OT - 6/15 Euro Open Thread
No Copa America today. Potentially the most exciting group in action at the Euros today.
12pm - Hungary v Portugal - ESPN
3pm - France v Germany - ESPN
Ronaldo becomes the all time leading scorer for the Euros with a goal today. Can't stand the guy, but he's obviously very good.
It's truly unfortunate that Hungary's reward for that exciting playoff over Iceland (I thought this year's tourney was their first major tourney since the 70's but confirmed they did qualify in 2016) is to be in one of the stronger groups I've seen in a tournament format. Getting anywhere near the round of 16 would have to be a success- but they did tie eventual champ Portugal 3-3 in '16 so who knows what'll happen.
Also curious to see what Germany team shows up.
They're no pushover. They'll be in the top tier of UEFA Nations League the next go-around. I wish they still had that goalie that played in grey sweatpants lol
Sorry for my ignorance but do these games go toward World Cup qualifying ?
No it's a separate tournament- it happens to be around the time world cup qualifying would normally be, as the Euro cup was pushed back from last year. Typically it happens on even years that don't have world cup (same year as summer olympics)
Portugal with a few chances in the first half. Jota definitely should have put one away. Ronaldo should have had one as well.
All the sitters missed in the past game and a half have been ... something.
+1 if for nothing else that you're getting negged.
Fuck Ronaldo.
Portugal put it to bed in the last 10 minutes with 3 goals.
I don't know if I've ever seen a weaker 3-0 win. Portugal looked like ass for most of the game and the Hungarians outplayed them for most of the second half. Then they get the garbage goal off a deflection, the weak penalty and then a final goal when Ronaldo looked very offsides and it ends up 3-0. Boo Portugal. Booooooo.
This is the Portugal way. That or bore you to death. I believe I heard some stat stating they didn't win a single game in regulation in Euro 2016 yet won the championship. Mostly because the tournament was expanded otherwise they wouldn't have made the knockout rounds.
They actually won their semifinal game in regulation in Euro 2016, but other than that the point stands. Also they weren't the worst team to qualify for the knockout stages, just the second worst. But again that was only possible due to the tournament expanding.
Really, the worst game of the tournament so far. Portugal looked totally out of ideas until that deflected goal and Hungary wasn't really willing to go for it on the break.
(There was a 3v3 break in the first half for Hungary where no attacker ever entered the penalty area and they proceeded to recycle the ball back to their central defense where they kicked it out of bounds. At least Sweden understood how to pull off a smash and grab win even if their finishing failed them).
Oh man! They did that a few times! One time they could've gone on a semi-break after a save and the midfielder was facing his own goal, not knowing he had probably about 15 yds of space behind him, and he passed right back to the guy who cleared it out to him. I was like 'What the hell? Turn around and RUN!' Hungary had no attacking ability or desire, like whatsoever.
I kept thinking of the Spain-Sweden game as well and was hoping Hungary would spring a 1-0 upset. But Spain is the real epitome of "CENTER HOLDS IT" soccer. I hope both of those teams get knocked out.
No one will mistake the attacking ability of this Hungarian team for the Mighty Magyars, but the game plan almost worked. They sort of remind me of a better Finland, with a worse draw. Germany-Portugal should be the most critical and interesting game in this group now.
Portugal was very predictable in their offense. A brutal group draw for Hungary who played hard in front a large home crowd, and were a bit unlucky, and now get France and Germany.
Hungary deserved at least a point but so it goes
Pogba with a gorgeous pass in the lead up to the goal. France 1-0
there are very, VERY few things better than a germany own-goal.
That Mbappe goal was amazing. Too bad he was offsides
France-Germany matches always offer a good spectacle and that was no exception. France often starts slow in tournaments but they were terrific, strong across the board today.
Germany didn’t finish well but I thought they looked solid. They didn’t look like the mess they’ve been recently. I could see the two teams having a rematch in the knockout stages.
This French team made a talented German team look pedestrian which speaks to how much talent and technical ability is on this decorated French National team.
Let me put it this way: Karim Benzema is an incredibly talented, world class player. On the USMNT and in our entire history, he would be head and shoulders above anyone else by a damn country mile.
Because of his bullshit and ensuing legal troubles, the 2018 French National team casually left him off the team and didn't miss a beat in route to winning the World Cup.
This French team has a chance to be dynastic because of how talented, how stacked (depth), and how young many of its players are.
If not for a few offsides, France wins this comfortably 3-0. France plays a lot like old Italian teams - strong defense paired with lethal counter attacks (which is probably partially because of the time Didier Deschamps spent in the Serie A with Juventus).
As someone who admires Les Bleus, I wish they would put a bit more emphasis on possession. I quite like how Spain plays - heavy possession through quick passing and lots of interchanging player movement with some pressing.
I think the key to France is Mbappe, Pogba and Kante. All three of those players have insane range when defending. It always feels like France is putting so much pressure on the opponent when the opponent is in possession. But they don’t play a pressing style. I don’t think any manager could screw up too badly with those three.
A few comments on France/Germany: really poor announcing performance by Twellman. He's normally ok, but was just terrible. Especially on the Mbappe offside call. "His knee was just offside" Twellman said about 5 times when Mbappe's entire body was clearly offside on replay, except maybe his trailing heal. He also had a bunch of weird comments like "what a play by X, don't you think". Just kinda awkward and a bit forced.
Also, Pavard getting knocked out...how bad is the French medical team? How the F can you leave that guy in?
France is head and shoulders over everyone in the world. Mbappe, Kante, Benzema are all top 5 at their positions, probably conservatively. Not to say they they're going to walk to a Euro and WC title, but no one has the top shelf talent and depth that they have.
France is so stacked you left out Pogba. Ha!
Pogba looks so much better for France than he does for Manchester United.
Something about the way ManU plays limits (or even hinders) Pogba.
Having Benzema & Mbappe in front of him helps. The biggest thing is having Kante behind him to do all the defensive work. Allows Pogba to go forward.
Placard staying in the game was shocking. He was unconscious for a few seconds. Soccer really needs to get it together with concussion protocol. Asking the player if he feels OK is not good procedure after a potential head injury.
how did Poland do yesterday?
Poland was not impressive against Ukraine.
Lewandowski looked nothing like he does for Bayern Munich which is not surprising since Poland doesn't have the same level of talent as FC Bayern.