Euro Footsy Championships!

[Zzzptm]

Denmark trolleyed the Russkies. Nice to see that.

OK, so Finland has a GD of -2. Ukraine and Switzerland are -2, so they are ahead. If Croatia and Scotland tie, then they only have 2 points and they fall behind Finland. That would leave groups E and F to sort out.

If Sweden beats or ties Poland and Slovakia beats Spain, then both of those sides would have lower points than Finland. And in group F, Portugal likely goes through but if Germany beats Hungary, then that would leave Finland as the last of the 3-pointers to complete the Round of 16. Yes, it's contingent on 4 other outcomes, but still possible for Finland to go through.

If either Croatia or Scotland win outright, however, then they bump Finland out.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

Just the two matches today:

Scotland v Croatia Both teams need a win. The Scots will be withour influential Billy Gilmore who has tested positive for COVID. Croatia haven't really been at their best and because of that I think it will be a win or Croatia but it will be only by the odd goal. 2-1 to Croatia.

England v Czech Republic: Both teams are through to the final 16. England's Chillwell and Mount are isolating having spent an extended time with their Chelsea teamate Scotland's Gilmore after the bore draw the other day! If England lose and come third in the group it might be beneficial as the last 16 match would be after Chillwell and Mount had completed their Isolation! 1-1 draw I think.

[Charger]

Yes today might be a draw day...

Scotland vs Croatia... I expected much much more from Croatia I have to say but they have been very poor through out. The Scotts again have been somewhat lively. But the gnarly truth is is Croatia doesn't win here they are out...so I'm assuming they'll be risking it....so I am thinkin they will win.

England vs Czech Republic... Both teams would be content with a tie here I think.  And England hasn't been playing all that great anyways so yeah...this one will be a tie...a goalless one even I think.

[Zzzptm]

I don't like it when teams both seem to collude and play to the tie.

PROPOSAL: when teams both want a tie, then they can shake hands and agree at the match start that they accept a tie, game over. However, they are then required to spend the next 2 hours doing cool stuff like trick shots, goal shootouts, and skills displays like keeping the ball on one's chest while walking or stuff like that.

[Charger]

Well it took three matches but finally Croatia showed some of that talent that I expected from them from the very start. Good win and a WONDERFUL goal from Modric!

I do kind of feel bad for the Scotts though...I guess they could have used a break here as they've been falling short for so many times...


England did manage to scrape a 1-0 win from the Czechs...

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

I didn't see any of the Croatia / Scotland game, apart from the goals. Thought it was good to see Croatia turn up at last, but Scotland need more class players to have a chance of progressing in future tournaments.

I saw the first half of the England / Czech game (before I connected with some friends on a "Virtual Pub" Zoom call), but kept half an eye on the second half. England played well in the first half but the Czech were never out of it. In the second half England sat back but the Czechs didn't make many clear cut chances!

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

Todays Games

Early Games
Slovakia v Spain. Spain have to win this, and I can't help thinking they will because they should have too much for Slovakia. But I doubt they will go much further in the competition. 2-1 to Spain
Sweden v Poland. Sweden are solid and always seem to progress beyond the group stages. Poland though are desperate for a result, but I think this might be a draw at best. 1-1

Late Games
Germany v Hungary. I was worried for Germany after the first game, but they bounced back big time against Portugal. Hungary probably feel that they've achieved all they can in this "group of death" and I don't see them getting anything here. 3-1 to Germany
Portugal v France. France looked poor last time but I'm sure they will raise their game against Portugal. Portugal need to get a result from this match, but might go through anyway if they don't lose too heavily. To be honest I would like France to win heavily because as great as Ronaldo is I can't stand his smugness! 3-1 to France.

[Charger]

^^^
Hahah! Again we were writing this at the same time!

Then it is the final day of the Group stage...

Slovakia vs Spain... Spain has been extremely inefficient again this year...they are missing the scoring ability completely...But they need to win this if they want to proceed...so I am hoping they'll find something to beat Slovakia's defence...but sadly this might be a tie too...

Sweden vs Poland. Poland has been much weaker than I expected. I am glad that Lewandowski got that one goal in for his farewell tournament but he does need to score again today if Poland wants to carry on and against Sweden's block defence that might be impossible. Sweden doesn't need the win so they'll play tight. This will be a tie.

Germany vs Hungary. Germany played insanely well against Portugal which was a huge surprise...so this should be a no brainer win for them.

Portugal vs France...France doesn't need to win this but I have a feeling they want to...but Portugal will change things up a bit after the disaster of the last match so they'll tighten the defence for sure. This has the potential for a tie as well.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

^^^
Hahah! Again we were writing this at the same time!

Yeah! Sorry about that!

But 2 rest days coming up until the last 16 starts on Saturday.

[Zzzptm]

Spain, Sweden, Germany, and Portugal win today.

[Charger]

^^^
Hahah! Again we were writing this at the same time!

Yeah! Sorry about that!

Haha! Just means we've got great timing!


And looks like Spain has finally found their scoring ability! 5-0! Granted two of them were own goals but still...Spain just landed the most goals of all the teams in a single match...

But stupid Sweden seems to be winning...hopefully Lewandowski can find a miracle somewhere and score that tie...

Edit:
Stupid lucky swedes again...

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

I thought it was 2-2 but just checked and Sweden had a late winner.

And yes, 5-0 to Spain was a good result, but the commentator here was saying Slovakia played the worst of any team this tournament!

[Zzzptm]

Spain didn't just win, they bludgeoned Slovakia enough to put it deep behind Finland in the GD tiebreaker. So, thanks to Spain, Finland has a chance at making the 16 after the Czechs won yesterday.

If Germany wins and France beats Portugal by 4 or more points, Finland advances!

But if Portugal wins and Hungary beats Germany by 4 or more points... sorry, Finland!

[Charger]

What an eventful first half from Portugal and France...my goodness...

Lloris forgets he's playing footsy and thinks he is a boxing ring and rams down Perreiro...a very just yellow and penalty kick from that...extremely dangerous play there...

And then just near the end a bit of a soft penalty kick for France and things are tied once again...

Quite an exciting match indeed.

Thanks to lucky ass swedes my bets went south so now I'm just fully rooting for Portugal to win..

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

Two 2-2 draws, neither France nor Portugal played at their best but the match was enjoyable enough. Didn't see much of the Germany and Hungary match, I'm guessing Germany were back to their inconsistent form again.