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Euro 2016

Back to the action tonight - Poland v Portugal. A tough one to call, but I'm going for Poland due to their better team ethic. I doubt Ronaldo can carry the Portugeezers to another win after the Croatia game, plus Croatia didn't have Levandowski up front.
 
Eee-taa-liaaa!!!

ITALY!!  The Azzurri have a matchup with Germany in the quarter-finals, after vanquishing La Roja 2-0.

How Conte's squad did it:

As much as the Italians? effort was the best team performance of Euro 2016 thus far?in a tournament with plenty to choose from on that score?it was also a tactical master-class from manager Antonio Conte. His 3-5-2 formation, and his strategic pressing and suffocating game not only brought out the best in his side, but it also exploited Spain?s weaknesses.

With a clearly defined shape and strategy by Conte, Italy was able to play its game and force its will on the match, something that so few teams have been able to do against Spain over the years.

For all of Spain?s attacking prowess, they barely troubled the Azzurri until the final 15 minutes when Italian legs were dead tired. Danger was routinely cut off by Italy?s trio of defenders before it even had a chance to fully develop, and not only did they rarely allow the Spanish to get in behind them, but La Roja barely penetrated the penalty area.

Not to take anything away from Italy?s brilliant defensive display on this day, but special mention should be made of Gianluigi Buffon?s performance. Largely a spectator for the majority of the contest, the Juventus goalkeeper came up huge in the 76th minute when he parried away Sergio Ramos? close-range header. His finest moment came in the final minute of regulation when a botched Italian clearance landed kindly for Gerard Pique who unleashed a shot from deep inside the box. Pique didn?t get all of it, but it still drew a sprawling save from Buffon. Moments later, Graziano Pelle scored to seal Italy?s win.


[youtube]MxWJwtdhJUo[/youtube]


http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/uefa-2016-france-italy-spain-iceland-england-buffon/
 
Heartbreak!    Italy loses 6-5 in the shootout in the Quarter-Finals against Germany. 

The Azzurri, who were never expected to even come this far in this edition of Euro 2016, surprised, even shocked some, by not only making it to the Quarter-Finals, but by taking Germany to the brink in this game, decided by as anyone would guess, a shootout.  For the Italians a heartbreaker of a loss, for the Germans jubilation and relief.

Many pundits maintain that i Italy hadhad their two best players -- Veratti & Marchisio -- lost to injury, they would not have flubbed the last kick before the Germany sealed their victory by connecting on theirs. 

Kudos to the Italian defence, Buffon their 'keeper for playing it brilliantly throughout the tournament, for a team not known for it's creative or offensive ability, the defence and Buffon enabled them to strive and achieve beyond expectations.

Perhaps if Conte hadn't been so cruel to the TFC's Sebastian Giovinco by leaving him off the national team...  (see here:) http://www.tmlfans.ca/community/index.php?topic=153.0


....perhaps Giovinco would have been the one to take the kick and I don't believe he would have missed neither.  Oh well.

Congratulations Germany!

http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/uefa-euro-2016-italy-conte-buffon-bonucci-pelle-eder-giaccherini/

 
'Bye bye, Iceland.  France wallops Iceland 5-2.  It will be France/Germany for the Semi-Final matchup-up.


http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/uefa-euro-2016-france-iceland-pogba-giroud-payet-griezmann/
 
Looks like it's going to be won by France. Really don't want Portugal to win but they will give them more of a game than Wales would have. That said I'm a little sad thet Wales didn't get to the final. It would have made it more watchable for me.

On a side note, England beat all four semi finalists within the past few months. If only they'd bothered showing up at the tournament.
 
I can't see France losing the final if they play like they have the last few games.  Portugal is lucky to be there based on how the tournament has gone.
 
Euro 2016 Final all set for Sunday 3PM Eastern.

Portugal vs France.  At the Stade de France in Saint-Denis.


http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/news/newsid=2317361.html

 
Portugal beats France 1-0 in extra time in Sunday's Euro 2016 Final.

It was a game of near misses, diving goalkeeper saves, crossbars hit, plus agonizing knee injury to Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, who eventually left the field in tears on a stretcher.  Ronaldo came back in the second half to lend support to his teammates while on the sidelines.  What a final, -- though not necessarily the most entertaining -- especially for Ronaldo, having gone from tears to cheers -- jubilation for Portugal!
Well done!

http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/uefa-euro-2016-france-portugal-ronaldo-griezmann/
 
i'll agree that the game wasn't exciting but portugal did what they had to.  especially after losing ronaldo early on.  and hey at least it was a team that who had never won it before (at least I'm fairly certain they'd never won it before).  if france wanted to win that game all they had to do was score a goal.  I myself was pulling for germany in this tournament but that was their undoing against france.
 
This is actually quite a good little piece about what it's like to be a Northern Ireland fan and why we enjoy the rare occasions we make it to these events so much

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/soccer/kelly-fans-joy-of-anticipation-set-aside-the-misery-of-defeat/article30548131/

This is the Will Grigg song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyzvwBR1FmM
 
Here are the lyrics (click on the link for the full version):

Will Grigg's on Fire

Will Grigg is always scoring
The Northern Irish beast
From Wigan, to the Euro's
To play in white and green
28 this season
He's on the plane to France
And when he gets the winner
We're gonna sing and dance

He will score goals
Will will score just more and more
He will score goals
He will score them all
He will score goals
Will will score just more and more
He will score goals
He will score them all

Will Grigg's on fire
Your defence is terrified
Said Will Grigg's on fire
Your defence is terrified
Will Grigg's on fire
Your defence is terrified
Will Grigg's on fire
(C'mon)

Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Na (x4)


http://lyricstranslate.com/en/dj-kenno-will-griggs-fire-lyrics.html
 
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