Euro 2020 Sunday
Join me for all the fun today, eh?
posted by The Blue Devil @ 11:45 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!
Sunday, October 13, 2019
Join me for all the fun today, eh?
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!
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196 Comments:
It's been a poor qualifying campaign for the Scots, with four losses on the trot now, the last at the Luhzniki Stadium against Russia on Friday. To add the misery, the Scottish rugger side was eliminated from the World Cup earlier today. The country could use a tonic today.
I just checked and don't see Scotland vs San Marino on Plus. I will check
The Scots won their NL group, so they will get a second chance in March with the NL playoffs.
The Scotland starting XI for today's match.
McLaughlin, Palmer, Robertson, Devlin, McTomain Poisoning, McGinn, Mcgregor, Forrest, Shankland, Christie.
Afternoon, mate - I've got it up and running on the Plus.
In Group I , Russia will join Belgium n Euro 2020 with a win in Cyprus today. Belgium won 0-2 in Kazakhstan earlier today. It didn't matter as Belgium were through and Kazakhstan were already eliminated. The Scots will move up to fourth ahead of Kazakhstan with a win, but it doesn't matter
Cheers, mate. Will watch that and Belarus vs Holland on TUDN.
I'm glad that you pointed that out, mate. I hadn't realized that until the commentator mentioned it. So, they really need to regroup and regain their form in the last three qualifiers before that campaign in the spring.
San Marino have brought along a Phantom of the Opera fan for tonight's clash.
As was predictable, San Marino have dropped deep and allowed the Scots to come on to them. It will be a training pitch exercise for them, then.
Forrest did well to get around the back of the SM defense but his cross was blocked out for a corner.
Oh - McTom might have scored from the resulting corner.
Waiting for ESPN3 to come up. Not coming on one computer and taking forever on the other
Oh - Shankland with a point-blank chance there but the keeper Simoncini did well to tip it over.
Forrest wins another corner. Scots all over the SM mugs.
Oh - Findlay nearly found the far corner with a looping header from the corner. No one running in on it.
Got the match from Hampden on an ancient computer, so not sure how that will go
McTom storms into the area and wins another corner. They're racking up already.
In Group E Hungary hosting Azerbaijan. Wales could use some unlikely help with Azerbaijan along with a with a win vs Croatia, which would make that a wide open group
Best of luck with that one, mate.
Forrest burns his man for pace and then lashes a shot across Simoncini. The keeper did well to hang on to it.
Hungary takes the lead, now up to second a point behind Croatia . Wales must win today
GOAL !!!SCOTLAND TAKES THE LEAD.
GOAL! Christie opens up the scoring for the Scots. Nice run and jink inside for a shot with his right.
McGinn may be claiming a touch.
Do Wales have a back-door option through the Nations League like Scotland?
No. I think they did poorly in their NL Group
Russia takes the lead in Cyprus. As things stand Russia would join Belgium in Euro 2020, rendering the November Group I matches basically friendlies
The youngster Shankland bursts through into the box but can only find the side netting.
That would have been my guess before the qualifiers started. Belgium are clearly the class act of the group and have to be one of the favorites to win Euro 2020.
The Dutch nearly take the lead. Donny Van De Beek , of Ajax, chipped the keeper, but was inches over.
Shankland plays for Scottish Championship, Dundee United. The Scots never had to dip into the second tier of Scottish football. They have two L1 keepers in the squad. Such is the decline of Scottish footie.
Russia goes two up in Cyprus. Cherries off with their first goal
Belarus wins a corner on the break
Cherries off assisted on the second goal
Belarus misses a sitter off the corner shooting well wide from three yards out
GOAL !!!SCOS GO TWO UP . MCGINN WITH HIS SECOND OF THE MATCH AS THE SAN MARINO KEEPER GIFTED THEM A GOA. MCTOMAIN HAD A PASS PAWED OUT BY THE KEEPER FOR AN EASY TAP IN BY MCGINN
I'm just back from a trip to the bog. Dahlgren Curse in full effect today, as McGinn doubles his and Scotland's tally.
The Scots now have a corner
GOAL !!! THE DUTCH TAKE THE LEAD IN BELARUS. WIJNALDUM WITH THE GOAL
McTom has had a good match so far - no poisoning to speak of.
It was a free header from six yards out with a cross that showed much Promes from, Quincy
Oh - nearly a third - the keeper did well this time.
No poisoning for San Marino. This is the norm for them
Wahay! San Marino have a shot on goal! Albeit from about 45 yards out.
How bad is San Marino. Belgium hit them for naughty nines without replay. Even Beneteke somehow managed to score.
It's a foul night at Hamden tonight.
That sounds more like Dan Marino, LOL!
Sounds like a typical Fall evening in Scotland
As things stand, the Scots will move from 5th to 4th ahead of Kazakhstan. Meaningless except for confidence heading into the March matches
Oh - Devlin puts the header just wide from the free kick. Should have done better.
That's about the most Scotland can get from this match; they'll need to rebuild their confidence for the spring campaign.
According to TUDN's graphic, D 3.14 leads the qualifiers with lucky seven assists. Wish he did that with United
Simoncini does well to save from the corner but the whistle had already gone.
GOAL !!!! THE DUTCH GO TWO UP IN BELARUS
Nice curler and powerful effort in the upper 90 from 25 yards out. no keeper would have saved that. Wijnaldum with both Dutch goals
McTom appeals for a penalty. It look more like obstruction to me and referees never call indirect free kicks in the box.
Where is Memphis playing now?
The Dutch now win a corner as the crowd have gone silent
I think he plays for Lyon along with Blind.
Palmer gets to the by-line and pulls it back well but the eventual shot is blocked.
McTom with a bender. Well wide.
A Belarus shot from a similar spot to Wijnaldum's goal, but inches over.
That would make sense.
A minute of stoppage time in Minsk
A minute of stoppage time at Hampden Park
The Dutch are two up at the half.
A minute of stoppage time.
And McGinn gets his hat-trick!
3-0 Scots!
GOAL !!! THE SCOTS GO THREE UP IN STOPPAGE TIME. I MISSED IT, BUT DOES MCGINN HAVE A HAT-TRICK?
And that's the half-time whistle. Scots not unexpectedly well in the driver's seat.
He does and that's the halftime score.
Scots with 79% possession, out shooting San Marino 23-1 and the advantage in corners by a baker's dozen to one. Surprised, mate?
The second half is underway from Minsk
San Marino makes a double substitution, which is basically in vain.I guess two cry babies complained that they were either too tired or too cold. Second half underway from Hampden
There's been so much rain that the pitch at Hampden is starting to become waterlogged.
Back for the second half with my lunch now. I expect more goals to flow from the Scots.
GOAL !!! BELARUS SCORE TO PULL IT BACK TO 1-2 VS THE DUTCH
It was unusually poor defending from Van Dyke as he missed a routine cross from Polyakov and Stan Dragun had a free header from a few yards out for an easy score. Game on.
The youngster Nanni hasn't had much joy for SM up front tonight. And now it's down for some treatment.
Welcome back, mate. It's a downpour in Glasgow with the pitch starting to become waterlogged. Hopefully, the match will not be postponed.
A tussle between the goal scorers and Dragun booked for nasty foul on Wijnaldum
The pitch is really waterlogged now - it really should be called off.
There's a Fred says regarding the match at Hampden. Black Cats keeper, Jon McLaughlin, gets a rare start for the Scots. H e would have never thought that an international match would be easier than any L1 matches he will play this season
Another shot on goal for SM - McLaughlin handles it well.
Oh - a deflected cross by Robertson nearly loops over the keeper's head - Simoncini did well to claw it away.
Simonicci pushes a close range effort. Understandable given the conditions.
Agreed, Bob. It's basically a pre season friendly for all intents and purposes.
Belarus has a cross blocked for a corner
Corner headed out and a long range effort deflected for another Belarus corner
Corner headed on and volleyed over.
The conditions have put a damper on the Scots' goalscoring efforts, preventing the floodgates from truly opening.
Fat Ronny has seen enpugh and is about to make a double substitution. I don't blame him
GOAL! McTom hits the bar with a lovely curler and then the youngster Shankland taps home.
Scotland 4-0!
Luuk De Jong on for quincy Promes and the Roon on for Van De Beek, which is a defensive move.
I missed that
Now Shankland earns the 15th corner of the match.
hey're up by a Barber Shop quartet , singin in the rain
GOAL! It's a debut goal for Stuart Finlay. 5-0!
Now it's a finely tuned quintet.
GOAL !!!NICE HEADE BY SHANKLAND UP THE CORNER TO PUT THE SCOTS FIVE UP
And another corner now.
Sorry. It was Finlay of Killie , which is what they're doing to San Marino
Double change now for the Scots. Mcgregor and McGinn off now and Russell and Armstrong on.
San Marino so poor that Shankland is having an easier time than he will against the likes of Alloa Athletic in the Scots Championship and the same for Jon McLaughlin as he is having an easier time then he will aginst the likes of Accrington Stanley in L1.,
True - all of the Scots players will now fancy their chances of getting on the scoresheet.
Johnny Russell plays for Sporting KC and Armstrong for the Saints. MLS tougher than San MArino
Simonicci turns around a shot that looked like it was headed off target
What did you think of the Fred says statement?
Luuk De Jong out jumps the keeper and heads a cross wide.
The Scots have it in the net again but it's ruled out for a foul on the keeper.
Free kick now for the Scots - Christie over it and hammers if off the wall and out for a corner.
The Scots have a goal disallowed for a so called foul on Simoncci. Was James Forrest called for a foul or was his Celtic teammate, Ryan Christie called offside? Definitely not a foul. Just a whimp going for the cross.
That din't look a foul on the keeper. He got bailed out because he's clueless.
Oh - Robertson ghosts by his marker but then slices his cross up and over the bar.
OH!! Maelen should have put the Dutch 1-3 up. Shot turned around b y the keeper from close range off nice one touch Dutch passing
I actually think that Simoncini has been SM's best player, despite the scoreline. It would have been 10 or 12-0 without him.
McTommain concedes a rare free kick to San Marino
High, wide and 'orrible there from the SM free kick.
That is true. He fumbled a routine pass from McTomain for the second goal, but otherwise has had a pretty solid match
Fat Ronny looking none too pleased despite the Dutch leading 1-2 in Minsk.
Hirsch down for San Marino off a challenge from Johnny Russell. It appeared he had twisted his ankle, but seems okay
Dzuyba puts Russia three up in Cyprus. Cherries off with a goal and a pair of assists
Another tasty looking free kick chance.
GOAL! Scott Armstrong with a sumptuous free kick. 6-0!
GOAL !!! THE SCOTS GO HALF A DOZEN UP OFF A FREE KICK! CURLED BY STU ARMSTRONG THROUGH THE WALL AND IN THE UPPER 90.
Do you think the Scots will be thirsty enough to go seven up?
The final roll of the dice from Fat Ronny as Bergwijn is on for Ryan Babbel.
Nanni wins San Marino's second corner of the match. A trio of stoppage time minutes in Minsk
Good news for Wales as Azerbaijan scores a late equalizer in Budapest
A win by Wales would put them in a three way tie for second with Hungary and Slovakia , throwing the group wide open
It's over at Hampden as the Scots win half a dozen to nil while the Dutch win 1-2 in Minsk,.
That's it - the Scots get the job done tonight and that should be a tonic for them as they head toward that qualification tournament in the spring.
BUGGER!Hungary still leads 1-0
Off to do a few errands before the Wales match.
The Russians singing as they go up by a Barber Shop Quartet in Cyprus and join Belgium in Euro 2020
Cheers, mate. Not sure if I will be around. Will join you if I am
I'm back for the Wales v. Croatia match now. Wales have three games to qualify for another European Championship: Croatia at home tonight, then Azerbaijan away and Hungary at home. Win all three and they'll be at Euro 2020. There are even some scenarios in which two wins might suffice.
Tonight's match is the toughest of the lot against the World Cup finalists.
Sorry, Bob, but we are going to the local park on a day that the temperature is un usually pleasant. Hope to join you tomorrow for the action. Enjoy the rest of the day. Cheers, mate.
Teams news out of Cardiff tonight. Wales are unchanged. Croatia are without Marcelo Brozovic, who is suspended, while Ivan Rakitic and Ante Rebic drop to the bench.
Wales (4-2-3-1) Hennessey; Roberts, Rodon, Lockyer, Davies; Allen, Ampadu; Bale, J Williams, James; Moore.
Substitutes: Ward, Davies, Gunter, N Taylor, A Williams, Roberts, Vokes, Wilson, Morrell, Lawrence, Matondo, Vaulks.
Croatia (4-2-3-1) Livakovic; Jedvaj, Lovren, Vida, Barisic; Modric, Kovacic; Perisic, Vlasic, Brekalo; Petkovic.
Substitutes: Kalinic, Sluga, Melnjak, Peric, Rakitic, Orsic, Bradaric, Skoric, Pasalic, Rebic, Badelj, Bartolec.
Referee Bjorn Kuipers (Netherlands).
Hungary 1-0 Azerbaijan is the final score in Budapest. It seems Bahlul Mustafazade had an injury-time equaliser dubiously ruled out for handball. It doesn’t change Wales’ task, as they would have budgeted for a Hungary win, but it would have been a lovely boost going into the Croatia game.
Italy and Russia have qualified for Euro 2020. They join Belgium, who were the first team to confirm their place at next summer’s jamboree. Let's hope that England join them tomorrow.
The teams are out on the pitch enjoying the anthems now.
There’s a storming atmosphere in Cardiff, as you’d expect. The captains Gareth Bale and Luka Modric, team-mates for most of the last 11 years, embrace in the centre circle.
And we're away in Cardiff now on this big night for both sides.
More than a must win for Wales, this is a must not lose. Might give them reason to be cautious against the dangerous Croatians.
Here's what the Group E table looks like tonight after that earlier 1-0 win for Hungary.
1. Croatia - Played 6, 13 pts
2. Hungary - Played 7 12 pts
3. Slovakia - Played 6 10 pts
4. Wales - Played 5 7 pts
5. Azerbaijan - Played 6 1 pt
Slow start for both sides.
Decent knock down there from Petkovic but Brekalo's effort is so wild it goes out for a throw.
Wales appeal for a penalty when Lovren shoulder barges the charging James off the field. It was a risky challenge, that - probably not enough for a penalty, but it was close.
GOAL! Vlasic opens the scoring for Croatia. Wales in trouble inside ten minutes.
Ryan Giggs won't have enjoyed that Brekalo run that opened up the Welsh defense but he would have admired it. Brekalo dished off to Petkovic who teed up Vlasic who struck gold with a shot off the left post and in.
0-1 Croatia.
Bale with a pop from distance that is comfortably saved by Livakovic.
If Wales lose tonight, they will only qualify if they win their last two games and Croatia win their final match at home to Slovakia. Not at all beyond the realms, although Croatia will already have qualified if they win this match.
Oh - Petrovic with a great ball in from about 35 yards and Perisic nearly made it 0-2 with a great header. Hennessy with an important tip around.
A horrible collision between James and Vida near the halfway line. This looks really nasty, and the physios were onto the field even before the referee had stopped play. The Croatia players were also frantically waving them on. Vida has been booked, and James is still down receiving treatment.
That's bad news for United fans as James looks as if he's been knocked unconscious.
James gets to his feet, looking very groggy. He’s going to continue, so I assumed he has passed a concussion test.
Taylor Twellman, who suffered several concussions in his career, is outraged about that decision to allow James to continue to play.
This is not going to plan for Giggsy and his Welsh side.
Modric is adjudged to have fouled Moore, 25 yards from goal. It looked soft, but Wales won’t care if Bale roofs one from here.
Bale rams his free-kick into the wall, flattening Petkoric in the process. The referee stops plays so that he can receive treatment.
Better from Wales as Croatia are resting on their laurels. Corner now.
Some Croatian fans have run onto the pitch momentarily.
After that brief purple patch for Wales, Croatia have gone back to controlling the match. Wales will need to be more direct.
Wales players not pressing Croatia in order to get the ball back.
Wales need more from James and especially Bale, who looks nowhere near his awesome best.
GOAL! A superb team goal finished by Bale brings Wales level just when they needed it!
Into stoppage time now.
Kovavic is down receiving treatment after a clash with Davies during the move that led to the goal.
Kovacici is struggling off and will likely be subbed during the break.
That's half time then. A vital goal there from Bale that breathes life into the Welsh bid.
1-1 at the interval.
Back for the second half now. Not surprisingly, Rakitic has replaced the injured Kovacic during the interval.
Petkovic is booked after 15 seconds of the second half for flattening Ampadu as the pair jumped for a high ball.
Joe Morell, the Lincoln City player in L1, is being prepared to replace Ampadu.
Wales have started this half with real purpose.
Kiefer Moore picks up a yellow now for a grapple on Lovren.
Petkovic limps off to be replaced by Rebic.
Apart from the first 15 minutes, Wales have been the equal of the World Cup finalists. There’s merit in that, for all the frustration over Giggs’s tactics.
Another Wales change now - Harry Wilson replaces Jonny Williams. That's an attacking move from Giggsy, throwing on the Bournemouth hammer.
Perisic is lucky not to be booked for a foul on the breaking Wilson.
Bale had a pop but it deflected off Moore and out.
A draw would be a pretty good result for Wales. If it stays like this, they will qualify if they win their last two games unless Slovakia are victorious away to Croatia.
Croatia have had more of the ball in the last five minutes. It’s so delicately poised, and neither side knows whether to stick or twist. A draw is a decent enough result for both; a win would be pure gold.
Wales need to be careful as Croatia are starting to pin them back. It’s harmless possession at the moment, at least.
Poland have extended their lead over N. Macedonia to 2-0. If that stands, Poland will be the fourth side into the Euros, alongside Belgium, Italy and Russia.
Great noise from the Welsh fans now, singing "Flags of Our Fathers."
Again Dan James gets into a great position but his final ball is rubbish.
There’s an increasing sense that both teams have settled for a draw; or, at least, that they aren’t willing to take any risks in pursuit of victory.
My boy Tyler Roberts coming on for a late cameo now to replace Moore.
Two quick yellows in succession. First Rakitic for a foul on Wilson and then Allen for a kick out at Brekalo.
Connor Roberts has a close-range shot blocked by a defender. The chance came after an exhilarating run by Wilson, who was flattened by Modric. He is booked; both Modric and Wilson are still down.
Eight minutes of stoppage time now to play.
The injured Modric is replaced by Milan Badelj. Bale is also limping heavily; Wales have used all their subs.
Bale can barely move. He’s still on the pitch, but all he can really do is hop. It’s been a bruising game for both teams.
Croatia have completely dominated possession for the last 20 minutes, though their domination has been entirely sterile. In fact, I don’t think Wayne Hennessey has made a save since Perisic’s header in the 13th minute.
James is booked, a little harshly, for an aerial challenge on Jedvaj.
Full-time - 1-1
A very good draw for Wales. They'll qualify now with two wins from their last two matches, as long as Slovakia don't beat Croatia away in the last match.
That's it for me today, lads. I'll look for you again tomorrow afternoon for the big one between England and Bulgaria.
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