0-1
Headlines
TURKEY
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The Player – Arda Turan
Clearly accusing the lack of football in the beginning of the season, Arda Turan started on the left side and was never able to leave that side, as he had a lot to worry in Dario Srna. In the attack, he never could make an impact, looking sluggish and out of form. A worry, Turan needs to improve if Turkey has any hope of qualification
Clearly accusing the lack of football in the beginning of the season, Arda Turan started on the left side and was never able to leave that side, as he had a lot to worry in Dario Srna. In the attack, he never could make an impact, looking sluggish and out of form. A worry, Turan needs to improve if Turkey has any hope of qualification
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The Moment – Çalhanoglu’s free kicks
With the Leverkusen’s playmaker ability for dead ball, this should’ve been one the ways for Turkey to create danger, and they were just wasted. Maybe due to some big stage freight, Çalhanoglu created little to no danger in those situations and just had a bad display in general.
With the Leverkusen’s playmaker ability for dead ball, this should’ve been one the ways for Turkey to create danger, and they were just wasted. Maybe due to some big stage freight, Çalhanoglu created little to no danger in those situations and just had a bad display in general.
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The Team
If felt that Terim’s team could’ve done better with Yilmaz playing from the beginning, with his experience and physicality being a good way to try and break down the fighting duo of Corluka and Vida. Turkey looked always the weaker side, never being able to control possession like they are used to, and need to improve considerably for the next two games.
If felt that Terim’s team could’ve done better with Yilmaz playing from the beginning, with his experience and physicality being a good way to try and break down the fighting duo of Corluka and Vida. Turkey looked always the weaker side, never being able to control possession like they are used to, and need to improve considerably for the next two games.
CROATIA
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The Player – Marcelo Brozović
Wasn’t the best player on the pitch, but the Inter Milan man was a real threat from the left side, enjoying tons of space left in the back of his direct opponent. With pace, good ball control, he needed more composure to finish one of those chances he had. If he can improve that side of his game, Croatia became ferocious.
Wasn’t the best player on the pitch, but the Inter Milan man was a real threat from the left side, enjoying tons of space left in the back of his direct opponent. With pace, good ball control, he needed more composure to finish one of those chances he had. If he can improve that side of his game, Croatia became ferocious.
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The Moment- Modric’s strike
It was the only goal of the game, and what a goal it was. After a badly dealt cross, Luka Modric saw the ball bouncing ahead of him and summoned up all the strengths in his right foot to beat Volkan. A great shot to decide a game that Croatia controlled.
It was the only goal of the game, and what a goal it was. After a badly dealt cross, Luka Modric saw the ball bouncing ahead of him and summoned up all the strengths in his right foot to beat Volkan. A great shot to decide a game that Croatia controlled.
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The Team
Great game for Croatia to shut the voices that stated they don’t deal well with the big stage. Controlling, strong, always comfortable in possession and creating chance, after chance. It was a very similar game to the one England had, with the bonus of not being stunned in the end.
Badelj was chosen, moving
Brozovic to the right where he proved he can be an influence and another source
of danger for the Croats.
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- FIL’S FINAL THOUGHTS
Croatia fully deserved the win in Paris, after a fantastic display of control, strength and desire. With Modric being an inspiration, defending and attacking with the same quality, Cacic’s team started cracking Turkey by occupying the spaces between the full back and the center back from that side. Perisic and Brozovic were great in that aspect, with Srna using the space in front of him, with Rakitic playing mainly through the center.
Turkey never had a grip on the game, Turan had troubles with Srna, Çalhanoglu had bad decisions all day and Tosun was deployed ahead of Yilmaz with no effect showing.
In a tight group, Turkey will be happy to only having conceding one goal, when they saw the ball hit Volkan’s post twice more, and allowed so many chance. If they get back some offensive mojo they can hope. Croatia did their job and will be confident going forward
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1-0
Headlines
POLAND
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The Player – Arkadiuz Milik
Great game from the Ajax striker. In a match that required him to be active, as Lewandowski was engulfed by Evans’ individual marking, Milik was brilliant charging forward, creating chances for his teammates and missing a couple in the 1st half before redeeming himself with the winner in the 51th minute.
Great game from the Ajax striker. In a match that required him to be active, as Lewandowski was engulfed by Evans’ individual marking, Milik was brilliant charging forward, creating chances for his teammates and missing a couple in the 1st half before redeeming himself with the winner in the 51th minute.
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The Moment – The goal that made the
difference
It was a great ball from Krichowiak that opened up the defense. Kuba, on the right wing, saw Lewandowski drowning in green, but just outside the area was Milik, that got the ball, adjusted and banged it into the net for a very important win.
It was a great ball from Krichowiak that opened up the defense. Kuba, on the right wing, saw Lewandowski drowning in green, but just outside the area was Milik, that got the ball, adjusted and banged it into the net for a very important win.
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The Team
In a match where it was known from the beginning that Lewandowski would be the target of special attention, Nawalka decided not to risk Grosicki, that came of injured, and instead threw Kapustka on the spotlight. The Legia Warsaw player, and our choice for Poland’s breakout star, did a fantastic game, alongside Milik, cracking the Nor.Ireland defense open several times, and winning the opening match of the Euro, for the first time in Poland history.
The expected win, maybe with less goals than expected, but enough.
In a match where it was known from the beginning that Lewandowski would be the target of special attention, Nawalka decided not to risk Grosicki, that came of injured, and instead threw Kapustka on the spotlight. The Legia Warsaw player, and our choice for Poland’s breakout star, did a fantastic game, alongside Milik, cracking the Nor.Ireland defense open several times, and winning the opening match of the Euro, for the first time in Poland history.
The expected win, maybe with less goals than expected, but enough.
NOR.IRELAND
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The Player – Jonny Evans
Did his job very well, in charge of marking Lewandowski. He never let go of the Bayern striker, always putting in an extra tackle or push, while frustrating his opponent. The biggest complement he can have is that Lewa had no chance to influence the game.
Did his job very well, in charge of marking Lewandowski. He never let go of the Bayern striker, always putting in an extra tackle or push, while frustrating his opponent. The biggest complement he can have is that Lewa had no chance to influence the game.
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The Moment- Lafferty’s creation
In a very hard match for him, mostly left alone until Poland scored, Lafferty barely touched the ball, let alone had chances to do any danger. It was like, if he wanted to score, he would have to do everything, create and shoot. And so, after a ball pumped into him, he teed up a bicycle kick that was well executed but not so dangerous. A perfect image of how hard it was for the northern Irish to create chances.
In a very hard match for him, mostly left alone until Poland scored, Lafferty barely touched the ball, let alone had chances to do any danger. It was like, if he wanted to score, he would have to do everything, create and shoot. And so, after a ball pumped into him, he teed up a bicycle kick that was well executed but not so dangerous. A perfect image of how hard it was for the northern Irish to create chances.
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The Team
Very weak showing, with a lot of man in the back, and never able to go out and create some chances for goal. Nor.Ireland never seemed to be able to create any danger near the Polish penalty area and with Nawalka’s team making a great effort in avoiding giving them any set pieces, the northern Irish never had a chance.
- FIL’S FINAL THOUGHTS
Poland was always going to win the game if they were able to score a goal. When Milik found yards of space just outside the box, in the 51th minute, he striked it with precision, like he wasn’t able to do in the first half. With Lewandowski alone in a sea of green, it was up to Milik and the wingers, Kuba and Kapustka, to find the big man and with little changes of the ball, face the goal and test Michael McGovern.
Northern Ireland defended a lot, not particularly well in truth, and was completely unable to create any sort of danger. Lafferty was alone for a long time, never had a chance to score, and even dead ball situations were lacking.
Adan Nawalka will be happy with the match, probably just wishing he would’ve scored more goals, as it feels that Nor.Ireland might have the same troubles with the other opponents, and those results can determine the final table of Group C.
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2-0
Headlines
GERMANY
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The Player – Toni Kroos
Dominant play in the midfield by the Real Madrid midfielder. Toni Kroos made the assist for Hector’s goal and he created the flow of Germany’s game, with the usual skill in passing, both short and long. His influence declined when Ukraine started correcting the timings of pressure and marking, but he was the most consistent German in the pitch.
Dominant play in the midfield by the Real Madrid midfielder. Toni Kroos made the assist for Hector’s goal and he created the flow of Germany’s game, with the usual skill in passing, both short and long. His influence declined when Ukraine started correcting the timings of pressure and marking, but he was the most consistent German in the pitch.
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The Moment – Defensive set pieces
A constant source of worry for Joachim Low, it threatens to thwart Germany’s chances if it’s not corrected in time for the knockout stages. Germany has a relatively low defensive line, more evident with Hummels out injured, and Ukraine created a lot of dangerous situations, that a more prolific team would’ve, likely, capitalize on.
A constant source of worry for Joachim Low, it threatens to thwart Germany’s chances if it’s not corrected in time for the knockout stages. Germany has a relatively low defensive line, more evident with Hummels out injured, and Ukraine created a lot of dangerous situations, that a more prolific team would’ve, likely, capitalize on.
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The Team
Germany didn’t have the best of games, but they did the job and ended up with three points, matching Poland on top of the group. The World Champions started very strong, clearly looking for an opening that would lead to an early goal, so they could draw Ukraine out.
The defensive side was a worry, allowing Ukraine’s confidence to grow and endanger a win that should’ve been guaranteed earlier.
Germany didn’t have the best of games, but they did the job and ended up with three points, matching Poland on top of the group. The World Champions started very strong, clearly looking for an opening that would lead to an early goal, so they could draw Ukraine out.
The defensive side was a worry, allowing Ukraine’s confidence to grow and endanger a win that should’ve been guaranteed earlier.
UKRAINE
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The Player – Andriy Iarmolenko
Completely out of the game, only showed his skills once, when he found his fellow winger Konoplyanka alone by the six-yard box. Apart from that moment it was a complete lack of ideas from both wings, with Iarmolenko being the worst of the two with very few touches on the ball and adding nothing noteworthy.
Completely out of the game, only showed his skills once, when he found his fellow winger Konoplyanka alone by the six-yard box. Apart from that moment it was a complete lack of ideas from both wings, with Iarmolenko being the worst of the two with very few touches on the ball and adding nothing noteworthy.
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The Moment- Konoplyanka fluffes it
It was a rare moment of brilliance from Iarmolenko, and Konoplyanka just had to wrap his foot around the ball and beat Neuer. Everyone will remember the great acrobatic clearance from Boateng, but the Sevilla winger completely missed the shot, and the opportunity to draw the game.
It was a rare moment of brilliance from Iarmolenko, and Konoplyanka just had to wrap his foot around the ball and beat Neuer. Everyone will remember the great acrobatic clearance from Boateng, but the Sevilla winger completely missed the shot, and the opportunity to draw the game.
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The Team
It took them half an hour to correct the markings, and when they did it they were already losing. They had a good spell in the first half, reacting well and creating danger from corners and missing that great chance from Konoplyanka. Unfortunately they ran out of gas in the 2nd half, and ended up conceding the second goal right at the end
- FIL’S FINAL THOUGHTS
Effective but without brilliance, could be a
title for the game Germany produce in Lille. The start gave us the idea that
the friendlies were just friendlies, and Germany would make it count when it
matters. They did, materializing their dominance with a good goal from Mustafi,
after an assist from Kroos.
The Real Madrid player was the man of the match, always demanding the ball to make things happen for a Germany that lacked a bigger physical presence in the middle of the center backs. Gotze is a great player, but is not a center forward in any shape or form and it showed.
Ukraine had a mediocre game, creating some chances due to the defensive set pieces troubles Low’s squad faced throughout the whole match but never capitalizing, and uninspired in open play. With a bit more killer instinct it could’ve been a different story.
Germany know that the same kind of mistakes against Poland will be fatal, but have enjoyed a routine win and are gaining confidence back. Ukraine will face a crucial match with Northern Ireland to keep qualification hopes alive.
The Real Madrid player was the man of the match, always demanding the ball to make things happen for a Germany that lacked a bigger physical presence in the middle of the center backs. Gotze is a great player, but is not a center forward in any shape or form and it showed.
Ukraine had a mediocre game, creating some chances due to the defensive set pieces troubles Low’s squad faced throughout the whole match but never capitalizing, and uninspired in open play. With a bit more killer instinct it could’ve been a different story.
Germany know that the same kind of mistakes against Poland will be fatal, but have enjoyed a routine win and are gaining confidence back. Ukraine will face a crucial match with Northern Ireland to keep qualification hopes alive.
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