1-0
Headlines
ITALY
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The Player – Alessandro Florenzi
Great game from the Roma man. Called up to replace Darmian, and making Candreva swap up sides, Florenzi came in and, after a first half of trying to adjust to the physicality of Victor Lindelof, he was the most dangerous Italian man, with his runs and passing being a constant source of trouble for Isaksson.
Great game from the Roma man. Called up to replace Darmian, and making Candreva swap up sides, Florenzi came in and, after a first half of trying to adjust to the physicality of Victor Lindelof, he was the most dangerous Italian man, with his runs and passing being a constant source of trouble for Isaksson.
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The Moment – Eder scores!
Such a typical Italian goal. Long throw from Chiellini to the big man, Zaza in this case that replaced Pellé, he chests it down to his partner, and the quick, Brazilian-born Eder, just saw yellow shirts. Not that scared him, it only made his goal more noteworthy, as Eder just cruised through, had a great curved shot and guaranteed qualification for the Azzurri.
Such a typical Italian goal. Long throw from Chiellini to the big man, Zaza in this case that replaced Pellé, he chests it down to his partner, and the quick, Brazilian-born Eder, just saw yellow shirts. Not that scared him, it only made his goal more noteworthy, as Eder just cruised through, had a great curved shot and guaranteed qualification for the Azzurri.
·
The Team
Another solid performance for Conte’s team, that has almost qualified, and most importantly hasn’t conceded a single goal yet. After a first half where they sat deep to see how Sweden would try and hurt them, Conte understood that he could try and go for the win in the second half, and so he did, eventually getting rewarded by Eder
Another solid performance for Conte’s team, that has almost qualified, and most importantly hasn’t conceded a single goal yet. After a first half where they sat deep to see how Sweden would try and hurt them, Conte understood that he could try and go for the win in the second half, and so he did, eventually getting rewarded by Eder
SWEDEN
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The Player – Zlatan Ibrahimovic
You almost feel sorry for Zlatan, and that’s saying something as Ibra is definitely someone that is hard to feel sorry for. But once again he saw him try and bring his team forward, only to be stopped by their own limitations. Zlatan tried, he fought a lot, he found himself in positions that he wouldn’t dream of stepping on. And in the end, Italy did what they do best.
You almost feel sorry for Zlatan, and that’s saying something as Ibra is definitely someone that is hard to feel sorry for. But once again he saw him try and bring his team forward, only to be stopped by their own limitations. Zlatan tried, he fought a lot, he found himself in positions that he wouldn’t dream of stepping on. And in the end, Italy did what they do best.
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The Moment- Zlatan is everywhere!
The chance in the 40th minute is
very indicative of the game was for Ibra. Zlatan went to his own defensive
midfield area, got the ball back and made a perfect sniper pass from 60 yards, that his forward colleagues couldn’t do
danger with. It was a perfect pass, but unfortunately for the former PSG man,
he couldn’t be in the end of it.
·
The Team
Things are not over yet, but they are very, very hard after that late goal destroyed them. Sweden did a good first half, trying to control possession and having Zlatan think their whole game, but the danger was fairly controlled by Conte’s defense, and in the second half, the Swedes just didn’t came back ready, and ended up destroying their hopes of qualification. Not entirely…
- FIL’S FINAL THOUGHTS
Italy are through to the last 16 of the European Championship finals after Eder struck late on to beat Sweden. The game looked to be heading towards a dull goalless draw before Eder raced onto Zaza's knockdown to drive home from the edge of the box. Sweden failed to produce a shot on goal for the second successive game, with captain and star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic kept quiet throughout. Italy are top of Group E with six points while Sweden are third on one.
Prior to
the tournament, Italy boss Antonio Conte had played down his side's chances of
success in France, citing an ageing squad and a lack of upcoming talent as
reasons for fans to temper their expectations. In their opening group game at
Euro 2016, they caught the eye as they outfoxed one of the tournament
favourites in Belgium with patient and well-organised football. They found joy
in that game by getting between Belgium's lines, quickly turning defence into
attack against a side that - while packed with individual talent - looked
disjointed. Italy, though, had no such luck against a conservative Sweden side,
who were content to sit deep.
Zlatan try
to be a good outlet for his team but had troubles at that, as Sweden's lack of
creativity offered him little to work with, a scenario that often saw him
dropping deep in order to build an attack.
The former Paris St-Germain forward did balloon
a shot over from three yards out but his blushes were spared by the offside flag.
A second game without a goal for Ibrahimovic means his wait to become the first
player to score in four European Championships goes on. If the Swedes don't
show significant improvement in attack in their final group game against
Belgium, it is a feat he may never achieve.
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2-2
Headlines
CZECH REP.
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The Player – Tomas Rosicky
Vrba insisted in the experience of Rosicky and it was again a bet that didn’t go brilliantly. Nobody disputes Rosicky’s quality, but in this competition, the Czech needed someone that, although not as good with the ball, would be able to be a factor without it. He did show is a great passer, though, as proved by his assist for Skoda’s goal.
Vrba insisted in the experience of Rosicky and it was again a bet that didn’t go brilliantly. Nobody disputes Rosicky’s quality, but in this competition, the Czech needed someone that, although not as good with the ball, would be able to be a factor without it. He did show is a great passer, though, as proved by his assist for Skoda’s goal.
·
The Moment – We can dream!
It was late in the game, and it has been already stopped because of the flare situation, but the Czechs still needed the goal so they would make a point to a bit of an edge over Turkey. That goal came from a hand of god, but incorporated in Vida that did a uncompressible penalty and threw away the win for Croatia.
It was late in the game, and it has been already stopped because of the flare situation, but the Czechs still needed the goal so they would make a point to a bit of an edge over Turkey. That goal came from a hand of god, but incorporated in Vida that did a uncompressible penalty and threw away the win for Croatia.
·
The Team
It took almost two and half hours of football for us to finally see of a glimpse of the Czech Rep. quality football, but it might have been too little, too late. They did the draw that keeps their hope alive, but it wasn’t a great performance, with Cech’s lack of safety being quite disturbing…
It took almost two and half hours of football for us to finally see of a glimpse of the Czech Rep. quality football, but it might have been too little, too late. They did the draw that keeps their hope alive, but it wasn’t a great performance, with Cech’s lack of safety being quite disturbing…
CROATIA
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The Player – Ivan Rakitic
With Luka Modric less active as in the first game, it was his rival in
club, national teammate Rakitic that was the creative outlet for Croatia.
Starting in the right side, but with obvious instructions to roam free in
search of the ball so he could make a difference.
He did it in flying colors and had a couple of chances fluffed until he got in the scoresheet in the second half.
He did it in flying colors and had a couple of chances fluffed until he got in the scoresheet in the second half.
·
The Moment- Undone by their own fans…
It was horrible and not the first time, but it’s starting to feel that these Croatian fans do not deserve the great team they have. After, in qualification, they created such trouble with racist chants that Croatia lost a point, they decided to throw flares around, with the match going, making imperative that it would be stopped. After the restart, Vida committed an unnecessary penalty and the win was gone..
It was horrible and not the first time, but it’s starting to feel that these Croatian fans do not deserve the great team they have. After, in qualification, they created such trouble with racist chants that Croatia lost a point, they decided to throw flares around, with the match going, making imperative that it would be stopped. After the restart, Vida committed an unnecessary penalty and the win was gone..
·
The Team
Croatia ended up not winning this match because they couldn’t keep the
concentration after the stands’ problems. Before that Croatia confirmed the
indication that they had left against Turkey, especially in the first half
where the Czech couldn’t contain the fabulous Croatia attack.
They started celebrating to early and qualification is secured, but not first place, and they have to win against Spain to get it.
They started celebrating to early and qualification is secured, but not first place, and they have to win against Spain to get it.
- FIL’S FINAL THOUGHTS
This was a match Croatia should have won. Midfield duo Rakitic and Luka Modric led an impressive Croatian attack, as the Czechs struggled to contain them and mount any sort of response. They failed to have a single effort on target in the first half. Inter Milan winger Perisic put Croatia in front when he ran on to the loose ball from Milan Badelj's mistake and fired in an angled drive. Rakitic doubled the lead after the break when he dinked his shot over the onrushing Cech. Substitute Skoda gave Pavel Vrba's side a thread of hope when he directed a brilliant header in with 15 minutes remaining before Necid landed a final blow after the unscheduled interruption. Modric, who left the field with an injury on 62 minutes, is a doubt for the final group game against Spain.
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3-0
Headlines
SPAIN
·
The Player – Alvaro Morata
Great game from Morata, silencing up critics, and scoring two goals that were crucial for Spain to not go through the troubles they did against Czech Rep. The first he scored was a true striker goal, a great header that gave no chance to Volkan, and started Spain on a great win.
Great game from Morata, silencing up critics, and scoring two goals that were crucial for Spain to not go through the troubles they did against Czech Rep. The first he scored was a true striker goal, a great header that gave no chance to Volkan, and started Spain on a great win.
·
The Moment – Morata’s second
Spanish golden era at its best, a great pass-and-go play that ended up with Morata just having to tap the ball in. It is true that Alba was a fraction offside, but that shouldn’t take away from the great construction play from Del Bosque’s team.
Spanish golden era at its best, a great pass-and-go play that ended up with Morata just having to tap the ball in. It is true that Alba was a fraction offside, but that shouldn’t take away from the great construction play from Del Bosque’s team.
·
The Team
Spain came into the match after winning their opening game of a European Championship or World Cup for the first time since Euro 2008, while Turkey had been heavily criticised for their poor display in their loss to Croatia, and the match unfolded as many had predicted.
Spain came into the match after winning their opening game of a European Championship or World Cup for the first time since Euro 2008, while Turkey had been heavily criticised for their poor display in their loss to Croatia, and the match unfolded as many had predicted.
The Spaniards, unbeaten in 62 years against their opponents and
undefeated in their last 13 games at the European Championship finals, were
dominant and, at times, unplayable.
TURKEY
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The Player – Arda Turan
Again disappointing, it was an horrible tournament for the Turks, with Arda Turan being, naturally, the face of the generation, blamed for most of the problems. Obviously it wasn’t Turan’s lack of quality in France alone that dictated Turkey’s two woeful games, but it certainly did not help.
Again disappointing, it was an horrible tournament for the Turks, with Arda Turan being, naturally, the face of the generation, blamed for most of the problems. Obviously it wasn’t Turan’s lack of quality in France alone that dictated Turkey’s two woeful games, but it certainly did not help.
·
The Moment- Boos from your own crowd.
Turan was trying to get his team on the counter, didn’t have any support and then stopped his run, awaiting teammates. That decision brought him the anger of Turkish fans that booed their heroes once again. A perfect image about Turkey’s competition so far.
Turan was trying to get his team on the counter, didn’t have any support and then stopped his run, awaiting teammates. That decision brought him the anger of Turkish fans that booed their heroes once again. A perfect image about Turkey’s competition so far.
·
The Team
Terim named an attacking line-up, choosing Burak Yilmaz, the top scorer in their squad with 20 international goals, but there was little Turkey could do without the ball and they wasted the opportunities they did have - Burak Yilmaz and Olcay Sahan shooting wide when they should have done better - leaving Turkey to end the match without a single shot on target. And if you don’t hit the target…
- FIL’S FINAL THOUGHTS
Two-time defending champions Spain progressed to the last 16 of the European Championship with a masterful display against a poor Turkey in Nice. In the performance of the tournament, Spain became the first team to score more than twice in a Euro 2016 match. Alvaro Morata headed Spain ahead while Nolito doubled the lead within minutes, side-footing home from close range. The third goal was a sublime 22-pass move involving nine outfield players, ending with Morata finding the net. In the past Spain have often found it difficult to break down opponents intent on defending deeply to contain their technical brilliance, but they had no such trouble against a Turkish team who found it impossible to suppress their opponents.
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