2016 UEFA Euro Cup - Quarterfinals
In the qualifying round we picked 14 of 16 correctly. In the round of 16 we picked 6 of 8 correctly. Missed it by that much...
Despite being outplayed, attempts 17-5; corners 6-2; possession 59-41; Portugal miraculously managed to down Croatia (1-0) with a counterattack goal at 117' of the 2nd OT.
Despite being outplayed, attempts 29-21; corners 13-5; possession 55-45; in a 1-1 tie after regulation and OT, Poland managed to make all their penalty kicks (5-4) while one "Swiss Miss" sailed wide right, eliminating Switzerland.
On the other hand... in brief, opportunistic Belgium (4-0) and a dominant German side (3-0) dispatched their much weaker opponents as expected in shutouts.
Despite what many thought, the luck o the Irish ended at 2' when Brady was awarded a dubious charity kick to put Ireland up 1-nil. France completely dominated the remaining 88'; attempts 24-6; corners 9-1; possession 60-40. The host nation managed to become only the 2nd team (Yugoslavia 1960 semi) to comeback from a halftime deficit, to win in regulation (2-1).
As many thought, the luck o the Northern Irish ended at 75' with an own goal as the feisty Welsh pressed forward with a 1-nil victory.
"not so much of a stretch... Italy over Spain. Having lost the chance at a clear path to the title game by finishing 2nd, back to back defending champion Spain shall not reach a third consecutive title game."
Many commented that Italy over Spain was a bold pick, again, not so much. The Italians avenged their 4-0 2012 Euro Final drubbing with a 2-0 win eliminating the back to back defending champion Spaniards. After going up 1-nil at 33' the Azzurri laid back in typical catenaccio style. Were it not for the miracles of Spain's backstop DeGea, this game could easily have been 4-0 or worse.
"Yes, we are going out on a glacial ledge with Iceland to shock England."
Oddly, nobody commented on that bold prediction. Several upsets come to mind, World Cup: USA (1-0) - England and Uruguay (2-1) - Brazil 50; W Germany (3-2) - Hungary 54; N. Korea (1-0) - Italy 66; E. Germany (1-0) - W. Germany 74; Algeria (2-1) - W. Germany 82; Cameroon (1-0) - Argentina 90; Bulgaria (2-1) - W. Germany 94; S. Korea (2-1) - Italy and S. Korea (PK) - Spain 02; Senegal (1-0) - France 02; UEFA Euro: Albania (0-0) - W. Germany 67; Denmark winning Euro 92 Euro without qualifying; Greece winning Euro 04.
After Rooney's PK at 4', it was all downhill as a restless Iceland (2-1) dispatched a clueless, shiftless and listless English side. Can't say we did not smell that one coming an island or two away. Enough of the self aggrandizing puns, on to the quarterfinals.
Quarterfinals
After a 1-0 loss to Albania, Portugal ran off 7 straight pre qual wins vs weak opposition, followed by 3 draws in qualifying vs Iceland, Austria and Hungary and crawled past a stiff Croatian side. In UEFA-FIFA tournament matches these teams are 3 wins, 3 losses, 2 draws. On stats, Portugal seem the better side. To arrive at this juncture, Poland are 1-1-1 vs Germany and in knockout PK'ed past Switzerland. In the case of this #2 vs the only#3 seed, what have you done for me lately, could be everything.
In pre qual, Belgium and Wales feasted on weaker opposition. In UEFA-FIFA tournament matches Wales are 3-4-3 vs Belgium. On stats, Belgium with FIFA #2 world ranking seem the better side. Coming from the weak Group B with a 2-1 last minute loss to England, in pre-qual Wales drew (0-0) and beat Belgium (1-0). Will the Belgians or Welsh forget? In the case of this #1 vs #2 seed, what have you done against me lately, could be everything.
In pre qual vs World Champion Germany: split with Poland, Scotland managed a 2-3 scare, while Ireland drew (1-1) and beat them (1-0). In qualifying, the Germans have pitched four shutouts, winning three, drawing with Poland. On stats, Germany would seem the better side. In pre qual Italy drew with Croatia (twice) and Bulgaria, running up a 7-0-3 record. In qualifying, no one has scored vs the Italian starting defense. In UEFA-FIFA tournament matches, Germany are 0-5-5 vs Italy. When will be the first time? The question may not be, who wins? But will anybody score a regular goal? In the case of this #1 vs #1 heavy weight bout, styles and match ups are everything. IMHO, regardless of other outcomes, the winner of this game should win the Cup.
Host nation France did not have to pre qualify for the tournament. In qualifying France drew 0-0 with their only real competition Switzerland. Having not met in a UEFA-FIFA tournament match since 99, France are 7-0-3 vs Iceland. On stats, France would seem the better side in addition to playing host where they have won Euro 84 and WC 98. In pre qual Iceland won vs Czech Rep, Turkey and TWICE vs Netherlands. In qualifying these plucky Bjork fans drew Portugal and Hungary, while beating Austria and England. In the case of this #1 vs #2 seed, home field should be everything.
Below our projected winners in bold with odds payout in parentheses for: match result at the end of REGULATION; and odds to win the tournament.
2C - Poland (4) (19)
DRAW (3)
3F - Portugal (2.25) (8)
1B - Wales (6) (26)
DRAW (3.6)
2E - Belgium (1.72) (5)
1C - Germany (2.25) (3.75)
DRAW (3)
1E - Italy (4) (7)
1A - France (1.4) (3.75)
DRAW (4.75)
2F - Iceland (10) (41)
So far 20 of 24 correct for 83.3% accuracy. Overall, these quarterfinal matches should be much closer than they would seem or the mainstream MSM pundits would think, and the potential for OT and PK exists in each one. Although Poland, Wales and Iceland are all very tempting, we must side with historical precedence. Once again, we boldly go where no one has gone before, Italy "upsetting" the defending World Champion. TBD and more to come.
Despite being outplayed, attempts 17-5; corners 6-2; possession 59-41; Portugal miraculously managed to down Croatia (1-0) with a counterattack goal at 117' of the 2nd OT.
Despite being outplayed, attempts 29-21; corners 13-5; possession 55-45; in a 1-1 tie after regulation and OT, Poland managed to make all their penalty kicks (5-4) while one "Swiss Miss" sailed wide right, eliminating Switzerland.
On the other hand... in brief, opportunistic Belgium (4-0) and a dominant German side (3-0) dispatched their much weaker opponents as expected in shutouts.
Despite what many thought, the luck o the Irish ended at 2' when Brady was awarded a dubious charity kick to put Ireland up 1-nil. France completely dominated the remaining 88'; attempts 24-6; corners 9-1; possession 60-40. The host nation managed to become only the 2nd team (Yugoslavia 1960 semi) to comeback from a halftime deficit, to win in regulation (2-1).
As many thought, the luck o the Northern Irish ended at 75' with an own goal as the feisty Welsh pressed forward with a 1-nil victory.
"not so much of a stretch... Italy over Spain. Having lost the chance at a clear path to the title game by finishing 2nd, back to back defending champion Spain shall not reach a third consecutive title game."
Many commented that Italy over Spain was a bold pick, again, not so much. The Italians avenged their 4-0 2012 Euro Final drubbing with a 2-0 win eliminating the back to back defending champion Spaniards. After going up 1-nil at 33' the Azzurri laid back in typical catenaccio style. Were it not for the miracles of Spain's backstop DeGea, this game could easily have been 4-0 or worse.
"Yes, we are going out on a glacial ledge with Iceland to shock England."
Oddly, nobody commented on that bold prediction. Several upsets come to mind, World Cup: USA (1-0) - England and Uruguay (2-1) - Brazil 50; W Germany (3-2) - Hungary 54; N. Korea (1-0) - Italy 66; E. Germany (1-0) - W. Germany 74; Algeria (2-1) - W. Germany 82; Cameroon (1-0) - Argentina 90; Bulgaria (2-1) - W. Germany 94; S. Korea (2-1) - Italy and S. Korea (PK) - Spain 02; Senegal (1-0) - France 02; UEFA Euro: Albania (0-0) - W. Germany 67; Denmark winning Euro 92 Euro without qualifying; Greece winning Euro 04.
After Rooney's PK at 4', it was all downhill as a restless Iceland (2-1) dispatched a clueless, shiftless and listless English side. Can't say we did not smell that one coming an island or two away. Enough of the self aggrandizing puns, on to the quarterfinals.
Quarterfinals
After a 1-0 loss to Albania, Portugal ran off 7 straight pre qual wins vs weak opposition, followed by 3 draws in qualifying vs Iceland, Austria and Hungary and crawled past a stiff Croatian side. In UEFA-FIFA tournament matches these teams are 3 wins, 3 losses, 2 draws. On stats, Portugal seem the better side. To arrive at this juncture, Poland are 1-1-1 vs Germany and in knockout PK'ed past Switzerland. In the case of this #2 vs the only#3 seed, what have you done for me lately, could be everything.
In pre qual, Belgium and Wales feasted on weaker opposition. In UEFA-FIFA tournament matches Wales are 3-4-3 vs Belgium. On stats, Belgium with FIFA #2 world ranking seem the better side. Coming from the weak Group B with a 2-1 last minute loss to England, in pre-qual Wales drew (0-0) and beat Belgium (1-0). Will the Belgians or Welsh forget? In the case of this #1 vs #2 seed, what have you done against me lately, could be everything.
In pre qual vs World Champion Germany: split with Poland, Scotland managed a 2-3 scare, while Ireland drew (1-1) and beat them (1-0). In qualifying, the Germans have pitched four shutouts, winning three, drawing with Poland. On stats, Germany would seem the better side. In pre qual Italy drew with Croatia (twice) and Bulgaria, running up a 7-0-3 record. In qualifying, no one has scored vs the Italian starting defense. In UEFA-FIFA tournament matches, Germany are 0-5-5 vs Italy. When will be the first time? The question may not be, who wins? But will anybody score a regular goal? In the case of this #1 vs #1 heavy weight bout, styles and match ups are everything. IMHO, regardless of other outcomes, the winner of this game should win the Cup.
Host nation France did not have to pre qualify for the tournament. In qualifying France drew 0-0 with their only real competition Switzerland. Having not met in a UEFA-FIFA tournament match since 99, France are 7-0-3 vs Iceland. On stats, France would seem the better side in addition to playing host where they have won Euro 84 and WC 98. In pre qual Iceland won vs Czech Rep, Turkey and TWICE vs Netherlands. In qualifying these plucky Bjork fans drew Portugal and Hungary, while beating Austria and England. In the case of this #1 vs #2 seed, home field should be everything.
Below our projected winners in bold with odds payout in parentheses for: match result at the end of REGULATION; and odds to win the tournament.
2C - Poland (4) (19)
DRAW (3)
3F - Portugal (2.25) (8)
1B - Wales (6) (26)
DRAW (3.6)
2E - Belgium (1.72) (5)
1C - Germany (2.25) (3.75)
DRAW (3)
1E - Italy (4) (7)
1A - France (1.4) (3.75)
DRAW (4.75)
2F - Iceland (10) (41)
So far 20 of 24 correct for 83.3% accuracy. Overall, these quarterfinal matches should be much closer than they would seem or the mainstream MSM pundits would think, and the potential for OT and PK exists in each one. Although Poland, Wales and Iceland are all very tempting, we must side with historical precedence. Once again, we boldly go where no one has gone before, Italy "upsetting" the defending World Champion. TBD and more to come.
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