posted by The Blue Devil @ 1:59 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!
Sunday, July 03, 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
- Quarterfinal 3 - Germany v. Italy
- Quarterfinal 2 - Belgium v. Wales
- Quarter final 1 - Poland v. Portugal
- France 2016 Predictions Game - Round of 16 Update
- Round of 16 - England vs. Iceland!!
- Round of 16 - Spain v. Italy
- Round of 16 Belgium vs Hungary
- Round of 16 - Germany v. Slovakia
- Round of 16 - France v. Republic of Ireland
- France 2016 Predictions Game - Group Stage Update #3
109 Comments:
France are not playing especially well and were given a scare by Ireland in the previous round. They also know better than most that the European Championship can confound expectations. As well as their memorable performances, the celebrated outsiders of Denmark (1992), the Czech Republic (1996) and Greece (2004) had another thing in common: they all put France out of the competition.
Iceland are unchanged, as they have been throughout the tournament. For France, the Barcelona-bound defender Samuel Umtiti - my Funniest Name in the Squad pick - makes his international debut in place of the suspended Adil Rami. Quite a time to win your first cap, though he has nothing on Ruben Moran. N’Golo Kante, also suspended, is replaced by Moussa Sissoko, which probably mean a switch to 4-2-3-1.
France (4-2-3-1) Lloris; Sagna, Koscielny, Umtiti, Evra; Pogba, Matuidi; Sissoko, Griezmann, Payet; Giroud.
Iceland (4-4-2) Halldorsson; Saevarsson, Amason, R Sigurdsson, Skulason; Gudmundsson, Gunnarsson, G Sigurdsson, B Bjarnason; Sigthorsson, Bodvarsson.
Referee Bjorn Kuipers (Netherlands)
Teams in the tunnel now....
A very fast version of La Marseillaise now....
I'm looking forward to hearing Ian Darke and Double T say "Umtiti" all day long.
Nine Icelanders are on yellow cards tonight - no suspensions.
And we're away - Griezmann is fouled within seconds.
Payet swings a free kick in but the whistle has gone for an infringement.
Gudjohnsson collected and turned and shot toward goal. Easily collected by Lloris.
Good start for the Icelanders - they're not looking overawed.
Oh - nice move from the French leading to a shot on goal by Payet. Bobbled by Haldorsson but then collected.
Good afternoon, Bob. I just got home to see Haldorsson fumble a shot from Payet after a long possession
The Icelanders fouling a lot.
Afternoon, MUR - great to have you on board. UWS is watching and texting.
Thanks, Bob. Great to be around. I'm hoping the fairy tale continues.
Bjanarsson shoots wide after a long ball was knocked down.,
Ian Darke , as the Gooner stated, sounds as if he's reading off the newspaper . Anyone can do that. What a fraud.
The Icelanders are fouling a lot already.
GOAL !!! GIROUD GIVES FRANCE THE LEAD.
GOAL!!!!!!!
Nah, nah, nah, nah nah nah nah nah - Giroud!!!
France 1-0 up!
Great ball through from Matuidi and Giroud nutmegged the keeper with a tidy finish. That will settle the nerves.
Great finish by Giroud and a great long ball by Matuidi, but I'm surprised the Icelanders were caught out by the long ball, their bread and butter. Also surprised that Giroud got so easily behind the back four.
That was the first goal scored in the first half by the French this tournament. Very surprising.
Iceland have a free kick now - 1-0 is the most dangerous scoreline.
Straight into Lloris' arms.
I wouldn't count Iceland out yet. They were down early on Monday and look what happened.
Giroud now has 2 goals; if he catches fire today, he could easily end up Golden Boot, to the benefit of Gooner and Simon.
Gudvarsson has a header go straight to Lloris off a good cross from the right.
That's true. But France look very comfortable now.
I'm basically out after the Italians were eliminated. I had them losing in the final.
The French win a corner. Griezmann to take and
GOAL !!! PAUL POGBA HEADS FRANCE INTO A TWO GOAL LEAD AT THE FAR POST OFF THE CORNER.
GOAL! Pogba nods home France's second goal and the Icelanders are being overwhelmed!
Great corner over from Griezmann and Pogba rose magnificently to head home.
2-0!
Iceland immediately attack and Sigthorsson shoots well over.
Now I will admit that it will be hard to eliminate France. I picked them to win it all.
Iceland nearly score off a long throw as it was taken as always by Gunarrsson and Sigthorsson headed on as 1FK's Bodvarsson volleyed inches over off the flick on.
Iceland nearly score one through a Stoke City long throw routine. Don't know why defenders can't defend those.
How I wish we were watching England this afternoon. (sigh)...
I'm not sure. Perhaps they're intimidated by the mean looking Thor types.
Another French corner. The corner from Payet is headed away.
Payet to swing another corner in....
Agreed, but the Three Lions have only themselves to blame and probably would have had just as much trouble as Iceland have today.
Prior to this match, Payet has been involved in just about every French chance created and today I'm surprised that he's had hardly any touches of the ball.
The French midfield is looking as fluid as they have all tournament tonight -very impressive.
Agreed. They look a lot like the Gunners when in top form.
That looked a foul on Evra near the corner flag , but the ref says goal kick.
Matuidi volleys well wide off a cross from Payet
I can't believe these prehistoric Route 1 merchants beat England (sigh)...
A long Iceland free kick eludes everyone and nearly catches Lloris by surprise. He fumbled the ball, but immediately gathered it.
agreed. They didn't just beat England , but really outplayed them.
GOAL!!!!
Payet with a super left-footed drive!
3-0.
Curtains for the Iceland
GOAL !!! PAYET PUTS FRANCE THREE UP. THIS ONE IS SURELY DONE AND DUSTED.
4-0!!!!!!
Griezmann with a lovely finish!!!
GOAL !!!! GRIEZMANN PUTS FRANCE FOUR AS THIS ONE IS THREATENING TO GET OUT OF HAND.
It's 4-0 at the half and Griezmann is now the GBB.
Half-time whistle goes. France really put the hammer down at the end of the half and go in deservedly 4-0 up.
I can't believe that Iceland were caught out by a simple dummy. An innocuous pass and Iceland were caught out by a simple dummy . Griezmann was off to the races and and scored with a simple chip with just Haldorsson to beat
Back to the third goal. Gunarsson badly coughed up the ball in midfield and several shot passes later, Sagna was played down the right. His cross was headed down to Giroud by Griezmann and his short pass went to Payet , who scored with a great finish from just behind the D
France have several Golden Ball contenders now:
Griezmann - 4 goals
Payet - 3
Giroud - 2
Replays show that Giroud was offside for the first goal, though it was really tight and almost impossible to give.
We're back on for the second half. Lars Lagerback is making two changes at the beginning of the half. Invasion and the awesomely named Finbogsson coming on.
A double substitution from Lars Lagerbeck in his final match in charge of Iceland as the second half is underway
Finbogasson is on for Bodvarsson of Red Devil's IFK. I'm not sure who Invasion came on for.
Great run from Griezmann set up Payet who sliced wide. Both France have started as they finished the first half.
This is Lars Lagerbeck's final match in charge. He will be replaced by his assistant, who is currently a part time dentist. The Icelanders must feel like they've had a route canal and their Wisdom teeth pulled at the same time.
BOOM BOOM , BASIL.
Double T is praising the Iceland commitment to coaching. Unfortunately, their coaches seem to have studied under the tutelage of the Sheffield Wednesday academy.
Pogba drags a long range effort well wide as France continue where they left off in the first half.
Gudmunsson should change it to Bad as his effort really was horrible high and wide.
If Iceland's coaches are bad, imagine what that makes Woy and Guus Hiddinck , who combined for three losses against these ancient tactics.
Bugger - the French defenders fall asleep and allow Iceland to nick a goal back.
GOAL !!! SIGTHORSSON PULLS ONE BACK FOR ICELAND TO GIVE THE SOCRELINE SOME RESPECTABLILITY.
It all started with a long throw from Gunarsson that was heade dout. Then the right back passed to Siggy , who pass was put away with a great finish by Sigthorsson.
Bjarnasson into the book for a thuggish slide.
GOAL!!!!!!
Giroud gets it back! Great header!
Brilliant ball in from Payet and Giroud leapt up to nod home.
And that's it for him tonight. He's on three goals now.
Matuidi picked up a knock there defending that set piece.
I was on the phone,, but saw Bjarnasson booked for a foul on Giroud, who headed in the free kick from Payet then was replaced by Mexican based Gignac. It's now 5-1
Now Sagna picks up a knock as he heads out for an Iceland corner.
Oh - great save from Lloris from a header. But France are showing weaknesses defending these set pieces.
Five goals scored this match by France is the most scored by one team in a match this tournament and the six combined by both teams matches the six scored ion the 3-3 draw between Portugal and Hungary.
Shame that Deschamps brought on the lumbering Gignac rather than Kung Fu Panda.
Payet has a shot blocked for a corner on the break
Agreed mate. I guess he believes that there is no need for karate chopped since the Icelanders have been torn to shreds or frozen out, or something like that.
Mangala on for Kos. Deschamps must really believe this match s done and dusted to let Mangala on the pitch.
Naughty by Gunarrsson on Griezmann. He gets away with those in the Championship, but not in the Euros.
Umtiti gets a yellow for his debut match - haven't seen much from him.
Umtiti is booked for a foul on Gudmunsson , for a punch not on the titis.
Nice one, MUR! Boom boom!
Ian Darke says it looks like France will play Germany in the semis. In other words, he thinks there's a chance that France will let a four goal lead slip with less than fifteen minutes to play. Do you agree?
Cheers, mate.
France now lead the tournament with eleven goals and also lead with a plus eight goal difference.
Coman on for Payet now....
Payet gets a deserved standing ovation as Kingsley Coman , a younger version of Payet, comes on.
Did you see my comment typed at 4:09? You would like that one.
Gudjonssson, who has been around for practically forever, is on for Sigthorsson, the scorer.
GOAL! Iceland have another goal back. Only ten minutes now to get three back and take this to extra time (LOL!)...
RUDDY NORAH. ICELAND PULL BACK ANOTHER AS BJARNASSON HEADS IN A FANTASTIC CROSS.
Great cross by Skulason and credit to Gudjonsson as the goal came straight after he came off the bench . He was involved in the builds up to the goal
Sissokho blasts halfway back to Newcastle with that effort.
OH!~!! Mangala had to clear off the line for a corner to prevent a third Iceland goal. The corner was headed out for another.
Invasion heads wide off the corner from Gudmunsson.
I can tell you two things Iceland have that the Three lions don't.
Griezmann clearly didn't want to take that shot with his right foot.
Two minutes of stoppage time.
You may be surprised to hear that this is the highest scoring match of the tournament.
Griezmann shoots wide off a pass from Gignac.
That's it - Iceland can go back to L1 where they belong; France move on to a big time semi final against Germany on Thursday.
I was given as a corner that was taken short and the Iceland fairy tale is over as France win 5-2 . They have a semifinal date with Germany on Thursday
France are the tournament's top scorers with eleven and Iceland have conceded nine, the most in this tournament.
I'm off now - great chatting with you. Cheerio!
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