0-2
Headlines
AUSTRIA
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The Player – Zlatko Junuzovic
One of the reasons for the Austrian downfall, but this time it wasn’t because of player’s fault, more because of two monstrous – but legal – tackles that tore up his right ankle. He got up after the first, and just wobbled until he got subbed, in the 2nd half, after the last challenge.
With Junuzovic diminished Austria lost their link between Janko and the rest of the team and it was up to Alaba to create things for their country. But Alaba can’t be everywhere…
One of the reasons for the Austrian downfall, but this time it wasn’t because of player’s fault, more because of two monstrous – but legal – tackles that tore up his right ankle. He got up after the first, and just wobbled until he got subbed, in the 2nd half, after the last challenge.
With Junuzovic diminished Austria lost their link between Janko and the rest of the team and it was up to Alaba to create things for their country. But Alaba can’t be everywhere…
·
The Moment – 30 seconds in and their fate
showing
It could have been a different, very predictable game, had this powerful strike from Alaba gone an inch left. As it was, Bayern Munich’s player was a highlight because of what he almost did. Much like the whole Austria team, Alaba came and showed what he could’ve done, but didn’t.
A moment that defined who would have the luck of the game.
It could have been a different, very predictable game, had this powerful strike from Alaba gone an inch left. As it was, Bayern Munich’s player was a highlight because of what he almost did. Much like the whole Austria team, Alaba came and showed what he could’ve done, but didn’t.
A moment that defined who would have the luck of the game.
·
The Team
It was a great disappointment for Koller and his squad. They did not play bad, at all, but clearly were uncomfortable in the role of controllers of the game, as Austria is much better in holding their lines, pressuring the opponent, and quickly counter.
Against Hungary that would never happen, and Austria tried to be the bigger team and created some chances.
They had a horrible 5 minute spell where they conceded and lost Dragovic due to a 2nd yellow card, that killed the game, and possibly the competition, for Austria.
It was a great disappointment for Koller and his squad. They did not play bad, at all, but clearly were uncomfortable in the role of controllers of the game, as Austria is much better in holding their lines, pressuring the opponent, and quickly counter.
Against Hungary that would never happen, and Austria tried to be the bigger team and created some chances.
They had a horrible 5 minute spell where they conceded and lost Dragovic due to a 2nd yellow card, that killed the game, and possibly the competition, for Austria.
HUNGARY
·
The Player – Lazslo Kleinheisler
With Austria focused elsewhere, Kleinheisler enjoyed some space in the counter, always asking for the ball. The Werder Bremen made sure he took the opportunity and didn’t disappoint being the most dangerous man for the Magyars, and creating the goal that let celebration flare.
·
The Moment- Szalai ends a year-over goal
draught.
It’s been one of biggest points of discussion with the Hungary lineup, but Storck will have the last laugh. Szalai is a very hard-working player, defends well, pressures, and it’s preferred to Nikolic. The big issue is that Szalai doesn’t score that many goals and hadn’t done that since 2014. In any competition, national teams or club.
In a fantastic linkup play with Kleinheisler, Szalai and the Werder Bremen playmaker sliced up Austria, and started building an historic winners. And Storck smiles even more, surely.
It’s been one of biggest points of discussion with the Hungary lineup, but Storck will have the last laugh. Szalai is a very hard-working player, defends well, pressures, and it’s preferred to Nikolic. The big issue is that Szalai doesn’t score that many goals and hadn’t done that since 2014. In any competition, national teams or club.
In a fantastic linkup play with Kleinheisler, Szalai and the Werder Bremen playmaker sliced up Austria, and started building an historic winners. And Storck smiles even more, surely.
·
The Team
Nobody expected them to do anything, and now they sit on top of the group and look very strong candidates to qualify. They hold off Austria with a lot of pressure, numbers in the back, and a small but full of quality Kleinheisler always looking to carry the ball to the opponent’s half, with his extreme pace. The strategy worked perfectly, and confidence is sky high
- FIL’S FINAL THOUGHTS
It was a brilliant game from Storck. He had a plan, and didn’t change it by any pressure from the outside. It wasn’t a perfect game, and it couldn’t have been, as even though they have the prize of biggest upset of the Euro (so far), they lack quality.
Marcel Koller’s troubles started early with the mentioned injury, but he saw his team play well and reaching Király’s goal, but very rarely they were truly dangerous.
With time Hungary got more confident, and in five minutes they were able to score and also saw Dragovic getting the sending off. They only had to hold on a little longer, and they were able to add a bit more shock, with a great goal from Steiber.
The biggest upset of the competition, opens up group F and leaves Hungary in a great position. Austria has a mountain to climb, but they know they performed well, with a few touches, things can be great again.
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1-1
Headlines
PORTUGAL
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The Player – Vieirinha
It was his abysmal defending in Bjarnsson’s goal that made it impossible, in the end, for Portugal to get the win. Of course, it wouldn’t be fair to single out a player for just one moment, but after that Vieirinha never seem able to recover, with his very poor crossing being a very good example of how poor of a game he had.
It was his abysmal defending in Bjarnsson’s goal that made it impossible, in the end, for Portugal to get the win. Of course, it wouldn’t be fair to single out a player for just one moment, but after that Vieirinha never seem able to recover, with his very poor crossing being a very good example of how poor of a game he had.
·
The Moment – Ronaldo’s last gasp
It wasn’t an easy game for Cristiano Ronaldo, as he was going to face players with similar physical presence. He had to look for the ball away from the goal, and still grabbed a couple of chances, with the last being the most flagrant, just outside the 6-yard box, that Halldorsson saved with difficulty. It wasn’t meant to be.
It wasn’t an easy game for Cristiano Ronaldo, as he was going to face players with similar physical presence. He had to look for the ball away from the goal, and still grabbed a couple of chances, with the last being the most flagrant, just outside the 6-yard box, that Halldorsson saved with difficulty. It wasn’t meant to be.
·
The Team
Portugal was doing a fine game until the moment Vieirinha lost his man. They were creating chances, moving the ball around fairly quickly, quickly enough to get a lead to build on the second half.
With the goal, Iceland gained extra strength and outmuscled Portugal, that did try a lot, but didn’t create many chances due to the strong Icelandic teamwork.
Portugal was doing a fine game until the moment Vieirinha lost his man. They were creating chances, moving the ball around fairly quickly, quickly enough to get a lead to build on the second half.
With the goal, Iceland gained extra strength and outmuscled Portugal, that did try a lot, but didn’t create many chances due to the strong Icelandic teamwork.
ICELAND
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The Player – Birkir Bjarnason
He scored the goal that gave euphoria to his small but, surely, very proud country of their team. But Bjarnason was also a constant headache for Vieirinha and Portugal’s defense, with his few but very powerful moves ahead, while was an absolute monster defending.
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The Moment- An historic goal
It was a beautiful cross that Bjarnson took fantastically in the volley. He had time to prepare it, focused, and erupted celebrations that had to hold for another forty minutes, before the referee blew for the end of the match, and a great debut for Iceland.
It was a beautiful cross that Bjarnson took fantastically in the volley. He had time to prepare it, focused, and erupted celebrations that had to hold for another forty minutes, before the referee blew for the end of the match, and a great debut for Iceland.
·
The Team
To be here is phenomenal for this players, so expect all games to be like this, intense, physical, and there are ferocious in that. With now good players, that are comfortable with the ball in their feet, Iceland creates trouble to every team, and they did it again against Portugal.
They defended a lot and with many men, but they always try to look for the big duo upfront that, tonight, was more interested in helping their teammates.
A fully deserved draw, and they now they have a great chance of going forward if they can beat Hungary.
- FIL’S FINAL THOUGHTS
Portugal will feel they could’ve
gotten more than a draw, but Iceland fully deserved it for taking their chance
and defending bravely, fearlessly. Lagerback had a plan, to contain Portugal’s
duo of Nani and Ronaldo, and try to find Sigthorsson and Bodvarsson opened up
wide, while those would wait for support.
The focus was defending, though,
and they were going fantastically, allowing a couple of chances that Halldorson
was able to deal with, but they had one moment that Nani took on to score
Portugal’s first. Fernando Santos’ team had its best spell until half-time,
when they created enough to finish off the game.
Coming for the second half it was
very difficult to anticipate how the game was going to go, and then it all
became so clear when Bjarnoson was left alone and gave no chance to Rui
Patrício.
Iceland woken up, made sure they would not let another lapse of concentration risk the draw they so desired. Desired, in the way that now Iceland knows they can beat either Hungary or Austria, and that they can, even, top the group.
For Portugal, it will feel like disappointment, but things cannot be seen as terrible. Austria is much more pressured for the game in Paris, Saturday, and they’ll miss Dragovic in the central defense. Plus they will know what happened in the other match. Ronaldo and his teammates know that a win against Austria is surely qualification as with 4 points, Austria can’t get them, and their last opponent is Hungary.
Iceland woken up, made sure they would not let another lapse of concentration risk the draw they so desired. Desired, in the way that now Iceland knows they can beat either Hungary or Austria, and that they can, even, top the group.
For Portugal, it will feel like disappointment, but things cannot be seen as terrible. Austria is much more pressured for the game in Paris, Saturday, and they’ll miss Dragovic in the central defense. Plus they will know what happened in the other match. Ronaldo and his teammates know that a win against Austria is surely qualification as with 4 points, Austria can’t get them, and their last opponent is Hungary.
Portugal, as usual, dont like yasy qualifications
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