He lost control the game 3 minutes in on non yellow to Kroos blatant foul on Pedri.
I have seen less on hand balls called in box. Why there was no penalty check is crazy.
has been a little more action the last 20 minutes or so. Portugal has had a few really good chances. France also had at least one. But I do think we are headed for extra time and maybe penalties.
Basically Ronaldo was the coach, as there is no logic for taking Bruno Fernandes and Rafael Leao off and then not putting Diogo Jota on to replace Ronaldo. We know who the coach really was for that team.
Deschamps wasn't any better. Get Giroud in the game with Dembele instead of Muani and Thuram. The pragmatism is mind-blowing.
That was a shootout clinic. Facing a hot goalie, I don't think one of their penalty shots had a chance of being saved even if Costa guessed the right way every time.
Missed being with the boys yesterday but we had plans out with friends, grrr.
But what a match! ESP-ALE was a corker. Goodness, how RM left its mark on these. Recollections:
Kroos a thug on Pedri, by early design, CONCACAF tactics to slow Spain down. Taylor should have given YC. (Both Centers yesterday EPL mainstays) but Olmo made GER pay Ha!
Morata playing not high enough H1 and ESP not clicking, imo
To see Williams and Lamal on same side was scintillating
Stark change: mid 2H ESP could not maintain possession, passes awry
Carvajal and Rodri (RM) had to stablilize
Ruddiger began sending crosses into the box and Spain on back foot
imo cumulative physical play of GER had Spain MFs and Fs second guessing, looking behind, slowed them down wore them out
Kimmich (very worthy successor to Lahm), what a header back to Wirtz and so late...could Spain collect themselves?
ESP took so many F skill positions off the field, but Real Sociedad
Call of the match--call of the tournament!!??
Clattenburg imo closed ranks with his former EPL colleague Taylor in not awarding PK on Currurella hand ball, was NOT close to his body, think we've all seen Penalties called for far less, crazy, and not even a VAR review?? wtf
What was Carvajal thinking on the takedown for his 2nd YC, the angle wasn't there but he (and Pepe later) were studs
Olmo again on the cross into a wide open area and Merino, my gosh how high he elevated: Neuer could only watch
What a match!!!!
POR - FRA a snoozer by comparison. Mbappe clearly bothered, lost a lot of aggressiveness.
And it's hard to figure Duchamps tactics, France doesn't want to move forward, but they keep winning.
Hard to figure POR substitutions, Leao its most dangerous player had plenty in his tank, imo.
A sad QF for Ronaldo
Spain has so many disqualified for the SFs on Tuesday, will hurt, but I still like Spain, in part because I don't think Mbappe will play full out. Fabián Ruiz underrated.
One of my favorite friends in the world is English, but I'm not in his
despite their coach. As we have seen from other matches getting this far is extremely hard to do, and to get here without any real plan is amazing. They are just basically playing pick-up soccer at this point
Congrats to the England and Holland BBI supporters.
ENG-NED is a toss-up but I think NED is a tougher nut to crack even if ENG has more skill and star power. Neither side loses player to suspension
ESP-FRA Spain will be w/o Pedri (Kroos cynical and heavy thuggery), Carvajal (red (2 YC) vs GER), and LeNormand (2nd YC vs Ger). Defies comprehension that France has yet to score in the run of play in these Euros 24. Mbappe has 3 more days to shake off the effects of broken nose/mask. Dembelle has been its most impressive player in attack. Heart is with ESP (only if Unai-Simon avoids another catastrophic lapse of judgment) and Spain has been the most impressive side for the tourney. Loss of Dani can't be underestimated, but I think they go through.
RE: Germany v Spain should have been the Euro final
Lamine Yamal's 17th birthday is in 4 days. Amazing young star in the making. The Final will be played the day after his birthday. Spain is the best team in this tourney. England and Holland are playing for 2nd place tomorrow. This game was the real Final the way I see it.
Germany starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Neuer (GK) — Kimmich, Rudiger, Tah, Raum — Can, Kroos — Sane, Gundogan (c), Musiala — Havertz.
Really impressed with Nico Williams.
France needs to show they can finish in final third v.
Portugal.
Awful referring.
Not sure i'm seeing that change today.
My hatred for Kroos has grown exponentially today.
Costa
Cancelo, Dias, Pepe, Mendes
Vitinha, Palhinha; Bernardo
Fernandes, Ronaldo, Leão
France XI:
Maignan
Koundé, Upamecano, Saliba, Hernández
Tchouaméni, Kanté, Camavinga
Griezmann
Kolo Muani, Mbappé
Blatant - Taylor needed to call that and if there was a doubt let VAR negate it.
I have seen less on hand balls called in box. Why there was no penalty check is crazy.
Awful referring.
Actually a RED ! ! !
Agree
Where is the creativity in final third???
Where is the creativity in final third???
I think this has always been the knock, if you want to characterize it, on Deschamps French squads. Expected more creativity in attack during his era.
He has 1 WC, 1 WR runner up, and 1 Euro runner cup, so what do I know?
Deschamps wasn't any better. Get Giroud in the game with Dembele instead of Muani and Thuram. The pragmatism is mind-blowing.
Agree to an extent. France underachieved in the group stage forcing this quarterfinal matchup.
As a Barca fan, I used to despise Pepe, but his play this tournament has won me over.
Should be training material for every team.
But what a match! ESP-ALE was a corker. Goodness, how RM left its mark on these. Recollections:
Kroos a thug on Pedri, by early design, CONCACAF tactics to slow Spain down. Taylor should have given YC. (Both Centers yesterday EPL mainstays) but Olmo made GER pay Ha!
Morata playing not high enough H1 and ESP not clicking, imo
To see Williams and Lamal on same side was scintillating
Stark change: mid 2H ESP could not maintain possession, passes awry
Carvajal and Rodri (RM) had to stablilize
Ruddiger began sending crosses into the box and Spain on back foot
imo cumulative physical play of GER had Spain MFs and Fs second guessing, looking behind, slowed them down wore them out
Kimmich (very worthy successor to Lahm), what a header back to Wirtz and so late...could Spain collect themselves?
ESP took so many F skill positions off the field, but Real Sociedad
Call of the match--call of the tournament!!??
Clattenburg imo closed ranks with his former EPL colleague Taylor in not awarding PK on Currurella hand ball, was NOT close to his body, think we've all seen Penalties called for far less, crazy, and not even a VAR review?? wtf
What was Carvajal thinking on the takedown for his 2nd YC, the angle wasn't there but he (and Pepe later) were studs
Olmo again on the cross into a wide open area and Merino, my gosh how high he elevated: Neuer could only watch
What a match!!!!
POR - FRA a snoozer by comparison. Mbappe clearly bothered, lost a lot of aggressiveness.
And it's hard to figure Duchamps tactics, France doesn't want to move forward, but they keep winning.
Hard to figure POR substitutions, Leao its most dangerous player had plenty in his tank, imo.
A sad QF for Ronaldo
Spain has so many disqualified for the SFs on Tuesday, will hurt, but I still like Spain, in part because I don't think Mbappe will play full out. Fabián Ruiz underrated.
England vs. Switzerland - Euro Qtr. Final Match
Yeah. I'm still miffed about it personally.
Spain and France in Semifinal #1 on Tuesday at 3 pm EDT.
ESP-FRA Spain will be w/o Pedri (Kroos cynical and heavy thuggery), Carvajal (red (2 YC) vs GER), and LeNormand (2nd YC vs Ger). Defies comprehension that France has yet to score in the run of play in these Euros 24. Mbappe has 3 more days to shake off the effects of broken nose/mask. Dembelle has been its most impressive player in attack. Heart is with ESP (only if Unai-Simon avoids another catastrophic lapse of judgment) and Spain has been the most impressive side for the tourney. Loss of Dani can't be underestimated, but I think they go through.
Really impressed with Nico Williams.
France needs to show they can finish in final third v.
Portugal.
France and England are better than Germany.
This is not a great German side.
England weren't outplayed.
Lamine Yamal's 17th birthday is in 4 days. Amazing young star in the making. The Final will be played the day after his birthday. Spain is the best team in this tourney. England and Holland are playing for 2nd place tomorrow. This game was the real Final the way I see it.
Ollie Watkins, Ezris Konsa - ex-Brentford.
Ivan Toney - current Brentford.
Pretty impressive given the size of the club and their history.