UEFA EURO 2024

I'm having a fit ... and withdrawal!!!!!

No games on today! ... well, at least I don't get to watch more penalty shootouts ... those were really getting pathetic. And worse, teams playing for it by camping a wall so no one could score unless they were 5 miles out, without music!

Hi,

As of this minute 11:17AM PST ... they are tied halfway through the 2nd Half Extra Time. Harry Kane is probably out of legs ... just got replaced by Ivan Toney. Wow ... a substitution that is not a defensive move? Or just fresh legs for the shootout? A minute later Phil Foden must have been out of breath as well. Trent Alexander-Arnold ... probably more fresh legs!

Couple of minutes later ... penalties time!!! 

Weird that some folks are confident with the penalty shootouts ... so many teams end up in them! There has to be a better way that something that makes the game show some of the bad misses players make, or the great saves. Weird that the Portuguese keeper got 3 of them in one day, and none the next game when they needed one stop! I'm guessing that the French made sure they did not fool around and try cute stuff in the penalties!

I'm missing the game tonight because I have a ticket to watch a string quartet play the songs of Muse. Not even making that up lol. It will be torture for sure (England not the string quartet  )

Here we go ... chew your gums time!

Spain/Germany -- Hard to deal with a lot of broadcasters suggesting that Spain's defense is primo and will likely close the game out and win the whole thing. I think that Germany is the perfect "troublemaker" to shake up Spain ... and I would not be surprised if the game ends up in penalties ... that would be a huge ouch and just a crap shoot. Let's throw the coins and see where they land?

Portugal/France -- Too much is being said about el turkey, but in the end, he is performing a function that we don't quite see ... he takes folks away from their job, and opens things up for his teammates. The scary part is if he, all of a sudden, hits the jackpot twice ... and at that point, I am not sure France can handle it well ... but a mad France is a tougher opponent. I do not want to see this game in the penalty shoot out ... that just seems so unlike what the soccer game was designed and made for. El turkey aside, France should win ... but again, if El turkey gets away and all of a sudden hits the jackpot, I think the game will be over at that point.

England/Switzerland --- England will be favored despite it not having done a lot in this tournament. Whoever gets to 3 scores first should win this game, and I don't think that Switzerland is just a stooge in England's way ...

Netherlands/Turkey --- It is likely that the winner of this game will be the dark horse in this tournament. Turkey has surprised folks before and likely can do it again ... they seem to enjoy not being picked to even do the gardening at the venue! Shame ... I think they will likely be far better than just another team in the pool. I think they can steal this game.

All the quarterfinals are very interesting. Will Switzerland and England play as they did before so that Switzerland can win easily - or will England grow with the challenge? In Italy people are devastated for the treatment Italy got from Switzerland. 

I think people (not here but where I read elsewhere) are too negative about France and Portugal. This can be a cracking game. And of course the best team up to now, Spain, against (my) home team Germany. I don't have much hope there but of course anything can happen!

Romania - Netherlands

Tough one ... if this were the group stage I would say a tie, but in this one someone has to finish things up! I imagine Netherlands has the edge, by ... I have no idea, and really can not think what this game will be like.

Austria - Turkey

Hard to think that Turkey can beat Austria, but Turkey has been up there before and certainly can do so again. I imagine that Austria  is not going to be a pleasant dance partner here.

And the USA failure cup ... coaching afraid of taking on bigger teams will always suffer, and this has been the coach's stand, on only playing mid-level teams, so the team does not get to feel beaten and poor. Until this changes, and Kinsman was right on this part, I don't think the USA can beat a lot of folks and will continue being nothing but a mid-level who cares team. And having coaching that has no idea how to use their players is even worse. Like all they can do in their teams is not necessary or worth while in the National Team ... bring out the trash cans! Bring out the brooms! Bring out the bats. The USA will never get better until they change their small town attitude, and think their middle name is "David".

Good thing the USA does not have to qualify in the Concacaf this time ... because they would take a lot more beating than they think ... the USA still thinks many of the Concacaf teams are just USL teams ... and Panama just told you ... and lifted a finger with it!

True, however there are some very funny videos on Twitter of England "fans" who had left the ground when we were 1-0 down and were desperately trying to get back into the ground when Bellingham scored.