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Wednesday, July 13, 2016
Placements and Awards (6/10 - 7/10)
Bracket (image from wikipedia.org)
Placements
1st: Portugal
2nd: France
T 3rd-4th (lost in semis): Germany, Wales
T 5th-8th (lost in quarters): Belgium, Iceland, Italy, Poland
T 9th-16th (lost in R16s): Croatia, England, Hungary, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland
T 17th-24th (eliminated in group stage): Turkey, Albania, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Sweden, Austria
T 25th- 54th: All the European countries that did not qualify for the main tournament
Awards
Golden Ball (best player): Antoine Griezmann (France)
Golden Glove (best goalkeeper): Rui Patrício (Portugal)
Golden Boot (most goals): Antoine Griezmann (France)
Best Young Player (under 21 years old): Renato Sanches (Portugal)
Best XI of the Tournament (4-2-3-1)
GK- Rui Patrício (Portugal)
LB- Raphaël Guerreiro (Portugal)
CB- Pepe (Portugal)
CB- Jérôme Boateng (Germany)
RB- Joshua Kimmich (Germany)
CDM- Toni Kroos (Germany)
CDM- Joe Allen (Wales)
LAM/LW- Dimitri Payet (France)
CAM/CF- Aaron Ramsey (Wales)
RAM/RW- Antoine Griezmann (France)
ST- Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
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Final Summary (7/10)
Result- Final
Portugal def. France 1-0 (A.E.T.)
Portugal v France
CR7 > LM10. I didn't always think so, but now I most definitely do. Perhaps Messi is a better player. But Ronaldo is the GREATEST (I am only speaking about those currently playing, it is impossible to compare people who played at different times). On the pitch, he is an amazing player. He has won the second most Ballons D'ors of all time. Off the pitch, he is known for his charitable ways. One well-known fact about Ronaldo is that he doesn't have any tattoos so he can donate blood to people who need it. It is also well-known that he uses his own money to pay for surgeries for children who need it. But in the Euro Final, we saw yet another side of Cristiano Ronaldo: a leader. Although he is a leader on the field, he showed that he was a devoted teammate and captain when he came back to the Portuguese bench to coach and support his teammates, after needing to leave the field due to injury.
Cristiano Ronaldo played a huge role in this win. He returned to the sidelines after receiving treatment for his knee, and rallied his troops to the win. He proved that he is a team player and he would never give up on his country (like some others have...). Éder, who scored the championship-winning goal, said that he was able to score because Ronaldo gave him confidence and really helped him out. This win gives Ronaldo what he had always been missing for his whole career: an international trophy. And this match has showed us something else: perhaps Ronaldo may become a coach in the future?
Final Bracket (image from wikipedia.org)
Portugal def. France 1-0 (A.E.T.)
Portugal v France
CR7 > LM10. I didn't always think so, but now I most definitely do. Perhaps Messi is a better player. But Ronaldo is the GREATEST (I am only speaking about those currently playing, it is impossible to compare people who played at different times). On the pitch, he is an amazing player. He has won the second most Ballons D'ors of all time. Off the pitch, he is known for his charitable ways. One well-known fact about Ronaldo is that he doesn't have any tattoos so he can donate blood to people who need it. It is also well-known that he uses his own money to pay for surgeries for children who need it. But in the Euro Final, we saw yet another side of Cristiano Ronaldo: a leader. Although he is a leader on the field, he showed that he was a devoted teammate and captain when he came back to the Portuguese bench to coach and support his teammates, after needing to leave the field due to injury.
Cristiano Ronaldo played a huge role in this win. He returned to the sidelines after receiving treatment for his knee, and rallied his troops to the win. He proved that he is a team player and he would never give up on his country (like some others have...). Éder, who scored the championship-winning goal, said that he was able to score because Ronaldo gave him confidence and really helped him out. This win gives Ronaldo what he had always been missing for his whole career: an international trophy. And this match has showed us something else: perhaps Ronaldo may become a coach in the future?
Final Bracket (image from wikipedia.org)
Sunday, July 10, 2016
Final Preview (7/10)
The Final
Portugal v France
Sunday, July 10 @ 3:00 PM ET
Current Bracket (image from wikipedia.org)
Portugal v France
Today marks the conclusion of this amazing tournament. This evening, one team will be crowned champions of Europe. It will either be Portugal or France, as the two square off for the title at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis (just outside Paris). At first, there were 54 nations competing for the championship. That was reduced to 24 for the main tournament. That was then cut down to 16 for the knockout round. Then there were 8. Then 4. And now, there are only 2. Tonight, there will be 1. One champion of Europe.
Despite finishing 3rd in Group F, Portugal has come to life in the knockout round, winning each of their first 3 matches to advance to the only the second final in their nation's history (the other being the 2004 Euro Final, where they lost to Greece 1-0). On the other hand, France topped group A, and since then, never looked back, winning 3 convincing knockout-round victories to advance to the final.
This match will be close. Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal are a strong side and will give France a hard time. But overall, I believe France is too strong a team for the Portuguese. They have been absolutely excellent, and play a strong, team-oriented game. The entire nation has unified behind this team, and that only gives the team more momentum. They will win this final in their main national stadium in front of their own fans, and bring the trophy back to France for the first time since 2000.
Prediction: France wins 2-1
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SemiFinals Summary (7/6 - 7/7)
Results (SemiFinals)
Portugal def. Wales 2-0
France def. Germany 2-0
Portugal v Wales
Wales' unprecedented streak is finally over. They had a good run, but all good things must come to an end. They outperformed many of the top teams in Europe to finish in the top 4 of the tournament. They did better than Spain, Italy, England, Croatia and many others. They even knocked Belgium themselves. In this match, Ronaldo and Portugal came roaring through, and in a span of 3 minutes near the beginning of the second half, Portugal scored twice to take a 2-goal lead with 37 minutes to play. Then they could sit back and defend as Wales tried to break through their defense. Of course, Wales could not, and Portugal held on for a 2-0 victory, meaning they advance to the Euro Cup Final for only the 2nd time in their history (the first being 2004, where they lost to Greece 1-0).
Germany v France
This match was a rematch of the 2014 World Cup Quarterfinal, where Germany knocked France out of the tournament before winning the Cup. This time, however, the result was different. As expected, Germany was dominant in terms of possession, winning the possession battle 68-32. They completed 566 passes compared to France's 234. They were dominating going into the half-time break, but they could not seem to score. But when Bastian Schweinsteiger committed a stupid handball in the penalty area in stoppage time, France was awarded a penalty kick. Antoine Griezmann scored the penalty, and France went into half-time with the lead. Germany went from dominating the match to being behind at the break. Then Germany had to play a more attacking style of play, and, as happens often, France put the match away with a great counter-attack. Now the defending World Champs are eliminated, and hosts France get a chance to win the Euro Cup in front of their own fans in the final against Portugal on Sunday.
The Final
Portugal v France
Sunday, July 10 @ 3:00 PM ET
New Bracket (image from wikipedia.org)
Also, take a look at my Copa America blog here: copa2016usa.blogspot.com
Portugal def. Wales 2-0
France def. Germany 2-0
Portugal v Wales
Wales' unprecedented streak is finally over. They had a good run, but all good things must come to an end. They outperformed many of the top teams in Europe to finish in the top 4 of the tournament. They did better than Spain, Italy, England, Croatia and many others. They even knocked Belgium themselves. In this match, Ronaldo and Portugal came roaring through, and in a span of 3 minutes near the beginning of the second half, Portugal scored twice to take a 2-goal lead with 37 minutes to play. Then they could sit back and defend as Wales tried to break through their defense. Of course, Wales could not, and Portugal held on for a 2-0 victory, meaning they advance to the Euro Cup Final for only the 2nd time in their history (the first being 2004, where they lost to Greece 1-0).
Germany v France
This match was a rematch of the 2014 World Cup Quarterfinal, where Germany knocked France out of the tournament before winning the Cup. This time, however, the result was different. As expected, Germany was dominant in terms of possession, winning the possession battle 68-32. They completed 566 passes compared to France's 234. They were dominating going into the half-time break, but they could not seem to score. But when Bastian Schweinsteiger committed a stupid handball in the penalty area in stoppage time, France was awarded a penalty kick. Antoine Griezmann scored the penalty, and France went into half-time with the lead. Germany went from dominating the match to being behind at the break. Then Germany had to play a more attacking style of play, and, as happens often, France put the match away with a great counter-attack. Now the defending World Champs are eliminated, and hosts France get a chance to win the Euro Cup in front of their own fans in the final against Portugal on Sunday.
The Final
Portugal v France
Sunday, July 10 @ 3:00 PM ET
New Bracket (image from wikipedia.org)
Also, take a look at my Copa America blog here: copa2016usa.blogspot.com
Saturday, July 9, 2016
SemiFinals Preview (7/6 - 7/7)
Matches- SemiFinals
Portugal v Wales (Wed. 7/6 @ 3:00 PM ET)
Germany v France (Thurs. 7/7 @ 3:00 PM ET)
Bracket (image from wikipedia.org)
Portugal v Wales
1 month ago, if you had told me Wales would be playing in semifinals of the Euro Cup, I would have laughed in your face. It could never happen, Wales would not even advance to the knockout stage.
When will this run end? Wales most certainly won't win it all. Their luck will run out eventually, probably even in this match. Portugal is getting better and better game by game, and Wales will be without their best midfielder and 2nd best overall player, Aaron Ramsey, who has been suspended after receiving his 2nd yellow card of the tournament. Without him, it will likely be hard for Wales to get their offense going, as Ramsey has the most assists so far in the tournament. Portugal will be able shut down the Welsh offense, and probably get a goal of their own, using the counter-attacking style of play they know so well.
Prediction: Portugal wins 1-0
Germany v France
After routing Iceland, the hosts now go up against the toughest team the World has to offer: Germany. The German team is loaded with stars, but all these stars work together and play with a team-first mentality, making them almost impossible to beat. But Italy showed that it could be done. The key to beating Germany is good defense. France's defense is one of the best in the tournament. They have allowed 4 goals in 5 matches, although 2 were penalties, and the other 2 were meaningless consolation goals by Iceland. I believe their defense will continue to thrive, and hold the German attack in check. But that is only half the battle, because if they can't score themselves, they will face a shootout, where they would most definitely lose. But the French attack has been superb recently, with Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud, and Dmitri Payet all among the top 3 goalscorers in the cup. I believe, with the support of the fans, they will be able to score when it counts in the crucial moments of the match.
Prediction: France wins 1-0
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Portugal v Wales (Wed. 7/6 @ 3:00 PM ET)
Germany v France (Thurs. 7/7 @ 3:00 PM ET)
Bracket (image from wikipedia.org)
Portugal v Wales
1 month ago, if you had told me Wales would be playing in semifinals of the Euro Cup, I would have laughed in your face. It could never happen, Wales would not even advance to the knockout stage.
When will this run end? Wales most certainly won't win it all. Their luck will run out eventually, probably even in this match. Portugal is getting better and better game by game, and Wales will be without their best midfielder and 2nd best overall player, Aaron Ramsey, who has been suspended after receiving his 2nd yellow card of the tournament. Without him, it will likely be hard for Wales to get their offense going, as Ramsey has the most assists so far in the tournament. Portugal will be able shut down the Welsh offense, and probably get a goal of their own, using the counter-attacking style of play they know so well.
Prediction: Portugal wins 1-0
Germany v France
After routing Iceland, the hosts now go up against the toughest team the World has to offer: Germany. The German team is loaded with stars, but all these stars work together and play with a team-first mentality, making them almost impossible to beat. But Italy showed that it could be done. The key to beating Germany is good defense. France's defense is one of the best in the tournament. They have allowed 4 goals in 5 matches, although 2 were penalties, and the other 2 were meaningless consolation goals by Iceland. I believe their defense will continue to thrive, and hold the German attack in check. But that is only half the battle, because if they can't score themselves, they will face a shootout, where they would most definitely lose. But the French attack has been superb recently, with Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud, and Dmitri Payet all among the top 3 goalscorers in the cup. I believe, with the support of the fans, they will be able to score when it counts in the crucial moments of the match.
Prediction: France wins 1-0
Also, check out my Copa America blog here: copa2016usa.blogspot.com
Tuesday, July 5, 2016
QuarterFinals Summary (6/30 - 7/3)
Results- QuarterFinals
Portugal def. Poland 1-1 (5-3 Pens)
Wales def. Belgium 3-1
Germany def. Italy 1-1 (6-5 Pens)
France def. Iceland 5-2
Poland v Portugal
Portugal has still not won a match, but they are through to the semifinals! They tied all 3 group stage matches against Iceland, Austria, and Hungary. Then they drew 0-0 against Croatia, but advanced in extra time. Then they drew against Poland, and advanced on penalties. And despite not winning yet, they only have to beat Wales to advance to the finals! Ronaldo and Portugal have not been playing the best soccer, but they always perform in the crucial moments of the match and make it out unscathed. As for Poland, they outperformed their expectations, but they will be disappointed to lose such a close match that was decided by a single missed penalty.
Wales v Belgium
Can they go all the way? They didn't even need a huge game out of Gareth Bale and they still got by Belgium relatively easily. And this is the same Belgium that had just won 3 consecutive shutouts. They were solid all around, and did a great job shutting down the powerful Belgian attack. The only goal was a long-range strike from Nainggolan early in the match that the defense could have done nothing about. But after that, Wales rebounded and scored 3 in a row to upset the Belgians and achieve a spot in the semis of this Euro 2016. As for Belgium, they were one of the best teams in the cup so far, and they will undoubtedly be upset at being knocked out so soon, by Wales of all teams. Regardless, they will bounce back and come back even stronger at the World Cup in Russia in 2018.
Germany v Italy
This match definitely lived up to the hype. Germany opened the scoring in the 65th minute and held most of the possession up until that point. But in the 77th minute, German defender Jerome Boateng blatantly handballed the ball in the penalty area, and Leonardo Bonucci put the penalty away to equalize the match. Then the match stayed level through the end of the match and extra time, and a shootout ensued. This shootout was among the most bizarre and dramatic of all the shootouts I have ever seen. Italy got to an early lead in the shootout, but could not seem to score afterwards, but Germany equalized following a series of bad penalties from Italy. Then in sudden death, with the pressure mounting at every kick, Matteo Darmian finally missed on Italy's 9th kick. Then Jonas Hector scored to send Germany through. Germany's victory means they must face France in the semis, in a rematch of the quarterfinals of the World Cup in 2014, which Germany won 1-0. As for Italy, they fought valiantly against the defending world champs, and should be very happy with the way they played in this tournament, once they get over being upset from being eliminated.
France v Iceland
Iceland finally got exposed, as we all had been waiting for. The French rolled through this match, scoring 4 in the first half, before easing off the gas pedal for the second half. They played an all-around great match, as we have become accustomed to seeing from this strong French side. But now they must face the Germans in the semis, who knocked them out of the World Cup 2 years ago. That should be another great match. As for Iceland, they got what was coming for them. Regardless, they still won the hearts of fans all over the world with their determination and passion. They should hold their heads high, as making the quarterfinals is a huge achievement for a nation of that size.
New Matches (SemiFinals)
Portugal v Wales (Wednesday, July 6 @ 3 PM ET)
Germany v France (Thursday, July 7 @ 3 PM ET)
New Bracket (image from wikipedia.org)
Also, take a look at my Copa America blog here: copa2016usa.blogspot.com
Portugal def. Poland 1-1 (5-3 Pens)
Wales def. Belgium 3-1
Germany def. Italy 1-1 (6-5 Pens)
France def. Iceland 5-2
Poland v Portugal
Portugal has still not won a match, but they are through to the semifinals! They tied all 3 group stage matches against Iceland, Austria, and Hungary. Then they drew 0-0 against Croatia, but advanced in extra time. Then they drew against Poland, and advanced on penalties. And despite not winning yet, they only have to beat Wales to advance to the finals! Ronaldo and Portugal have not been playing the best soccer, but they always perform in the crucial moments of the match and make it out unscathed. As for Poland, they outperformed their expectations, but they will be disappointed to lose such a close match that was decided by a single missed penalty.
Wales v Belgium
Can they go all the way? They didn't even need a huge game out of Gareth Bale and they still got by Belgium relatively easily. And this is the same Belgium that had just won 3 consecutive shutouts. They were solid all around, and did a great job shutting down the powerful Belgian attack. The only goal was a long-range strike from Nainggolan early in the match that the defense could have done nothing about. But after that, Wales rebounded and scored 3 in a row to upset the Belgians and achieve a spot in the semis of this Euro 2016. As for Belgium, they were one of the best teams in the cup so far, and they will undoubtedly be upset at being knocked out so soon, by Wales of all teams. Regardless, they will bounce back and come back even stronger at the World Cup in Russia in 2018.
Germany v Italy
This match definitely lived up to the hype. Germany opened the scoring in the 65th minute and held most of the possession up until that point. But in the 77th minute, German defender Jerome Boateng blatantly handballed the ball in the penalty area, and Leonardo Bonucci put the penalty away to equalize the match. Then the match stayed level through the end of the match and extra time, and a shootout ensued. This shootout was among the most bizarre and dramatic of all the shootouts I have ever seen. Italy got to an early lead in the shootout, but could not seem to score afterwards, but Germany equalized following a series of bad penalties from Italy. Then in sudden death, with the pressure mounting at every kick, Matteo Darmian finally missed on Italy's 9th kick. Then Jonas Hector scored to send Germany through. Germany's victory means they must face France in the semis, in a rematch of the quarterfinals of the World Cup in 2014, which Germany won 1-0. As for Italy, they fought valiantly against the defending world champs, and should be very happy with the way they played in this tournament, once they get over being upset from being eliminated.
France v Iceland
Iceland finally got exposed, as we all had been waiting for. The French rolled through this match, scoring 4 in the first half, before easing off the gas pedal for the second half. They played an all-around great match, as we have become accustomed to seeing from this strong French side. But now they must face the Germans in the semis, who knocked them out of the World Cup 2 years ago. That should be another great match. As for Iceland, they got what was coming for them. Regardless, they still won the hearts of fans all over the world with their determination and passion. They should hold their heads high, as making the quarterfinals is a huge achievement for a nation of that size.
New Matches (SemiFinals)
Portugal v Wales (Wednesday, July 6 @ 3 PM ET)
Germany v France (Thursday, July 7 @ 3 PM ET)
New Bracket (image from wikipedia.org)
Also, take a look at my Copa America blog here: copa2016usa.blogspot.com
QuarterFinals Preview (6/30 - 7/3)
Matches- QuarterFinals
Poland v Portugal (6/30 @ 3:00 PM ET)
Wales v Belgium (7/1 @ 3:00 PM ET)
Germany v Italy (7/2 @ 3:00 PM ET)
France v Iceland (7/3 @ 3:00 PM ET)
Bracket (image from wikipedia.org)
Poland v Portugal
Both of these teams pulled of dramatic last minute victories in their Round of 16 matches. Poland squeaked by Switzerland in penalties, and Portugal got by Croatia in extra time after Ricardo Quaresma scored the only goal of the match in the 117th minute. Now these two teams have chance to make it into the semis, even though neither won their group. This looks like it could be another close match. Though they may not necessarily be that much better, Portugal has the experience that can take it through this game. In close matches, and especially in shootouts, experience becomes a huge factor, and Portugal has been in many big matches before. That is why they will be able to see off Poland, and book a spot in the semifinals.
Prediction: Portugal wins 0-0 (4-2 Pens)
Wales v Belgium
The Welsh continued their magical run with a win in the Round of 16, but now they must face their toughest opponent yet: Belgium. Belgium lost in their first match to Italy, but since then they have been arguably the best in the tournament, winning their next 3 matches by a combined score of 8-0. The Welsh were good against Northern Ireland, but they should have definitely won by more against such a weak time. It appears as though their play is declining in the knockout round, as one would expect from such an inexperienced team. Belgium will likely be able to shut down Gareth Bale, exploit the inexperience of the team, and send Wales packing.
Prediction: Belgium wins 2-0
Germany v Italy
This match is the matchup of the quarterfinals. The defending world cup champions against the runners up of last year's Euro Cup. Germany has been solid up until this point, but they have yet to face any real competition. The Italians, on the other hand, have faced some of the best teams in the world, and have soundly defeated them. They beat Belgium and Spain both by scores of 2-0. But Germany is tougher than any team they have faced. Besides France, Italy appears to be the only team that can take down the Germans. Their solid defense can keep the German attack at bay, and their creative, fast-paced attack can perhaps overwhelm the rigid German defense. It will be close, but I think Italy will take this one.
Prediction: Italy wins 2-1 (A.E.T.)
France v Iceland
Iceland is fresh off an upset against England and now they hope to bring their incredible run into the semis with a win against France. But defeating France won't be easy. France is one of the best teams in the world, and they have home-field advantage for every match. Iceland plays with passion and heart, but they only got by England because England's defense let in two easy goals. France will definitely not be as weak in the back, and they should play a solid all-round game to send Iceland home.
Prediction: France wins 3-0
Also, check out my Copa America Blog here: copa2016usa.blogspot.com
Poland v Portugal (6/30 @ 3:00 PM ET)
Wales v Belgium (7/1 @ 3:00 PM ET)
Germany v Italy (7/2 @ 3:00 PM ET)
France v Iceland (7/3 @ 3:00 PM ET)
Bracket (image from wikipedia.org)
Poland v Portugal
Both of these teams pulled of dramatic last minute victories in their Round of 16 matches. Poland squeaked by Switzerland in penalties, and Portugal got by Croatia in extra time after Ricardo Quaresma scored the only goal of the match in the 117th minute. Now these two teams have chance to make it into the semis, even though neither won their group. This looks like it could be another close match. Though they may not necessarily be that much better, Portugal has the experience that can take it through this game. In close matches, and especially in shootouts, experience becomes a huge factor, and Portugal has been in many big matches before. That is why they will be able to see off Poland, and book a spot in the semifinals.
Prediction: Portugal wins 0-0 (4-2 Pens)
Wales v Belgium
The Welsh continued their magical run with a win in the Round of 16, but now they must face their toughest opponent yet: Belgium. Belgium lost in their first match to Italy, but since then they have been arguably the best in the tournament, winning their next 3 matches by a combined score of 8-0. The Welsh were good against Northern Ireland, but they should have definitely won by more against such a weak time. It appears as though their play is declining in the knockout round, as one would expect from such an inexperienced team. Belgium will likely be able to shut down Gareth Bale, exploit the inexperience of the team, and send Wales packing.
Prediction: Belgium wins 2-0
Germany v Italy
This match is the matchup of the quarterfinals. The defending world cup champions against the runners up of last year's Euro Cup. Germany has been solid up until this point, but they have yet to face any real competition. The Italians, on the other hand, have faced some of the best teams in the world, and have soundly defeated them. They beat Belgium and Spain both by scores of 2-0. But Germany is tougher than any team they have faced. Besides France, Italy appears to be the only team that can take down the Germans. Their solid defense can keep the German attack at bay, and their creative, fast-paced attack can perhaps overwhelm the rigid German defense. It will be close, but I think Italy will take this one.
Prediction: Italy wins 2-1 (A.E.T.)
France v Iceland
Iceland is fresh off an upset against England and now they hope to bring their incredible run into the semis with a win against France. But defeating France won't be easy. France is one of the best teams in the world, and they have home-field advantage for every match. Iceland plays with passion and heart, but they only got by England because England's defense let in two easy goals. France will definitely not be as weak in the back, and they should play a solid all-round game to send Iceland home.
Prediction: France wins 3-0
Also, check out my Copa America Blog here: copa2016usa.blogspot.com
Sunday, July 3, 2016
Round of 16 Summary (6/25 - 6/27)
Results
Poland def. Switzerland 1-1 (5-4 Pen)
Wales def. Northern Ireland 1-0
Portugal def. Croatia 1-0 (A.E.T.)
France def. Ireland 2-1
Germany def. Slovakia 3-0
Belgium def. Hungary 4-0
Italy def. Spain 2-0
Iceland def. England 2-1
Switzerland v Poland
Surprisingly, only one match in the Round of 16 required penalties to determine the victor. This was that match. Poland scored a goal through Jakub Blaszczykowski in the first half, and seemed to be running away with it, until the 82nd minute when Xherdan Shaqiri scored the goal of the tournament and equalized the match with a bicycle kick. From then on, it was all Switzerland. The Swiss made attack after attack on the Polish goal, but could not get one in the back of the net. But in penalty shootout, Poland made all 5 shots, while Switzerland only made 4, as Granit Xhaka missed the goal completely. Poland must now face Portugal, who beat Croatia in their Round of 16 match. The Swiss go home after a decent tournament, but they will feel as though they could have won this match.
Wales v Northern Ireland
Everyone expected Wales to win by more. They topped their group, while Northern Ireland was arguably the weakest team in the knockout stages, who advanced as a 3rd place team because they were able to win against Ukraine in the group stage. But this match was close enough. Wales had 7 shots compared to Northern Ireland's 5. Wales only had 56% of the possession. The key for Northern Ireland was to hold Gareth Bale in check. With Bale marked, Wales did not have the same playmaking ability going into each attack. In fact, the one time Bale broke free, Wales scored its goal. Bale made a run down the wing and crossed the ball into the center, and the ball deflected off Northern Irish defender Gareth McAuley before going into the net. Belgium should perhaps do a better job of stopping Bale, as they have many more talented defenders than Northern Ireland.
Croatia v Portugal
Croatia could not get the ball in the back of the net, despite dominating the match. They had 59% of the possession, out-passed the Portuguese 580-371, and out-shot them 19-6. Croatia kept the pressure on through extra time creating chance after chance that barely missed the net each time. But after Ivan Perisic hit the post for Croatia, Portugal made a quick counter-attack with numbers, which lead to Ricardo Quaresma scoring a tap-in into an open-net to win the match in the 117th minute. So Croatia, who won their group and defeated Spain, was eliminated by a 3rd place team, Portugal, who did not win a single match in the group stage. Croatia will be extremely disappointed with this end to the cup, and will hopefully rebound for the World Cup in Russia. Portugal now has a meeting with Poland for a spot in the semifinals.
France v Ireland
Ireland scored a penalty in the second minute to get an early lead, and they managed to hold onto that lead for almost an hour. But Antoine Griezmann came to life in the 58th minute, scoring 2 goals in 3 minutes to give the French a 2-1 lead. From then on, France just played defense and kept the Irish out of the game. France continues rolling on home soil, and now they are through to the quarterfinals, where they will face Iceland, who upset England in the Round of 16. Ireland has not had the best cup, but they will be happy with what they have achieved, given that they made it to the knockout round.
Germany v Slovakia
Exactly as we all expected, this match was a blowout. The Germans routed Slovakia, who were 3rd place in Group B. Germany dominated the Slovakians in possession 61-39, in passes 512-320, and shots 21-7. The Slovakians had a good run and outplayed their expectations, but they won't be happy that their cup ended on such a rout. As for Germany, they will face Italy in the quarterfinals, in a matchup of the 2 best teams in the cup.
Hungary v Belgium
This match was also a blowout. Belgium continues to play well, and won its 3rd straight shutout victory. Belgium scored in the 10th minute, and the score was locked at 1-0 for 68 minutes. But then in the 78th minute, Belgium's offense exploded, scoring 3 goals in the final 12 minutes of the match. Among the 4 goals, Eden Hazard scored his first goal at a major international tournament for Belgium. Hungary will be extremely upset with this result, because they went undefeated in the group stage and topped Group F only to get smashed in the Round of 16. On the other hand, Belgium will face Wales next for a spot in the semifinals.
Italy v Spain
Italy is the real deal. The Italians had a resounding 2-0 victory over the defending Euro Champs Spain, and the margin of victory could have easily been 5 or 6 if not for countless spectacular saves from Spanish goalkeeper David De Gea. Italy kept the pressure on the Spanish net, logging 10 shots on target over 90 minutes. Spain's loss against Croatia in the group stage proved to be crucial. If Spain had won that match, they would have played Portugal and would likely be in the quarterfinals. Instead, however, they choked against Croatia and had to face a tough Italian side, who sent them home earlier than they would have liked. Next up for Italy: a quarterfinal match against Germany.
England v Iceland
The magical run continues. Iceland, the tiniest nation in the cup (with only 330,000 people in the whole country), got an incredible victory over perennial soccer giants England to advance to the quarterfinals. England was absolutely terrible in this match, as both Icelandic goals could have easily been kept out by decent defending. Instead, England's poor defense just stood around as Iceland took the lead and sent England home. The last time England won a knockout round match in an international tournament was back in 2006, at the Germany World Cup. Roy Hodgson officially quit as England's manager following the embarrassing defeat, as the England team seems to have fallen into disrepair. As for Iceland, they have a chance to continue their amazing run in the quarterfinals against France, and if they win, they will advance to the semis.
New Matches (QuarterFinals)
Poland v Portugal (Thursday, June 30 @ 3 PM ET)
Wales v Belgium (Friday, July 1 @ 3 PM ET)
Germany v Italy (Saturday, July 2 @ 3 PM ET)
France v Iceland (Sunday, July 3 @ 3 PM ET)
New Bracket (image from wikipedia.org)
Poland def. Switzerland 1-1 (5-4 Pen)
Wales def. Northern Ireland 1-0
Portugal def. Croatia 1-0 (A.E.T.)
France def. Ireland 2-1
Germany def. Slovakia 3-0
Belgium def. Hungary 4-0
Italy def. Spain 2-0
Iceland def. England 2-1
Switzerland v Poland
Surprisingly, only one match in the Round of 16 required penalties to determine the victor. This was that match. Poland scored a goal through Jakub Blaszczykowski in the first half, and seemed to be running away with it, until the 82nd minute when Xherdan Shaqiri scored the goal of the tournament and equalized the match with a bicycle kick. From then on, it was all Switzerland. The Swiss made attack after attack on the Polish goal, but could not get one in the back of the net. But in penalty shootout, Poland made all 5 shots, while Switzerland only made 4, as Granit Xhaka missed the goal completely. Poland must now face Portugal, who beat Croatia in their Round of 16 match. The Swiss go home after a decent tournament, but they will feel as though they could have won this match.
Wales v Northern Ireland
Everyone expected Wales to win by more. They topped their group, while Northern Ireland was arguably the weakest team in the knockout stages, who advanced as a 3rd place team because they were able to win against Ukraine in the group stage. But this match was close enough. Wales had 7 shots compared to Northern Ireland's 5. Wales only had 56% of the possession. The key for Northern Ireland was to hold Gareth Bale in check. With Bale marked, Wales did not have the same playmaking ability going into each attack. In fact, the one time Bale broke free, Wales scored its goal. Bale made a run down the wing and crossed the ball into the center, and the ball deflected off Northern Irish defender Gareth McAuley before going into the net. Belgium should perhaps do a better job of stopping Bale, as they have many more talented defenders than Northern Ireland.
Croatia v Portugal
Croatia could not get the ball in the back of the net, despite dominating the match. They had 59% of the possession, out-passed the Portuguese 580-371, and out-shot them 19-6. Croatia kept the pressure on through extra time creating chance after chance that barely missed the net each time. But after Ivan Perisic hit the post for Croatia, Portugal made a quick counter-attack with numbers, which lead to Ricardo Quaresma scoring a tap-in into an open-net to win the match in the 117th minute. So Croatia, who won their group and defeated Spain, was eliminated by a 3rd place team, Portugal, who did not win a single match in the group stage. Croatia will be extremely disappointed with this end to the cup, and will hopefully rebound for the World Cup in Russia. Portugal now has a meeting with Poland for a spot in the semifinals.
France v Ireland
Ireland scored a penalty in the second minute to get an early lead, and they managed to hold onto that lead for almost an hour. But Antoine Griezmann came to life in the 58th minute, scoring 2 goals in 3 minutes to give the French a 2-1 lead. From then on, France just played defense and kept the Irish out of the game. France continues rolling on home soil, and now they are through to the quarterfinals, where they will face Iceland, who upset England in the Round of 16. Ireland has not had the best cup, but they will be happy with what they have achieved, given that they made it to the knockout round.
Germany v Slovakia
Exactly as we all expected, this match was a blowout. The Germans routed Slovakia, who were 3rd place in Group B. Germany dominated the Slovakians in possession 61-39, in passes 512-320, and shots 21-7. The Slovakians had a good run and outplayed their expectations, but they won't be happy that their cup ended on such a rout. As for Germany, they will face Italy in the quarterfinals, in a matchup of the 2 best teams in the cup.
Hungary v Belgium
This match was also a blowout. Belgium continues to play well, and won its 3rd straight shutout victory. Belgium scored in the 10th minute, and the score was locked at 1-0 for 68 minutes. But then in the 78th minute, Belgium's offense exploded, scoring 3 goals in the final 12 minutes of the match. Among the 4 goals, Eden Hazard scored his first goal at a major international tournament for Belgium. Hungary will be extremely upset with this result, because they went undefeated in the group stage and topped Group F only to get smashed in the Round of 16. On the other hand, Belgium will face Wales next for a spot in the semifinals.
Italy v Spain
Italy is the real deal. The Italians had a resounding 2-0 victory over the defending Euro Champs Spain, and the margin of victory could have easily been 5 or 6 if not for countless spectacular saves from Spanish goalkeeper David De Gea. Italy kept the pressure on the Spanish net, logging 10 shots on target over 90 minutes. Spain's loss against Croatia in the group stage proved to be crucial. If Spain had won that match, they would have played Portugal and would likely be in the quarterfinals. Instead, however, they choked against Croatia and had to face a tough Italian side, who sent them home earlier than they would have liked. Next up for Italy: a quarterfinal match against Germany.
England v Iceland
The magical run continues. Iceland, the tiniest nation in the cup (with only 330,000 people in the whole country), got an incredible victory over perennial soccer giants England to advance to the quarterfinals. England was absolutely terrible in this match, as both Icelandic goals could have easily been kept out by decent defending. Instead, England's poor defense just stood around as Iceland took the lead and sent England home. The last time England won a knockout round match in an international tournament was back in 2006, at the Germany World Cup. Roy Hodgson officially quit as England's manager following the embarrassing defeat, as the England team seems to have fallen into disrepair. As for Iceland, they have a chance to continue their amazing run in the quarterfinals against France, and if they win, they will advance to the semis.
New Matches (QuarterFinals)
Poland v Portugal (Thursday, June 30 @ 3 PM ET)
Wales v Belgium (Friday, July 1 @ 3 PM ET)
Germany v Italy (Saturday, July 2 @ 3 PM ET)
France v Iceland (Sunday, July 3 @ 3 PM ET)
New Bracket (image from wikipedia.org)
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