Euro 2016 Quarterfinal Recap
- Poland - Portugal
Both of these nations knew this match represented an exceptional opportunity to progress to a semi-final of a major tournament. The match itself was and felt like the biggest international match almost every player on these teams had played before.
The ease (and very early nature) of the Polish goal would have taken most by surprise, that it was belatedly Lewandowski's first at this edition of the Euros was altogether less of a shock. The Portuguese leveller came from one of their best two players on the day in Renato Sanches with a strike which deflected into the perfect spot. The deflection off Krychowiak was cruel given he was again the standout Polish player and probably their best player at the tournament.
The defences were on top the rest of the way, with a superb performance by Pepe and uncharacteristically poor finishing from Ronaldo. It did seem destined to be tight with a penalty shootout, but not before a brilliant interception that almost led to the most unfortunate of own goals. A tight penalty shoot-out which the Portuguese edged.
The ease (and very early nature) of the Polish goal would have taken most by surprise, that it was belatedly Lewandowski's first at this edition of the Euros was altogether less of a shock. The Portuguese leveller came from one of their best two players on the day in Renato Sanches with a strike which deflected into the perfect spot. The deflection off Krychowiak was cruel given he was again the standout Polish player and probably their best player at the tournament.
The defences were on top the rest of the way, with a superb performance by Pepe and uncharacteristically poor finishing from Ronaldo. It did seem destined to be tight with a penalty shootout, but not before a brilliant interception that almost led to the most unfortunate of own goals. A tight penalty shoot-out which the Portuguese edged.
My Pick: Poland / Favourites: Portugal / Winner: Portugal
- Wales - Belgium
For players on both teams, the biggest match of their international careers. One team had already exceeded expectations, the other had finally reached the minimum expectation for a team of their talent. Talent started dominantly and but for a chaotic goal line stance by the Welsh would have had an extremely early lead. The lead did eventually come and how sweetly it did. An absolute screamer from Nainggolan was literally a bolt from the blue, there seemed no danger until it hit the net that is.
At that stage most would have begun thinking by how many the Welsh would lose. Then came what I will call a monumental error to give the Welsh a foothold. Not that Ashley Williams was under tremendous pressure, but why oh why would De Bruyne go walkabout from his position on the post? Courtois is 6'6, no need to get behind him, stay on the post and there was no way that ball goes in.
The Belgians seemed to not know what to do next and Wales stepped up nicely. The goal from Robson-Kanu was sensational, one turn took two defenders and a Fellaini right out of the play, then a composed finish. The Vokes goal was impressive in its own right as well, the perfect cross with a header which was placed better than if one had tried to throw it in the net. That was the KO for the Belgians.
There were significant deflections within the Belgian camp about the squad being a young squad and still developing as well as noting the injuries, but in truth this was the shock of the tournament and this generation may never have a better chance to make serious noise at another tournament.
At that stage most would have begun thinking by how many the Welsh would lose. Then came what I will call a monumental error to give the Welsh a foothold. Not that Ashley Williams was under tremendous pressure, but why oh why would De Bruyne go walkabout from his position on the post? Courtois is 6'6, no need to get behind him, stay on the post and there was no way that ball goes in.
The Belgians seemed to not know what to do next and Wales stepped up nicely. The goal from Robson-Kanu was sensational, one turn took two defenders and a Fellaini right out of the play, then a composed finish. The Vokes goal was impressive in its own right as well, the perfect cross with a header which was placed better than if one had tried to throw it in the net. That was the KO for the Belgians.
There were significant deflections within the Belgian camp about the squad being a young squad and still developing as well as noting the injuries, but in truth this was the shock of the tournament and this generation may never have a better chance to make serious noise at another tournament.
My Pick: Belgium / Favourites: Belgium / Winner: Wales
- Germany - Italy
A matchup worthy of the final, given these had been the two best sides at the tournament and are the two premier tournament teams in Europe. The game itself did not disappoint. A tactical matchup, which saw the first shock being Low changing his formation to matchup with the ItalJuve 3-5-2 and it worked. The Germans certainly did a better job of coping than the similarly stacked Belgian and Spanish teams who collapsed against the 3-5-2.
The defenses were on top for almost all of the game, aside from the goals being direct results of mistakes. In a footballing world short of world-class defenders, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini, Boateng, Hummels, Howedes showed seemingly perfect blends of positioning and tackling. When the Germans conceded there was an air of certainty it would end 1-0, then after Bonucci's pressure riddled penalty kick, you just knew this would go to penalties. The battle of the two best goalkeepers in the world which didn't really come to fruition in regulation time primarily due to their highly effective shields, but both men stood tall in the shootout.
Could the Italian hoodoo continue? Or would the Germans finally conquer their Italian curse? Truthfully it felt a bit of both. Germans don't miss penalties! Maybe it is time to check some passports then because the Germans took a fair few clanger penalties, but thankfully for them Zaza and Pelle had two of the worst ever taken in a major shootout. Tough way to lose and an all too Italian way to be eliminated (i.e. 1994 vs Brazil; 1998 vs France; 2008 vs Spain). Good omen for the Germans.
The defenses were on top for almost all of the game, aside from the goals being direct results of mistakes. In a footballing world short of world-class defenders, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini, Boateng, Hummels, Howedes showed seemingly perfect blends of positioning and tackling. When the Germans conceded there was an air of certainty it would end 1-0, then after Bonucci's pressure riddled penalty kick, you just knew this would go to penalties. The battle of the two best goalkeepers in the world which didn't really come to fruition in regulation time primarily due to their highly effective shields, but both men stood tall in the shootout.
Could the Italian hoodoo continue? Or would the Germans finally conquer their Italian curse? Truthfully it felt a bit of both. Germans don't miss penalties! Maybe it is time to check some passports then because the Germans took a fair few clanger penalties, but thankfully for them Zaza and Pelle had two of the worst ever taken in a major shootout. Tough way to lose and an all too Italian way to be eliminated (i.e. 1994 vs Brazil; 1998 vs France; 2008 vs Spain). Good omen for the Germans.
My Pick: Italy / Favourites: Germany / Winner: Germany
- France - Iceland
Each team came in on a fairytale run for a different reason, Iceland obviously for their triumph over the fancied English but for the French players opportunity beckoned to push on to win a major tournament on home soil.
As a contest it was over early thanks to good finish by Giroud, followed by a towering header from Pogba. By the time Payet put one into the corner the party was well and truly underway, when Griezmann channeled his inner Messi with a finish worthy of the great man, the game was up for Iceland. The fear was that it would become a laugher.
Kudos to the Icelandic squad again. Despite still ending up losing heavily, they turned it around in the second half to leave France with their heads held high to complete a tournament performance which will go down in footballing history as an adjective by which all small teams aim to be measured. Be Icelandic.
As a contest it was over early thanks to good finish by Giroud, followed by a towering header from Pogba. By the time Payet put one into the corner the party was well and truly underway, when Griezmann channeled his inner Messi with a finish worthy of the great man, the game was up for Iceland. The fear was that it would become a laugher.
Kudos to the Icelandic squad again. Despite still ending up losing heavily, they turned it around in the second half to leave France with their heads held high to complete a tournament performance which will go down in footballing history as an adjective by which all small teams aim to be measured. Be Icelandic.
My Pick: France / Favourites: France / Winner: France
Best XI (Euro 2016 Quarterfinal)
- GK - Manuel Neuer (Germany) - overshadowed amongst some atrocious spot kicks, Neuer made a couple great saves not least on Bonucci's 5th kick.
- DEF - Pepe (Portugal) - finally letting his play on the field overshadow his antics, was exceptional against the Poles.
- DEF - Jerome Boateng (Germany) - aside from the brain cramp handball, Boateng was brilliant in defence and even tucked away his penalty without any issues.
- DEF - Leonardo Bonucci (Italy) - remarkable throughout the tournament both defensively and offering a deep, deep lying playmaker role, even took the pressure filled penalty.
- DEF - Ben Davies (Wales) - a terrific performance as a hard working wingback, offering great defensive solidity with a dash of offensive spark. Big miss for semis.
- MID - Grezgorz Krychowiak (Poland) - the one-man midfield was at it again, unfortunate deflection on the goal but his powerful running, tackling and passing in midfield was stellar.
- MID - Renato Sanches (Portugal) - his goal was deflected, but if ever a display deserved a goal it was his. He looked every bit a super star in the making.
- MID - Paul Pogba (France) - finally got his goal, but it was his passing and tackling in midfield that shone brightly.
- MID - Aaron Ramsey (Wales) - against an extremely talented Belgian midfield, Ramsey did his share of defensive work but was always an outlet getting forward. Another big semis miss.
- FOR - Antoine Griezmann (France) - deadly up top for the French and caused the Icelandic defence no end of headaches.
- FOR - Olivier Giroud (France) - got his goals and played a key role in the link up play winning most in the air, even got a round of applause when subbed off.
Euro 2016 Semifinal Matchups
- Portugal - Wales
The weight of expectation is squarely on Portugal's shoulders, probably for the first time in the knockout stage, they are firmly the favourites with their prior matchups more evenly weighted. The Welsh will be missing the two players (not named Bale) - Ramsey and Davies - they would least like to have been without (even Ashley Williams has a solid replacement in Collins to come off the bench). The missing William Carvahlo is important for Portugal as well for the balance he provides in midfield but Danilo should be an able replacement.
Portugal as the favourites will be expected to make the running, something which they have not done as yet in the elimination games and if they choose to sit back, this could be a dour, low-scoring game.
My Pick: Portugal / Favourites: Portugal
- Germany - France
The world champions will enter after a physically and surely mentally exhausting matchup against the Italians. The hosts will enter on the back of a first half of devastating football followed by a pedestrian second half. Khedira and Gomez are out of the tournament due to injury now, with Hummels suspended - which together with their quarterfinal exertions handicaps them sufficiently to make this a truly level matchup. For all the French flair in attack, they are brittle at the back and the Germans have all the weapons needed to exploit the French backline.
The French will finally have a test at this tournament after in all fairness a fairly average run-in to the semis against far more limited teams than themselves. Within touching distance of greatness though, they run into the Germans who eliminated them at the quarterfinal stage of the 2014 World Cup. Pogba and Griezmann have two more years of top level experience, Payet is on scintillating form and was not part of that squad.
The Germans are a much different side than when they met in Brazil. Lahm, Schweinsteiger, Hummels, Khedira and Klose won't be on the field but a cast of super talent chomping at the bit for their chance to be the next German superstar are available ably supplemented by Neuer, Boateng, Ozil and Kroos who were part of that triumph.
Yet another game worthy of a final before the actual showpiece. It may well be quite an open game. The French people will not overlook the fact that the last time these two teams met though, football took a major backseat with very few concerned with the 2-0 French win.
The French will finally have a test at this tournament after in all fairness a fairly average run-in to the semis against far more limited teams than themselves. Within touching distance of greatness though, they run into the Germans who eliminated them at the quarterfinal stage of the 2014 World Cup. Pogba and Griezmann have two more years of top level experience, Payet is on scintillating form and was not part of that squad.
The Germans are a much different side than when they met in Brazil. Lahm, Schweinsteiger, Hummels, Khedira and Klose won't be on the field but a cast of super talent chomping at the bit for their chance to be the next German superstar are available ably supplemented by Neuer, Boateng, Ozil and Kroos who were part of that triumph.
Yet another game worthy of a final before the actual showpiece. It may well be quite an open game. The French people will not overlook the fact that the last time these two teams met though, football took a major backseat with very few concerned with the 2-0 French win.
My Pick: France / Favourites: Germany
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