Euro 2016

**NeverFeltBetter** · 12/06/2016, 1:01 PM

Looks like the kickoff countdown fell to pieces ahead of Turkey/Croatia.

**pineapple stu** · 12/06/2016, 1:43 PM

That's a better goal than Payet's I think, even if the keeper again might have done better.

**NeverFeltBetter** · 12/06/2016, 2:53 PM

Impressed with Croatia, thought they controlled most of the game easily enough, even if it was just 1-0. If they get their shooting boots on properly they could go far this time. The Turks look like nothing special. Their fans were so quiet by the end.

**NeverFeltBetter** · 12/06/2016, 4:49 PM

The north just swarming around the Poles every time the ball gets close to their box. Polish delivery from the wings has been utter rubbish.

Edit: Apparently NI didn't get inside the opposition box in the entire first half.

**Stuttgart88** · 12/06/2016, 5:05 PM

Poland another team that'd benefit from a Wes-style player

**Stuttgart88** · 12/06/2016, 5:08 PM

Not an error, but could McGovern have done better.

It wouldn't be football if NI didn't get one big chance....

**pineapple stu** · 12/06/2016, 5:11 PM

Meanwhile, Uefa threaten England and Russia with disqualification if there's any more issues in the stadia.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36510550

Technically it's up to and including disqualification, so you'd imagine a fine or even a points deduction is more likely.

Russia got a suspended points deduction at the last euros - I presume that's expired by now?

Not overly encouraging ahead of the next World Cup in Russia though.

**NeverFeltBetter** · 12/06/2016, 5:21 PM

As if Russia 2018 needed any more bad press.

**Stuttgart88** · 12/06/2016, 5:35 PM

I don't think good PR is high up on Russian priorities.

**NeverFeltBetter** · 12/06/2016, 5:49 PM

The north opened up a bit and took a hold of the game in the last 20 minutes, to an extent, but could only make three chances: that glorious breakaway opportunity that forced a fine piece of goalkeeping, Lafferty's botched Zlatan impression and Davis snatching at the ongoing through ball. I think going behind to a team as good as Poland, at the Euro's, was a gigantic test of what the North is capable of, and they failed. Now they need to go out and beat Ukraine.

**osarusan** · 12/06/2016, 5:52 PM

Brave defending from NI, but once they went behind they were always going to struggle to find any way back. Had so little to offer up front. They were so poor in bring the ball out of defence, and just kicked it away aimlessly from so early in the game.

**pineapple stu** · 12/06/2016, 7:17 PM

So half the teams have played now - and it's all a bit underwhelming so far. 11 goals in 6 games is low enough. We haven't had a really memorable game yet. No team has stood out yet. England and Poland did well for a while against limited opposition, but neither really kicked on. No player has stood out either - Lewandowski was anonymous today, sterling was poor yesterday, Griezmann and Pogba got hauled ashore for France, and even Payet only played for half the game (though did very well obviously)

Long way to go of course, and maybe I'm being a bit harsh. But certainly hasn't grabbed me the way the early stages of the last World Cup did.

**NeverFeltBetter** · 12/06/2016, 7:49 PM

Neuer staking a claim for goalie of the tournament already. Great recovery by Boatang on the line too. Ukraine well in it, Germany don't look like World Champions.

**thischarmingman** · 13/06/2016, 1:00 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

So half the teams have played now - and it's all a bit underwhelming so far. 11 goals in 6 games is low enough.

It's very low when you stay up to watch games at 11pm, 2am and 5am.

**NeverFeltBetter** · 13/06/2016, 7:51 AM

Tournament primed for a Shane Long hat-trick so.

**osarusan** · 13/06/2016, 11:33 AM

RIP to the NI fan who died in Nice early this morning after falling from a promenade onto a rocky beach.

**NeverFeltBetter** · 13/06/2016, 2:58 PM

Torturous watching Spain pass it around the Czech box without scoring for 88 minutes. Couldn't believe they didn't equalise at the death though.

**TheOneWhoKnocks** · 13/06/2016, 6:39 PM

Ah the glory days of Ujfalusi, Jankulovski, Heinz, Nedved, Baros and Koller... It's just not the same is it?

Rosicky some man starting against Spain having not played a single league game all season.

Makes you wonder if Gibson would have made a similar contribution for us with Whelan and McCarthy on the verge of suspension and us needing a player to calm things down and get it on the floor.

**NeverFeltBetter** · 13/06/2016, 7:39 PM

I was just thinking that Italy did look really lacklustre against Belgium, and that was making me feel better about us going up against them, and then they scored a goal that made the Belgium CB pair look like morons. The kind of route one strike I could see us scoring too.