Portugal effectively destroyed every team I supported on this tournament. Croatia, Poland and now Wales. I can see their strength, but I don't like their style. Now I support France, and if it goes into a final, I'm scary for them. Ron against Antoine. Again.
Do you mean the penalty during regular time, caused by Boateng?
Boateng indeed! I would have hated Germany to go out like that even if I also really hate penalty shootouts, and felt so crushed for Italy! Italy team-play and tactical grasp impressed me throughout.
And what the heck - again!???? What's this with Germany and flailing arms around in penalty box??
Even if I am for France, as such - they are frankly lucky indeed to be leading!
Edit: realised I was not actually explicit which I meant, silly me!! So yes, ref Boateng.
And sorry, Davide for the disappointment, but thx for being such good sport and the amusing memes! And hear Iceland support shout legacy carries on in FR-DE game, even after they received their heroes' welcome home!
Now that we have the opposite of the final I predicted, let me predict what will probably be the opposite of the real result.
France-Portugal 3-2. In a repetition of the 1984 semifinal, Portugal gets a late equalizer and then takes the lead in extra time before Michel Platini Antoine Griezmann completes his hattrick and turns the match around. That way Griezmann will also equal Platini's record nine goals in one tournament. (Of course Platini did it in only five matches. )
As for my prediction for the final, I think France will win. This is their stadium, they defeated probably the strongest team on the tournament, they're very inspired. The score is hard to predict. I remember France beating Brazil 3:0, I remember Spain beating Italy 4:0. But this Portugal team just refuses to lose.
It's worth to note that both teams still didn't lose a match on the tournament. Not even once. So it may very much go into the extra time. I'd go with 2:1, with "the golden goal" by Greizmann.
Do you mean the penalty during regular time, caused by Boateng?
Boateng indeed! I would have hated Germany to go out like that even if I also really hate penalty shootouts, and felt so crushed for Italy! Italy team-play and tactical grasp impressed me throughout.
And what the heck - again!???? What's this with Germany and flailing arms around in penalty box??
Even if I am for France, as such - they are frankly lucky indeed to be leading!
Edit: realised I was not actually explicit which I meant, silly me!! So yes, ref Boateng.
And sorry, Davide for the disappointment, but thx for being such good sport and the amusing memes! And hear Iceland support shout legacy carries on in FR-DE game, even after they received their heroes' welcome home!
No problem, in regular time Germany had some chances more than us, and our penalty came from a silly move. Which amused me quite much, both because of its clumsiness and because the German newspapers were claiming before the match that Hummels-Boateng was the best couple of defenders. Maybe it would be so, if Bonucci/Carzagli/Chiellini didn't exist.
Anwyay, I was quite happy already before the penalties, because we can still say that they never beat us.
@Davide I'm glad to hear! To me, it's been an overall pleasure that these enlarged Euros have been such a good success - so many teams have been utterly likeable, and going further than predicted!
As to Italy, I was in fact a little surprised that the team was not bit more aggressive in seeking resolution in the regulation or over-time. Germany was more attacking until the end.
The reason being, maybe it is a myth, but my impression from what I've seen is that Germany tends to be very strong in penalty shootouts. But at least Zaza and Pellè produced a few delightful internet jokes! (Not fan of the latter, sorry)
To me, like Pogba was in Brazil, the Portuguese boy Sanches was the revelation of this competition. As much as I like Pogba, I would have liked to see a bit greater evolution with him two years passed, but probably the pressures are also really terrible towards him.
Comments
Wales vs Portugal: 2:1
Germany vs France: 1:2
Zaza:
Before sending the ball on the side, Pellè mimicked a lob to Neuer, probably to try and distract him.
However, the truth is that he was explaining to Neuer the secret of Apulian "frisa".
Translation: "on frisa you need a pinch of salt".
POR 2 WAL 1
France 4 - 1 Germany
GER 1 FRA 3
But for now. Viva les bleus!
And what the heck - again!???? What's this with Germany and flailing arms around in penalty box??
Even if I am for France, as such - they are frankly lucky indeed to be leading!
Edit: realised I was not actually explicit which I meant, silly me!! So yes, ref Boateng.
And sorry, Davide for the disappointment, but thx for being such good sport and the amusing memes! And hear Iceland support shout legacy carries on in FR-DE game, even after they received their heroes' welcome home!
the 6th goal!
Or to reverse it: Germany just could not convert their possession and momentum into goals. Good for home fans, for sure!
However... I wish France had advanced to the final on game-play that elates the heart. I did not think this was such game.
my points...
France-Portugal 3-2. In a repetition of the 1984 semifinal, Portugal gets a late equalizer and then takes the lead in extra time before
Michel PlatiniAntoine Griezmann completes his hattrick and turns the match around. That way Griezmann will also equal Platini's record nine goals in one tournament. (Of course Platini did it in only five matches.@FinneousPJ is unreachable already, so congrats to a worthy winner! I find your prediction accuracy to be amazing!
Meanwhile, this is the overall score with points for guessing advancing teams from the groups:
FinneousPJ 38+48=86 points
me 33+44=77 points
Skatan 32+36=68 points
Montresor_SP 28+40=68 points
Cahir 29+36=65 points
booinyoureyes 19+44=63 points
Anduin 14+40=54 points
Doubledimas 40 points
sparkleav 6+20=26 points
Tstael 15 points
Argas 8 points
Pecca 0 points
TheElf 0 points
It's already clear noone will get the bonus for predicting both 1 and 2 places, but there're still points to get.
Guessing the champion could give 20 points, and France was chosen as the champion by @booinyoureyes @Cahir @mattman and me.
Guessing the vice-champion could give 15 points, and France was chosen as the runners-up by @Anduin @Doubledimas @FinneousPJ and @Skatan.
As for my prediction for the final, I think France will win. This is their stadium, they defeated probably the strongest team on the tournament, they're very inspired. The score is hard to predict. I remember France beating Brazil 3:0, I remember Spain beating Italy 4:0. But this Portugal team just refuses to lose.
It's worth to note that both teams still didn't lose a match on the tournament. Not even once. So it may very much go into the extra time. I'd go with 2:1, with "the golden goal" by Greizmann.
If France wins you will win overall. So I have to support POR on Sunday.
Anwyay, I was quite happy already before the penalties, because we can still say that they never beat us.
My predictions have been terrible, but hopefully I'll get Griezmann as top scorer and France as champions correct!
France 4 - Portugal 2
I always seem too optimistic about scoring, but I hope we'll see goal-rich game either way!
As to Italy, I was in fact a little surprised that the team was not bit more aggressive in seeking resolution in the regulation or over-time. Germany was more attacking until the end.
The reason being, maybe it is a myth, but my impression from what I've seen is that Germany tends to be very strong in penalty shootouts. But at least Zaza and Pellè produced a few delightful internet jokes! (Not fan of the latter, sorry)
To me, like Pogba was in Brazil, the Portuguese boy Sanches was the revelation of this competition. As much as I like Pogba, I would have liked to see a bit greater evolution with him two years passed, but probably the pressures are also really terrible towards him.
Roll on the summer hols please... Too much work report writing and marking test papers...
I'm going...
Portugal 1- 0 France
This Portugal side has been blessed by the devil... They souls are forfeit, but they will not lose...
Listen to Eric Cantona. The best words about Portugal and Bastian