A Beautiful Thread for the Beautiful Game

Why's that?

Because we can fuck up anytime. You can watch the match against Iceland in these Euros for a recent example (or the 2004 final against Greece). Besides, we're always the team that looks promising, but end up bottling at some point. Portuguese people are used to suffering and butt-clenching during most international matches.

Pepe didn't come off. Danilo came on for Adrien (who finally had some playing time). I remember that part, but there were so many bodies that I didn't notice who tripped up Rui Patrício.

The substitutions were these, btw:

André Gomes off, Renato Sanches on; João Mário off, Quaresma on; Adrien off, Danilo on.

edited 25th Jun '16 4:04:15 PM by Quag15

Man, I don't know what convinced me Pepe was substituted. I could've sworn I heard ESPN commentators talking about Pepe and seen his name come up when Danilo came on.

Perhaps the game just put me to sleep without even realizing it, I dreamt that entire moment, and then Croatia's late attacking game woke me back up.

We are waiting for the USA v. Colombia match, state your predictions now.

I think Colombia's gonna win. They wanna use the leftover rage from the match with Chile. However, it will be a small margin win (2-1, maybe), as some of the US players will be returning.

EDIT: Oh, didn't realize it had already started. Still, Colombia is winning 1-0, so...

edited 25th Jun '16 6:52:41 PM by Quag15

Those playing the prediction game will have noticed that I didn't do a count today. I simply didn't have the time. I'll probably get around to it tomorrow.

I'll do the final tally of each player's score when the tournament is over.

Renowned French thespian Eric Cantona summarizes the Euro tournament, thus far...

Aaaand Colombia beat the USA 1-0, getting the third place. How do you think the final will go?

Hearing Cantona almost crying... priceless.

I'm guessing Argentina will want to win the trophy, in order to avenge their previous defeat at the hands of Chile. Chile will be focused in any case, though (and with Vidal returning, iirc). I expect a good match.

France 0-1 Ireland at half time. Ireland scored a penalty early in the game, the French have attacked, but unsuccessfully, Ireland has been doing some cynical defensive play and occasional dangerous counter-attacks (learning from the Italians, I see), and France won't have Rami and Kanté available for the next match, due to their yellow cards today and in previous matches.

France will need to shake things up a bit, or else we may have an upset in the cards.

EDIT: 57 minutes, goal by Griezmann. 1-1. Good header by him.

EDIT: And 4 minutes later, Griezmann scored the second!

EDIT: 65 minutes: Duffy gets a red card for fouling Griezmann when the latter was isolated.

FT: 2-1.France will meet the winner of the match between England and Iceland.

edited 26th Jun '16 8:12:13 AM by Quag15

This team is infuriating. They are unable to stay focused for 90 minutes, and as a result, we get games like this. 1st half France wouldn't have made it past the group phase, 2nd half France is a very serious contender for the final win. Either they need to find a way to keep their focus for an entire game, or they will be brutally brought down to earth against a team that is resilient enough. I am pretty sure that they should have scored a third, but at the end it didn't look like they were even trying. To be honest, Ireland didn't deserve worse than the score they got, but still, Gignac and Coman botchered a couple unmissable occasions. Speaking of Coman, I hope he isn't injured, because aside from the misses he made a very dynamic entry.

The best part of the game was the Griezmann/Giroud duo. I know, Giroud did not score, but his header for the second goal was perfect, and so was the pass that lead to the red card. If he keeps not scoring yet doing games like that, I will be more than happy.

Now let's just hope that for the rest of the tournament, we get Ireland!Griez, Romania!Payet and Switzerland!1sthalf!Pogba.

France is reminding me of the United States at the '14 World Cup, by which I mean they very much resemble a ~16th-ranked FIFA nation (France is currently ranked 17th). France did good to claw back a win after conceding the early penalty, but they also shown how plausible it is for lesser teams almost as many places beneath them on the ranking table (Ireland ranked 33rd) to get wins over other nations over a dozen places off the top of the summit. If Ireland was only able to control more of the ball, France may not have gotten anything out of that second half.

And just like the USMNT at the last World Cup, it's almost impossible to think this French squad could go anywhere in a matchup against Germany.

I get the feeling that the winner of Germany-Spain/Italy will take it all. The Germans were brutal. Also, unlike some other favorites in the previous editions *cough*Spain2012*cough* they are entertaining to watch.

Hungary 0-4 Belgium

Don't let the score deceive you. The Hungary team fought well after they were down 0-1 (props to Gábor "Sweatpants GK" Kiraly, who made a couple of really good saves), and almost managed to score a couple of times (Courtois made a really good save). But then, with some key substitutions (including that of Batshuayi, who debuted in these Euros with a goal right after he came on), and Hazard's talent (assist to Batshuayi's goal and a great goal by the man himself two minutes later - the fourth goal was scored by Carrasco), Belgium proved to be the better team. They're definitely favourites to reach the Final.

edited 26th Jun '16 2:18:15 PM by Quag15

"Predictions, Pat!"

• Germany will play either Portugal or Wales in the final.
• Gareth Bale will win Player of the Tournament.
• Gonzalo Higuaín will bag a hat trick for Argentina, following Arturo Vidal fracturing his tibia and fibia.
• England will reach the semi-finals.

"Out of time, bye-bye!"

Argentina 0-0 Chile.

Extra time it is.

EDIT: No changes in the scoreline, penalties it is. Again.

edited 26th Jun '16 7:43:12 PM by Quag15

What the hell was Messi taking Argentina's first penalty for?

4-3 on PK, Chile wins. Again.

Messi pulled... a Baggio, right? I was like :O

Claudio Bravo was immense.

EDIT: Wow, Messi is really distraught. He's crying, I think.

edited 26th Jun '16 8:04:48 PM by Quag15

Messi has a running habit of pulling Baggios when the pressure's on to convert PK's...

edited 26th Jun '16 8:43:30 PM by SeanMurrayI

Man, what's wrong with Argentina? It can't be that they keep getting to the finals and yet, they lose everytime. They should really get their heads checked, it's worrying.

And the referee was pretty bad. Viva Chile!!!!!!!

edited 26th Jun '16 9:53:24 PM by Blueace

I'm guessing it's a combination of Martino's tactics (which don't put Messi in the position of a playmaker) and some players who can't manage to capitalize when it matters (Higuain is currently taking a good chunk of the blame).

Messi says: "It's difficult, the moment is tough for any analysis. In the dressing room I thought that it was over for me in the Selección, it's not for me. So, he's weighing the possibility of whether or not to continue with the national team. Personally, I think he still has one World Cup in him.

ESPN Argentina now confirming Agüero and Mascherano "retirements"... also Lavezzi, Biglia, Higuain, etc. in the coming hours to days.

edited 27th Jun '16 7:59:06 AM by Quag15

If this much plays out, it would be legendary: An entire generation of talent on a #1 ranked national squad, led by the greatest player of all time, taking a mass exodus at the peak of their careers... after losing their last game together on penalties in New Jersey.

Just another chapter in the uniquely bizarre history of soccer on American soil, to be sure.

edited 27th Jun '16 10:45:34 AM by SeanMurrayI

What the hell happened? I'm not up to date on Argentina football. Why did their national team just ragequit?

Italy beat Spain 2-0. Spain didn't play as well as they did against Turkey, but I don't think they deserved to lose this. Buffon was on fire. If Italy had had Sirigu or De Gea or Lloris or Hart as their 'keeper they would've lost by more than one goal. Only Neuer and Buffon have the quality to survive as Italy did today. They also got very lucky at times with a referee who was reluctant to make players miss a semi-final through yellow card accumulation.

I'll be rooting for Germany to beat Italy now, and unless England make the Final I'll probably be for Germany for the rest of the competition now, simply because of how beautiful their game is.

Messi retiring with Argentina is understandable to some extent, but it's also kind of tragic because he is almost certainly the best player in the history of the sport and had quite a good national side around him, but it just wasn't to be for them.

Imagine losing three finals in a row (1 World Cup final against Germany, and two Copa América finals against Chile).

Indeed. Maybe some will return, but the Argentinian FA will have to make some much needed changes.

Italy 2-0 Spain

Italy were really great, by managing to break a lot of Spain's attacking moves (with a few Buffon saves as well), and scoring after a free-kick and during a late counter-attack in the game - goals by Chiellini and Pellè, respectively). Kudos to De Gea for a few great saves, but Italy gave a tactical masterclass.

Germany - Italy is gonna be so exciting.

edited 27th Jun '16 11:00:25 AM by Quag15