MATCHDAY TODAY!
UEFA EURO KNOCKOUT STAGE.
⚽️ Belgium vs Portugal
?️ Estadio La Cartuja
? #Euro2020 pic.twitter.com/h3WpUxUsKh— TCR. (@TeamCRonaldo) June 27, 2021
From what I can see, both very strong teams — so I guess this should be an exciting match?
Yesterday:
Denmark advanced to the quarterfinals at Euro 2020 by beating Wales 4-0, getting two goals from Kasper Dolberg.
More from @mikecorder >> https://t.co/5gbyloL5eu#EURO2020 #DEN #WAL pic.twitter.com/QZgy4lmNjo
— AP Sports (@AP_Sports) June 26, 2021
Analysis: Super subs to the rescue as Italy draw strength from the collective https://t.co/UwyY6Cwce0 pic.twitter.com/aRePdtAVq8
— Reuters (@Reuters) June 27, 2021
WaterGirl
New soccer thread is open for business.
Tony Jay
Tricky one this. Belgium have the better team with more outstanding players, but they also have it in them to completely flub their lines. Portugal have a lot of good players, a contender for GOAT leading them, and a talent for grinding out wins (see, 2016 Euros) but against really top teams on top form they can look out of ideas.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Cristiano’s boys edge this
ETA – Of course, with Jota in a Portugese shirt I have to back them.
eclare
I have a hard time cheering for either team. Guess I will follow a friend’s advice, cheer for the hotter guys.
Tony Jay
The Belgians seem content to let the Portuguese have the ball and try to break when they can, or else the Portuguese just won’t let them have the ball.
Either way, hardly a sniff from Belgium’s attacking players.
Leto
@Tony Jay: maybe the Belgians are taking a page from Ali and playing rope-a-dope with the Portuguese? If they don’t change something, they’re going to join their Orange neighbors
Edit: as I type that, Belgium counters and Lukaku basically gave a piggy back ride to the defender for about 10 yards. Time for the ref to get new contacts.
billcinsd
@Tony Jay: and when they do get a sniff, they get pulled back without a whitle
Omnes Omnibus
Go Sprouts!
billcinsd
The lesser Hazard with a laser bean
Leto
What a strike!
Tony Jay
@Leto:
The dope has been roped. What a strike from Other Hazard.
Belgium 1 – 0 Portugal
Tony Jay
@billcinsd:
Portugal? Being a bit sneaky with the fouls? Really? 8-)
Amir Khalid
The BBC’s liveblog:
Well, I was amused.
Leto
US commentators calling Thor Hazard “Hazard Junior”, here we have “lesser” and “Other”… I’m waiting for “Hazard Lite” to emerge. Or just something really catchy as we seem to be still searching for the right moniker. :P
Omnes Omnibus
@Leto: Minor Hazard.
LeftCoastYankee
The US studio commentators keep repeating this weird meme that this is Belgium’s last chance to win a trophy with this group.
I’m guessing another network is broadcasting next year’s World Cup?
Looking forward to a fun second half.
LeftCoastYankee
@Omnes Omnibus:
I’m sure Real Madrid would be OK with calling Eden “Major Hazard”, at least financially speaking.
HumboldtBlue
I’m waiting to see if the Phils blow yet another save and yet another four-run lead.
Olive and Mabel in the wild.
The first half of that Euro match was drudgery.
Another Scott
In other sportsball news, the Red Sox are continuing to beat up on the Yankees. 8:2 at the moment. Bottom of the 8th.
Good, good.
Cheers,
Scott.
Leto
@LeftCoastYankee: this group of players was thought of as a golden generation that was capable of winning multiple titles (European Championships/World Cups). In reality they didn’t live up to those lofty expectations. For most of the players, this is the last chance to win a European title as most of them probably won’t be on the team in 4 years.
Amir Khalid
@Leto:
As Omnes says, it should be Hazard minor, since Thorgan is the younger brother of Eden Hazard. It’s an understandable error for an American, since this English public-school usage is not a thing in the US. But if you do want to use it, no matter where you are you need to get it right.
laura
@HumboldtBlue: let’s go Giants!⚾️ Battle of the Bay on a glorious day in the most beautiful ballpark in all of major league. I hope it’s as spirited as last night’s game.
Omnes Omnibus
@Amir Khalid: I led with the modifier because the pun works better.
billcinsd
@LeftCoastYankee: Well their defense (Alderweireld, Vermaelen and Vertonghen) is to the age at which players often fall off the cliff physically and the younger ones (Boyata, Denayer) have not really developed into the same level of player. If one of the better defenders does a full Hummels they likely would struggle.
HumboldtBlue
Here’s a gender reveal done right.
eclare
@HumboldtBlue: Precious!
cope
@Leto: Maybe Hazard 2.0?
LeftCoastYankee
@Leto:
That makes sense as far as considering the European championship. And the WC is actually is more like 18 months away than “next year” as I said. Still, I’d expect (hope?) that to be more of a “last hurrah” for this group.
Mo Salad
I want Eden Hazard to have some kind of Ryan Giggs type scandal so that we can refer to Thor as Moral Hazard.
LeftCoastYankee
@billcinsd:
As a Spurs fan, I’m all to familiar with the fading of Alderweireld and Vertonghen. (sigh…)
LeftCoastYankee
@HumboldtBlue:
That was funny. They put some effort into that.
Tony Jay
@Mo Salad:
Well, considering the nature of the scandal Ryan Giggs was best known for before this latest scandal, I’d guess that Thor would definitely rather give this whole idea a miss. 8-)
Mo Salad
@Tony Jay: I realized that after I posted it. I would suspect that if there were a third non-footballer Hazard, that they would be the one in jeopardy.
Mo Salad
Handbags!
HumboldtBlue
@LeftCoastYankee:
Yeah they did, and no explosives.
Tony Jay
Ah, Pepe. The dictionary definition of ‘Shithousery’ has a big old picture of your boggle-eyed grid splashed across the page.
And nice to see Bruno Fernandes proving once again why scientists at the CERN facility so value his ankles as the only instrument in the universe sensitive enough to register the presence of quantum tackles.
Jota has gone off, I can say all this now.
Mo Salad
The ref has lost control of this one. If Belgium get a second, it is going to get ugly.
HumboldtBlue
@Tony Jay:
He’s so fucking annoying, the little cheat.
Tony Jay
@Mo Salad:
Somewhere in Belgium the hairs on the back of Cuck Hazard’s neck start to tingle.
Tony Jay
This has turned into the kind of game you want extra time in. Tempers flaring, feet flying, Pepe’s face such an inviting target.
Oh yeah, the winner here gets Italy. That’ll be a game!
Tony Jay
@HumboldtBlue:
He is. Such a good match for United.
And he’s been a bag of shite in this game.
hueyplong
@laura: You are my favorite BJ poster forever. Go Giants, but doubt they’ll win today.
HumboldtBlue
@Tony Jay:
Works for me, I’m tired of Ronaldo and his brilliance.
Tony Jay
And that will be that. Bye bye Portugal.
Italy v Belgium Quarter Final. Yum.
Leto
Belgium had so many chances to score a second, but quoting Kirk here (from ST: Wrath of Khan): “but like a poor marksman you keep missing the target.”. Oh well, Belgium v Italy next Friday.
HumboldtBlue
Here’s Rio Ferdinand talking about the best players he’s faced.
And he’s correct about that 2009-2010-2011 Barca team, unplayable.
And the Phils, who had blown saves in four straight games, managed to hold on for a win.
Tony Jay
@HumboldtBlue:
Aye. Thing about Ronaldo, though. Sooooo much about him does my head in, but I have to give him this: he’s been Messi’s only genuine challenger in the World’s Greatest Player stakes for the best part of a decade because, skill aside, he’s worked at it harder than anyone else. Guy’s a relentless machine.
raven
COPA up!
HumboldtBlue
@Tony Jay:
Nothing but respect for Ronaldo, just tired of him.
JML
@Mo Salad: agree that the ref lost control of this one, and there were some bad moment in the close.
Also, that field looked like trash, especially in the second half. Trying recall the last major tournament where you had something like that. Rough look.
Happy for Belgium, I’m sick of Christiano Reynaldo and his whiny smug face. Helathy, Belgium v Italy is a cracking matchup. Hope Belgium can get right in time!
LeftCoastYankee
@laura:
I actually caught that game last night, great game. The crowd was sprinkled with A’s and Giants fans sitting together, and everyone seemed so freaking giddy to be there together watching good ball.
And I was extremely jealous of the weather there….
Morzer
Looks like Italy are going to get lucky in the quarters. Belgium were quite unconvincing and have probably lost their best player. Glad Portugal lost.
billcinsd
Well, Budapest has had many games despite the UEFA investigation. Almost like they value money more than anything else
burnspbesq
@Tony Jay:
Both Messi and Ronaldo are past their sell-by dates.
There are cases to be made for DeBruyne and Neuer, but for my money right now N’Golo Kante is the best player in the world.
Cheryl from Maryland
@Leto: I was watching the Men’s World Cup game of US vs Belgium in a rowdy bar in Queens. When Belgium won, a guy yelled “Fuck Waffles” and ran out.
HumboldtBlue
@burnspbesq:
He’s not even the best player on that French team.
He’s the best at what he does, however.
Club or country.