The football (soccer) thread

[Papy Oli]

Are you watching the turgid football played by England, Olivier? It takes effort to stay awake! Not me saying this but an ex-player pundit said last week that the best players currently in Germany (Kane), Spain (Bellingham) and England (Foden) are in this England team. They are showing nothing like their club form so who is to blame if not Southgate.
He will be gone after this tournament. Replacement? Not a clue.

I agree, it was turgid, dire, boring. Until Bellingham decided to turn up, nobody really tried to make runs or appeals. The only players I could see actually trying were Mainoo and Palmer.

I don't know mate... trust the process?   

If England reaches the final (and goes one better), you'll soon forget the dire early games.

Holland has decided to turn up today. Maybe your turn will come against the Swiss.

Anyway, enough about all those second tier teams. Allez La France!!   

[Florestan]

After a fantastic quarter of an hour, Romania parked the bus after the Dutch goal and seems to have got back in the match during the last five minutes, including extra-time. I hope they'll repeat the second half with Belgium, when they played much better than in the first one.

Well, my hopes were bigger than their capabilities.

The Dutch were better, not least physically, and much more experienced. Their first goal is attributable to the goalkeeper, the second one to two defenders; a more alert and experienced team would have avoided both. The Dutch victory is fully deserved and I congratulate them.

There's a Romanian saying which is confirmed time and again: This is who we are, that is all we can. Sigh.

Honestly, I don't even know whom to support for winning the tournament. The only teams who have not disappointed are Spain and Germany, and for various reasons which have nothing to do with them, I don't feel like rooting for them. 

Next match, Austria-Turkey --- at least in this match I do know I will root for Turkey. 

[Iota]

If England reaches the final (and goes one better), you'll soon forget the dire early games. 

This I'm sure is true, any thoughts that Southgate was ever the wrong man for the job would be struck from the national memory (until the next time ..).

[Florestan]

Next match, Austria-Turkey --- at least in this match I do know I will root for Turkey. 

Well, I am pleased --- and found the team to support for the trophy: Turkey!

Spain - Germany: I root for Spain.
England - Switzerland, I root for Switzerland.
France  - Portugal, I root for Portugal.
Turkey - The Netherlands, I root for Turkey.

[Madiel]

Spain v Germany in the quarterfinals is... well, it feels a couple of rounds too early from what I've seen.

[Irons]

Well, my hopes were bigger than their capabilities.

The Dutch were better, not least physically, and much more experienced. Their first goal is attributable to the goalkeeper, the second one to two defenders; a more alert and experienced team would have avoided both. The Dutch victory is fully deserved and I congratulate them.

There's a Romanian saying which is confirmed time and again: This is who we are, that is all we can. Sigh.

Honestly, I don't even know whom to support for winning the tournament. The only teams who have not disappointed are Spain and Germany, and for various reasons which have nothing to do with them, I don't feel like rooting for them. 

Next match, Austria-Turkey --- at least in this match I do know I will root for Turkey. 

You are right about the first goal at this level a keeper should never be beaten at near post. Turning point of the game as after that goal the Dutch hit a purple patch and looked like world-beaters. I have seen passages like that in club football when it is very difficult for opposition. Rumania did well to reach knockout stage and a good experience for the players. They did more then OK.

[Holden]

The Turkiye - Netherlands game should be a cracker. Both teams are prepared to run with the ball and attack at pace. It will all boil down to defence.

[Florestan]

Rumania did well to reach knockout stage and a good experience for the players. They did more then OK.

Oh yes, they actually did a big and pleasant surprise by winning their group. The Romanian supporters and press are unanimous in praising them.

[Jo498]

I have seen only a fraction of the games but NED ROM was probably my favorite so far.
A pity that Romania could not keep up in the 2nd half but the first half of the first half was closest to an exciting game with lots of situations (albeit only one goal) as I have seen in this Euros.
And because the Dutch missed quite a few strong scoring chances it remained somewhat exciting even when Holland was clearly superior in the 2nd half.

[Florestan]

Half time Spain - Germany 0-0. Nothing of note, except that the English referee is imo the worst so far. Kroos should have seen at least a yellow card, while others, both German and Spanish, saw it for far less brutal fouls.

[Jo498]

So what's the point of VAR if a referee can simply ignore the clearest handball in 50 years without even invoking VAR?

It wasn't a pretty game but this was really unfair, Germany would almost certainly have won with that penalty early in extra time. Spain was slightly better in the first half of the main match but not in extra time.

[Madiel]

Referees don't invoke VAR.

If the VAR team didn't bring anything to the referee's attention, then the VAR team saw nothing wrong with the referee's call and therefore didn't agree with you about handball.

I don't even know what incident you're talking about. I just know that your interpretation of how VAR works is wrong.

Edit: A quick bit of googling reveals there was an offside beforehand. So there's your answer.

[Florestan]

So what's the point of VAR if a referee can simply ignore the clearest handball in 50 years without even invoking VAR?

I agree that in this match both the referee and the VAR were bad. Very bad.

I disagree that Germany would have won. Spain was better overall.

[Florestan]

Absolutely undeserved qualification for France. I mean, come on: going to semi-finals with only 1 (one) goal scored from action in the whole tournament? Pathetic! Shameful!

I do hope Spain will beat the hell out of them.

[Papy Oli]

It was never in doubt...

Awful...yes...

But hey-ho 

[Florestan]

I pray for a Spain - Turkey final and a Turkish victory...

[Madiel]

Absolutely undeserved qualification for France. I mean, come on: going to semi-finals with only 1 (one) goal scored from action in the whole tournament? Pathetic! Shameful!

I do hope Spain will beat the hell out of them.

Yes they might not be scoring, but if their opponents aren't scoring either, or are scoring in France's favour...

[Florestan]

Yes they might not be scoring, but if their opponents aren't scoring either, or are scoring in France's favour...

True, but still...

[Holden]

What's concerning me having just watched Portugal/France is that sides are not going into the game to win but appear to be playing not to lose. This makes for very boring football. As a result I'll be plugging for either Turkiye or the Netherlands who do seem to interested in going forward and scoring.

[Irons]

Neither referee (both English) officiated well yesterday. The highlight of the France v Portugal borefest was when Michael Oliver all of a fluster dropped his yellow card on the pitch and a player gave it back as if booking him.