Board 8 > Euro 2020 topic part deux

(+) Yeah! (+)

Austria were terrific in the 2nd half of Extra Time. Just too little too late after the 1st

They were great overall

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VAR isn't terrible, only the use of it.

Good game, extra time was a joy to watch.

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Belgium v Portugal tomorrow.

Two quality sides, but kinda have to put Belgium down as the underdog.
Do hope they pull off the upset, they gotta redeem past traumas.

Would also be nice if Hazard had a throwback game.

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I can't see Portugal being favorites I must admit. I'd be surprised to see Belgium lose.

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Ah well, When Italy get exposed next round It'd be poetic justice.

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Hardcore_Adult posted...

Ah well, When Italy get exposed next round It'd be poetic justice.

They haven't lost for like 30 games and were easily the best team in the groups

What would "exposure" even look like here? Losing narrowly to a very good Belgium/Portugal team? Or would it need to be a thrashing?

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Probably healthy for Italy to get a scare now.

Full credit to Austria though, they had a really great game. Happy we've already had the away game against them in the WC qualifiers.

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Would've been nice to see pens. Hopefully we see one at some point i just hope it doesn't involve England again.

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I'm trying to numb myself for Tuesday.

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ctesjbuvf posted...

I can't see Portugal being favorites I must admit. I'd be surprised to see Belgium lose.

Portugal have faced better opposition so far and haven't looked bad imo. Apparently the idea is that now we will play more counter-attacking football rather than the full throttle we did in past EC and WC but I just don't think we have the defense for it. Our press loves and praises them constantly, but Alderweireld didn't have a great season, Vertonghen went to Benfica which is a good club at a good level but also because he wasn't deemed good enough anymore for Tottenham/PL and Vermaelen is playing in Japan. On paper that quality is there but if Ronaldo/Bernardo Silva/Jota have their day we will be in pain.

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Dumfries and Malen gonna be sought after by a bunch of teams.
But Netherlands look like the talented side that's easiest to score against.

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https://youtu.be/Cjqn6CzjT00

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Wow you have to do better than go right to the keeper.

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This would be ludicrously harsh if they give it.

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Major drama.

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I don't have sound on the tv at work. What is the justification of this?


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Goalscoring opportunity denied with the handball

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Liking our chances against either team here honestly.

I thought yellow was correct here, surprised they overturned it.

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Seemed fair to me. Denied a clear goalscoring opportunity. If he had hacked him down instead of it being a handball there would have been no debate and in terms of goalscoring opportunity, it's the same.

VVD injured pre-tournament, no DeLigt, Van De Beek loss of form in a tournament year and an ancient keeper + DeBoer debuff.
At this point if Netherlands qualify would they even be considered favourites in the next round?

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Holland are all over the place.

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Fair play lads you deserved that.

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Wowowow...wow.

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If this result stands that England vs Germany game will feel like a cup final.

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England did a heck of a lot better against this Czech side.

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The dagger.

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Yeah that's game, awful performance from the Dutch.

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Incredibly the draw is almost identical to how it was 3 years ago for England.

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Sux for

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Pokewars posted...

The dagger.

Swear that's a boozer somewhere in London lol

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Holy hell. Netherlands the choke artist. It really sucks as a supporter who wants them to win "something' in my lifetime.

I can only imagine how much it would suck to see your actual country do a tremendous chokejob in something like this. It must be infuriating.

A tripling would have been fitting for such a terrible performance as this.

6 minutes

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Their expectations heading into the tournament weren't particularly high.
So this isn't the most surprising result, but it's just another case of loads of individual talent, but never working as a unit.

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England/Germany gonna be the de-facto semi-final here. Of course Germany gonna stomp.

Germany are the least deserving team in this half of the draw to make the final and they probably will.

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voltch posted...

Their expectations heading into the tournament weren't particularly high.
So this isn't the most surprising result, but it's just another case of loads of individual talent, but never working as a unit.

They have always been a top tier team throughout the ages. Just never had that killer instinct to actually win something. There's a reason they made like 3 World Cup finals, countless Semis and never won one. It is heart breaking as a fan.

This six group format is just so ridiculously bad. You can literally play like ass in the group stages, qualify by sheer luck and 'Greece' their way to a victory.

Exhibit Netherlands and Czechs' performances in the group stages.

Either just make the tournament, knock-out from day one or just go back to 4 groups like it was before.

Axl_Rose_85 posted...

This six group format is just so ridiculously bad. You can literally play like ass in the group stages, qualify by sheer luck and 'Greece' their way to a victory.

Exhibit Netherlands and Czechs' performances in the group stages.

Either just make the tournament, knock-out from day one or just go back to 4 groups like it was before.

Exactly. Bottom 2 traditionally go home!

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England vs. Germany is nowhere near being a defacto semifinal, you need to not just look on individual players and football history. The other four teams left could all beat both and it wouldn't be a bigger upset than this match.

But continue to underestimate Denmark (and three other teams here) all!

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It really cheapens the matches in the group stages when every team and their mother can qualify while playing like absolute shit.

ctesjbuvf posted...

England vs. Germany is nowhere near being a defacto semifinal, you need yo just look on individual players and football history. The other four teams left could all beat both and it wouldn't be a bigger upset than this match.

But continue to underestimate Denmark (and three other teams here) all!

Well I'm not gonna argue. I thought Ned was a lock to the semis and maybe even the final as long as they don't run into Germany. The upper draw is so stacked it literally made me spit out what I was drinking in laughter when I saw the fixtures.

Axl_Rose_85 posted...

It really cheapens the matches in the group stages when every team and their mother can qualify while playing like absolute shit.

Czech was a goal away from being second though.

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Yeah but those teams went in with higher expectations because of what they'd already achieved in European Cup competitions.

This side has talent but it's on not like going into a tournament with Seedorf/Davids/Bergkamp/Cocu/Stam/Van De Sar /Kluivert or Sneijder/Robben/Van Persie.

Like it sucks for sure, but this wasn't the side that had them thinking yeah we're breaking the curse.


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If they're that desperate to increase the number of teams make it 20 and have 4 groups of 5 teams. Just have it so the weakest team in all 4 groups plays all their games first to lessen the 'match fixing' aspect.

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Forgot to add the top 2 go through to the quarter finals.

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UEFA clearly wants a 32 team Euros.
Kinda like how FIFA clearly want to keep expanding the World Cup until China, India and USA are all locks to qualify.
We're gonna keep getting shitty half measures until both get their way.

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