This match will be a pain to follow, but I am hopeful that we will play a nice match.
Up to now, Germany didn't have the chance to show much, since they didn't find such strong teams, and the only case when it happened, against Poland, they had a draw in a not so great match.
@Davide You cannot lose as your warriors are ready to die when Italy calls
Ready to die, and ready to... cry. During the after-match interviews, both Barzagli and Buffon (who is usually very balanced in his analyses) almost couldn't speak because of the tears, and also Bonucci's voice was trembling at some point. This really shows how much they put themselves into this Championship, and the reason why people came to love this team match after match.
Portugal - Wales 1-2. The Clash of the Real Madrid stars. Ronaldo picks the shortest straw.
Germany - France 1-1, Germany wins on penalties. Totally unpredictable. France has often struggled against Germany and the Germans traditionally get better as a tournament progresses but now the French are on home ground with the crowd behind them. If Germany can drag it into penalties, I believe Neuer can out-save Lloris.
Portugal 2 Wales 1: I want Wales to win, but unfortunately the Ramsey suspension has ruined the tournament. Wales are great, but without Ramsey I think they will have trouble in the midfield against Portugals holding players. Ronaldo will make his way to the final without beating a really great opponent for the second time this year! Wales could pull it off, and if they do then they should be incredibly proud. Heck, they should already be incredibly proud.
Zee Germans 2 France 1: This is the real final, and a difficult one to predict. Neither team has really impressed this tournament until France's match against Iceland, but even that didn't blow me away. Both teams have another gear or two to go, and the one the reaches it will win. France, surprisingly, leads the all time series versus Zee Germans, but my choice is a simple equation: when in doubt, go with Zee Germans. Whatever happens, I hope Griezmann scores!
and - Iceland is out, but this team procured me more neighbourly joy already as I felt in the Brazil WC altogether!
Tack ska du ha, Island! Ock "Hu ....... hu...... hu.... hu... hu..hu.hu.hu.hu! And thx Polish handballers too...
BE - crushed, but unfortunately not too unsurprised. Why the heck BE Footie Federation did not bother to find alternative to Wilmots, when they had the chance? WC performance all pointed to it... So another painful BE - supporting competition ahead.
During the after-match interviews, both Barzagli and Buffon (who is usually very balanced in his analyses) almost couldn't speak because of the tears, and also Bonucci's voice was trembling at some point. This really shows how much they put themselves into this Championship, and the reason why people came to love this team match after match.
I do love inno di Mameli - not many so cheerfully (d-major) boasting those ready to die. Or defying Vatican so wonderfully casually in telling that goddess Victory has to nod in subservience to Rome, being its slave. (not that I approve slavery, but I like the methaphor)
The best national hymn ever, inno di Mameli! I'd sing it unless I was generally out of tune, but there you have it... Bad singer...
Hope it pleases you to know that Finnish footie press picked on Buffon generously going out to fans, and greeting them, when he must have been superbly disappointed. What a man!
I nonetheless still find that the penalty was sort of foolishly cheap - and there was a lot of time to score a decent goal afterwards to nail it.
During the after-match interviews, both Barzagli and Buffon (who is usually very balanced in his analyses) almost couldn't speak because of the tears, and also Bonucci's voice was trembling at some point. This really shows how much they put themselves into this Championship, and the reason why people came to love this team match after match.
I do love inno di Mameli - not many so cheerfully (d-major) boasting those ready to die. Or defying Vatican so wonderfully casually in telling that goddess Victory has to nod in subservience to Rome, being its slave. (not that I approve slavery, but I like the methaphor)
The best national hymn ever, inno di Mameli! I'd sing it unless I was generally out of tune, but there you have it... Bad singer...
It is nice to know that a foreign person bothered to study (and appreciate) the lyrics of our national anthem, thanks for your words. Also, Mameli was someone who really believed in what he wrote, to the point that he died very young while fighting in one of our independence revolts.
Hope it pleases you to know that Finnish footie press picked on Buffon generously going out to fans, and greeting them, when he must have been superbly disappointed. What a man!
It does.
I nonetheless still find that the penalty was sort of foolishly cheap - and there was a lot of time to score a decent goal afterwards to nail it.
Do you mean the penalty during regular time, caused by Boateng?
Wales have stunned me! That was a result I didn't even dare to dream about! What a finish by Robson-Kanu. This will be the goal of the tournament for me.
Really, this tournament is very hard to predict. Kudos to @FinneousPJ who manages to still get the right predictions (not always but still more frequent than others).
Now I'm blown away by Wales' courage. I will pick them, although Portugal are favourites. I don't understand this team. They somehow have managed to almost reach the final.
But for every Ronald there's Bale. And I believe Bale is better now than Ronnie. He will make it count.
@Davide - I'm sorry for Italy. I will never forget how they killed Spain. I will never forget Conte. As for the Germany match, I think Germany should have won in the main time, but Buffon has managed to save against Gomes somehow. Germany is such a quality side, there's no shame in suffering a defeat against them.
Also, I think Italy has done all it could (except for Zaza...). Germany are tired after this match. Some of their players are unavailable for the 1/2. I think it will have its effects in the France match.
In semi-finals I think we'll see Germany vs France, with France winners this time (yes, France, to avenge for the WC 2014).
And although Germany are really a good team, I think France have got their momentum right now. Scoring 5 goals was exactly what was needed for them. Germany left too much with all those nerves and penalty misses.
If we do this again in a future championships I think you should be awarded 1 point if you pick the right winner, and another point for the correct score after 90 minutes. I think it's a bit weird that you can pick 3 out of 4 winners yet only get 1 point. I'm not bitter over this though, it doesn't matter for this competition.
OK, so next round's predictions:
Portugal - Wales: 2 - 2 - Portugal wins on penalties Germany - France: 2 - 1.. gaah, this is HARD to predict. My gut tells me France will win, but as I've picked Germany as EC winners, I have to keep rooting for them.
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I BELIEVE IN DRAGONS
Next round should be interesting:
Up to now, Germany didn't have the chance to show much, since they didn't find such strong teams, and the only case when it happened, against Poland, they had a draw in a not so great match.
Let's see what we'll be able to do.
Forza Azzurri!!!!
Iceland should be proud. Time for a viking funeral.
But with that said, France showed why they are to be feared. They were so effective and they look hungry for gold.
During the after-match interviews, both Barzagli and Buffon (who is usually very balanced in his analyses) almost couldn't speak because of the tears, and also Bonucci's voice was trembling at some point.
This really shows how much they put themselves into this Championship, and the reason why people came to love this team match after match.
POR 1 - WAL 1 (WAL win on pens)
GER 2 - FRA 2 (GER win on pens)
These are all guesses, I haven't been watching the matches
Portugal - Wales 1-2. The Clash of the Real Madrid stars. Ronaldo picks the shortest straw.
Germany - France 1-1, Germany wins on penalties. Totally unpredictable. France has often struggled against Germany and the Germans traditionally get better as a tournament progresses but now the French are on home ground with the crowd behind them. If Germany can drag it into penalties, I believe Neuer can out-save Lloris.
Zee Germans 2 France 1: This is the real final, and a difficult one to predict. Neither team has really impressed this tournament until France's match against Iceland, but even that didn't blow me away. Both teams have another gear or two to go, and the one the reaches it will win. France, surprisingly, leads the all time series versus Zee Germans, but my choice is a simple equation: when in doubt, go with Zee Germans. Whatever happens, I hope Griezmann scores!
Tack ska du ha, Island!
BE - crushed, but unfortunately not too unsurprised. Why the heck BE Footie Federation did not bother to find alternative to Wilmots, when they had the chance? WC performance all pointed to it... So another painful BE - supporting competition ahead.
Still, Wales - wow, what a game, you deserved it!
Next games:
WAL 3 - PT 1
GER 2 - FR 3
The best national hymn ever, inno di Mameli! I'd sing it unless I was generally out of tune, but there you have it... Bad singer...
Hope it pleases you to know that Finnish footie press picked on Buffon generously going out to fans, and greeting them, when he must have been superbly disappointed. What a man!
I nonetheless still find that the penalty was sort of foolishly cheap - and there was a lot of time to score a decent goal afterwards to nail it.
Iceland did so much more, and this is just ... wow. Them going home will be lovely, deservedly.
And I have been busy. Very, very busy.
I am going to be completely objective and detached from my decision making process of choosing a winner for the Wales v Portugal tomorrow.
Wales gonna win 6-2...
Really, this tournament is very hard to predict. Kudos to @FinneousPJ who manages to still get the right predictions (not always but still more frequent than others).
Now I'm blown away by Wales' courage. I will pick them, although Portugal are favourites. I don't understand this team. They somehow have managed to almost reach the final.
But for every Ronald there's Bale. And I believe Bale is better now than Ronnie. He will make it count.
@Davide - I'm sorry for Italy. I will never forget how they killed Spain. I will never forget Conte. As for the Germany match, I think Germany should have won in the main time, but Buffon has managed to save against Gomes somehow. Germany is such a quality side, there's no shame in suffering a defeat against them.
Also, I think Italy has done all it could (except for Zaza...). Germany are tired after this match. Some of their players are unavailable for the 1/2. I think it will have its effects in the France match.
Before the tournament I said: And although Germany are really a good team, I think France have got their momentum right now. Scoring 5 goals was exactly what was needed for them. Germany left too much with all those nerves and penalty misses.
Portugal vs Wales - 2:3.
Germany vs France - 1:2.
OK, so next round's predictions:
Portugal - Wales: 2 - 2 - Portugal wins on penalties
Germany - France: 2 - 1.. gaah, this is HARD to predict. My gut tells me France will win, but as I've picked Germany as EC winners, I have to keep rooting for them.