Euro 2012 - Day 6!
posted by The Blue Devil @ 10:23 AM
Lakenheath Old Boys
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Lakenheath Old Boys
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
Contributors
Previous Posts
- CONCACAF WORLD CUP QUALIFYING
- Euro 2012 - Day 5!
- Euro 2012 Predictions Game - Group Stage Update
- Panini goes to the dogs...
- Woy's Army!
- Euro 2012 - Day 4!
- Classic Shirt Competition
- Euro 2012 - Day 3!
- Euro 2012 - Day 2!
- U.S. v. Antigua
442 Comments:
Good morning everyone. The Germans would love to send the Dutch home. Nothing would give them more pleasure. The Danes would send the Portugese home to Lisboa. We need to wait a day for the Irish.
I am going to be a no show for most of today. I am teaching for the second half of the first game and have an Algebra review session for the first half of the second game
I'll try to follow along!
Both sides unchaged from the first game BTW
Sorry you won't be there. You will definitely be missed. I may be out for parts of the first and second game as I will be meeting the missus at Olive Garden then bringing her home.
Morning, MUR! Spot on with my mistake about the Irish - I'm getting ahead of myself. It's Ronaldo v. "Chronaldo" this morning with the Portugeezer's heads on the chopping block.
I'm loving this summer schedule. I was up late writing last night and slept in. Watched my political shows over brekkies, ran some errands and now I'm back in time for the first match. Luvin' it!
I've just edited the intro that I posted so that I don't look like quite the muppet.
Here's the team news out of Ukraine:
Denmark (4-3-3): Andersen, Jacobsen, Kjaer, Agger, Simon Poulsen; Kvist, Zimling; Rommedahl, Eriksen, Krohn-Dehli; Bendtner. Subs: Lindegaard, Christian Poulsen, Bjelland, Okore, Schone, Silberbauer, Pedersen, Wass, Jakob Poulsen, Kahlenberg, Mikkelsen, Schmeichel.
Portugal (4-3-3): Rui Patricio, Joao Pereira, Bruno Alves, Pepe, Fabio Coentrao, Meireles, Veloso, Joao Moutinho, Nani, Postiga, Ronaldo.
Subs: Eduardo, Custodio, Almeida, Quaresma, Nelson Oliveira, Ricardo Costa, Rolando, Ruben Micael, Varela, Miguel Lopes, Hugo Viana, Beto.
No worries . It can't be any worse than my Chelsea image during a CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier
I have a similar schedule and love it too.
If Denmark and Germany are victorious today then "The Group of Death ." will be the first group to be done and dusted . How ironic!
Way hay - the ESPN coverage has started up!
We're back to the idiots after listening to the All Star team yesterday
I had a feeling that Bollocks and Big red would be back. They're joined by Double T for the first time.
I think he is there to raise the bar and to keep the two morons on their toes ( making sure they tow the line).
News in that UEFA has levied a pathetic $150K fine against the Russian confederation for the incidents that happened in Wroclaw on Friday. Some idle threats of points deduction if there are repeated incidents.
Teams on the pitch for the anthems now.
The Russian federation has been fined $150,000 and warned that any further incidents would lead to a six point deduction in the next Euro qualifying. Too lenient as the fine should have been skipped and the deduction to put them on notice . Failure to host the next World Cup should have been the warning.
Great minds think alike , but at UEFA, unfortunately, stupid political minds do too.
Agreed, MUR. Should have been a much stiffer penalty.
Problems in the Portugese and Dutch camps , and for some reason the same two teams on the brink of elimination.
We're about to get started. Surely it's time for Cristiano Ronaldo to step up and prove himself on a big stage.
We have a Scottish officiating crew, so they will probably let the game flow.
Supposedly, he's had an attitude problem that has disrupted the team. I would have sent him home.
I think given the positive results in both opening matches, these games today could be some of the highlights of the group stage.
We're off from Lviv.
So we're off from Lviv.
It may be a feisty encounter.
Nani crunches Krohn-Delhi in the early going.
Nani fouled Krohn-dehli
Eriksen wins an early corner for the Danes.
Eriksen won the ball and wins an early corner.
Short corner routine to irritate UWS. Good thing he's teaching.
Krohn-Dehli took it short , got it back, and won another corner.
Oh - the ball fell invitingly to Eriksen in the box but Pepe did an excellent job sliding in with a block.
The ball broke to eriksen off the corner and his shot was deflected for another corner.
The Danes are doing an excellent job so far crowding out the Portuguese midfield.
Krohn-Dehli and eriksen played a series of one twos off the short corner, then a cross field pass was errant.
A goal would help the Danes as I expect the Portugese to dominate at some stage.
The Danes are racking up the corners but I'd like to see them swing one in to the big boys.
Rommedahl wins a corner off of Pepe as a throw was headed on.
The corner from Krohn-Dehli is cleared and Portugal attack
Poor cross from Jao Pereira that was far too high for the sulking Skippy.
Promising Portuguese move ends with a rubbish ball from Joao Perreira. Skippy needed stilts to get to that one.
Useless Portugal free kick easily cleared by Kvist
Another cross that is too and cleared, but Portugal maintain possession.
Zimling fouls Moutinho in midfield.
Nice idea for Moutinho to Nani,who was tightly marked by Simon Poulsen
Adrian Healey agrees with me that my boy Nani is a goal threat.
A teasing cross from Nani is cleared by Jacobsen for a corner.
Nani is starting to come to life. Dangerous ball in toward Postiga and Kjaer had to clear out.
Now Anderson is called on to punch clear - better from Portugal.
Andersen punches away a cross from a short corner.
Oh - Rommedahl nearly got onto that long through ball. His years catching up with him.
Rohmedahl beat the offside trap, but the through ball intended for him was overcooked.
Oh dear - Zimling has got a problem and is indicating that he may have to come off.
Now Zimling is down injured and he signals that he wants to be substituted.
Jakob Poulson is getting prepared to come on - a big blow for the Danes.
Jacob Poulsen is on for the injured Zimling , who pulled his hammy.
Poor chest control by Nani and Krohn-Dehli wins a free kick,
Skippy feeds Mireles, who has a shot blocked , and it breaks back to Skippy, who drags a shot well wide.
Oh - Ronaldo had a half chance there and he scuffed his shot with his right foot. That shows the folly of having a right footer playing on the left side. It naturally fell for a left foot shot but he shanked it.
Now Pepe is down , holding his ankle, but this seems like a phantom injury.
Now Pepe has been stepped on inadvertently by Big Nik and he's down looking bad. Now, he's up jogging off - he'll be able to continue.
Big Nik had eyes on the ball and knew little about stepping on Pepe. Miguel Veloso needs to shut it.
Ronaldo launches himself into Kjaer. Should be a mere obstruction called; not a yellow card offense.
Skippy is obstructed by Kjaer as he finally went on a run.
Horrible free kick from Skippy that finds the ball boys in the tunnel.
Useless long ball from Pepe, intended for Nani.
The ball boys should scamper when they see Skippy lining up a free kick.
Paolo Bento is dealing with some attitudes as Picky Carvalho and one other defender were not included in the squad due to a poor attitude. Skippy and Paolo Bento were teammates at Sporting Lisbon prior to Skippy leaving for OT.
This was the lowest scoring group in the first round of games with only Krohn Delhi and Gomez's strikes in the two games and this one seems to be panning out the same way. I want goals!
GOAL! There it is for me - Pepe! From the corner!
Kjaer did well to intercept a free kick intended for Postiga.
GOAL !!! 1-0 PORTUGAL AS PEPE SCORES OFF THE RESULTING CORNER.
Simple goal - the corner was swung into the danger area and Pepe attacked the near post well and powered his header in past Andersen. Similar to Sheva's second headed goal against Sweden.
It started with a free kick conceded by Agger for a foul on Veloso. It was a superb corner that was well headed in at the near post by Pepe. Not much that Denmark could have done as Pep found the perfect spot, despite being tightly marked by Agger,
Postiga wins a corner off of Agger as it was a nice pass from Skippy.
Raul Mereiles picks up a yellow card for a cynical handball.
Postiga heads straight at Andersen off the corner from Moutinho. then Mireles is booked for intentional handball of the punt from Andersen.
Useless free kick from Krohn-Dehli.
It has been two consecutive superb corners from Moutinho, the first resulted in a goal.
Alan Shearer was mentioning that he was enjoying the good old fashioned striker performances in this tournament, especially Sheva's, including quite a few headed goals.
By my count, that's nine headed goals of the 26, including headers from Lewandowski, Salpingidis, Gomez, St. Ledger, Lescott, and the two from Sheva. And now Pepe.
Great run by Skippy and it was too far ahead of Postiga, who unnecessarily slid into Andersen.
Great job anoraking, BD.
That goal complicates the group enormously, with potentially three sides with winning margins and three points going into the last match.
Cheers, MUR!
As it stands, this group is wide open. All the pressure is on the dull Dutch.
Jacobsen fouled Skippy just outside the box.
Skippy lining up another free kick now...took a deflection off the top of the wall and out for a corner. We're still waiting for the first free kick goal of the tournament.
Nearly 2-0 as it took a wicked deflection off the wall and went just over.
Great catch by Andersen in traffic off the corner from Mireles.
GOAL! Postiga steals in to make it 2-0! Portugal are romping it!
Great ball in from Nani and Postiga beat his marker at the near post to slide in. Good goal!
GOAL !!!2-0 AS POSTUIGA SCORES WITH A NEAR POST FINISH OFF A CROSS FROM NANI AFTER A CROSS FROM SKIPPY WAS HEADED AWAY AND PERREIRA PASSED TO NANI
Paolo Bento will feel vindicated now for keeping the faith with Helger Postiga who was getting a roasting in the Portuguese sports press.
Eriksen has been quiet in this first half but he forced a good save out of Patricio there.
Decent long range effort from Eriksen that is easily saved at the near post by Rui Patricio.
Rohmedahl is offside . He should have watched the defensive line.
What a difference a few days makes! This Danish side is a shadow of the side that beat the Dutch. Krohn Delhi, the star that day, has been anonymous and Big Nik has been forced to feed off scraps so far.
Poor cross from Big Nik on the left.
GOAL! Yes - Big Nik brings Denmark back into this match. Well in!
GOAL!!! BIG NIK HEADS IN AT THE FAR POST .GAME ON.
Super move there just as I was lamenting the Danes' poor half. Bendtner spread the ball out to Jacobsen, who found Rommedahl with a simple ball. Rommedahl beat the Portuguese back four with a great ball in and when Krohn Dehli dinked it back in Big Nik finished with what Adrian Healey has said is the 11th headed goal of Euro 2012. (I missed one!)
wHAT WAS rUI pATRICIO THINKING AS HE WAS WELL OUT OF POSITION AS A HARMLESS CROSS FROM lARS jACOBSEN WAS HEADED ON by Krohn-dehli and nik headed into an empty net. Five goals in five matches vs Portugal for Nik.
That goal sets up a brilliant second half for us. Can't wait!
Good cross in there and Andersen just did enough to put off Postiga.
Nearly 3-1 as Andersen punched away a teasing cross from Nani, who beat Simon Poulsen. Postiga thought he was in for a second.
Two minutes of stoppage time.
Bendtner finds Jacobsen again - the full back has been key to the Danes good play in the past few minutes.
Postiga goes down off the ball - what happened there?
A cross by Nani intended for Postiga goes straight to Andersen.
Just a little tug - not sure why Postiga felt the need to stay down.
Postiga is wasting time. The half should have ended.
A really entertaining first half comes to the end - things are delicately poised for the second half.
An entertaining first half ends and Portugal lead 2-1.
Wow... I missed the two goals!
More goals in games.... 11 out of 11 with goals
Back to teach
The Portuguese about to get us underway in the second half.
Oh - a huge chance for Skippy and he blew it. Shot straight at Andersen.
Denmark a wee bit under the cosh in the opening of this second half.
The sub Jakob Poulson goes into the book there for a hack on Nani.
The crowd noise seems to have been turned up on the ESPN feed now, somewhat drowning out Adrian and Robbie.
Rommedahl's got a problem now. He may need to come off.
Looks like he's done his hammy. That's a shame.
Tobias Mikkelson coming on for him now.
Morton Olsson won't appreciate having to make two forced substitutions.
An hour in and it's difficult to see now where the equalizer is going to come from now.
Hello BD .I had to drop off the girls at Olive Garden. Did I miss much?
Oh - Kvist really caught hold of that volley - and it wasn't far off!
Not far wide from Christian Poulsen.
Not a lot - Skippy missed a one-on-one with Andersen. Rommedahl had to go off injured. Denmark are just starting to put some pressure on.
If Portugal win this game today, even with a a loss today, the Dutch would not be elimintated!
Mikkelsen crossed , but Rui Patricio was there to catch it.
Postiga goes down in a heap looking for a pen but that was an excellent tackle by Agger.
Pass from Skippy was intended for Postiga, but it was a superb tackle by Agger. Never a pen.
Nelson Oliveira is on for Postiga,
And that's quite enough for Postiga - he'll be happy to have got off the mark today. Nelson Oliveira on for him. He was my Youngster to Watch for Portugal.
good afternoon, UWS. How are you?
Pepe clears a cross from Jacobsen for a corner
The corner is taken short and Krohn-Dehli was tackled in the box, then Patricio catches a cross.
That is true, although it would put enormous pressure on the Dutch. I don't see them qualifying unless they get a win off Germany today.
Oh Mereiles had the chance to play Moutinho in on goal but his touch let him down.
Krohn-Dehli is offside . he timed his run too early.
After an initial lull at the second half, this game has come back to life. Nice ebb and flow to it. Thanks for coming back and livening things up, MUR!
I agree, BD. It looks tough for the Dull Dutch
Not an auspicious start for young Oliveira.
Cheers BD! Great to be back.
I agree. His first touch let him down and his first pass was off. It looked like nerves.
Busy teaching but.... I don't know why you couldn't see a Dutch win against the Iberians!
A win would put them equal and with the them and a better head to head. It would be all down to the Germans beating the Danes
Oliveira with a shot on goal. Easily gathered by Andersen.
Oliveira shoots tamely at Andersen after a superb passing possession.
Big Nik drags a shot wide with his left after doing well to chest down a long pass.
The Germans are too disciplined for that. I think they might relish knocking the Dutch out by beating them soundly today and then allowing a draw against the Danes in the last match.
The Dutch can defeat any team, but they are out of sync and mentally not in the right frame of mind.They will not do well under these circumstances.
Sounds about right, BD. My thinking was about the same.
I don't see the Dutch beating Germany today.
Poor cross by Ronny , but he was well marked by two Danish defenders.
Me either. The end of the road for Bert?
Fifteen minutes plus stoppage time remaining.
Remember that the Germans are responsible for FIFA changing to a policy of playing simultaneous third group stage games as a result of their dire 0-0 draw with Austria in 1990. They are the epitome of a professional outfit who do what is necessary.
Definitely the end of the road if the Dutch crash out in the group stage. They half expected to win this.
Hand ball by Coentrao off the cross from Simon Poulsen
Decent free kick oppo for Denmark now. Good ball in but Patricio did well to punch away.
The free kick is punched away by Patricio.
From the Beeb
He is mortal after all. Cristiano Ronaldo beats two men down the left but his cross is horrible. Shanked away behind goal like a League Two full-back.
How did Ronny miss that as he was through on goal and shot right at Andersen?
Skippy is a big time bottler.
GOAL! Big Nik heads home his second!
I believe Germany Scored an early goal to lead 1-0 , then the teams passed it around for 80 minutes to contrive a 1-0 victory that sent W. Germany and Austria through, eliminating Algeria , who were level on points with both teams. It was in 1982.
GOAL !!! DESMOND IN LVIV AS BIG NIK HAS A BRACE BUNDLING IT HOME AT THE FAR POST.
Alan Shearer would have loved that one too. A sumptuous ball over from Jacobsen and Bendtner powers the ball in off the post. Super goal!
Desmond!
Now that should knock out the Dutch
Skippy has a chance to restore Portugal's lead - straight at Andersen.
Ronny shoots straight at Andersen off the free kick as Jocobsen was booked for the foul.
I think that Mustoe is right to blame Skippy for both of those goals. Because he's too lazy to track back, Jacobsen has been able to romp forward continually during this match. I wonder if Ollson planned this or whether Jacobsen figured it out organically on the pitch once the match had started.
I would luv it if the Dutch were knocked out today!
The same two players combine for the second goal as it was a Portugese style possession for the Danes and Jacobsen crossed from the right for Nik to head home at the far post despite the efforts of Pepe.Six goals in five matches for Nik vs Portugal.
I think Olsen planned it like the wily manager he is. I would love to see the dull Dutch eliminated too.
Skippy with another big chance and a tame finish.
The first time it has been Desmond this tournament.
Varela has a shot deflected for a corner
Meireles has come off and Varela is on.
Bruno Alves heads straight into the air offf the corner. Now another
Skippy whiffs off the corner.
Great cross from Nani that iis headed away.
GOAL! Varela restores Portugal's lead!
GOAL!!! 3-2 PORTUGAL AS VARELA SCORES MINUTES AFTER COMING ON AS A SUB. A GREAT FINISH, BUT ANDERSEN SHOULD HAVE DONE BETTER.
From the Beeb
Portugal will be kicking themselves. Or maybe kicking Cristiano Ronaldo.
Wow.. didn't see that goal come on the Beed yet!
What minute are we in?
An odd goal as it was a great cross from Coentrao, Varela swung and missed , but made no mistake the second time around.
That whiff was Ronaldo's best play of the tournament, so far. I think any questions about who is better between him and Messi are being further answered today.
One minute plus stoppage time remaining.
Good afternoon Red Devil.What a match!
WOW.. that late!
Why are all the best games when I am working!
I guess you guys want me to work for all the matches!
Lasse Schoene is on for Krohn-Dehli
Four minutes of stoppage time.
Sorry about that, UWS. Wosh you were with us.
Poor pass from Nelson Oliveira on the break and Skippy is booked for a pull.
We were in Florence for the day and just got back. Let's hope the DVR doesn't continue to play stupid.
Just a couple of minutes for Portugal to get through for a priceless win. Terrific game here.
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