Day 13 - Group E Wraps Up!
posted by The Blue Devil @ 2:29 PM
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 22, 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 13 - Group F Wraps Up!
- Day 12 - Group D Wraps Up
- Day 12: Group C Wraps Up
- 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
55 Comments:
Actually, on second thought, I've decided to watch Belgium v. Sweden. I reckon that the Italians will be able to shut down the Irish fairly easily.
Italy are so predictable - Antonio Conte has made EIGHT changes from the side that beat Sweden. In come Sirigu, Ogbonna, De Sciglio, Sturaro, Motta, Bernardeschi, Zaza and Immobile and a whole load of players that you've never heard of and don't give a toss about. zzzzzzzz
Once upon a time, we were gathering here today to resolve a straightforward issue: who joins Italy, and perhaps Ireland, in qualifying for the last sixteen. Not no more. Now, we’re here to discover who takes the prized second spot in Group E, or, more properly, who gets to contest a bracket that involves not single former champion.
The teams gathering in the tunnel now in Nice:
Sweden (two banks of four): Isaksson; Lindelof, Johansson, Granqvist, Olsson; Larsson, Kallstrom, Ekdal, Forsberg; Ibrahimovic, Berg.
Belgium (not two banks of four): Courtois; Meunier, Alderweireld, Vermaelen, Vertonghen; Nainggolan, Witsel; Carrasco, De Bruyne, Hazard; Lukaku.
Man in the mirror: Felix Brych (Germany)
Teams out on the pitch and anthems playing now.
This may be the last time to see Zlatan in a Sweden shirt.
Belgium about to kick us off here in Nice wearing white.
Witsel tries one from distance and should have earned a corner but it's ruled a goal kick.
Oh - great save by Courtois to keep Sweden out. A bright start to this match.
De Bruyne troops to the corner to take an early one...
nodded out by the first man.
Oh - The Chunk set up by the Ginger finds a yard and strikes one just to the right of goal. Corner.
Oh - Witsel got his head to that corner and nodded it across the six yard box - no one to sweep it in. Chances!
Where was this Sweden against Italy and Ireland? Zlatan goes at Meunier down the side of the box and swivels into a cut-back. It’s intercepted, but really - this is already very different.
Oh - Hazard fizzes a nice ball across the box and Chunk is just inches away.
A quarter of an hour gone and it's 0-0 in both matches. Color me "not surprised."
If Sweden and Ireland don't win, then Turkey would meet Wales rather than Northern Ireland. And Northern Ireland would meet Hungary - I think.
Belgium seem to be missing the guile of Moussa Dembele.
Zlatan tries a volley and comes up a bit lame.
Hazard tees up De Bruyne and he curls a shot in but Isaksson is behind it.
Oh - Zlatan picks up a bobbly shot from under his feet and it's just wide.
De Bruyne wins a corner. These have looked dangerous.
Not this time....
Ginger fires a shot well wide.
Still 0-0 between Italy and Ireland - not quite the fireworks from this morning's Group F action.
Good free kick chance for Belgium now....
Vertonghen hammers it into the wall. Shame.
Belgium continue to blow hot and cold. When they're clicking, they're one of the most exciting teams on the planet. But when things aren't going well, they can really stink up the joint.
Oh - De Bruyne fizzed another great ball over and Chunk wasn't on the spot. He needs to be able to get into the right area.
Johansson goes into the book.
Hey Bob,
I am watching Italy B versus Ireland here, right before we put the kids to bed. Like you say, Italy ain't showin' anything, while Ireland is showing a lot of fight.
It's a rugged game so far.
No games for the next couple of days, but I have plenty of games DVR-ed here, so I will have to do some catching up, beginning with Argentina's hammering of the US.
The Swedes have a free kick chance now - meat and drink for Courtois though.
Hiya, Alex - great to hear from and thanks for the email.
I suspected that the Italians would rest up a bit for the R16 matches, especially now that they know they'll have the current European champions to face. Wow!
What are your thoughts on this crazy bracketology with almost all the big boys on one side with Croatia on the other side? Portugal should be feeling happy they did not finish second.
That Argentina - US massacre was truly "men vs. boys." Ouch!
Well, that's what happens when England and Spain don't play to their expectations, right? It should have been France, Germany, and Italy on one side and England, Spain and perhaps Portugal on the other side.
But I'm happy with the England v. Iceland match-up. Bring on the Elves!
Italy just dodged a bullet (though, it's not as if it matters).
Oh - another sumptuous cross from the Ginger Winger but Meunier couldn't nod it home. Belgium have had their chances but I have a feeling that somewhere in Europe Birger is tearing his hair out.
And now Witsel has talked his way into the ref's book. Not going to play for Wilmots' team.
Yeah, I think that works well for England. Iceland is not good at possession and they don't have guile, which is usually what does in British defenses.
Are there any Italian B-teamers who have stood out?
Half-time whistle goes in Nice and lots of boos going up around the stadium, probably from the Red Devils fans.
Alright, I am out of here. Have a good night and give our best to Kate from Chiara and I.
There is an African player on defense, who looks quite solid, but he is not doing much offensively, with Ireland pinning them back. Really, they are not playing well with much initiative at all.
We're back on for the second half now - as it stands, Belgium will finish second and Sweden and Ireland would be knocked out. But it would only take an Ireland goal to put a monkey wrench in the gears.
I think that's Ogbonna, who plays at West Ham.
Cheerio!
Early corner for Sweden now...
Oh - Zlatan had a chance for couldn't keep his header down.
Oh - Zlatan played Berg in brilliantly but he couldn't control it.
Wilmots needs to change things now - Lukaku hasn't done much of anything. He can either shut up shop or throw on the likes of Mertens and Fellaini to try to win it.
Belgium appear to have subbed the orange quarters and squash for moules-frites, waffles and Aventinus. Really ponderous.
Finally Carrasco was sprung but his cross was well cut out.
Sweden have it in the net through Zlatan but it's ruled out.
Berg is given the hook - Guidetti on.
All Swedish pressure now.
What a thrilling end to these matches. I had a handy man over so I missed both goals.
First, Nainggolan nodded home a winner for the less than convincing Belgians. That buried Sweden, who will finish fourth. A sad night for Zlatan who will retire after this tournament.
Than, Robbie Brady fired home an improbable winner for Ireland against the lazy Italians. That's good enough to set them up for a R16 match against hosts France, while Wales will meet fellow United Kingdom member Northern Ireland.
Phew - that was quite a day, that almost made up for the boring tournament so far. I'm hoping for more thrills in the Round of 16 starting on Saturday.
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