The general Euro2024 chit chat thread

[South Coast Royal]

Ref has clearly seen the Slovenian player feigned injury and dived. So why not book him? Ridiculous.

Yeh I don't get this
Noone seems to even suggest players doing this should be booked these days..

Someone got booked for diving early on in this tournament. Dunno which game it was, could have been the opening game.

Was it Leao of Portugal?

[St Pauli]

Yeh I don't get this
Noone seems to even suggest players doing this should be booked these days..

Someone got booked for diving early on in this tournament. Dunno which game it was, could have been the opening game.

Was it Leao of Portugal?

Yes

[Winston Biscuit]

Austria Vs Turkey had a fun feel to it

[tulip]

Happy times in the Netherlands! Team looking a bit like Spain today.

[Ascotexgunner]

Cracking game, what a save by the Turkey keeper at the end.

[genome]

Utterly ridiculous last gasp save from the Turkey goalie

[Franchise FC]

WHAT ….. A …. SAVE !

[NathStPaul]

That's one of the best saves you'll ever see.

[Royal Rother]

Wow, what a game that was!

2 teams where the only thought when they got the ball was to attack at speed. Fantastic.

Makes me more than a little jealous.

[genome]

Literally the last second of the game, 93:59 on the clock I believe

[Loafer]

Didn't see it, was it actually that good?

Need to watch highlights and then I'll get back to you

[Royal Rother]

Didn't see it, was it actually that good?

Need to watch highlights and then I'll get back to you

I’m not sure the highlights can do it justice. Whatever you see, it was pretty much like that for the entire 90 minutes!

[URZZZZ]

Excellent game - also excellently officiated

Do think the ref can have a fairly big say on the quality of games - this one let the game flow whilst maintaining control

[Mr Angry]

The save at the end instanty reminded me of Banks' save from Pele in the 1970 World Cup - it was that good!

Now we have the last 8, I thought I would rank them in terms of who has been the best to the least best, of the 8.

(In my opinion obvs!)

Spain/Germany = 1st - how a game between the 2 of them has ended up as a quarter-final is bizarre; easily the 2 teams playing the best football, and with a great mix of solid defence and scary attack. Can't be seperated IMHO.
Netherlands - 3rd - genuine contenders now.
Switzerland - 4th - playing excellent football as a team.
Turkey - 5th - just sheer exuberance and always on the front foot; will cause anyone problems
Portugal - 6th - would have been higher but struggled against a brave but limited Slovenia.
England - 7th - a single moment of genius fails to disguise how tepid this England side have been
France - 8th - 2 own goals and a penalty sums up a strangely lack lsutre and dull French team, who passes the ball across their back line as much as England does.

[Loafer]

Didn't see it, was it actually that good?

Need to watch highlights and then I'll get back to you

I’m not sure the highlights can do it justice. Whatever you see, it was pretty much like that for the entire 90 minutes!

The save was very very good, wouldn't say it was the best ever tbf

[Loafer]

The save at the end instanty reminded me of Banks' save from Pele in the 1970 World Cup - it was that good!

Now we have the last 8, I thought I would rank them in terms of who has been the best to the least best, of the 8.

(In my opinion obvs!)

Spain/Germany = 1st - how a game between the 2 of them has ended up as a quarter-final is bizarre; easily the 2 teams playing the best football, and with a great mix of solid defence and scary attack. Can't be seperated IMHO.
Netherlands - 3rd - genuine contenders now.
Switzerland - 4th - playing excellent football as a team.
Turkey - 5th - just sheer exuberance and always on the front foot; will cause anyone problems
Portugal - 6th - would have been higher but struggled against a brave but limited Slovenia.
England - 7th - a single moment of genius fails to disguise how tepid this England side have been
France - 8th - 2 own goals and a penalty sums up a strangely lack lsutre and dull French team, who passes the ball across their back line as much as England does.

WRONG
.England will win

[Stranded]

The save at the end instanty reminded me of Banks' save from Pele in the 1970 World Cup - it was that good!

Now we have the last 8, I thought I would rank them in terms of who has been the best to the least best, of the 8.

(In my opinion obvs!)

Spain/Germany = 1st - how a game between the 2 of them has ended up as a quarter-final is bizarre; easily the 2 teams playing the best football, and with a great mix of solid defence and scary attack. Can't be seperated IMHO.
Netherlands - 3rd - genuine contenders now.
Switzerland - 4th - playing excellent football as a team.
Turkey - 5th - just sheer exuberance and always on the front foot; will cause anyone problems
Portugal - 6th - would have been higher but struggled against a brave but limited Slovenia.
England - 7th - a single moment of genius fails to disguise how tepid this England side have been
France - 8th - 2 own goals and a penalty sums up a strangely lack lsutre and dull French team, who passes the ball across their back line as much as England does.

I always find this a strange view and you are not alone in thinking it but it isn't bizarre at all - it has been known since the draw was made that given the groups Spain and Germany were drawn in that if both won their groups and then their R16 game, they would meet in the quarters finals - it is the curse of tournament football where the how tournament has to be planned out months in advance that you may end up with 2 of the strongest teams meeting earlier that you would like.

Shame for Austria last night but I'm kind of glad they went out so that we don't have Netherlands v Austria in Berlin 10 days after they played each other in Berlin.

My early predictions - winners in bold

Spain v Germany - tight game but Germany to get through thanks to home advantage giving them a slight edge - winner of this tie, wins the Tournament.
France v Portugal - France have been shocking but Portugal will struggle to get going again after Monday's battle
England v Switzerland - Think England will just edge it but this really could go either way and may go the distance
Netherlands v Türkiye - Turks massively road their luck last night but also a great defensive performance - Dutch will be full of confidence after yesterday

Germany v France
England v Netherlands

Germany v Netherlands

[tulip]

The save at the end instanty reminded me of Banks' save from Pele in the 1970 World Cup - it was that good!

Now we have the last 8, I thought I would rank them in terms of who has been the best to the least best, of the 8.

(In my opinion obvs!)

Spain/Germany = 1st - how a game between the 2 of them has ended up as a quarter-final is bizarre; easily the 2 teams playing the best football, and with a great mix of solid defence and scary attack. Can't be seperated IMHO.
Netherlands - 3rd - genuine contenders now.
Switzerland - 4th - playing excellent football as a team.
Turkey - 5th - just sheer exuberance and always on the front foot; will cause anyone problems
Portugal - 6th - would have been higher but struggled against a brave but limited Slovenia.
England - 7th - a single moment of genius fails to disguise how tepid this England side have been
France - 8th - 2 own goals and a penalty sums up a strangely lack lsutre and dull French team, who passes the ball across their back line as much as England does.

I think Spain should be on top and Germany second.
Spain won all their group games fairly easily and look more convincing to me. Germany will probably win the quarter final though (with help from the officials).

Not so happy with Netherlands/Turkey match up. Think that the Turks will be well up for it. There are a lot of Turks here and they went nuts last night with their celebrations.

[Brum Royal]

Anthony Taylor appointed to ref Spain v Germany and Michael Oliver appointed to ref France v Portugal

[Sanguine]

Anthony Taylor appointed to ref Spain v Germany and Michael Oliver appointed to ref France v Portugal

Means that these teams with be subject to Stuart Atwell and David Coote on VAR.