Day 12: Group C Wraps Up
posted by The Blue Devil @ 11:29 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!
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
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
- Day 11 - Group B Wraps Up!
- Happy 1st Anniversary!!
- Day 10 - Group A Wraps Up
- Euro 2016 Predictions Game - Group Stage Update #2
- Day 9 - Group E: Belgium v. Republic of Ireland
- Day 8 - Group E: Italy v. Sweden
- Day 7 - Group C: Germany v. Poland
- Day 7 - Group B: England v. Wales!
- Day 6 - Group A: France v. Albania
- Day 6 - Group B: Russia v. Slovakia
67 Comments:
Jogi Löw’s world champions have not set the continent alight in their opening two games; doing just enough to beat Ukraine and stuttering in a 0-0 draw with Poland, who play Ukraine at the same time this evening.
ESPN have Michael Ballack on the panel this afternoon, which should be interesting. Ballack has incurred the ire of his compatriots with his negative comments about the team. Sami Khedira, for example has referred to Ballack's comments as "comedy" and "ridiculous."
Northern Ireland, so poor in their opener against Poland, were brilliant against Ukraine and are now on course to progressing into the last 16. Even if they lose today, results elsewhere may be enough to see them advance.
Here's the team news out of Paris:
Germany (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Kimmich, Boateng, Hummels, Hector; Khedira, Kroos; Ozil, Muller, Gotze; Gomez.
Northern Ireland (4-5-1): McGovern; Hughes, McAuley, Cathcart, J Evans; Ward, C Evans, Davis, Norwood, Dallas; Washington.
Referee: C Turpin (Fr).
Just a quick check on the Golden Boot competition:
Gareth Bale - 3 goals
Alvaro Morata - 2
Bagdan Stancu - 2
Dimitri Payet - 2
Romelu Lukaku - 2
All other scorers are on one.
Looks as if Low is pulling out all the stops tonight with Muller, Goetze and Super Mario Gomez all starting. That should be more than the creaky Northern Ireland backline full of low level Championship players are able to handle.
The runner up in this group earn a plum first R16 slot on Saturday at 2pm against Switzerland. But then they run up against Spain in the Quarters.
Teams in the tunnel now.
Mark Donaldson on the mic this afternoon in Paris.
I've been particularly surprised by Thomas Muller's form this tournament. He's in line to best Klose's goal-scoring record but in this reduced role, he looks a shadow of the player that ripped up the last couple of World Cups.
With Lafferty on the bench, it's clear that Michael O'Neill is going to have his side park the proverbial bus from the off.
And we're away.
Bright start for the team in green - I'm surprised.
It has been a bitty start – with Washington knocking over Kroos in the Germany area after a long ball from McAuley – but Northern Ireland appear to be committing men forward early on.
Some whistling going on in the stadium now - wonder what that's all about?
There was some weird story in the press today about an ultra band of Ukrainian fans who will be trying to disrupt the other match in Marseille with the intent of having the match abandoned. I'm not sure what that accomplishes, as their side has already been eliminated.
Oh - Muller was through on goal but McGovern saved well. And then Washington breaks free. Comes to nothing. End to end stuff here.
McGovern definitely took one for the team there - hope he had his cup in.
If the Poles score early, which is definitely possible, the Germans will start to get a bit nervous.
Set piece chance now for Germany...
McGovern punches and N. Ireland clear.
Oh - Ozil was in there - N. Ireland are really under the cosh now.
It's clear that the tactic that is working for Germany is slicing the NI backfour with incisive balls. The conventional game of swinging in crosses to the big men is meat and drink for Cathcart and McGovern.
Oh - another superb save from McGovern one on one with Goetze. He's already having the game of his life. And it's only 12 minutes in.
Jonny Evans crunched into Muller there and should've picked up a yellow card.
After weathering that storm, Northern Ireland appear to have gained some – albeit minor – foothold in the game again. They have their goalkeeper to thank for still being on level terms and, you would assume, a lot more defending is to come.
Still 0-0 in Marseille, which will suit the Germans.
The Northern Irish fans are having a great old sing song now with Will Griggs On Fire.
Oh - Muller was away and fired just wide from an acute angle.
My goodness - the N. Ireland fans are having a great time, all bouncy bouncy right now. They are loving their time at Euro 2016. German fans very quiet right now.
Jamie Ward is sprung and he hits one from about 20 yards. Never smothers it. He won't be beaten from that range.
Oh - off the keeper and post there by Muller!
Muller could've had a hat-trick at this point.
The NI players are happy to knock it about a bit, takes the pressure off the backline for a bit.
GOAL! The breakthrough finally - Super Mario Gomez!
Sloppy passing from the NI midfielders, then a deadly close control pass from Ozil to Muller, played back to Gomez and in off the keeper.
1-0 Germany at the half hour mark.
That goal had a bit of inevitability about it. But that hasn't silenced the NI fans - they're still having a whale of a time, regardless.
Germany in total control now and you could definitely see more goals coming.
Northern Ireland, as it stands, will need to avoid being thumped here – and then hope other results go in their favour. Honestly, on this evidence, they are unlikely to find a way past Neuer.
Oh - Muller has one off the bar!!!
Could so easily have been two.
Oh - a mad scramble - should have been a goal again.
Oh - Mario Gomez was in on goal and tried to side foot it but scuffed it straight into McGovern's arms.
Wahay - Stu Dallas earns a corner for NI.
If they could equalize here, who knows?
Ward crosses straight into Neuer's arms. Shame.
As the first half winds down, it's still goalless in Marseille. All going to Germany's plan.
Oh - the linesman got one in the goolies there and is winded. He'll need some treatment at the interval. And here it is.
1-0 here and in total control of the game and the group play.
We're back on for the second half at Paris. Let's be honest - the Germans should have been 8 or 10 goals up. NI are lucky to still be in this one and need to keep the score down in order to qualify for the next round.
Oh - Aaron Hughes lost his man but McGovern bailed him and the team out.
Oh- Mario Goetze should have scored from his sliding effort. Put it wide.
Poland have scored then - Blasiekowski with that goal. Doesn't change anything, yet. Germany still a goal better.
Strange change there - Goetze to come off and Schurrle on. It's true that Goetze was wasteful today.
Oh - Boateng was all at sea there. I've never rated him as a defender.
Germany could easily be out of sight by now. They appear to be playing a different game to their opponents. Theirs is a dominance as thorough as Spain v Turkey and Belgium v Republic of Ireland. Still, it’s only 1-0 and Northern Ireland will be eager to keep it that way for as long as possible.
Another corner chance now for NI:
Decent effort there by Evans and they have another corner.
Another Poland goal and this one could get interesting.
Pigstick coming on to replace Khedira.
Jamie Ward coming off and Magennis coming on.
Great ball over from Hector but Gomez couldn't get on the end of it.
Northern Ireland's only hope is really a rare set piece chance.
Boateng comes off; Howeides on.
Down to the last fifteen minutes - if things stay the same, all three sides should progress, Germany meeting a third place team on Sunday, Poland meeting Switzerland on Saturday.
Northern Ireland would have to wait to see what happens in the other three groups.
Oh - Gomez with a great header down from Kimmich's cross - another superb save by McGovern.
Things winding down here, with both sides seemingly pleased with their efforts and the result.
I'm not sure that this will quiet the critics of this German side. They certainly had enough chances to run away with this one. But that was true of England yesterday, too.
Ozil, on his right, sends a half volley wide. There will be three minutes added on.
Really boring finish to this match.
That's it, then. Germany go through top of the group, with Poland wrapping up second place. NI will have to wait to see if they go through. And Ukraine will have a flight home to look forward to.
I'll be back with a fresh thread for the Group D matches in a bit.
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