Euro games reports

[Grist_To_The_Mill]

Population is 3.7 million. About the same as Scotchland.

Or roughly half of London

[Grist_To_The_Mill]

Disgusting scenes by the Czech players at full time trying to cause a ruck with the Turkish players.

A red, several yellows at full time, trust that FIFA slap them with a big fine.

A new record for the number of cards

[Brin]

Here we go then as we head into the last 16 still in the Euros. The first match up to provide us with more, hopefully great viewing, football sees the Swiss v Italy.

Defending champions Italy hope to finally click into top gear at Euro 2024 as they kick off the knockout stage after coming within seconds of going home.
The Azzurri face Switzerland in Berlin on Saturday in the last 16 thanks to Mattia Zaccagni’s 98th-minute equaliser in their final group game against Croatia.
If Zaccagni had not scored that goal, they would have failed to progress even as one of the best third-placed sides.
"We have not managed to show all our potential so far," said Italy boss Luciano Spalletti. Sounds like another team we all know

Always seem like a team you don't automatically fancy to do anything but, Switzerland are into the knockout stage of a European Championship for the third time in a row.They are unbeaten in this tournament in Germany - with two draws and a win - and coach Murat Yakin feels Italy have good reason to be worried about his side.

Match stats to ponder:

This will be Switzerland and Italy’s fifth meeting at a major international tournament; the Swiss won both games at the 1954 World Cup (2-1 in the group and 4-1 in the group play-off) but Italy have won the last two, 3-0 wins in the group stages of the 1962 World Cup and at Euro 2020.
Since winning 1-0 in a May 1993 World Cup qualifier, Switzerland are winless in 11 matches against Italy in all competitions (D6 L5). They are only on longer winless runs against England (13 games) and Russia (12, including games as USSR), while Italy are only on longer current unbeaten runs against Finland (14) and Turkey (13).
Switzerland have reached the knockout stages at each of the last six major international tournaments (European Championship/World Cup) since the start of the 2014 World Cup. The only European nation enjoying a longer such run is France (seven in a row).
15 of Italy’s last 26 knockout matches at major international tournaments have gone to extra time, including four of their last five.
Overall, the Italians have seen more games go to extra time than any other nation across the World Cup and European Championship (21), and have contested the joint-highest number of penalty shootouts, along with Spain (both 11).

Anyone want to call this one?

[Brin]

Second match of the day sees the hosts playing Denmark.


The Danes famously beat the Germans 2-0 back in 1992 to win the European Championship for the first time.
Both these sides are unbeaten so far at the tournament but Denmark defender Jannik Vestergaard is confident he and his team-mates are capable of not just beating Germany, but potentially repeating their success from 32 years ago.
"We know that to win the tournament it would be a bit of an upset," he said. "But we like being underdogs.

Apart from the thrashing of Scotland, the Germans only scored three more goals from their last two games, mind you, that's loads better than England!

Much of the pre-match discussion in Germany is about Niclas Fullkrug and whether the Borussia Dortmund striker could make his first start of the tournament. He has played just 73 minutes so far at the tournament but scored two goals and could come in for Kai Havertz, or even start alongside the Arsenal forward.

“I have not followed the discussion," said Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann, regarding the debate over who should start.
"We decide who will play. There are always discussions about everyone. We have enough expertise with our staff so we don’t need to follow the discussions to have a good solution."
Germany and Denmark have met four times previously, with the countries winning two games apiece.

Match stats:
This will be the fifth meeting between Germany and Denmark at a major tournament (World Cup/Euros), with both sides winning two each of the previous four. The only previous knockout stage tie between the two nations was the final of Euro 1992, which Denmark won 2-0.
Three of the last four meetings between Germany and Denmark in all competitions have been drawn (Germany won the other 2-1 at Euro 2012), which is more draws than the first 24 encounters between the two sides beforehand (two).
Denmark have lost all five of their previous European Championship matches against host nations, including one against Germany in the 1988 group stage. They were eliminated by hosts England at Wembley in the semi-final of the last Euros (2-1).
Germany have reached the Euros knockout stages for a fifth consecutive tournament. Their last two knockout matches have both ended in 2-0 defeats, to France in the Euro 2016 semi-final and England in the Euro 2020 last 16.

Having seen all the games they have played so far, I would expect the Germans to be too much for the Danes to deal with.
Having said that, there might also be another upset somewhere along the way to the final, could it be this game?

[Grist_To_The_Mill]

A surprise German exit maybe?

[Lolmorgan]

1-1 go to Pens.It’s high energy, Swiss best side first 10mins but Italy coming back into it.

[Lolmorgan]

Swiss going up a gear should be winning.

[Ronners]

The Swiss have got into some great areas and blown it up to now with some shocking approach play. UTM

[Ronners]

And just as I post that.......🤣🤣🤣 1-0 to the Swiss and fully deserved. UTM

[Lolmorgan]

And just as I post that.......🤣🤣🤣 1-0 to the Swiss and fully deserved. UTM

Yep best side winning.Just heard Italy have gone behind in every game. Swiss need another.