Euro 2020 and Copa America Football Tournaments.

I'd like to see Germany back at the top of the game.

 

1-0 France....

 

I would, too. European soccer/football isn't the same without them.

Butt ugly own goal there...

 

Goal.
Germany get the first.
In the wrong net though.
Doh.

 

It's already a better game than Portugal v Hungary.
Nice open play without stopping for fouls and dives every 3 mins.

 

Germany's execution has been way too sloppy. France is fortunate this game isn't tied.

 

Germany need to get something for all of this pressure.

 

Whew!

When Mbappé turns on the afterburners, goodbye...

 

France clearly the better team, but fortunate to get out of Munich with a win....

 

Both sides were a bit disappointing. Germany for their lack of finishing despite having so much possession and France for seeming happy to park the bus and defend their one goal lead. Apart from a couple of breakaways France barely left their half in the last 45 mins.
At least with France you feel like there's more to come, Germany not so much.
Not the classic game everyone was expecting.

 

I agree on all counts, and despite a few flashes of brilliance I think France was the more disappointing of the two teams. I wasn't expecting much out of Germany and they played down to my low expectations, but France is an entirely different story.

 

OK, so, I watched the two Euro games of today, on DVR. My impressions:



Portugal 3-0 Hungary



I’ve been saying that people are underestimating the defending champs, Portugal. Well, for 84 minutes it seemed like I was the one overestimating Portugal. This game looked a lot like Spain-Sweden, but Portugal looked like a worse Spain. Yes, they maintained predominant possession, 65% to 35%, but not Spain’s brutal 85% to 15%. And their possession seemed more futile and irritating, often just kicking the ball laterally without creating much. Sure, they did have some opportunities but they appeared to be haphazard and sloppy. Cristiano Ronaldo was an utter Joe Nobody for those 84 minutes, being Portugal’s 10th player in terms of number of ball touches, only ahead of their goalie. Any player not named Cristiano Ronaldo, playing like that, would have been subbed out.



And then, between minutes 84 and 95 (counting the 5’ of stoppage time), Portugal scored no fewer than 3 goals. This, precisely when Hungary had finally realized “these guys don’t seem to be much better than we are; we actually should try to win this game; this is the group of death; if we don’t beat them, France and Germany are looming; what’s the point of parking the bus?” So, from about 75’ to 84’ Hungary was finally attacking, they were playing better than Portugal, and they created some scoring opportunities, including scoring a correctly disallowed goal (off-side) but nevertheless, a beautiful effort.



Then, Portugal’s goals appeared to be sort of undeserved. The first one, out of two deflections in the same play. Pure luck. The second one, out of what appeared to be a soft penalty. The third one, out of what seemed to be an off-side that wasn’t called.



But then, let’s look closer at these claims. First of all, the deflection leading to Portugal’s first goal actually happened out of Portugal pressing and trying hard. Sure, the ball got a lucky bounce, but Portugal’s offense wasn’t entirely meritless in that play.



Second, slow motion showed that the penalty was correctly called. The thing is, the Portuguese striker was about to score, just the goalie ahead of him, and he would have kicked the ball hard if he hadn’t been held back slightly, by the defender grabbing his arm and pulling him back. Well, sorry, soft or not, that’s called a foul, and a foul inside the box is called a penalty. And also, there is little doubt that the striker would have had a golden opportunity to score if he hadn’t been held back. So that’s not exactly a very soft penalty, given that it happened around a clear scoring opportunity, which is why the Hungarian defender correctly collected a yellow card in that play. Cristiano Ronaldo took the PK masterfully. Portugal 2-0, and CR7 became the player who scored the most goals in all Euros, above Michel Platini. One got to respect that.



Third, although the TV did not show it, I painstakingly took care of replaying the moment in slow motion several times on my TV until I was able (after several failed tries) to freeze the image at the exact moment when the ball had already left the feet of the Portuguese player who assisted Ronaldo. I took a screen shot. Here is the image.





Surprisingly, no, Ronaldo wasn’t off-side. The goal was correctly validated, and it was a beauty of a goal, one of the prettiest in the tournament, so far.



So, with Portugal demolishing Hungary in 11 minutes, would that cancel the mediocre performance they had for 84 minutes? Well, actually, it would. Because, see, Portugal was clearly the better team, with more possession, more passes, more accuracy in passes, more shots, more shots on target, and more scoring opportunities. Still, Hungary gave them a lot of trouble by playing very defensively. But what happens when a team who is parking the bus against a better team, suddenly decides to attack and abandons the defensive stance? Well, we saw what happens. The better team, with more space, suddenly becomes creative in offense again, and scores. Once. Twice. Three times. End of the problem.



What about Cristiano Ronaldo not doing zip for 84 minutes? Well, that’s the thing with veteran genius level players, and that’s the reason why they aren’t subbed out when they play like that. It’s because they can still be decisive in a matter of seconds. Ronaldo’s body is not as agile any longer. He now often waits for his companions to serve him the ball. He doesn’t do those huge sprints he used to produce. But he is still capable of a moment of genius like what he did in the third goal, so, Portugal was fortunate not to have subbed him out… I mean, this guy is now only 3 goals away from becoming the most prolific international scorer of all time, in the entire history of football. It will probably happen in this tournament. Again, one got to respect that.



So, was Portugal very impressive today? No, they were not. But they did do what Spain didn’t: they scored goals. Three of them. And what they showed once Hungary moved the parked bus away and gave them space, may be a preview of what they will show when they face equals like France and Germany, instead of a lesser team that will try to defend rather than to win.



On another note, it was nice to see a packed stadium. One just hopes that this doesn’t become a superspreader Covid-19 event for Hungary. It was also impressive to see how the Hungarians reacted to the 0-3 loss: they still sang their anthem together with their players in defeat, in a very impressive display of loyalty. One knows that less general crowds sometimes boo their own players when they lose by this many goals. Well, not the Hungarians, and I commend them for it. Unfortunately for them, in this group of death, starting 0-3 will likely doom them, and they won’t be able to survive the group phase. But I’ll miss their enthusiasm and their loyalty.


So, was the game closer than the score? Sure, but then, if Hungary had tried to attack sooner, maybe they'd have lost by even more goals. So, no, I'm not ready to dismiss this Portuguese team, yet.

 

Now, France 1-0 Germany



Well, grandpa Hummels scored a superb goal. What a powerful and precise strike, right inside the top left corner, totally out of reach for the goalie! Too bad that grandpa seemed a bit confused; he didn’t realize that Germany were supposed to score on the other goal, on the other side of the pitch, LOL! That was pretty funny!



Joking apart, of course I know that he was trying to stop the cross, but anyway, it can’t get any funnier than that, if you are not German.



First half: the Germans were actually fairly impressive, as usual very tactically organized. Still, the reigning World Champs are just too elegant, too agile, too dangerous, and they are not too shabby on defense either, with a great back line.



France is the team to beat, this Euro. They are the favorites. They have a huge amount of quality. They were playing in Germany, in Munich, against the very organized Germans, and in first half they only created a couple of chances, but somehow they still made it look easy in several parts of the game, while the Germans seemed to always fail in the finishing department.



These Frenchmen might be called tasty too, from a German’s standpoint (me, I prefer women), because a German bit a Frenchman’s shoulder (Pogba’s). The German should have collected a red card and should have suffered sanctions. That’s what happened to Luis Suárez of Uruguay, right? Why the double standard, in international refereeing? Is it that when the South American does it, he is considered to be a savage who needs to be severely punished, red-carded then suspended for months, but when it’s a European who does it, it’s just fine??? Incredible.



Second half:



France with a huge opportunity at 51 minutes with Rabiot. They should have scored their second goal, there. But then, Germany should have tied the game at 53:30, in their best opportunity by Gnabry.



Germany trying hard. This is the group of death. They are behind, and Portugal won 3-0 so Germany needs the home win. But then, they are allowing France to have dangerous counter attacks. I keep feeling that it is more likely that France will score a second, than Germany scoring to tie.



And then France hits the post. That’s what I’m getting at. The more Germany needs the score, the more dangerous France’s counters become.



Germany almost scores at 57 but they cause a concussion in the French defender and play is halted. Why was the guy allowed to keep playing? Don’t they have neurologists? Amazing.



66’, Mbappe scores a terrific goal… unfortunately, off-side. Darn.



77, France almost scored again. Looked like a penalty but no VAR? Replay shows a rather clear penalty on Benzema. Why the hell wasn’t it called??? WTF? So, Germany is allowed to bite a French player… should have been playing with ten men… to cause a clear penalty… and they get away with it? Unreal.



83, the game is pretty electric now. Very intense and exciting. And then France puts it away, with another dangerous counter, just like I predicted. Benzema, 2-0. Oh wait. Off-side. Wow. Back to 1-0. Pogba had two and half times more through balls than the entire German team… but the French are getting off-side by a hair or else they could be winning this 3-0.



Full time. France wins. Am I impressed with the French? Definitely. They remain the favorites. Am I impressed with the Germans? They couldn’t get passed the French back line, but yes, considering that they were playing against the best team of the tournament, they did make the French work hard. It was a good showing by both teams, and a great game. This group should have all 3 top dogs advancing, the third one being one of the best 3rds. Hungary is in trouble, as expected.



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Tomorrow, my Italy faces a much tougher Switzerland as opposed to the opening game opponents, and we shall see if our excellent first showing was in function of facing inferior Turkish opposition, or if the Squadra Azzurra is really a contender. Of course I’m hopping for the latter, but I can’t say I’m not nervous.



I got my Italian football scarf, my two Italian flags, I’m all prepared… I hope the team is, too. Again, I’ll DVR the games and only comment much later.

 

I disagree. I think France did have enough flashes of brilliance, and could have won 3-0 if not for the tinniest hairline off-sides. They scored two additional goals that were disallowed (correctly) by a hair. They had a clear penalty in their favor not called. They hit the post. They had a couple of additional clear opportunities. Germany should have played with 10 men after a German bit Pogba.

So, unlike the Portugal-Hungary game where the game was closer than the score, this closer score in this game, actually is the opposite: this game was farther away for France than the score.

What did Germany do? They tried and tried, and all that they could produce was an own goal.

I don't think France were disappointing. They are still the team to beat.

 

Today was a good day for me. I was rooting for Portugal and for France and they both won. With different merits, different degrees of impressiveness, but a win is a win.

While I like France and Portugal, I don't love them like I love Italy, so, sure, I'm happy, but I will only be truly happy if Italy beats Switzerland tomorrow.

Forza Azzurri! Andiamo! Spero bene che vinceramo!

Cantiamo insieme, il Canto degli Italiani:



Fratelli d'Italia,
L'Italia s'è desta,
Dell'elmo di Scipio
S'è cinta la testa.
Dov'è la Vittoria?
Le porga la chioma,
Ché schiava di Roma
Iddio la creò.

Stringiamci a coorte,
Siam pronti alla morte.
Siam pronti alla morte,
L'Italia chiamò.
Stringiamci a coorte,
Siam pronti alla morte.
Siam pronti alla morte,
L'Italia chiamò!

Sì!

 

You are not that far off. Israel actually plays in UEFA. They did not qualify for the final phase of the Euro 2020 (they have never achieved the finals of the EURO) that is being played now, but they do play in UEFA, and got close to qualifying for the Euro a couple of times (1999, 200. They joined tentatively in 1991 and achieved full UEFA membership in 1994.

 

F Germany

 

Ronaldo manipulated Rooney into getting expelled, showing more malice and more experience. Rooney was naïve in that situation. No wonder Ronaldo came out of it with a wink.

 

LOL very funny!

 

Both? Ronaldo's second goal was very creative and he had a huge part in setting it up. He actively participated in that play, from the beginning.

 

Dirty cheating bastards.
They were scared of Rooney and deliberately committed foul after foul on him to keep him out of the game. I agree with Shearer, Rooney should have kicked his arse when Ronaldo got back to Manchester Utd after the tournament.
Ronaldo is one of the worst cry baby divers in the game.
I hate him more than Maradona. Hand of God my arse...

 

I see no angels in that game. It was one of those games full of fouls and conflicts. If you ask a Portuguese person he'll say it's the English who were being violent. In my opinion both teams were at fault for what occurred in that game.

As for diving, almost all players dive on occasion, trying to earn an advantage for their team. There are few exceptions (such as Lionel Messi). Granted that some do it more than others (I'm thinking Neymar) but it's not like people in glass houses can should be throwing stones.

Regarding hatred, success in sports brings up hatred from opposing fans. It's the case of the New England Patriots, Duke Basketball, Spain in their golden stretch, etc., and it's also the case of Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the most successful footballers in history. It is undeniable that he is very good. So the Portuguese and the fans of teams he plays for, love him, while others hate him. Comes with the territory.

It applies to me too. See my "F Germany" above. I hate them because they are so successful.

 

Hey, as a liberal centrist I'm just showing that the far right doesn't have a monopoly on patriotism.

I'm exaggerating for comic effect obviously but on the other hand I do hate Ronaldo.

 

Euro Sport
Eurovision
Euro Star
Euro News
The Euro Cup
Euro Disneyland

I wonder what it'll look like if we named everything after our money too?

Pound Sport
Poundvision
Pound Star
Pound News
The Pound Cup
Pound Disneyland

Poundland would be big in Europe; 'Euroland'.

Spoiler

Or it might be €1.20land, out there.