warspite1 wrote: Wed Jun 19, 2024 8:58 pm
Full time
Scotland 1-1 Switzerland
Importantly, Scotland go into the last game with a hope of qualification - they just need to beat Hungary.
Not sure how much hope there is. Scotland's goal difference looks set to bite them in the bum even if they win against Hungary.
warspite1
The hope is that - apparently - no third placed team has failed to qualify with 4 points. So its about points first. Of course every third place team could end up with 4 points - in which case Scotland's goal difference would be the death knell....
Now Maitland, now's your time!
Duke of Wellington to 1st Guards Brigade - Waterloo 18 June 1815
The Serbs pulled the proverbial rabbit out the hat with a last kick (well, header) (well, shoulder) of the match equalizer in the 95th minute.
A win for England tonight puts them through to the knockout stage. A win for Denmark makes things very interesting. A draw also makes things interesting.
Next up is Denmark vs England. There is apparently no truth to rumour that the England team has introduced synchronized panicking into their training schedule.
Really looking forward to the Spain vs Italy game later this evening. Not sure how both teams will approach this game. Will they both try to win it? Will they both be content with draw?
Slovenia and Serbia played out a draw - so England could really do with beating Denmark or the group tightens up uncomfortably - especially if we lose as there is then a real possibility we won’t finish in the top two.
LOL our posts crossed.
Yes synchronised panic sounds about right - but who knows, maybe for the first time ever at the euros we can win our first two in a row….. I’m not holding my breath…..
Last edited by warspite1 on Thu Jun 20, 2024 3:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Now Maitland, now's your time!
Duke of Wellington to 1st Guards Brigade - Waterloo 18 June 1815
warspite1 wrote: Wed Jun 19, 2024 8:58 pm
Full time
Scotland 1-1 Switzerland
Importantly, Scotland go into the last game with a hope of qualification - they just need to beat Hungary.
Not sure how much hope there is. Scotland's goal difference looks set to bite them in the bum even if they win against Hungary.
warspite1
The hope is that - apparently - no third placed team has failed to qualify with 4 points. So its about points first. Of course every third place team could end up with 4 points - in which case Scotland's goal difference would be the death knell....
Yes but hoping other results go your way is not among the most popular of footballing strategies.
shunwick wrote: Thu Jun 20, 2024 9:24 pm
Spain looked good and dominated for most of the game but had only an Italian own goal to show for it.
Spain looked unimaginative, boring, and where lucky to win. A 0-0 draw might have been the fair result based on what I saw of the match. Although, I might be wrong as the game was so boring that I slept through most of second half. Having possession of the ball does not win games. If one can not turn ball possession into goals (or scoring opportunities) then what is the point of having control of the ball (other than stopping the opposing team from scoring)?
Have a bit more patience with newbies. Of course some of them act dumb -- they're often students, for heaven's sake. - Terry Pratchett
A government is a body of people; usually, notably, ungoverned. - Quote from Firefly
shunwick wrote: Thu Jun 20, 2024 9:24 pm
Spain looked good and dominated for most of the game but had only an Italian own goal to show for it.
Spain looked unimaginative, boring, and where lucky to win. A 0-0 draw might have been the fair result based on what I saw of the match. Although, I might be wrong as the game was so boring that I slept through most of second half. Having possession of the ball does not win games. If one can not turn ball possession into goals (or scoring opportunities) then what is the point of having control of the ball (other than stopping the opposing team from scoring)?
Neither side was looking for a win and it certainly wasn't a classic. You are right, possession without purpose is pointless. But this was a group game where a 0-0 draw was a good result for both teams. Were they lucky to take all three points? Yep. Better to have good luck than have bad luck.
shunwick wrote: Thu Jun 20, 2024 9:24 pm
Spain looked good and dominated for most of the game but had only an Italian own goal to show for it.
Spain looked unimaginative, boring, and where lucky to win. A 0-0 draw might have been the fair result based on what I saw of the match. Although, I might be wrong as the game was so boring that I slept through most of second half. Having possession of the ball does not win games. If one can not turn ball possession into goals (or scoring opportunities) then what is the point of having control of the ball (other than stopping the opposing team from scoring)?
Neither side was looking for a win and it certainly wasn't a classic. You are right, possession without purpose is pointless. But this was a group game where a 0-0 draw was a good result for both teams. Were they lucky to take all three points? Yep. Better to have good luck than have bad luck.
Best wishes,
Steve
You said it.
Have a bit more patience with newbies. Of course some of them act dumb -- they're often students, for heaven's sake. - Terry Pratchett
A government is a body of people; usually, notably, ungoverned. - Quote from Firefly
Orm wrote: Fri Jun 21, 2024 6:23 am
Spain looked unimaginative, boring, and where lucky to win. A 0-0 draw might have been the fair result based on what I saw of the match. Although, I might be wrong as the game was so boring that I slept through most of second half. Having possession of the ball does not win games. If one can not turn ball possession into goals (or scoring opportunities) then what is the point of having control of the ball (other than stopping the opposing team from scoring)?
Neither side was looking for a win and it certainly wasn't a classic. You are right, possession without purpose is pointless. But this was a group game where a 0-0 draw was a good result for both teams. Were they lucky to take all three points? Yep. Better to have good luck than have bad luck.
Best wishes,
Steve
You said it.
Maybe a better way to state it is than an Italian player scored the winning goal and his team still lost!
Seek peace but keep your gun handy.
I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing!
“Illegitemus non carborundum est (“Don’t let the bastards grind you down”).” ; Julia Child
shunwick wrote: Thu Jun 20, 2024 9:24 pm
Spain looked good and dominated for most of the game but had only an Italian own goal to show for it.
Spain looked unimaginative, boring, and where lucky to win. A 0-0 draw might have been the fair result based on what I saw of the match. Although, I might be wrong as the game was so boring that I slept through most of second half. Having possession of the ball does not win games. If one can not turn ball possession into goals (or scoring opportunities) then what is the point of having control of the ball (other than stopping the opposing team from scoring)?
Well, no. I counted at least six scoring opportunities for Spain and none for Italy. The own goal was sheer misfortune but if a team tries and tries soon or later something will happen. Italy never tried.
It was a boring match because Spain owned the ball but was unable to score a second goal. Italy, however, basically didn't play. Italy's only hope was a lucky equaliser late in the game. Now, of course I do support Italy, but it would have been unfair.
I don't like this Italian team at all. The players do seem to be lost somewhere in the vastness of the pitch, unaware of where the others are. Italy has a long history of growing all of sudden during a competition. We will see.
"Yes darling, I served in the Navy for eight years. I was a cook..."
"Oh dad... so you were a God-damned cook?"
(My 10 years old daughter after watching "The Hunt for Red October")
Gotta love the footie pundits on Sky, BBC, ITV etc.
So Harry Kane goes from untouchable darling of the English game to the root of all England's problems in one game.
Yes, I can see that. After all, its Harry's fault that Gouthgate took three right backs and one injured left back to the euros. It's Harry's fault that the left hand side is so unbalanced because we have a right footer playing at left back and a left winger that isn't and doesn't want to be there. It's Harry's fault that John Stones never ventured beyond the middle of his own half and walked around aimlessly everytime he got the ball. It's Harry's fault England's midfield was dysfunctional and of course its Harry's fault that in the 13 minutes England had the lead last night, the average position of Every England outfield player (except Saka - who was marginally higher up) was on the edge of England's penalty area.....
And apparently England resorting to mindless panic everytime we take the lead is a new thing that first happened against Serbia. So it didn't happen regularly in the past with different players and different managers?
The most worrying comment for me of the lot? I'll leave that to the manager
"We haven't found a way of replacing xxxxxx yet?"
Who is xxxxx? If they can't replace him he must be someone world class and absolutely central to the team yes?
No, xxxxx is Kalvin Phillips.... Yep Kalvin Phillips. Not Shearer, Lineker, Owen, Beckham, Charlton, Moore, no, its that footballing colossus Kalvin Phillips. What an extraordinary comment, and coming from the manager, just shocking.
Now Maitland, now's your time!
Duke of Wellington to 1st Guards Brigade - Waterloo 18 June 1815
shunwick wrote: Thu Jun 20, 2024 9:24 pm
Spain looked good and dominated for most of the game but had only an Italian own goal to show for it.
Spain looked unimaginative, boring, and where lucky to win. A 0-0 draw might have been the fair result based on what I saw of the match. Although, I might be wrong as the game was so boring that I slept through most of second half. Having possession of the ball does not win games. If one can not turn ball possession into goals (or scoring opportunities) then what is the point of having control of the ball (other than stopping the opposing team from scoring)?
warspite1
I've gotta be honest Orm. I wish England were unimaginative and boring. I didn't see the game but saw a two minute highlights reel of their opportunities. This contained more dribbles, more crosses and more goal attempts than England have managed in 180 minutes. Apparently the only team to have had less shots on goal in this tournament (of those who've played twice) is Scotland.
England are in a total mess and given the previous matches, I would not discount Denmark beating Serbia and Slovenia beating us in the last group game. Never mind Scotland, I think England will be looking at which other third place finishers have a worse record....
Now Maitland, now's your time!
Duke of Wellington to 1st Guards Brigade - Waterloo 18 June 1815
And Ukraine win it 2-1. Slovakia and Ukraine were sort of 50/50 first half maybe Slovakia edged it a little bit. Ukraine came out stronger in the second half and Slovakia took their foot off the gas. Interesting game to watch and that group has become very interesting.
Not a great deal in it. The score line flattered the Austrians a bit although, having said that, in the last ten minutes, the Austrians could easily have scored another two. The second Austrian goal was decisive. As Poland pushed for an equalizer, they left holes for the Austrians to exploit.
