That’s it, Iceland.
4-0. Poor Iceland. That carriage didn’t just turn into a pumpkin, but more like that goop that you see inside a pumpkin after it’s sat a few weeks.
Would like to propose the France-Germany game be declared the final. I love the Wales “hey we also have a Cinderella story” thing, but there’s no way they can beat this France, or Germany. And Portugal doesn’t deserve a final, of any kind, unless it’s like some pole-sitting or “whose balloon flies the farthest” contest.
Fucking French are playing Sam the Slayer to Icelands White Walkers.:mad:
Look England fans there is brightside to losing to Iceland. Can you imagine England versus these guys.
Iceland were always going to struggle against a more talented team that had a significant clue as to what it was doing, but 5-2 is a credible performance against France. It wasn’t like they pulled a Brazil.
5-2 flatters the Icelandic performance, however. France essentially did not come out to play seriously in the second half - had they kept their foot on the metaphorical gas, the game could easily have ended 8-0 or more. Iceland were simply outmatched in every aspect of the game; the first half was not unlike watching a U19 side play the grownups.
Still, I’m glad their phenomenal story ended on a less-than-outright-disgraceful note, and I’m glad that Eidur Gudjohnsen got his sendoff on the biggest of stages. They deserved as much.
I thought, on the one hand, that Iceland were somewhat naive yesterday - playing a much higher line than they had done in previous games and consequently got caught out much more than in any other match they’ve played.
On the other hand, it was nice to see them go - fuck it, let’s give it a lash. They could have defended deeply and negated space and tried to keep the score down, nicking one on the break and seeing whether they could fluke their way through but instead thought, we’re probably going out anyway, let’s play some football. And all credit to them for that. They’ve been a most welcome breath of fresh air in this tournament. Second the remark upthread about Eidur Gudjohnsen too - one of the few Chelsea players I have ever had any time for.
On the other hand, Iceland could easily have had two more goals from play (two shots hit the keeper when he had zero time to react) and a PK (if, you know, Iceland was considered to be as deserving of a gift goal as Saint Ronaldo’s team). And France scored on a pretty high percentage of their opportunities.
I’m not saying this was clearly a match of equals, but if Iceland’s back line makes a couple less mistakes, Iceland could win two or three of ten.
Sure, I wasn’t disagreeing with that. I’m just saying that this is something that goes uncalled often. Here’s a screen cap of the Croatia-Spain penalty I mentioned:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ClgjQcVWEAEIh5y.jpg
The keeper is maybe 5 feet off his line (and half the Croatian players are in the area).
Anyway, good job by Iceland, they were great fun throughout the tournament, and I add my own WTF to the GER-ITA penalties.
Portugal v Wales.
Two blatant challenges on Ronaldo; the latter of which should have been a penalty, go uncalled.
And you wonder why they dive.
And the least-deserving team of the championship are ahead 2-0 and have 9 toes in the finals. TANJ
Well, Christiano Ronaldo is sure making up for his lackluster play earlier in the tournament.
Bale is impressive. Taking on Portugal nearly single handedly. It won’t suffice, but good to watch.
The game was never really realistically winnable for Wales without Ramsey. I think it was perfectly evident throughout their run just how pivotal (arguably, to me, far moreso than Gareth Bale) he was to their offensive prowess. Bale beats his man and strikes the ball phenomenally well, but he does not create as much for his teammates as Aaron Ramsey does.
Not having Ben Davies sure didn’t help either.
Probably the best captaincy I have seen in a while; CR7 motivates Moutinho to take a penalty.
0-1 does not reflect the game. Germany is playing some exciting totaalvoetbal.
Although France could have multiple goals as well, with 2 shanks by Griezmann after moments of brilliance. Plus 2 poor free kicks.
France need Kante in there asap.
well, somebody just won the golden boot.
Ronaldo v Griezemann, part 2, the Euros.
So predictions? IMO, if France try to overmark CR7 (like the Czechs and the Poles did) they might find huge spaces open for others.
Pepe did well against Griezemann in the CL final, might be crucial battle.