UEFA Euro 2024, Germany

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

What a hideous lopsided bracket, I'm torn between "Italy can actually make the title match" and "Oh wait, Switzerland is actually better than us now". Austria is probably the best team on the bottom half of the bracket.

[Middle-aged Europe]

My personal observation from the recent Netherlands vs. Austria game, which had taken place here in Berlin, was that Austrian fans seemed to consist mostly of groups of boisterous men while the Dutch fans were more diverse - smaller groups, more women among them, even some children.

I guess that also kind of explains Tender Branson.

[Zinneke]

My personal observation from the recent Netherlands vs. Austria game, which had taken place here in Berlin, was that Austrian fans seemed to consist mostly of groups of boisterous men while the Dutch fans were more diverse - smaller groups, more women among them, even some children.

I guess that also kind of explains Tender Branson.

National Team supporters vary a lot...the Netherlands used to have a lot of hooligans and organised support from the club teams follow them alongside "normies" who have loads of disposable income and think of this as the same ...now the organised club support don't even bother. So it's a super family friendly laid back vibe. But nowhere near the best fans vocally.

Belgium since 2014 is also ridden with event goers but many take themselves way too seriously and are what French people call "footix" (I guess the German word is ervolgsfans)...hence the whistling yesterday, alongside the same fancy costume attention seekers like "Obelgix"...none of these people were present pre-2014 when we had a sh**t national team and the away stand was almost always proper football followers. If we have a terrible tournament maybe we can rid ourselves of these clowns and go back to having decent support.

Austria is sort of influenced by Eastern Europe so actually has an ultras group (which is female friendly), so is much more vocal and organised as a support, but also I imagine for this Euro has brought a lot of stag do types compared to the family -friendly Dutch.

England is well...England...

[buritobr]

My forecasts of the squads qualified to the 3rd round: Spain, Germany, Portugal, France, Netherlands, Turkey, England, Italy

[Pray for Steve]

Italy is just pathetic. Switzerland winning is not really a surprise, but Italy are completely hopeless.

[Storr]

England defeats Slovakia 2-1.

[Pray for Steve]

I have never seen a luckier human being than Gareth Southgate. Absolutely beautiful bike from Jude, though, and gutted for Slovakia, who didn't deserve to lose.

[Mike88]

I have never seen a luckier human being than Gareth Southgate. Absolutely beautiful bike from Jude, though, and gutted for Slovakia, who didn't deserve to lose.

Yeah, at the very last second. Extraodinary. Also, Spain defeats Georgia 4-1, after showing some problems in the first half, but completely "bulldozing" Georgia in the second half.

[Pray for Steve]

Typical boring France. Belgium were poor most of the match. Doku was, once again, an electrifying watch in the last 10 minutes when Belgium finally got going.

[buritobr]

When there is a tie, usually, the team which tries to strike more during the game wins the penalty shooting. The team which tries to hold the tie and bring the game to the penalty shooting looses the penalty shooting.

The game Portugal vs Slovenia was not different.

[Pray for Steve]

When there is a tie, usually, the team which tries to strike more during the game wins the penalty shooting. The team which tries to hold the tie and bring the game to the penalty shooting looses the penalty shooting.

The game Portugal vs Slovenia was not different.

In normal time, Slovenia's game plan was clearly to take it to penalties and hope Oblak can be the hero, but Slovenia actually put together some decent attacks in extra time and obviously missed that golden opportunity. What a crazy game though, especially the extra time.

[Mike88]

When there is a tie, usually, the team which tries to strike more during the game wins the penalty shooting. The team which tries to hold the tie and bring the game to the penalty shooting looses the penalty shooting.

The game Portugal vs Slovenia was not different.

In normal time, Slovenia's game plan was clearly to take it to penalties and hope Oblak can be the hero, but Slovenia actually put together some decent attacks in extra time and obviously missed that golden opportunity. What a crazy game though, especially the extra time.

God Bless Diogo Costa!! At one point of the game, Portugal was so predictable that Slovenia "caught" Portugal's move everytime, and I actually thought that penalties was going to be the end for Portugal, especially after Oblak performance during the game. But Slovenia just "collapsed" and failed every shot.

[satsuma]

What a hideous lopsided bracket, I'm torn between "Italy can actually make the title match" and "Oh wait, Switzerland is actually better than us now". Austria is probably the best team on the bottom half of the bracket.

The imbalanced-looking bracket is probably because Austria and Romania are the more surprising group winners? Belgium or France would have avoided this Ro16 match-up and taken their place if they had managed a win instead of a draw in their 3rd group stage match.

[Pray for Steve]

Someone at the Beeb was having a bit too much fun. 🤣



https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/misstiano-penaldo-bbc-cristiano-ronaldo-b2572215.html

[buritobr]

My forecasts of the squads qualified to the 3rd round: Spain, Germany, Portugal, France, Netherlands, Turkey, England, Italy

Only 1 wrong forecast. Italy, instead of Switzerland

[Pray for Steve]

Officially, we now have one side of the draw that looks like a Euros semifinal, and another side of the draw that looks like the Nations League second division.

[Zinneke]

Officially, we now have one side of the draw that looks like a Euros semifinal, and another side of the draw that looks like the Nations League second division.

Did you watch Portugal and France? Because the 2 sides I just watched are leagues better in terms of intensity and tactical attacking plan. Netherlands too look back to their best and we're unlucky Vs France.

I guess the real final is Germany Vs Spain

But I really hope Germany Vs Turkey final doesn't materialise. Most Turkish football fans have consistently shown themselves to be utterly repugnant . And it will be another massive PR disaster.

[buritobr]

I was living in Erfurt, Germany, in 2008, when the semifinal Germany vs Turkey took place. Almost a local duel. I was lucky, there was no violence. No doner kebab restaurants damaged.

[buritobr]

My forecast for the quarter-finals

Germany vs Spain: Spain
When Germany didn't play well against Switzerland, I though it was only because they were playing slowly, because they were already qualified. But Germany didn't play well against a not so strong Denmark. Denmark was playing better when there was that invalid goal (I have some doubts about that offside). Spain has a very good young generation. Germany is playing at home, but the audience can''t blow the ball to the goal

Portugal vs France: France
France has a very good team. Sometimes we see some failures, when the players want to present too beautiful plays, instead of scoring goals. But in the quarter-finals, we can expect a more objective game of France

England vs Switzerland: England
England has more players with better individual skills than Switzerland. England was not working very well as a team, so that it was almost defeated by Slovakia, but I think in the 5th game, the team will get better

Netherlands vs Turkey: Netherlands
Turkey has been playing well, but Netherlands has been playing better