though they'll do it). Another v enjoyable watch for neutrals. The French, predictably, battered the hosts, but couldn't score. Joyous scenes when the Magical Magyars - backed by full capacity crowd - took shock lead a minute before HT. Was recording a bluray commentary yesterday so only managed to watch snatches of Spain Poland - so feel for the Polish who must have thought they had Spain beaten, only to come back to see they had equalised. Eh? Spain scored first. It was the Poles who equalised - trademark power-header from their giant goal-machine, who'd earlier fluffed an easier chance. There was a lot of it about, as Spain wasted a (very dubious) penalty. Keeper saved initial shot, Moreta, who'd scored the opener, blasted rebound into the stands. Poland much improved from opening match, Spain yet to get going. Today Group AItaly V Wales
Switz V TurkeyItaly and Wales already through - barring a very freak combination of wins for all other teams capable of making it to 4 points - which is a shame, as would like to have seen them have to go at one another hammer and tongs. Will go for Italy, because they've played the most attractive football and I want an attack-minded time to lift trophy. Decent but goal-shy Swiss need a first win. Turkey, after two woeful non-displays, will be desperate to avoid a zero points exit.
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Post by johnnymains on Jun 20, 2021 10:09:18 GMT
Germany 4 Portugal 2
France 1 Hungary 1
Spain 1 Poland 1 No surprises with Portugal Gaermany - Portugal; they're unstoppable. Germany managed to stop them. Very comfortably at that - 4-2 actually flattered the holders, who looked well beaten by half time, and that after taking lead with first attack. The worst-Germany-squad-in-living-memory need only take a point from Hungary to be through, though on yesterday's evidence, that won't be so easy (though they'll do it). Another v enjoyable watch for neutrals. The French, predictably, battered the hosts, but couldn't score. Joyous scenes when the Magical Magyars - backed by full capacity crowd - took shock lead a minute before HT. Was recording a bluray commentary yesterday so only managed to watch snatches of Spain Poland - so feel for the Polish who must have thought they had Spain beaten, only to come back to see they had equalised. Eh? Spain scored first. It was the Poles who equalised - trademark power-header from their giant goal-machine, who'd earlier fluffed an easier chance. There was a lot of it about, as Spain wasted a (very dubious) penalty. Keeper saved initial shot, Moreta, who'd scored the opener, blasted rebound into the stands. Poland much improved from opening match, Spain yet to get going. Brain is just absolute mince this morning after a very long hiatus of not recording and is just a simple case of writing the teams down the wrong way around, and not realising as I posted. My apologies. I hope my error hasn't hurt the football gods. |
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Post by dem on Jun 21, 2021 7:17:58 GMT
Italy 1 Wales 0. Three impressive performances in three by the Italians who, essentially fielded their squad players and still strolled a match they were not required to win. Dragons under cosh even before sending off. Same old mantra, "Everyone writes us off, but we proved again ...." Wears thin when truth is, you enjoy a favourable press. And you just lost. That said, a great result for Welsh as, depending on today's results, they now face Finland, Russia (neither of whom have looked much cop) or, possibly, Denmark (far the more difficult opponent) in last 16.
Switzerland 3 Turkey 1. Only caught highlights but looked a really good game, Turks belatedly stirring to life, and Swiss at last having some goals to show for all that creative endeavour. Both keepers kept busy. Four points should be enough to keep Swiss involved a little longer.
Today
Group B
Belgium v Finland
Denmark V Russia
Belgium through as group winners, and Fins likely praying they rest the biggest of the big guns, Will be watching the other game. Denmark, two defeats in two, can still make it through in second with a win, should the Fins slip up against the competitions red hot favourites.
Later edit.
And
Group C
Austria v Ukraine
N. Macedonia V Netherlands
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Post by dem on Jun 22, 2021 9:07:12 GMT
Austria 1 Ukraine 0.
Netherlands 3 N. Macedonia 0
Went for the Aus-Ukr match as it had more riding on it and Ukraine were good to watch in previous games, especially dramatic opener versus the Dutch. Not this afternoon. Game low on thrills, not that unfancied Austrians will worry as they qualify as group runners up.
Belgium 2 Finland 0. Only caught highlights which seemed to consist entirely of the favourites fluffing chance after chance until it seemed that the Fins would hold out for a famous point and second place!
Denmark 4. Russia 1. Not the best match of tournament to date - scrappy first 45 - but far and away the most dramatic, the Danes claiming second spot with a phenomenal second half performance. Superb drama, dreadful back-pass pratfall, two goal-of-the-tournament contenders, another controversial penalty, crunching tackles, bandaged heads - the kind of game that wins converts. Anyone know the name of that "haunting" (Ā©Guy Mowbray) anthem the home crowd broke into midway through the second half? Denmark face Wales in last sixteen.
Today
Group D
Czech Republic V England. England beat them 5-0 in qualifiers (lost 1-2 away) but would not bank on same outcome tonight. As group winner will face someone horrible from Group of Death next time, 2nd place England might be happier with a draw (though fans won't).
Croatia V Scotland. When Croatia equalised against the Czech's shortly after time, it looked as though they'd got their act together, but after a few promising attacks, they sat back, seemingly satisfied with a point, safe in the knowledge that England would beat the Scots, and they'd do likewise tonight. If that were the case they may yet bitterly regret not going for a win that looked theirs for the taking.
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Post by johnnymains on Jun 22, 2021 21:21:25 GMT
Well done, England - and good to see Sterling score. Gutted about Scotland, but at least I can stop watching the tournament now and wait for the snooker to come round again.
Belgium for the tournament.
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