Euro 2020(1)

[Adam]

I'm going to have to try and ignore all the fans in the build up to this game I think.

[Baddar]

Just watched a clip from the game last night.

A bloke pointed out that Benzema scored with 46mins 44secs on the clock in the first half, and did exactly the same with that on the clock in the 2nd half. 

 

[Baddar]

10 hours ago, damshow said:

Belgium have an absolute murderer's row from here on out. Goodness.

Whichever country gets through to the final from that side of the draw could be absolutely spent by then.

[Lineker]

 

[Colly]

 

[Lineker]

Quote

Georginio Wijnaldum will wear a captain’s armband bearing the words “One Love” and a rainbow motif for the Netherlands’ last-16 Euro 2020 tie against the Czech Republic in Budapest on Sunday, and has said the team could walk off if abused as Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappé allegedly were in group games at Puskas Arena.

The armband stands for diversity. Wijnaldum said it was partly directed at Hungary’s passing of a law that forbids gay people from featuring in educational materials in schools or TV shows for those under 18.

“It is not not just against Hungary,” he said. “The armband means a lot because we stand for diversity – one love means everybody is a part of it and everybody should be free to be who they are.”

On Wednesday Uefa ruled that Munich could not light up the city’s Allianz Arena in rainbow colours to support LGBTQ+ rights for the evening’s match between Germany and Hungary because it contravened the governing body’s rules regarding political and religious neutrality.

“In our opinion [the right to be yourself] has been encroached upon,” Wijnaldum said. “As players we have a podium to do whatever we can to help.”

Uefa is investigating alleged racial abuse of Mbappé and homosexual slurs aimed at Ronaldo during France’s and Portugal’s group matches against Hungary. Wijnaldum stated he could take the Netherlands side off if similar occurred on Sunday but called for Uefa to take any decision needed.

“Uefa should be there to protect the players and make the decision,” he said. “It should not be left to the players. Players often get punished for protecting themselves so Uefa needs to take a lead role in this.

“I have said I don’t really know how I will react in such a situation. I thought first that I would walk off the pitch but maybe not now because maybe the opponent will think: ‘Let them [in the crowd] throw racist slurs and they will walk off the pitch.’ It could be the case that I will walk off the pitch but I will speak with the players about it first.”

 

[Adam]

Gini Wijnaldum is already in the running for Player of the Tournament to me, and this certainly helps my opinion of him!

I wish Hungary was not hosting the competition, the continent-wide aspect has been quite cool so far despite the obvious difficulties around Covid, and this stuff with Budapest really brings that down.

[Lineker]

 

[Chris2K]

Steve Wilson with the brutal, and accurate, Swindon burn.

[Baddar]

One thing I'd like cleared up by @DanishmadePunk...

Every commentator, co-commentator and pundit here pronounce Christensen as "Christian-sen" even though it's not evident it should be said that way, and it bugs me. Are they right?

[Lineker]

1-0 Denmark.

[Kyle]

That's a nice strike.

[Szumi]

Dolberg curled that so, so well. 

[Benjamin]

What a beautiful goal.

[FLiam]

Fans back in the stands and ESPN pretty much mute the crowd mics. Irritating. This channel is shite.

[Adam]

Excellent finish by Dolberg but Mepham (I think, #22 anyway) stepped off and that gave him the room to shoot.

For me, Kieffer Moore is not a good choice for this game. Wales are doing well with the ball on the ground through midfield but Moore is fighting with a couple of very big Danish defenders and he hasn't got the ability with his feet to make a difference in the penalty area. If you aren't going to pump the ball up high (and I wouldn't against Denmark) then you aren't playing to his strengths.

[Gorka]

Tough half, tough team. 

Ramsey is anonymous. 

Feel for Roberts so much. 

Kieffer Moore once again penalised for existing.

[Kyle]

That is unfortunate.

[Gorka]

We're out.

[Baddar]

Shit clearance.

Clear foul up the other end though.