German living in Italy, supporting these two, Czech Republic & Croatia for no particular reason, and whoever shows something that I really like. 

Traditionally against Netherlands, England and France, but I like Spain when they're in good form.

I'm just getting bummed out ... I do have a chance to watch some extended highlights if they are posted on the Internet, but many are not, or in one case, it was rudely interrupted by foreign advertising in an arab language (I think it was that!) ... that looked not only rude, but malicious.

I miss the old days, in Brasil, when you could hear all the games on the radio and you could appreciate the artistry of the folks announcing (really miss folks like Vin Scully that could make a movie ... out of the whole thing!) ... which gave the game so much color ... you can't find a radio station doing this on soccer games, because their TV contract won't allow it so they can manipulate the money better. 

In the end, they are hurting the game in the areas further out than the big cities ... in Brasil we were in two small towns, and you knew who all were in the team, and you certainly knew Coutinho, Pele and Pepe! Here in America, it is more ... who gives a fudge since you and I are too stupid to spend a fortune on some of the TV things ... and some of those subscriptions are ridiculous! 

Favorite? None really, although it would be nice to see Cristiano Ronaldo go crazy and score 11 times, and the team make it very far, if not all the way ... but I don't know this will happen ... I think the days of one player going crazy are gone ... I remember a Soccer Cup when one team decided how to stop Pele ... easy ... you kick him in the ankles until he is down, and Brasil did not make it to the semis! The rules have changed since ... a lot ... but the TV controls bother me ... but the TV folks are gonna say that they are paying for that privilege, and paying a lot ... !

Bothers me not who wins or loses ... I would like to see the less industrial controlled countries have a bigger chance than otherwise ... I think I'm tired of the same 4 or 5 teams in the semis and want some fresh name in there.

In the last five tournaments we had Denmark, Wales and Turkey in the semis and Greece winning it. Of course it's hard in Europe to find any country that wouldn't classify as "industrial controlled" in one way or another, but the Euros had their fair share of surprises.

Sorry that you don't have good conditions for watching it. Maybe any VPN is available to you that allows you to connect from all kinds of countries to watch their local TV on the net?

Hi,

I might be confusing this with the World Cup ... and my apologies for that ... yeah, I remember when Greece won, and the first thing I said ... are you sure? 

Lewian wrote: ... Sorry that you don't have good conditions for watching it. Maybe any VPN is available to you that allows you to connect from all kinds of countries to watch their local TV on the net?

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Hi,

Was not aware of that and am looking into it, but do not know where to start at this point ... checking with a close friend programmer first.

Hi,

Considering the stone wall that Czechia erected they really did a number on Portugal, specially when you look at the numbers ... insane, that Portugal could not break through earlier, although I imagine that things were perhaps a bit too telegraphed that the ball was gonna go to just one person. But if he scores once or twice, the game would likely open up a lot.

If Turkey watches the Czechia game with Portugal, they will likely try to do the same thing, which I am of the opinion that you will see something different and likely more fluid, to see if Portugal can score and then they can unleash Ronaldo some more safely. But I'm not sure that Turkey will be easy ... I bet the game ends in a tie with Portugal, which might be the fairest of results. At that point Portugal has to unload on Georgia to make sure they can get on top of the group. 

England and Denmark are tied right now ... I think that is how they will end up and then progress. Harry Kane scored, btw.

He totally lost it for me when he said yesterday that he didn't have a replacement for Kalvin Phillips! 

Hi,

I kinda thought they played to not lose, and both of them should move along to the next level ... they should win their last games.

Hi,

And I bet it is going to cost them dearly! But France needed to sit Mbappe ... and give him a well deserved rest, at least mentally!

England has no excuse, except for this new version of Tan Hag ... just bizarre, the substitutions that Gareth made ... totally off kilter and he should have been fired right there ... I think he went for the surety of NOT LOSING ... with a stronger midfield and backline ... specially as the front line was not doing much and just waiting for the ball, and waiting for one of the forwards to make a mistake for doing something they are not exactly specialized on. 

I don't think that both teams have a chance against stronger competition, instead of the mid table teams they are facing.

Today/Saturday ... 22nd.

Georgia/Czechia ... should be a fun game. Likely the best of the day ... hope that it goes to 4-3, or 3-2 ... so that we can have fun watching it.

Turkey/Portugal ... I still think, for the last time, that if Ronaldo scores a bunch, they have a chance to move forward. The team that played Czechia was probably too skittish about losing "control" ... and with Ronaldo, you can not do "control" much ... this game has a serious 1-1. or 2-2 all over it since both teams will go through and they don't need to get any players hurt or tired.

Belgium/Romania ... who would ever thought that Romania was a game up on Belgium ... it would be interesting if Belgium really puts the foot down and runs with this one ... but I'm not sure that Romania's defense is that bad, and will allow 3 goals, for example. Belgium 2-1 maybe ... but a tie for Belgium would likely spell disaster in the campaign for them!

Group B: Tough... we remember Spain losing against Japan at the WC. I say the Italians will just snatch the one point they need (and then bye bye Croatia), but it may be a tight affair.

Group C: As disappointing as England were up to now, I think they will go through here, joined by Denmark based on performances seen up to now. Serbia may surprise but I give that event 30% max.

Group D: Austria will give the Dutch a good match and win a point, which should seal their place in the round of 16.

Group E: Sorry Ukraine but Belgium is too strong, and the goal difference is already ruined. That means rank 4. Romania and Slovakia may draw and go both through; the Romanians know already that this will be enough for them.

Group F: I believe the Czechs can still make it, sorry for Turkey, who may end up with 3 points in 3rd place and maybe the last team to qualify for the Round of 16. 

Yeah, I got that one wrong (even though I thought Turkey would qualify anyway). I don't think Portugal would've lost had they still needed something from that game though. That's the thing with groups, to some teams there are no incentives anymore in the last game. (Oh, I think you were talking about Portugal-Turkey earlier so forget that remark. )

And how happy are you with Turkey's performance? I thought the Czechs caused Turkey all kinds of trouble with 10 against 11 and the ref didn't exactly help their cause...

Hi,

I'm thinking that Portugal played to make sure no one got hurt or in trouble ... they still got some yellow cards, but with no Fernandes in, probably for a rest, the ball was not being distributed up front.

I'm thinking that Portugal made a serious mistake ... and that they might be hoping that Ronaldo saves them from embarrassment ... but I think that folks are not realizing that he is not playing lower level teams that can't mark a statue ... and here he is getting double teamed and harassed badly. 

But not getting the ball and expecting him to play a #9 and hold the ball? Unless he gets lucky and plunks one or two of those in the net, he would, otherwise, be done. I don't mind him there, but I think that the long line of ships sailing around the world with old captains is long gone, and Ronaldo, my friend, you have had your ... everything ... and not being able to contribute in the last games of his life, should not be something to get upset about.

Archisorcerus wrote: ... Edit: As I interpret the table, we can only confront England or Italy among the "super powerful" teams till the final match, who seem less frightening than the other giants coming from the other side of the chart.

I doubt England will go much further ... their forwards are not getting the ball until too late, and they should not have played Foden in any of the games, since he was (not obvious>?????) not exactly mentally ready. No one is immune to some things in life ... and his not being home with the lady, would be inexcusable, and a waste of a choice for the first 2 games.

Up to now Spain look head and shoulders above anyone else (Germany not yet really tested and I kind of expect that they go out against Spain in the quarters regardless of whether they show rather disappointing or great football until then). But it's football and much can happen. I can imagine Portugal in the semis, too.

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.

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!

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!

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.

Hi,

It's gonna be hard to beat a keeper saving the first 3 penalties on the shootout.

That's INSANE ... and something that we can't even get any idea of in our heads! Gives me that kind of thought, just like Richard Pryor used to joke about ... getting ripped and then on stage ... "my pr___" just got bigger! But saving three in one shootout? 

Where is that insanity pill? AND, we get to see El Turkey again! 

PS: 11:45 AM in the West Coast. Spain just defeated Germany 2-1 with a goal at the end in the 2nd overtime ... another minute and it would have gone to penalties!!!

PS: 5PM in the West Coast. Portugal lost in the penalty phase. El Turkey did score his penalty, but, there were no heroics on the penalties. I think that France was ready to make sure they handled their 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  )

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 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!

Or Fullkrug puts his header in one minute later. Germany is out but I'm fine with their performance. Spain best team up to now and the Germans were just as good in that match.

England are a torture to watch but they are extremely difficult to beat. They may well frustrate the Netherlands as well but there's no stopping France or Spain for them. And France are almost as boring as England. 

Turkey at least gave us some entertainment (as did Switzerland, Netherlands, Austria). But what do you think about Demiral's Grey Wolves (far right nationalist) salute and ban? 

Hi,

France has not played well since Mbappe got hurt, but I think the coach has put together a defensive plan to ensure that the other teams do not score a goal, if at all. The issue with this is that Mbappe is kinda wasted up front, and when he is used, he is almost alone and easier to mark. I think Spain is playing too well to not win this one, probably 1-0, or 2-0.

The England game I don't know that I want to even watch it ... I think that Harry Kane is hurt and is playing because he cares, but if he can no longer run hard and forward, he needs to be removed, although I might like to see him for a half ... because he has a knack for the ball in the end, that is very scary. The defense has been strong, and sadly, it makes for games that are difficult to watch and I hope that UEFA addresses that in the future ... the stonewalling in many the last games of the groups, and then the Quarters, is a sad statement about how the game is getting better. If England scores, I think the Netherlands could be in trouble, but I'm not sure they will be trying to break the stonewall by the English. Likely take their chances on penalties. But a lot depends on the English and if they can score first. I would not pick or bet on this game!

Not going to happen. He will never drop Kane. It took a lot of guts from him to drop Maguire from the squad. 

It's either that or take a risk and go for a system where he gets more support. Kane wants to drop back when he should be trying to hold the ball up. When he played deep for Spurs at least they had Son running past him. Netherlands will not be that commital though although in Van Dyk they have a player who can run the game if he gets too much space to go into midfield. Expect another very cagey game. As a sideline I can't believe that UEFA have put a German referee in charge with a betting scandal behind him. It might end up being absolute chaos!

Hi,

Kane up front playing the hold up is NOT his game, and my guess is that he is getting hit hard by the defense, and it slows him down. But if he is even "trying" to hold up, someone should be running up like Son did with the Spurs ... the folks sitting back and waiting to see what he does is bad ... he will have 2 or 3 defenders on him, and his ankles are going to be hurting by half time! 

Not sure at all if this is the issue or not ... but I don't see Kane as a hold up guy ... a poacher definitely ... but hold up?

There is a precedent for what I said about Harry Kane and his possibly being a hold up man ... by getting hit in his legs and ankles.

This happened many years ago when Czechoslovakia played Brazil and they were afraid that Pele would take over the game. And right away they started hammering him on his legs and ankles, and eventually he had to be subbed off right after the start of the 2nd half because his ankles were all swollen. And this was a World Cup game!

The rules, immediately went after that, however, with almost no TV at the time, only radio, the visual side of it was not very clear, but the majority of that strategy still survived for many years, and ... as another example ... Altidore of the American team, in the Premier League was used to ge a hold up man, and he ended up getting hurt a lot because of it. Nowadays, however, with broadcasters and the VAR calls, folks will get caught playing the kick your leg/ankle  thing, with one exception ... if you hit the ball first, then it is considered a fair challenge, and that might have to be addressed in the future.

But, in my book, any coach setting up a statue for punishment and bird poop, I doubt he/she will be around for long ... he will lose too many players to injury because of it. And you can't win without the players!

This is what made the Spain stuff a few years back so famous ... the passes were made BEFORE the defense was setup and always to the uneven side of the pitch, and this took away the statue of punishment play ... and teams that were physical were the ones that Pep feasted on the most for the longest time, until a coach could figure out how to play Pep's teams ... well, guess what ... he's still ahead of the curve with Manchester City!

I would love to see him do a World Cup team, either Spain, or someone else ... what is weird for me, is seeing coaches that were not good enough for the Premier League coaching teams in the World Cup ... I think that some teams just didn't know what they were doing or gave a darn about a coach ... specially an American!

... Kane up front playing the hold up is NOT his game, and my guess is that he is getting hit hard by the defense, and it slows him down. But if he is even "trying" to hold up, someone should be running up like Son did with the Spurs ... the folks sitting back and waiting to see what he does is bad ... he will have 2 or 3 defenders on him, and his ankles are going to be hurting by half time!  ...

Hi,

This game is sooooo uncertain for me ... I keep thinking 0-0 for 120 minutes and maybe a shootout. Or 1-1 .... I don't think that the Netherlands is going to sit back and wait for England to score ... it's more likely that England will play back and have the Netherlands try their luck, and get caught on a long run, with their defense too far up ... but I'm not sure that England is a good long ball team at all!

 ... but I still do not think it will matter ... this is one game I do not have a feel for at all ....

I see a Spanish victory though...

Hi,

It will be an interesting game for sure, but we know for sure that England can find a score ... and this might be the difference in it all ... 

I have to agree that Spain looks better all around, but some England individual "brilliance" as one broadcaster stated, might be enough to make a difference. But yeah .... I'm sure the oddsmakers will be thinking that Spain has already won this game ... but all of a sudden the English manager does things "right" ... and the team wins!

I remember many tournaments in which the best team won in the final against another team that somehow scraped through and nobody understood how (the Germans got some second places in this way). 

You've got to give to Southgate though that he has proved that it makes some sense what they do... at least that...

By the way the Americans have listened to you Pedro - Berhalter is out.

I watched the highlights, and I thought it was cool. And that Watkins goal was outstanding. The penalty ... the rules need to get cleaned up more, but as stated, that would be a penalty and VAR was right, though many didn't like it, but the players, ALL OF THEM, are aware of the rules and how they can come into force, so a player taking what appeared to be a shot at the player, is going to get a closer look ... I just am not a fan of the game turning over a 50/50 foul ... but too many players on defense and midfield play for that these days.

Can they beat Spain? ... I'll throw the Tarot, then go to the Golden Nothing and check the Oracles, and then send a prayer to the moon, and then ... look at a beer (I can't drink!) ... and then take a gulf of iced tea, or water. Maybe I'll find a result in that ... weirdness!

PS aside: Berhalter needed to go ... and Klinsmann made the point on his comments ... he wanted the team to do more Copa Americas and difficult tournaments, so the players would get "tougher". Berhalter only wanted to play the mid-table level teams, probably because he (obviously) did not think his team had enough of guts and gumption to go learn from the better teams ... I kept saying all these years, do a tour of European teams every year with tough games ... but it never really happened. You can't get better if you do not have a tougher opponent to learn from. I'm only surprised that Uruguay only played for 1-0 ... and I think they were being "NICE" and "GENEROUS" the whole game, knowing damn well they could score whenever they wanted. That all aside, the next coach, is not going to be a great one ... I doubt the USA can get Klopp or Tuchel. And the folks running the game are the problem, and they will end up selecting a home person ... and then say that the luck of the draw for the better managers available was not "there". Both Klopp and Tuchel will want more control than the US soccer turkeys at the top don't want to give up or away. 

I'm sorry for England, but they were second best for most of the match. 

Hi,

This was visible against Spain as well ... I think that the strategy from England was to clutter the middle of the field to prevent passes to an open area ... but Spain used the open spaces really well ... 

What is interesting is that this Spanish team is likely the same one that is going to the WC ... and I would think they are, already, the favorites. Brazil has lost its ability to stay together and organize to make themselves better ... the continuing saga of the fights over the manager, is the most boring movie ever! And then, the media upset that the coach wants to make use of the other 9 players on the pitch, instead of just one!

No wonder they ... stink, these days.

Colombia, will be interesting ... we'll see how they do in the WC trials for South America. I think Argentina is not going to be #2 this time, probably #4 or #5 in the region and still make it wo the WC, but not sure they will go very far without some of the great players they have had. Venezuela, is wanting to make it to the WC for the first time, and they might just squeeze in ... should be an interesting zone to keep track of which will tell us how strong the teams really were at Copa America.

Hi,

There was a cartoon, by an Australian guy that was very with it ... he had several folks talking while laying down on the ground camping. At they all had a blurb on them about their dreams. And all of them, had the usual requests ... except one. On the edge was a very skinny, and likely hungry guy and he goes ... "I dream of chicken".

What you want, what you need, and what you get, are 3 very different things and ideas.

The bigger issue in England, like the one in America, is deciding to turn left, or turn right ... here they know they have to be able to stay with European and South American teams, but they don't want someone from the "outside" and will endup with another MLS retread ... hoping for something that is not there, and it won't be there. Unless you play in Europe, a lot, an American team with Berhalter or a MLS coach is always going to look bad ... I'm not sure that England would ever pick a 2nd level or minor coach for the job, although I think they need something new and something that they don't have and need. We, as a MLS coaching turkey, do not have the tactical acumen to make things better, and we can't improve those on the chalkboard, or our minds ... we have to go there, and learn it step by step ... which the USA is not willing to do, otherwise they would have given Berhalter more games in Europe, which, btw, would likely get him removed sooner than the way it happened. Again, we don't get it!

Guts!

I'm of the opinion that MLS still has about 20 years to get better, however, I'm not sure they understand or give a darn about getting bigger or better with small time stadia. Heck, there are teams in the leagues below the English Championship that have bigger stadia! I kinda think that the league has this idea that the commercial side will gain more traction than the numbers at the door. 

Oh well ... so much wondering and thinking ... I need an aspirin!