Morning all.
So we now know the fixtures for the knock-out rounds of Euro 2024 after the ultimate group video games happened yesterday. First up, Georgia beating Portugal 2-0 to undergo is a unbelievable achievement for them, however they’ve been one thing of a breath of contemporary air all through the event so it’s nice to see that rewarded. Georges Mikautadze is the event’s high scorer now after his nerveless penalty, and Giorgi Marmardashvili would possibly give Donnarumma a run for greatest keeper after some wonderful saves.
The opposite goalscorer, the live-wire Kvhicha Kvaratskhelia mentioned afterwards:
That is one of the best day within the lives of Georgians. We simply made historical past. No one would imagine what has occurred, that we’d defeat Portugal however this is the reason we’re a powerful staff. We simply encourage one another and informed one another that we may try this. It’s the greatest day of my life.
I additionally loved the RTE commentator Adrian Eames who, on the remaining whistle, understood what his viewers wished to listen to, saying:
What an evening for everybody from Georgia! However disappointment for Ronaldo …
Haha!
I used to be largely watching the opposite sport between Turkey and the Czech Republic which was notable for what number of yellow playing cards there have been. The ref went set off glad too early, and I feel the nineteenth minute sending off of Antonin Barak performed an enormous half in that. The Fiorentina man can don’t have any complaints about his first yellow, however the second appeared actually harsh – he linked with the ball and his studs got here down on high of the foot of the opposition participant who didn’t get the ball. The place was his foot presupposed to go?
Turkey’s aim from Hakan Calhanoglu was genuinely good, an outstanding end after twice that they had been denied in fast succession because of last-ditch defending and an amazing save from Jindrich Stanek who injured himself within the course of. The method with the skin of the foot from the Inter Milan midfielder was nearly as good because it will get, including to Turkey’s assortment of bangers at Euro 2024. Tomas Soucek equalised for the ten males, and whereas the sport itself didn’t really feel notably nasty or fractious, the ref was eager to swan round exhibiting yellows to whoever he may – it didn’t matter in the event that they have been on the pitch or on the bench. I used to be ready for him to e book a fan for being overly-supportive.
So, when the sport reached the 2-1 conclusion after a late aim from that lad who by no means scored for Everton, and the Czechs went out, it was little shock to see issues kick off on the remaining whistle. Extra flashes of yellow, and of crimson. In complete 20 yellows and a couple of reds have been issued, and I’d be a bit shocked if this ref – Romanian Istvan Kovacs – will get one other sport on the again of that show. I feel all of us perceive the necessity for self-discipline, however whenever you lose the run of your self the way in which he did, it’s not an excellent look – albeit fairly entertaining because it’s taking place.
Earlier, I used to be actually upset at how poor Belgium have been. Leandro Trossard got here off halfway via the second half, Oleksandr Zinchenko was off the bench for Ukraine at that time, however this was a low high quality sport generally. That mentioned, within the remaining phases, Ukraine have been the staff that actually went for it, they needed to due to the standings within the group, they usually had possibilities to attain however couldn’t discover the end.
The Belgian facet felt virtually paralysed by concern, afraid to go for a aim as a result of they have been too involved about conceding one, and when you think about they now have France within the Spherical of 16, it was too conservative for my liking. Some would possibly say smart – why danger shedding it?! – however topping the group would have seen them face the Netherlands, a facet I feel they’re extra able to beating primarily based on what we’ve seen from them to this point. France are clear favourites there, however I suppose in knock-out soccer you simply by no means know.
On the identical time, Romania and Slovakia performed out a 1-1 draw which noticed each undergo. The previous will play the Netherlands, whereas Slovakia will probably be up in opposition to England, and until there’s an enchancment from Gareth Southgate’s facet, the Slovakians will fancy their probabilities of inflicting an upset. All they should do is man-mark England’s deep-lying midfielder, Harry Kane, they usually may discover some pleasure.
So, with a few days off now, the complete fixtures are as follows.
Saturday June twenty ninth
17.00 : Switzerland v Italy
20.00 : Germany v Denmark
Sunday June thirtieth
17.00 : England v Slovakia
20.00 : Spain v Georgia
Monday July 1st
17.00 : France v Belgium
20.00 : Portugal v Slovenia
Tuesday July 2nd
17.00 : Romania v Netherlands
20.00 : Austria v Turkey
All in all, it’s been a really entertaining group section, and let’s hope that the knock-out rounds give us extra good soccer, and plenty extra drama. We’ll recap yesterday’s video games, and the group stage generally, over on Patreon with our Euro 2024 podcast a bit later this morning, so please be a part of us for that.
For now, have an excellent one.
