England vs Iceland - Last-16 Round preview

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The ultimate underdog story, a nation of 323.000 people, with 10% of them in France supporting their national team that made country history in just qualifying. Iceland is a squad with very tall, strong players and this generation and next to come are enjoying an upgrade of the facilities that is start to show. They no longer are unfamiliar to controlling the ball, and they defend with all their heart, achieving an incredible qualification to the knockout stage.
 England must be happy but with suspicious of Iceland. Hodgson’s squad is the clear favorite for the game, but that also brings added pressure, built up with the average performance in the group stage, especially in the finishing side of the games.

 It’s a game where you can expect England to have the control of the ball and Iceland trying to defend and break when they can, always with few man to avoid disorganizing their backline. For England is going to be a frustrating game, much like it was against Slovakia, and the players must be focused to not let the frustration affect their game. If they can avoid it England, should, get through and book a place to face France.

FIL’S ODDS FOR THE GAME

England 80%-20% Iceland

Italy vs Spain - Last-16 Round preview

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Two contrasting performances in the group stage made possible the replay of the Euro 2012 final in the Last 16 in France. Back in Kiev, it was a mauling from Spain, absolutely dismantling a team led by Balotelli and Pirlo. A lot has change in the Squadra Azzura, both Balo and Pirlo are not in the squad, and Conte has in his team a group of players that are aware that they are out looked by everyone, but with the next Chelsea manager applying his quality methods, he formed a team that defends as well as their predecessors, and with an interesting partnership formed by Eder and Pellé, they are the perfect duo for the countering style that Italy and Conte used to surprise Belgium and top the group.

 Unfortunately, the reward for the Italians was to face the reigning champions Spain. After the two expected wins in the first two matches - against Czech Republic and Turkey - where Del Bosque’s squad took a while, but eventually found a way to score goals, with Morata claiming the spot of striker, it seemed that Spain would top group D, with authority and ready to face a 3^rd placed team.
 Instead, in a match they only needed a draw, Spain completely feel asleep on its own game, after scoring a very early goal. And that allowed Croatia to grow in confidence and eventually turn it around to grab the win and, more importantly, the first place. Spain showed again its difficulties in set pieces and Italy will prove a very tough opponent to beat. The Spanish backline has been questioned, and they will have to keep focus if they want to help their team progress.

 A (very) anticipated final, one of this great nations will go home, and surely they will want to gives us something to remember to avoid that happening.

FIL’S ODDS FOR THE GAME

Italy 45%-55% Spain

Germany vs Slovakia - Last-16 round preview

                             
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The World Champions arrived in France in a sea of doubt, the results and the exhibitions prior to the competition were not adequate for their status and Low’s choices were being questioned. And then, even though Gotze as striker needed to be corrected during the group stage, Germany arrived to the actual games and did what it does best, dominate and win. They failed to score against Poland, and that was the trick for Goméz to regain his position.

 Slovakia had an irregular campaign so far, but they played fairly well in the first two games, they were on top of Wales for the most part of the game, but with Hamsik not performing well enough, they ended up putting pressure on themselves, pressure that they relished on, dismantling Russia and frustrating England to a draw that ended up with them qualified.

Germany and Slovakia actually met in May, with the Hamsik’s team obtaining an historic victory, but that game was exactly the wake up call that Germany needed, and they will be much readier to face Slovakia this time.

FIL’S ODDS FOR THE GAME

Germany 70%-30% Slovakia

France vs Rep. Ireland - Last-16 round preview

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The hosts are one of the strongest teams in the competition, so it was surprising to see France’s difficulties in breaking down the defenses of Romania, Albania and Switzerland. But it’s hard to say that France did not do their bidding, they created a lot of chances and had in Payet one of the best players of the tournament so far.

 The competition will only, really, start now for Deschamps’ team, as it’s now that their defense will finally be tested, with teams now obliged to try and attack to progress. It will be the final test for France’s title candidacy, with Koscielny and Rami being under a particular demanding look, as they were not the first – or second, or third – choice for center backs.

 Ireland got here with a fantastic win against Italy, after two games where they showed their limitations, with the Belgium match being particularly bad for the Irish, making Roy Keane react in his priceless style of communication. They will have to summon up their former captain spirit, if they have any hopes of defeating the hosts.

 In a side note, if anything, this will probably be the best match in the stands, with the hosts meeting their best visitors.

FIL’S ODDS FOR THE GAME

France 75%-25% Rep.Ireland

Croatia vs Portugal Last-16 round preview

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It was a very unlikely match to happen, but Croatia’s proof of force and Portugal’s inability to win – or lose, for that matter – any game lead us to one of the headlines of the last 16 round. Two strong candidates to dark horses status, only the Croats confirmed they are ready to try and go all the way, 18 years after their historic campaign in the World Cup in this very same France. Inserted in a group that required full concentration from kickoff, Croatia’s midfield talent emerged, with Modric, Rakitic, Perisic being top quality players that destroyed the teams they faced in the group stage. They lost focus after their fans disrupted the game against Czech Republic, but responded fantastically against Spain, even with Cacic changing his squad. It was that win that confirmed Croatia is a strong candidate to be in the final.

 Portugal has just be disappointing. There’s very few things to motivate them after the three shockers of matches – all for different reasons – they had, but maybe the fact they haven’t lost, and that Ronaldo seems to be regaining confidence. And that is what gives Portugal some chances of qualifying. Because Ronaldo can, almost alone, win a game. Even against Hungary, with both Dzusdszak’s goals being deflected, you could argue that the Real Madrid’s goals should’ve been enough.

 It will all depend how well Modric recovered from the injury, and how the Croatian midfield will be on the day. They have the quality to dominate Portugal, but they will have to be quick on the ball, and they will have a very different match from the Spain one. Because this Portugal team, in the way its set up, will gladly give up possession so they can unleash quick counters, with Ronaldo throttling them forward. With all the quality in the players involved, this promises to be one of the best matches of this round, and we hope it lives to that expectation.  

FIL’S ODDS FOR THE GAME

Croatia 60%%-40% Portugal