It just hit me that there are no Real Madrid players on Spain. I know RM’s stars are all non-Spanish, but I would expect at least a player or 2. The team is loaded with Atletico players.
That is something.
Sorry I have no insight into your national anthem query. I’m willing to bet the Italians have always sung their anthem with gusto.
Feel like Spain deserve this, but Italy bring drama and passion so I’m rooting for them. Plus it’ll mean more to the Italians after having a dreadful time in the pandemic and not qualifying for the last world cup (equally traumatic experiences for Italians).
What I’m rooting for is a wild 3-3 tie in the final and England beating Italy on penalties.
Oof - not sure if my heart will be able to take that. But I would be happy if I survived!
I can’t say this was deserved for Italy in this match, Spain was the better team for the whole game including extra time. Probably was the worst performance by Italy in this tournament (granted, the opponent was Spain, no less). But all in all they’re a worthy finalist, considering their performances throughout the whole tournament.
Shit.
I’m rooting for the Danes.
Spain deserved to win, but such are PK’s. Spinazzola was a big creator, and Italy hasn’t looked the same since his injury. Spain has a bright future, especially if they can find a finisher or 2.
Following ENG-DEN online with no TV reminds me of one of my gripes about following soccer on a chart with no video footage: Everything is so sudden and monumental. It could go from ENG 0-0 to ENG 1-0 and that one goal could be the entire game difference and deciding score without warning. It’s not like following NFL football, where the icons say “Green Bay 2nd-and-10 at the Detroit 47” so you at least have an idea of the incremental progress of a drive, or a basketball game where it’s “San Antonio 68-63 Dallas.” Soccer gives a heart attack this way.
Good match commentary will give you incremental updates about the general run of play, close calls, and things like that. Check out the BBC match commentary.
Great game but it’s not doing much for my fingernails.
The first 30 minutes were a bit restrained on both sides, but after the Danish goal, the game got very exciting. Good reaction by England.
England still technically hasn’t scored a goal of its own making, they’d better get that offense going. This won’t cut it against Italy.
The torrent of own-goals continues in this Euros.
I think they made that goal. Denmark just finished it.
I wonder if England can still push as hard as in the last 20 minutes of regular time. Denmark seemed exhausted. And England still has, what, four or five substitutions. Big advantage.
This is why semis ought to be held on the same day. Italy will have a big advantage with that extra day of rest.
I don’t like England’s chances if this goes to PK’s. I consider Schmeichel to be Top 5 in the world. But I guess PK’s are a whole different matter.
Definitely. There are world class keepers who are statistically bad at penalties, like Manuel Neuer and Yann Sommer, so good keeper doesn’t equate good penalty killer. But then, Sommer saved Siwtzerland in penalties in the round of 16 this Euro, and Neuer Germany in the quarter final of the 2016 Euro against italy. So you never can tell. Penalty shoot-outs are purely psychological.
And now we have a regular penalty!
ETA: on review, this penalty is a joke.