All things Football (soccer) related

[shunwick]

Now that normal service has been resumed...

Results...

Euro 2024

France 1 Belgium 0
Portugal 0 Slovenia 0 AET 3-0 Pen

Copa America 2024

USA 0 Uruguay 1
Bolivia 1 Panama 3

France and Belgium produced a bore fest on an Epic scale. The misfiring French continue to misfire. The Portugal-Slovenia match was certainly the most watchable of the day. All the headlines were Ronaldo crying after missing a penalty. If I was Diogo Costa I would be slightly miffed.

USA crash out of the Copa America. Can't even make it out of the group stage on home soil. The American soul doesn't even care. That is the real tragedy. Congratulations to Panama for making it to the quarter finals.

Coming up...

Euro 2024

Romania vs Netherlands
Austria vs Turkey.

Copa America 2024

Costa Rica vs Paraguay
Brazil vs Colombia

Games to watch... Austria vs Turkey and Brazil vs Colombia should both be very watchable.

Best wishes,
Steve

[RFalvo69]

There is conspiracy theories about Georgia.

warspite1

Erm, who seriously believes such rubbish?

He has been consistently trying to inject politics into the discussion about football.

To clarify, whit "politics" I meant internal frictions in the Italian soccer scene. The current President, Gabriele Gravina, is flatly incompetent. The former coach, Mancini, for all his faults, was still widely supported. He left the job 10 months ago out of the blue and with no explanations. What happened?

The current coach, Prandelli, was widely considered a good replacement. However, he had only 10 months to prepare the team (and, ironically, since we were automatically qualified, Italy didn't play any official matches until the Euro). So, Spalletti had a steep road in front of him.

All of the above, however, doesn't answer a simple question: why Italy didn't play? Again, we didn't play badly, we flatly didn't play. The best opportunity Italy had against the Swiss was when a Swiss defender sent the ball against his goalpost - so even this opportunity was created by the Swiss.

Some choices about the players for Euro 2024 were really dubious. Some good players were not considered because "They play too much with the Playstation" (I'm not joking). Then, why to bring players who just returned to play after a long suspension for illegal betting?

As I said, I'm not into conspiracy theories, but there are many hints that something is wrong behind the scenes.

[warspite1]

So what is going to happen in the Euros today - Part 4?

Can I maintain my 100% round of 16 forecasting - or will I muck up as usual? I know which one my money is on.....

Romania vs Netherlands

This is a really tough one to call (or am I making it so because I think there has to be a surprise at some point?).

Netherlands should win this, but they haven't been wholly convincing so far, while Romania have been something of a surprise given their recent years in the footballing wilderness.

I think the Dutch may just have a little too much in the firepower dept. so I am going for a win for the Netherlands by the odd-goal.

Austria vs Turkey

Really looking forward to this. The Austrians are easy on the eye and, as I've said previously, I believe that they or the Swiss will provide the finalist from this side of the draw.

I expect that Turkey will give a good account of themselves but again, the Austrians to win by the odd-goal.

[gamer78]

Well apart from Dragusin stopper, I didn't see Romania well. There is one 'hagi' as the huge name but.. Netherlands very domininant. They seem to increase gear about tempo.

[warspite1]

Full time

Romania 0-3 Netherlands

Well that was the most one sided match this tournament so far. 3-0 to the Dutch, but should have been double figures. The Netherlands have well and truly found their mojo.

[gamer78]

Montella still going for no striker 4-6-0 tactics. Lets see how it goes in 2nd half. So far Austrian attacks were non-lethal.

[ElvisJJonesRambo]

How is the grass kept so clean, or is it artificial turf in this Turkey/Austria game?

[ElvisJJonesRambo]

BOOM !!!!

Huge goal by Turks!
Austria had a frenzy of chances, then we know how it goes, get burned on defense.

Took the Turks Live-In game -125 up 1.

[warspite1]

Full time

Austria 1-2 Turkey

Rats - I really thought Austria stood a chance of the final - over to you Switzerland, the route to the final is now clear for you……

[shunwick]

warspite1

Erm, who seriously believes such rubbish?

He has been consistently trying to inject politics into the discussion about football.

To clarify, whit "politics" I meant internal frictions in the Italian soccer scene. The current President, Gabriele Gravina, is flatly incompetent. The former coach, Mancini, for all his faults, was still widely supported. He left the job 10 months ago out of the blue and with no explanations. What happened?

The current coach, Prandelli, was widely considered a good replacement. However, he had only 10 months to prepare the team (and, ironically, since we were automatically qualified, Italy didn't play any official matches until the Euro). So, Spalletti had a steep road in front of him.

All of the above, however, doesn't answer a simple question: why Italy didn't play? Again, we didn't play badly, we flatly didn't play. The best opportunity Italy had against the Swiss was when a Swiss defender sent the ball against his goalpost - so even this opportunity was created by the Swiss.

Some choices about the players for Euro 2024 were really dubious. Some good players were not considered because "They play too much with the Playstation" (I'm not joking). Then, why to bring players who just returned to play after a long suspension for illegal betting?

As I said, I'm not into conspiracy theories, but there are many hints that something is wrong behind the scenes.

What has been the reaction to the Swiss game in Italy from the media and fans?

Best wishes,
Steve

[shunwick]

Full time

Austria 1-2 Turkey

Rats - I really thought Austria stood a chance of the final - over to you Switzerland, the route to the final is now clear for you……

Many people pegged Austria as dark horses. A hugely enjoyable game to watch very happy for Turkish fans. Big party in Berlin tonight.

Disappointed with Romania although the Netherlands are starting to cook.

Best wishes,
Steve

[RFalvo69]

What has been the reaction to the Swiss game in Italy from the media and fans?

Best wishes,
Steve

Basically the same: "YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED! ONE OF THE WORST DEFEATS EVER! EVERYONE MUST GO HOME!!"

(Except our goalkeeper, Donnarumma, who blocked penalties, clear scoring opportunities for the other teams... he did miracles).

That no one is going home - at least not Prandelli and the heads of the Italian Football - is not making the public opinion happier.

I honestly was not surprised by what happened against Switzerland. Italy stopped playing after the second goal vs. Albania and never restarted. We had a lucky (and totally undeserved) goal against Croatia, but the game vs. the Swiss was the straight continuation of what started at the very beginning.

Now there will be of course the "New Cycle" and so on. For once, I have no clue about what to do. Donnarumma is the last champion left in Italy. I can't name a single current Italian player worth of the National Team.

[shunwick]

Results...

Copa America 2024

Costa Rica 2 Paraguay 1
Brazil 1 Colombia 1

So, all the quarter-final pairings in both competitions are now known...

Euro 2024

Spain vs Germany
Portugal vs France
Netherlands vs Turkey
England vs Switzerland

Copa America 2024

Argentina vs Ecuador
Colombia vs Panama
Venezuela vs Canada
Uruguay vs Brazil

Today is rest day in both competitions.

Best wishes,
Steve

[shunwick]

Coming up...

Copa America 2024

Quarter-Final

Argentina vs Ecuador

Argentina are the overwhelming favourites for this game. An upset is unlikely but stranger things have happened.

Best wishes,
Steve

[shunwick]

Results....

Copa America 2024

Quarter-Final

Argentina 1 Ecuador 1 FT no ET but 4-2 on penalties.

Ecuador pushed them all the way to penalties. Well done Ecuador.

Coming up...

Euro 2024

Quarter-Finals

Spain vs Germany
Portugal vs France

Best wishes,
Steve

[shunwick]

Euro 2024

Quarter-Final

Spain 2 Germany 1 AET

A 50/50 and very watchable game, Spain book their place in the Semi-Finals.

Best wishes,
Steve

[ElvisJJonesRambo]

finally figured this out.

Bet under 1.5 goals at half on this France game.

easy peasy

[shunwick]

Results...

Euro 2024

Quarter-Finals

Spain 2 Germany 1 AET
France 0 Portugal 0 AET 5-3 on Penalties.

The misfiring French are still misfiring. A fairly dour game with woeful finishing from both teams, the funniest moment of the game was the Ronaldo shot 4 yards from directly in front of the goal that is now in low earth orbit....

Coming up...

Copa America 2024

Quarter-Finals

Colombia vs Panama
Venezuela vs Canada

Euro 2024

Quarter Finals

England vs Switzerland
Netherlands vs Turkey

Best wishes,
Steve

[gamer78]

Yes C. Ronaldo penalty also does need a rule change in UEFA. Goalkeeper already handicaped. Pause and move is not fair. Both games were poor about football.

Demiral's (stoper) ban for 2 games understandable only if Chetniks sign were also not allowed. Tadic playing in Fenerbahce and I remember Tosic in Besiktas did that in the past. But football is not about politics.

[warspite1]

Yes C. Ronaldo penalty also does need a rule change in UEFA. Goalkeeper already handicaped. Pause and move is not fair.

warspite1

I thought they outlawed this nonsense a few years ago - but it seems not……. The only penalty I’ve seen disallowed was by Son for Spurs - typical