Euro 2024

[angelopetraglia]

Re: Euro 2024

Well that didn't start as per the script. Albania score 22 seconds after the start from a horendous Dimarco throw in, albeit Bajrami still had plenty to do and with a great finish beat Donnarumma at his near post.

Italy down 1-0. The Azzurri responded well after that calamity and nearly equalised a minute later. They found the back of the net at 11 minutes after a training ground set play from the corner saw Bastoni head in an equalizer and then five minutes later Barella put them ahead with a beatuful one touch strike from the edge of the box.

2-1 Italy after 16 minutes. Some start.

It finished like that, but Italy probably should have been ahead by at least a couple of goals at HT after a number of chances incuding wonderful little chip from Frattesi that was stopped with a world class save from Strakosha.

Second half was a more boring affair with Italy more content with possession and didn't chase the third goal as hard. Albania had a couple of chances very late in the game to equalise forcing Donnarumma to make a big save.

Three points for the Azzurri and on to Spain in the next match.

[whythelongface]

Re: Euro 2024

Spain dominated Croatia 3-0 and looked good. An end of an era for Croatia. Can they beat Italy and Albania to make it out of the group stage.

Italy look good on the ball and did enough to beat Albania. Not sure if they have the firepower to worry the likes of France, Germany and Spain but there defence is the key. Like Euro ‘21.

Switzerland eased past a disappointing Hungary who seemed to only get into the game midway through the 2nd half. Switzerland who were in control nearly let this one slip.

[whythelongface]

Re: Euro 2024

Latest results

Group D
Netherlands 2 Poland 1

Group C
England 1 Serbia 0
Slovenia 1 Denmark 1

The Netherlands play good possession football and created plenty of chances but couldn’t finish. Wout the super sub came to the rescue. The Poles had some good chances to draw and even win the game.

Only caught the 2nd half of the England v Serbia game. Seemed pretty even with Serbia having some good chances. Kane denied by an excellent save and woodwork.

What were others impressions of the English?

[whythelongface]

Re: Euro 2024

Group D

France 1 - Austria 0

Group E

Romania 3 - Ukraine 0
Slovakia 1 - Belgium 0

First upset of the tournament with the Red Devils losing to Slovakia. Some pressure on Belgium but they still should qualify for the round of 16.

[whythelongface]

Re: Euro 2024

Wednesday
Group B
Croatia 2 v Albania 2

Group F
Turkey 3-Georgia 1
Portugal 2 - Czechia 1

[whythelongface]

Re: Euro 2024

Round 2

Group A
Germany 2-Hungary 0
Scotland 1 - Switzerland 1

Group C
Slovenia 1 - Serbia 1
England 1 - Denmark 1

Germany cruising. England not having it easy but should still top their group.

[angelopetraglia]

Re: Euro 2024

Spain absolutely played Italy off the park. It could have easily been 5-0. Spain dominated possession and when they didn't have the ball they pressed Italy high and hard. Italy could not handle the pressure and altough persistant in trying to pass the ball through them from the back kept on turning over the ball in dangerous positions. Di Lorenzo in partiulcar kept getting skinned on the left by Williams (what a talent) which created endless chances for Spain. If it was not for Donnarumma Italy would have been completely destroyed.

As Spain did press so high, Italy got a few looks when they managed to string more than three passes together, but didn't have the class to really do Spain any harm when they got into their last third.

Even without a world class srtiker. Spain is going to be incredibly hard to beat this tournament on what I witnessed this morning.

[whythelongface]

Re: Euro 2024

Spain absolutely played Italy off the park. It could have easily been 5-0. Spain dominated possession and when they didn't have the ball they pressed Italy high and hard. Italy could not handle the pressure and altough persistant in trying to pass the ball through them from the back kept on turning over the ball in dangerous positions. Di Lorenzo in partiulcar kept getting skinned on the left by Williams (what a talent) which created endless chances for Spain. If it was not for Donnarumma Italy would have been completely destroyed.

As Spain did press so high, Italy got a few looks when they managed to string more than three passes together, but didn't have the class to really do Spain any harm when they got into their last third.

Even without a world class srtiker. Spain is going to be incredibly hard to beat this tournament on what I witnessed this morning.

Good assessment AP. Spain looked very composed with the ball. Great movement and looking for holes in the defence through quick passing. Williams is a talent - like Musiala only 21. Both have bright futures for their respective teams.

Italy looked ok on the counter. Probably their best way forward in this tournament- just don’t have the talent to hold possession like the Spaniards. But you never know as they are hard to score against.

[chef]

Re: Euro 2024

Pretty funny watching England struggle attacking wise while leaving Palmer on the bench. Southgate can't get sacked soon enough.

[Grantysghost]

Re: Euro 2024

Pretty funny watching England struggle attacking wise while leaving Palmer on the bench. Southgate can't get sacked soon enough.

Spot on chef agree strongly.

Southgate has too much talent at his disposal and he's trying to shoe horn players into unfamiliar positions. TAA in midfield, like um....and also Foden out wide.

Gordan and Cole are the guys that would spark the team, they are in incredible form and have energy and he rarely uses them.

They will fade away again in a major tournament unless they get a spark, which is quite amazing considering the players they have.

[whythelongface]

Re: Euro 2024

Group E
Ukraine 2 v Slovakia 1

Group D
Austria 3 v Poland 1
France 0 v Netherlands 0

[whythelongface]

Re: Euro 2024

Round 2 Standings
Group A. GD P
Germany 6 6
Switzerland. 2 4
Scotland. -4 1
Hungary. -4 0

Group B. GD. P
Spain. 4 6
Italy. 0 3
Albania -1 1
Croatia. -3 1

Group C. GD. P

England. 1 4
Denmark. 0 2
Slovenia. 0. 2
Serbia. -1 1

Group D. GD. P

Netherlands. 1 4
France. 1 4
Austria. 1 3
Poland. -3 0

Group E and F still to play (Group E Ukraine and Slovakia have played round 2 games).

[whythelongface]

Re: Euro 2024

Group E
Belgium 2 - Romania 0

Group F

Portugal 3 - Turkey 0
Georgia 1- Czechia 1

[whythelongface]

Re: Euro 2024

Dramatic end to Group A

Switzerland leading the group until the 92nd minute. Then Germany slot home an equaliser through a great header by Fullkrug. Switzerland were very dogged and could have had a 2nd but for an offside. Germany had an early goal disallowed.

But the biggest drama was Scotland v Hungary with a goal in the 10th minute of time added on. Practically the last play of the game. Great counter attack. The poor Scots had a late chance to win as well. That’s the end for Scotland and Hungary should progress as one of the top 4 3rd place teams barring any major upsets.

Football at its finest.

Germany 7
Switzerland 5
Hungary 3
Scotland 1

[whythelongface]

Re: Euro 2024

Wow what an end to the group of death. Drama, drama, drama.

Italy looking liked finishing 3rd in their group and possible (albeit slight) chance of elimination score with the last kick of the game in the 8th minute of added time on against Croatia. Croatia looked like finishing 2nd but end up 3rd and will be eliminated (unless Slovenia get hammered by 3 goals against England and Denmark beat Serbia or Serbia beat Denmark by 3 goals. Also Czechia and Georgia need to lose)- mathematically possible but highly unlikely). That is the (likely) end of the road for Modric. What a disappointing way to go out for a legend of the game and Croatia’s greatest player.


You just can’t beat the drama of football.