Euro 2020 — Day 13

Praying for Hungary to pull a 1980 Miracle on Ice today.

Conflicted now that Orban has stuck his big head into this. Normally I pull for the underdog and the Magyars are prime material but the way some of these so called leaders benefit from a team's success is a counterpoint. I'll probably pull for them come kickoff. Still riding that Canadiens win last night!

Jamie

I'd love them to win but if they do I'll eat my hat, and the fact I don't even have a hat means I have very little confidence they will. Sadly. I don't know which of these two to watch. I'm worried France and Portugal may pull an Austria v Germany from 82 and both just play out for the draw. Meanwhile, I'm worried that my new found tolerance of Germans will be shattered the first time one of them dives and gets a dodgy penalty. Poland I am sure will let me down, Spain will bore the life out of me maybe probably get the point they need. Basically, I am in an Everton fan mindset today. Afraid to hope

Gary Neville talking about Hamsich (spelling?) on ITV obviously wanted to say that the Slovakian player was a cult figure but misspoke and used the word that some of the bedsheet brigade used against Benitez.

Barry

Are you serious! That's hilarious. reminds me of Euro 96 and John Motson "The Germans have equalized. Kuntz"

Dale

The Hungarians have never had much like with getting benevolent leaders. Attila the hun, Elizabeth Bathory, etc Arch Duke Ferdinand seemed alright but Serbia didn't think so.

I rewound the footage Kieran and I definitely heard the German player mentioned :)

Kieran, the best one was Joe Mercer in the 1970 World Cup calling Tostao, “ that lad, Toast”. And Gherson - Gearson like Stan Boardmans, Geeeermins.

Luis Enrique could be free to join our shortlist in 90 minutes

Dale...I hope you wait till half time mate
Colin, I recall that and Cruyff was always " Cruff"

Ooh, hadn't thought of the impact on the manager eligibilities.
Hey Alan, are you informed of a demonstration at half time. I love suspense and spectacle, do tell.

Good God Dale...have you no shame ! OK, have a pull at half time by all means but don't demonstrate.

Good old Joe Mercer. England's best ever manager IMO.

Oh dear, now I understand...I've talked myself into a bit of embarrassment. I do get a bit aroused and well, some good rigid support for the team is just the proper display of a man's pride.

On the question of misspeaks, can anyone remember a Match of The Day from perhaps 4 or 5 years ago when Lawrenson was doing his spiel and in the middle of it he said "penis"?

(Maybe it was a Football Focus, I can't remember but it was definitely Lawrenson saying penis).

All the other pundits ignored but I distinctly remembered it as my girlfriend of the time was there too and she found it the most hilarious thing ever!

Well, because of my early childhood and then later living & working there for 3 years, I'm with Deutschland tonight. They're probably the closest I get to supporting an international team, but I'm pretty neutral on the international scene to be honest.

Dale there is a story of how, years ago, a rugby union player from South Wales switched codes to play for Widnes in the rugby league. In those days league was more about running than union.
The coach, fearing for his fitness said to the player, before his debut..." do you mind if I pull you off at half time "
The player responded.." that'd be marvellous..at Neath we only got half an orange "
I'm here all week

how's that for a Pickford flashback.

Dubravka just gave me a flashback to Picks in the derby.

Busquets doing his usual foul and feigning injury routine, made a career out of it, looking a bit thin these days too.

Just keeps it simple , moves the ball on constantly.

Good stuff Alan! The drinks are strong at the TW Sands. Come for the football but it's the jokes that pull you in.

Dubravka punching it into his own net when trying to pop it over the crossbar didn't remind me of Pickford's blunder because it was exactly the same as one that cost our works team a place in the knock-out rounds at a multinational inter-site competition.
To be fair our goalie wasn't a highly paid professional and was carrying some extra weight but it was another one were it looked more difficult to actually put it under the bar.

Olsen just made a good stop. I think him being a good and capable keeper really pushed Jordan to get better, and mature and grow up a bit.

Wow that picked up. was about to write the Poles off. 2-1

Oldies but goldies, Alan. Didn't Rodney Marsh tell that one as an anecdote of his experience as an England player under Ramsey?

Can someone explain why there's like 10% capacity in the Sweden - Pol game, but all the Sweden supporters are shoulder to shoulder with zero distancing?

I look at the effort and commitment in the Sweden Poland game, maybe not the most skilfull
Then I look at the England poseurs!
Lewandowski v Kane????

A better question. Why was Lewa able to take that and put it away without pressure? 2-2

Lewandowski. Oh how us modern fans sneer at a player who is approaching 30. He's 32. Top drawer.

Two things you wouldn't expect to see: 1) Lewandowski missing a wide-open goal, and 2) Lewandowski left completely alone in front to atone.

Fun game.

Danny #29, yes, and the second-best striker in the world this year is 36. Fella named Cristiano.

Sweden! Done and dusted. First place in group.

Brill. Gamewinner.

Hungary 2, Germany 1. Please God.

Why are you so hungary for that outcome, Jamie?

Starving for my wife.

What an end to that group! Who would have seen Sweden topping that one by 2 points?

Off to watch the Germans.

Think I said elsewhere, I don't know why and have little interest, but whatever happens, I think England's best chance is that Portugal come their way.

If a player looks after themselves and is lucky with injury Mike, age doesn't necessarily need to be a factor. All teams need experience alongside youth and potential.

Kulusevski is a player in our bracket.
Fast, direct 21 years old

Danny #37, good point on luck. It matters. Cristiano is a conditioning demon but has also been fortunate with injuries. Eden Hazard is 8 years younger and close to the end of it because his ankle is starting to look like Marco Van Basten's.

Thomas #38, save your dreaming. He's going nowhere. Juventus will build around him, de Ligt, Chiesa and the Yank McKennie next season.

Kean as bait Mike?

If anyone cares to join, I'll be in the LF for the Hungary game.

I can completely entertain myself in an empty room as well. But company would be welcome.

Jamie #41 " I can completely entertain myself in an empty room as well".

Too much information, Jamie. Too much information.

McKennie did always impress me at Schalke Mike. Nothing special, but energetic, hard working and versatile from what I saw.

Hahaha Brent.

Oh God I didn't even go there.

Jamie, its your gun, you can polish it any time you want.

David, and Jamie don't fire blanks.

KNELL! Magyars have a plan!

Game on in Munich

Robert (15) - It was brought up in here at the time. When talking about our game, mentioning Pienaar, it somehow came out Penis.

France/Portugal is shaping up into a cracking game. France's best tackler is Greizmann.

Danny #43, he has become special. Watching him with Juve and the US over the past year, he is the genuine article.

Renato Sanches looks a player again.

Kieran Kinsella @3 don't share your lottery numbers😂

I wonder if we would ever consider Santos as our manager. He hasn't been a club manager in 11 years, but his Greece and Portugal national teams always play with so much passion and tactical awareness.

Never a pen that for France.

Two dubious pens, two goals.

Nailed on penalty for Portugal.

Never EVER a penalty for France.

Often in life you run into people who adore making decisions.

This Spanish referee is one of them.

Portugal's maybe less dubious.

What's all this yak-yak about Portugal-France. Who cares!

Hungary 1, Germany 0.

Let's go!

Mbappe certainly ran into Semedo Tony!

I like renato sanches, he looks like he's found himself. I missed opportunity.

Lloris' hand and Danilo's head hit the ball virtually simultaneously before Lloris' fist hit Danilo's face. In fact, if the ball doesn't hit Lloris' hand, it goes in the goal.

Jeff - I seem to be with the majority here. The first one was a punch in the head and had to be given. If the second one is the standard for a pen we'd get fifty per side in most Premier league games.

Renato Sanches has come on since his atrocious spell at Swansea. And the three Wolves (past and present) players holding their own too. Would it really be so bad if Jorge Mendes picks our players from now on?

On reflection it's dangerous from Lloris he's just punching anything in his path, unfortunately it's Danilo's head, reckless.

Agreed Tony, France's never a pen.

Football is on the way out if that is a penalty

Jeff, not reckless for me. Watch the replay at 29:13 on the game clock and Lloris' first contact is clearly the ball. The hand and head are both clearly on the ball at the same moment -- before the hand-to-head contact. Iffy pen for me. Not an incorrect call, mind, but certainly not reckless or worthy of a card, regardless of the consequences.

Saw the replays. Neither one a pen for me. No way on either. Lloris hits the ball first and has his eyes on the ball.

The France pen was just a joke. Had to be a "make up" call.

Digne on for France!

Mike, I think Lloris is going for the ball, Danilo gets there first and heads onto Llori's hand, I just think Lloris doesn't care what else he takes out in his quest for the ball, reckless=yellow card, foul, pen for me.

Offside?????

I think Jamie and Mike used to referee Leeds versus Chelsea in the 70s.

Brilliant goal.

Tony, I'm actually a pretty tight ref. And I probably would have called that a pen. But there's no slo-mo replay in my games!

Merde. Digne crocked.

Uh-Ohh... Digne popped his hamstring!

Must be from that extensive training at Everton

Lucas's tourno over ?

Seriously Mike. Have you ever watched any of those x-rated games? It is so far away from what is allowed now.

Tony, very few league games were televised in the US in the 60s and 70s, so I've only seen glimpses in old film.

However I've recently read the reminiscences of players of that era in the Everton books by David Prentice, Brian Viner and James Corbett. And many years ago I read a book that was either about or by Nobby Stiles.

It certainly was a different game.

Is there a golden whistle award for referees in this tournament, based on pens given?

What's the record for most pens in one Euro game? 3 now.

Ronaldo is amazing. 55 in 55 for Portugal since he turned 30.

WOW Munich! Magyars ahead again !

Proper group of death this.

If it stay as it is Germany out and England play Portugal

Whooo-eeee Rui

Has it occurred to anyone else that what happened to Digne kind of summarises what's been happening to Everton recently?

If Hungary holds on, my wife get to watch the game this weekend with her 88 year old, failing father, who moved to America at 4 years old from Hungary.

Please hang on Hungary.

Apparently Hungarian is almost impossible to learn

Even for Hungarians😁

Had a soft spot for the Magyars since standing in the Street End on a pissing wet Friday night in 1966 watching them destroy Brazil.

Rabiot is very unimpressive. £30m and £100k plus wages, you can see why we were linked with him. Looks garbage.

Ian #92, I've been saying that for months, ever since he was rumored for us. I watch every Juve game and never thought he was worth the investment for us.

Some refs just won't give penalties

Hungary leave, heads held very, very high.

They should be proud.

In real time that looked a pen for me.

And some give 3 in a game, should have been 4, that was a foul on Coman there.

Two entertaining 2-2s.

Twouche Mike!

Mike # 96. That looked a clear penalty to me, as Fernandes clearly made contact with the French players calf.

Going on that game tonight Hungary v Germany I don't think England have anything to fear from this German squad, Hungary defended very well but Germany, using many substitutes never altered their tactics and seemed afraid to run with the ball, continually passing backwards, no usual aggressive German play,never seen such a passive German team, I hope they can up their game at Wembley but can't see it from this squad.

Ian, #92 agreed, he's had game time in all 3 I've watched and been very ordinary, hope he was an Ancelloti target and not Brands.

Dave #101, I don't think Germany will be quaking in their boots facing England either, pens maybe?

I think England will beat Germany. Two really poor games by German standards with Hungary and France.

Dave 101 ] I was thinking the same as you, but reminded myself
1] Germany looked pretty good beating Portugal
2] football history tells us never to write off the Germans.
On what I've seen of the games to date I think this tournament is wide open with no clear favourite.

Is Germany England's most hated rival?

Genuine question.

Or Argentina? Scotland?

Who's #1 on the rival list?

It's Liverpool , then Germany ,Jamie.😂

Jamie, England are their own worst enemy at times. Most times.

German mentality is normally what sees them turn us over it rescued them tonight and unless the England side has a character transplant almost certainly they will slap us around again.

Germany all day.
Beat them and should make the final

This American cousin will be 100% behind the English this weekend.

Despite my Irish heritage. ;0)

Mike (105), I never saw the German game v Portugal, I agree, never write a German team off, but this squad Mike, a lot of them don't play like Germans, much more timid than aggressive, we won't have long to wait to see who comes out on top, maybe penalties as someone suggested.

The joint I was in tonight had Portugal v France on so I didn't see Hungary v Germany.

But, as I said prior to the tournament, this German team is very much in transition. An ageing elite with some up and coming players but no glue in the middle if that makes sense.

I think England can beat them.

Perfect time for England to exact revenge for that 1996 defeat when Southgate himself played. Hopefully Jordan won't have to face any pens.

Dave 112,

If it comes to a penalty shoot-out, there are grounds for concern. Germany have been involved in 7. They lost the first vs the Czechs in 1976, but won the other 6.

Who gives a flying f#ck about London FC?
UTFT!

Tony (#89) "Yo Nappot. Kettuh korso kayrem" is all you need to know. That gets you "Hello, two pints please." "Kersunum" is "Thanks",

Don't mention it!

Well put, James, but unoriginal.

This drama about the rainbow pro LGBT armband for Germany v Hungary is kind of crass. Neuer and the rest of these lads had grandfathers who made people wear armbands to denote homosexuality on the way to the gas chamber.

Kieran #120
And some of them may have had a connection to the German Homosexuals who were murdered in gas Chambers.

Keiran 120, I don't get your point? Are you saying that because of the behaviour of a group of people in a country 80 years ago people in that country in 2021 can't learn from it and act differently?

Expecting a bit of a humdinger.

Germany are not the force they where a few years back but can still turn it on when they want (Portugal).

England if they believe, can be good going forward. If they believe.

Should be a good one. Most likely end up being a game of chess decided on penalties!!

Mike (115), yes they are/were good with penalties but I'm presuming they won those shootouts with different players to the present team, in the same way we lost them with different players. Could be a big chance for Jordan Pickford to shine, although it usual is a guessing game for goalkeepers with penalties to face.