Semi-final 1 - Wales v. Portugal
posted by The Blue Devil @ 2:41 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, July 06, 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
- France 2016 Predictions Game - Quarterfinal Update
- The Ten Most Significant Goals in US Soccer History
- Afternoon, chaps! It's the last quarter final of...
- 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
173 Comments:
Good afternoon, Bob. I will join you before I leave for a trip to Florida. I will be rooting for the Red Dragons.
The disappointment of England might have tempted us to forget that Wales play for a place in the final of the European Championship. No British side has ever reached the final of a major tournament overseas. Cor!
Afternoon, mate - when do you leave for your trip?
I will leave as soon as this match ends. If there is ET then I will have to miss that.
It is extremely ironic that Wales could be the first U.K. team to win a major tournament overseas..
The teams now lining up in the tunnel:
Portugal (4-1-3-2) Rui Patricio; Cedric, Bruno Alves, Fonte, Guerreiro; Danilo; Joao Mario, Renato Sanches, Adrien Silva; Nani, Ronaldo.
Wales (3-5-1-1) Hennessey; Chester, Williams, Collins; Gunter, Allen, Ledley, King; Taylor; Bale; Robson-Kanu.
Referee Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)
Both teams in their change kits as it's Portugal in all lime green and Wales in all black.
I hope you have a relaxing journey - how long will you be in the Sunshine State?
Plenty of Welsh support as evidenced when " Land of Our Fathers " was sung.
Cheers, mate.I arrive around 10 PM this evening and leave Monday morning in a Penske truck. It will be part relaxation and part taking care of matters at our parents house before we rent it out.
On a night like this, it’s hard not to think about Gary Speed. He did so much for this team in his time as manager.
Good for you, mate!
I t looks like a defensive Welsh lineup as Andy King replaces the suspended Aaron Ramsey and James Collins to replace the suspended Ben Davies. Chris Coleman responds with an Italian style lineup. I guess the plan is to crowd the midfield and deny Portugal space.
Agreed, mate.He deserves a great deal of credit for laying the foundation.
They're off from Lyon.
Wales get us started wearing black; Portugal in a light green number. Not sure why one or the other couldn't wear their first strip.
Cheers, mate.
The Three lions will not be in Lyon.
A tad naughty By Joe Allen on Raphael
The playacting starts early as Joe Allen fouls a little Portugeezer who reacts as if he's been shot.
Skippy goes over looking for something and the ref waves on - lovely.
A superb tackle by Ashley Williams on Skippy, who went down , looking for a cheap free kick after a poor pass that eluded Joe Allen.
It's Portugal with all the early play acting. They don't think they can defeat the Welsh on their own merit?
I don't think so - this could be either a really exciting match with loads of goals or it could be a stinker. Can't tell yet.
Joe Allen is caught in possession and is booked for a foul on the idiotic Nani, who makes the most of it.
It looks to be a tactical battle based on early observations. I hope I'm wrong.
Joe Allen as begging for that card and now he'll have to watch himself for 80 minutes.
Skippy's really irritated now, as Collins drapes himself all of the boy from a cross. Wales are riding their luck now.
Great defending by the Welsh as first, Skippy went down , looking for a penalty on a challenge by James Collins then completely missed the ball , attempting a bicycle off a of great marking by James Collins.
Stewart Robson is a plonker, calling for penalties here, there and everywhere.
Great news . Melanie just informed me that she passed two AP tests, scoring a 3 on the U.S. History test and 4 on the Music Theory test.
He sure is. The referees have been picky during this tournament. They need to let the players play and let the best team make the final.
Renato Sanches, who could be one to watch in the future, has been bright and breezy in possession so far. Nothing much is happening, in truth, but the occasion is such that even the dull stuff is crackling with tension.
That's outstanding. Give Melanie my hearty congratulations!
Skippy is having a poor start to this match. Will that continue?
Good evening gents. We just returned from our Germany visit yesterday. The PKs from Germany-Italy took 5 years off my life. So, now I'm as old as the rest of you ;)
I sure will. Thank you.
Joao Mario worked a nice one-two with Skippy and then hit a cross-shot wide of the mark.
Well, in Ronaldo's defense, he probably deserved a penalty when he got horse-collared.
Jao Mario drags an effort wide . The first decent chance of the match
I have been largely internet-less for the last 6 days, and am thus out of the loop. Where is Ramsey?
Evening, Red Devil - great to have you back. How was the party?
Good afternoon, Red Devil . Great have you on board. I think He would have been awarded the penalty if he wasn't so theatrical. Otherwise, he's done practically nothing.
Monkey Boy wins a corner with a run down the left
Ramsey was yellow carded in the match against Belgium and is suspended tonight.
Ramsey and Ben Davies are suspended due to yellow card accumulation.
Oh - nicely worked corner routine and the ball fell to Monkey Boy in the box. Blazed over. Good chance for him.
Monkey Boy shoots wide off a corner from Joe Ledley that looked like something off the training ground.
Jon Champion just mentioned that Wales could be in the Confeds Cup next year.
The Ramsey loss appears huge at the moment. there is no creativity whatsoever in the Welsh game. Still, with the exit of Iceland, Ledley has the best beard in the tournament.
A cross from Bale is gathered by Rui Patricio.
Oh - Monkey Boy did really well there to get to the by-line and get his cross over. King was inches away.
Agreed. He is a classic beardy.
Bale goes on a solo run on a counter, but his shot is straight to Rui Patricio.
Monkey Boy is starting to come to life here. Races forward and hits a shot straight at Rui Patricio.
Collins heads out a cross from Cedric for a Portugese corner.
The corner from Joao Mario eludes everyone and goes harmlessly out of play.
Jon Champion with a nice shout out to Gary Speed.
Wow. Bruno Alves has gotten really slow. The loss of Pepe is pretty major.
OH!! Robson - Knamu goes on a run down the right and his cross is headed over by Monkey Boy. I guess it's a corner . It's headed away.
Renato sanches leads a counter , but is stopped by a superb tackle by Neil Taylor.
Agreed, Red Devil . Old man Bruno is not quite the same as Pepe. He was sent off in a friendly at Wembley just before the tournament started.
When Ricardo Carvalho plays, Portugal's center back pairing has a combined age of 185.
Boy would I hate to play with Ronaldo. He is constantly calling for the ball to be played his way. How distracting.
Though of course, if I were playing with Ronaldo, that would mean I was on Madrid and earning a bunch.
A long range effort from Raphael nearly clears the stadium.
Good point, Red Devil. I agree.
Agreed, Bob. There's experience then there's Dad's Army.
I think only Germany, Spain, and Russia/USSR have made it to the euro semis more than Portugal.
Adrien Silva drags a long range effort harmlessly wide.
They did mention Germany. I agree with Spain, but not sure about Russia/USSR. France have made some semis as well.
I've mentioned previously how much I love to watch the Portuguese manager, Santos. I can just imagine that he sounds like Alan Arkin.
I would imagine the Ronaldo has the youngsters like Renato Sanches clean his boots. He's a prima donna.
Which era of Arkin's career?
Good lord, the last ten minutes have been ponderous.
Naughty by Bruno Alves on Robson-Kanu. He's begging for a card.
I suspect Wales will be really pleased with how it has gone so far, possibly Portugal too.
That would be pretty horrible as Sanches has had a much better tournament than Skippy. Bob may remember that I picked him as their young player to watch. How was my prediction.
Probably so. I wonder if this will be decided in ninety minutes.
Skippy has a shot come off of James Collins for a corner.
The corner is headed straight up into the air and easily gathered by Hennessey.
I hope so - we've got yard work to do this afternoon. It's supposed to rain from tomorrow through the weekend.
The stats show that it's been a fairly even match.
a great cross by Adrian Silva is headed over by Skippy.
Sorry, the game had me in a daze. Arkin as an old man.
It's 0-0 at the end of a cagey first half.
Boos ring out around the ground in Lyon as the players troop off. 0-0.
Another rubbish first half for Portugal.
If Portugal makes it past this game, I think France or Germany will have the ability to break them down.
The second half is underway from Lyon.
Second half starting up again...the Geezers kicking us off.
I agree. I think the winners of the other semi will win the tournament.
Boy, a Croatia-Belgium semi would have been a lot more fun.
But, let's be positive and hope that at least one of the squads raises their game today.
So far, Bale has been the most impactful player of the game, but he is quite isolated.
I should hope so - they've been terrible in this tournament and yet have made it to the penultimate stage .
RONALDO!
Agreed. We expect better from the semis.I thought Joao Mario had a great first half.
GOAL! Skippy breaks the deadlock (sigh)....
GOAL !!!! SKIPPY HEADS IN A CORNER FROM RAPHAEL.
Don't know why Wales did not have a stronger headball player marking Ronaldo on that corner.
It all started with a free kick conceded by Joe Allen that was headed out by James Collins and Skippy rose above James Chester to head home.
Poor marking from the corner but it was a stonking header from the Real Madrid man.
Ties the record for goalscoring in the Euros with Michel Platini. Of course, Platini scored all nine in 1984.
Now Wales win a free kick
Rui Patricio easily punches away the free kick from Monkey Boy.
GOAL! Nani tips home a Skippy scuffed cross shot. What bad luck for Wales.
2-0 Port!
GOAL !!!! NANI DIVERTS IN A WAYWARD SHOT FROM SKIPPY AFTER A CROSS FROM RAPHAEL WAS HEADED OUT .
There was an element of luck to the goal as Nani seemed to know little about that shot.
A scuffed free kick from Monkey Boy is easily gathered by Rui Patricio.
Hard to see Wales clawing it back now - they haven't been able to invent much without Ramsey in the side.
Two former United players look to have put Portugal into the final on Sunday to be sacrificial lambs.
They'll need to throw caution to the wind now and take off one of the water carriers (e.g., Joe Allen) and stick on a forward.
A tad naughty by Neil Taylor on Renato Sanches.
Chris Coleman has heard me - Ledley off and Sam Vokes on. Good move.
Sam Vokes, the former LUFC player, is on for Joe the Beardy Ledley. That sounds like what the doc ordered.
I think Nani has three goals this tournament and Skippy is on two. Is that correct?
First action for Vokes - he might trouble the static Alves if Wales get some attacks going.
Great tackle by Bruno Alves on Sam Vokes off a long ball from Monkey Boy after Skippy conceded a free kick then James Chester is booked for a foul on Skippy.
Yellow card now Chester and now a free kick chance for Skippy.
Skippy is now on three goals in this tournament, one behind Griezmann. Strangely, considering his scoring record at this tournament, no one picked him.
OH!!!! The free kick from Skippy is inches over, but he continues his streak of never scoring from a free kick in a Euro
A sad day for Robson-Kanu comes to an end. Simon Church on for him.
Ronaldo scored twice on Hungary, so they each have 3
Simon Church of the Fake Dons, is on for Hal Robson-Kanu, who does not have a club.
Thanks for the updates.
Really poor free kick by Monkey Boy there - sailed right into Rui Patricio's arms.
The free kick from Bale is straight to Rui Patricio.
OH!!!! Hennessey spills a long range effort from Nani and thankfully, Joao Mario shot the rebound wide.
I believe that Griezmann now has four and leads the Golden Boot competition. And he still has a match tomorrow.
The final roll of the dice for Chris Coleman as Johnny Williams is on for James Collins.
Sam Vokes heads over a cross from Monkey Boy.
A tad naughty by Chris Gunter on Renato Sanches.
Nani has a cross deflected for a corner that Hennessey just failed to keep in.
Oh - Fonte was on the end of that corner. Grabbed out of the air by Hennssey. And Alves picks up a yellow for holding up play.
Jose Fonte heads a corner from Joao Mario straight to Hennessey and Bruno Alves is booked for preventing a Welsh break.
Skippy goes into the book for kicking the ball away after fouling Johnny Williams.
Skippy shows his stupidity by kicking the ball away after fouling Johnny Williams. James Chester heads the free kick from Monkey Boy well over.
Monkey Boy with a decent free kick in but Chester could only head over.
Renato Sanches shoots well over after a solo run off a long clearance.
Renato Sanches runs up the pitch, leans back and blazes well over. And he gets the hook for it. Gomes on for him.
Sanches has been quite a tool this entire tournament. I don't know how he continues to figure for this squad.
Andre Gomes is on for Renato Sanches, who put in a decent shift.
I can't actually see Renato Sanches making much of an impact at Chelski.
Not enough Welsh bodies committed in the box. When Gunter put the cross over, there were only three Welsh forwards in the box.
Monkey Boy tries a pop but it curved comfortably into Rui Patricio's arms.
Monkey Boy has a powerful long range effort go straight to Rui Patricio off a pass from Johnny Williams.
Skippy has a shot come off of Neil Taylor's tummy for a corner. The corner is headed away then Hennessey nearly fumbles a shot from Danilo over the line , but gathers just to prevent that
The experienced Joaao Moutinho is on for Adrien Silva.
I think Renato Snaches signed for Bayern, not Chelski.
Joao Moutinho on for Adrien Silva now.
OH!!!! Rui Patricio had to stretch full length to save a swerving long range effort from Monkey Boy
Hard to believe that this will be the first match Portugal will win in ninety minutes.
Ashley Williams tries one from outside the box and Vokes gets in the way of it.
What a shame that a great shot by Ashley Williams was blocked by Sam Vokes.
Danilo trips Monkey Boy about thirty yards from goal.
Monkey Boy earns a free kick off Joao Mario some forty yards out. He's got the ability to hit this one.
The shot goes straight into the wall and then he tries to win another free kick. Nothing doing.
Portugal dropping very deep now to protect this lead.
What ever happens, this has been a great run by Wales and a tournament these players will never forget.
OH!!!!A superb run down the left by Andre Gomes and a superb long ball to Skippy, who rounds Hennessey, but shoots into the side netting from a narrow angle.
Like for like as Quaresma is on for Nani.
Monkey Boy is booked for a high boot on Cedric.
Monkey Boy gets a yellow card for a high boot on Cedric.
Quaresma wins a corner off of Neil Taylor.
Quaresma, the substitute, earns a valuable corner for Portugal now that will take seconds off the clock.
Skippy heads straight to Hennessey off the corner from Quaresma.
Three minutes of stoppage time.
a rash foul by Joe Allen, who could be off for a second yellow, but the ref is lenient.
Of course, when I finally wanted Wales to win...
Straight into the wall by Skippy. Still yet to score from a free kick in a Euro.
It's Route 1 time for Wales.
Agreed. A shame .
It's over and Portugal are in the final, defeating Wales 2-0.
That's it - Portugal are through to their second Euro final. They'll be meeting up with either Germany or France.
It was great chatting with you. I'm off to the airport. I will try to see if I can chat with you tomorrow and Sunday.
CHEERS!
A valiant effort from the Red Dragons tonight but they really didn't have the quality to defeat Portugal.
I was thinking all match that England probably would have been beaten in similar fashion, perhaps 2-1 or 3-2 or on pens, but I can't see England having beaten this side.
I'm off to work in the backyard now, guys. Nice chatting with you!
Post a Comment
<< Home