All things Football (soccer) related

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: warspite1
Ukraine are dangerous on the break and we need another goal....

Well, you got 2 within 5 minutes of the start of the second half [X(]

[terje439]

UKR - ENG 0-4

Not much to say, the early goal made it so Ukraine had to attack, and England punished them for it.

England is the only team to not concede any goals in the first 5 matches of the Euro.
Hendo scores his first for England.
Kane was close to be the first to score a hat-trick for England in a championship match. He is now also tied with Shearer in terms of goals for England, now only trailing Lineker by 1 goal.
Pickford gets closer and closer to breaking Banks' record for minutes played without conceding.

All that being said, here, the results showed a mere 6 shots on goal for England.

[RFalvo69]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

The best and worst of Italian football on display yesterday. Great victory, were better than the Belgians as a unit and as individuals, and then this rubbish....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxWk8WxQ6Wk

Hilarious [:D] in a depressing, cheating sort of way [:(]

That was hilarious [:D] I actually thought that Immobile was injured for real, considering that Barella had to go around him too. Then Italy celebrated and all of sudden... the Belgian box was empty?? A different referee could have assigned a yellow card there.

[shunwick]

ORIGINAL: terje439

...

All that being said, here, the results showed a mere 6 shots on goal for England.

Care is needed with stats such as shots on target or the much maligned possession stats. Spain, for example consistently top the possession stats. They did so against Switzerland with 72% versus 28%. But it's not the amount of possession you have that's important. It's what you do with the possession you have that counts. The game ended 1-1. The Swiss got just as much value out their 28% as Spain with their 72%.

There's a similar tale with total shots and shots on target. Take the Belgium v Italy game as an example: Belgium had 10 shots, 4 of which were on target. That included the penalty. Italy had 14 shots with 3 on target.

And shots on target are not equal. A scuffed shot easily collected by the opposition goalkeeper is still a shot on target.

Best wishes,
Steve

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: terje439

ORIGINAL: warspite1
Ukraine are dangerous on the break and we need another goal....

Well, you got 2 within 5 minutes of the start of the second half [X(]

warspite1

.....which was nice [:)]

[Orm]

So when are you guys going to concede that I was right? [;)] [:D]

[warspite1]

Hopefully the papers and the pundits will start to calm down and stop talking like Denmark is a formality.

The Danes are a good team, with some great players and a sensible manager, and need to be treated with respect. They are there on merit too and NOT because of Mr Eriksen [8|] How many times did the commentator mention him yesterday??

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Orm

So when are you guys going to concede that I was right? [;)] [:D]

warspite1

About?

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: Orm

So when are you guys going to concede that I was right? [;)] [:D]

warspite1

About?

Well. I do not want to rain on you going forward in this tournament. But I sort of predicted that you would. [:D]

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Hopefully the papers and the pundits will start to calm down and stop talking like Denmark is a formality.

Hear, hear.

[Orm]

Yesterday. During the England match I switched over to an interesting documentary in the halftime. Loud cheering in the neighbourhood informed me that England had scored. I then tried to follow both programs. But loud cheering informed me twice more of England scoring. [:D]

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Orm

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: Orm

So when are you guys going to concede that I was right? [;)] [:D]

warspite1

About?

Well. I do not want to rain on you going forward in this tournament. But I sort of predicted that you would. [:D]

warspite1

But if you mean England win it, then I for one would concede that only if and when we won it.

There needs to be no thought of winning at this stage - as we are not even in the final. Yes, it's nice to be in a semi-final and not have to beat Germany to progress.... but then we thought that against Croatia.....

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

But if you mean England win it, then I for one would concede that only if and when we won it.

Since I didn't want to jinx it, I only predicted that England would win their group.

And I still do not want to jinx it so I will not comment on my thoughts at the moment. [:D] [:'(]

[RFalvo69]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Hopefully the papers and the pundits will start to calm down and stop talking like Denmark is a formality.

The Danes are a good team, with some great players and a sensible manager, and need to be treated with respect. They are there on merit too and NOT because of Mr Eriksen [8|] How many times did the commentator mention him yesterday??

If anything, Eriksen's absence is a problem for Denmark the way Spinazzola's will be for Italy. Kudos for Denmark's ability to play around it.

[shunwick]

So... the scores on the quarter final doors read...

Euro 2020

Czech Republic 1 Denamrk 2
Ukraine 0 England 4

Copa America

Brazil 1 Chile 0
Uruguay 0 Colombia 0 - Colombia winning on the shootout.
Argentina 3 Ecuador 0 (played in the early hours (UK time) of this morning.

The Czechs can go home happy. They have a given a good account of themselves in this tournament and can use that to build better in the future. Denamrk continue their journey playing well and thoroughly deserve a semi-final place. Ukraine will be happy to reach the quarter finals. Will be saddened by the defeat to England but I still think can go home with their heads held high. Like the Czechs, they can use their experience in this tournament to drive them onwards. England, at least, have shown that this group is not the nervous nellies of old. They can still return to type of course, but for now they can go forward to face a tough Danish team without wetting themselves at the thought of being in semi finals.

Brazil and Chile were evenly matched with the Brazilians edging it despite having Gabriel Jesus sent off in the 48th minute for a horror tackle. Chile put the Brazilians under a lot of pressure but could not find a breakthrough. Chile will go home wondering how they couldn't carry it over the line. Brazil move on. Goals are certainly in short supply South America at the moment and neither Uruguay nor Colombia could find the back of the net in a subdued contest. The Colombian keeper saved a penalty in the shootout and Colombia go on. There wasn't much to separate these two teams and they tended to cancel each out. The Uruguayans will go home disappointed.

I don't think anyone was surprised by the Argentinian result.

After watching The Euros, the Copa America is suffering from having empty stadiums. The tournament is being held in Brazil in a covid19-free bubble. South America and Brazil in particular is having a tough time with this damned virus.

Euro 20220 Semi Finals

Italy v Spain
Denmark v England

Copa America 2021

Argentina v Colombia
Brazil v Peru


Best wishes,
Steve

[shunwick]

Semi-Final Copa America 2021


Brazil 1 Peru 0

The Peruvian goalkeeper was the busier of the two but you always have the feeling that if Neymar spent less time rolling around of the floor because somebody looked him and engaging in non-stop moaning to the ref then Brazil might be able to play a little better. Nevertheless, the final awaits Brazil.

Semi-Final Euro 2020

Spain v Italy.

Oooo... Looking forward the Spain v Italy game. The big questions are will Spain pass their way to the final or oblivion? Will the Italians choose the positive approach that has severed them so well or will they regress to the Italian teams of yore?

These questions and more will be resolved later today.

Best wishes,
Steve

[RangerJoe]

Think if they gave yellow cards for acting while supposedly playing soccer. [X(]

[shunwick]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Think if they gave yellow cards for acting while supposedly playing soccer. [X(]

Neymar certainly wouldn't get an equity card. His acting is not even up to Immobile's standard.

Best wishes,
Steve

[gamer78]

I did not yet start watching the match between Spain-İtaly but for Neymar... I see him very determined after racism event about Webo in https://tr.beinsports.com/haber/paris-s ... saksehir-2 match. PSG 5-1 Başakşehir. Well why Başakşehir make you so determined.[:D] Hard to understand these footballer motivation sometimes. These childs, so respectfull and grateful to their -whoever pays well- club, maybe... For Brazil he was total failure in previous competition.

[shunwick]

Euro 2020

Spain 1 Italy 1: Italy go through to the final on the penalty shootout.

The Spaniards put the Italians under a lot of pressure but, in the end, for all their possession, passing, technique, and control - they struggle to score. Goals win games. Everything else is irrelevant. Great semi-final to watch with both teams giving it everything they have. The Italians not quite as good as the hype surrounding them but make no mistake, this is still a good Italian team. But they are getatable. And both Denmark and England will have been watching.

Best wishes,
Steve