Spain 2 France 0

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They did it again. They started without a striker. But in the dullest game of all time the Spanish still came out on top.

The French were utter toss and I for one am very pleased to see the back of them. No passion, no spark, no bite, no resilience just total rubbish.

If you were to see the highlight package of this game it would have Xabi Alonso scoring with a great header on 19mins and then the same player scoring a penalty on 90. Nothing else happened. Some, Ad, would say you were lucky to miss this one.

The verdict: Can the Spanish beat Ronaldo? Obviously, yes but without a genuine striker they could find it difficult if any of the other Portuguese players try to play football.

Germany 4 Greece 2

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You have to give the Greeks Credit for a Sterling effort but even a Drachmatic equaliser could not stop Germany kicking them out of the Euro.

The papers were fill of great Euro puns and the Germans were just great. They decided to rest key players, Schwiennsteiger, Gomez, Meuller, Plodolski and gave some air time to their younger talent.

the Germans got one from a blasting strike from Lahm on 39 and it was surely going to be an utter whitewash that would ensue. They had been all over the Retzina clan, with Reus putting in a great performance, and the efficiency for which they are famed would mean the Greeks would be off back to the home of the Gods. But no.

Greece came out after half-time looking up for the challenge and on 55mins the unthinkable happened when Salpingidis ran down the left crossed across the face, Celtic’s Samaras got ahead of his defender and slid it into the goal with his left. Was this to be the greatest turn around for the Greeks since Troy?

No. 6 minutes later Khedira volleyed in nicely from close range and then 2 more goals in 13 minutes from Klose and Reus made sure that the game was beyond the hapless Greeks. They got another surprise goal back, penalty, (proving the Germans can be troubled at the back) but they were never really in it and will go home to face the joys of austerity.

The verdict: The Germans keep marching (or goosestepping) on. Should we beat the Italians, there seems little chance of beating this great German team.

Portugal 1 Czech Rep 0

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We all knew they were going to win. The match in a nutshell.

Slightly extended version:

Portugal did nothing for 20 and the Czechs looked OK.

Ronaldo started playing.

The Czechs began to look rubbish.

Ronaldo was amazing shame none of his team mates can score.

80mins Ronaldo scored.

Whistle 1 – 0 Ronaldo

The verdict.: Team Ronaldo better hope that he plays well against Spain and doesnt get a yellow to suspend him for the final.

France 0 Sweden 2; Ukraine 0 ENGLAND 1

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Get in there! We are top of the league say we are top of the league. We are top of the league say we are top of the league.

We won the group, unbelievably we won the group and will play Italy on Sunday in the quarters.

Confidence is never great amongst the England faithful but it rapidly evaporated as the game started to bed down into a  rather dull affair (for the neutral) where England were mostly well organised against some fairly tame Ukrainian attack, whilst we provided little inspiration up front either.

Its hard to talk about the first half , apart from some reasonable Ukrainian attacks that fizzled out thanks to some dreadful finishes or 1st touches, it was only the newly instated Rooney that had the best chance. An easy header, unmarked on the 6 yard area, missed, could probably be excused thanks to lack of match sharpness.

However, it was England’s one-time wonder kid that put the boys in white up 1-0 with a firm, well-placed header from a trademark Steven Gerrard cross.

Then it was sit back and soak it up as the hosts got close but no cigar. Then there was the controversy of the tournament so far. Devic’s shot was partially saved by Hart only for it to go between the posts where Terry seemed to clear it off the line, and surely having a new goal linesman standing by the posts would have spotted it going over if it had. He didn’t and the Ukrainians went mad. But it didn’t count so tough. England won 1-0.

There have been many comments since the game including head ref Collina saying that it was a terrible mistake and was regrettable. Apart from the fact they we have been robbed a million times and that the Uks would still have gone out at 1-1, everyone seems to have missed the fact that the original ball through to Devic was offside and that wasn’t spotted so it would have been a travesty had it counted.

Anyway,

The verdict: We are through. Shut up Ukraine. Can we beat Italy? Dare we begin to dream. Not yet.

Portugal 2 Holland 1; Germany 2 Denmark 1

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I called it. Yes, the Dutch are out and deservedly so. Whinning, moaning, bitching Tulip eaters.

Even though this result will have warmed Ronaldo’s cockles, it has to be said that no-one could have seriously wanted the Dutch to go through after their petulent and amateurish displays.

However, for the first 20 or so minutes the Dutch looked to have recaptured some of their total football magic and when Van Der Vaart scored with a curling, solid shot to make it 1-0 after 11 minutes they Orange crew looked like they could finally have something to cheer about.

Then there was Ronaldo. Brilliant is the only way to describe the hated one’s performance on the night, with the only criticism possible being “Why only 2 goals?” He was all over the exposed Dutch defense, their quest for a two goal lead blinding them to the fact that their defence is, to put it bluntly, totally crap.

On a personal note, it was great to see Hunter Laar playing like a dustbin on wheels after all his childish slating of his better (Van Persie).

Germany went 1-0 behind but, in a game they failed to dominate, they managed to get the 2 needed goals for a win and a perfect 9/9points.

The verdict: Germany all the way (hopefully past the semis), Portugal are gaining in confidence and could pose a threat. Ronaldo must stay fit though.

Czech Republic 1 Poland 0; Greece 1 Russia 0

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Old Town Square just is not a good place to watch the Czech team, bizzarely. In fact overall the level of support for the national football team is beyond disappointing; its actually quite annoying and really turning me off backing the country as a kind of second team. Especially when you consider that this was a game they really should not have won.

The Poles looked good for most of the match, definitely the more up for it, definitely the better ball control and almost seemed to have it tactically right too as they kept coming at the Czechs again and again.

They couldn’t break through and were mainly let down by some chronic finishing and perhaps too home team nerves. The Czechs couldn’t even get the ball for most of the game but even when they did they never looked like getting out of this game with anything more than a dogged/lucky 0-0 draw. If the Poles scored, it would be curtains. Only they didn’t.

A simple ball for Milan Baros through the Polish defence saw Petr Jiracek through to score the winning goal, which only just got past the keeper.

It was a poor game and in truth the Poles were not miles better than their opposition.

What was a surprise was seeing the Greeks putting out the Russians by scoring in a 2004 style performance.

So strange things happening in Group A and the first shock, the Russians are going home and the hosts will just have to stick all the other fans enjoying themseleves. 

The Verdict: Two teams with no chance of getting through to the semis.

Sweden 2 England 3 – Get in!

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YEEEEAAAASSSS!

You can keep your meatballs and your volvos. England did it and got their first win of the tournament and their first win against Sweden in a major tournament ever. Its never easy being an England fan but this game was heart attack country. More highs and lows than a ride at Alton Towers, a just a stomach churning.

Hodgeson’s tactics were clear as he gave Andy Carol the nod playing alongside Wellbeck with Young on the left. And in the early stages caution was matched with some ambition in a fairly dull but obviously nerve wracking first 20 mins.

That was until the ball was kept in well by Gerard on the right and he crossed from 30 yards out. The ball curled nicely into the box and found, yes you guessed it, the head of Carol who made no mistake and nutted it between the posts. 1-0 to the England on 23mins.

England looked to be reasonably in control for the rest of the half and had a few half chances to go with it. Confidence abounded at half time in the Old Town Square with songs a plenty from the gathered 40 or so England fans.

But as has so often happened in this Euro2012 the second half saw the Swedes emerge with renewed vigour. Almost immediately they looked a threat and then on 49 minutes a free kick bounced off the all Ibrahimovich slotted the ball through a meley of Yellow and Blue shirts to find Melberg who was totally unmarked, hit toward goal. Hart saved it only to hit Glen Johnson who then had to clear his own deflectioin off the line only to hammer it further over the line.

Only 10minutes later a cross came in from the left and found bloody Melberg again, and again totally unmarked along with 3 other Abba fans and he made no mistake with his header. Nerves jangles and all felt sure that poor defending had cost us the game but then Hodgeson pulled his master stroke.

On 60mins on came Theo and it totally changed the game. All of a sudden England had 2 decent attacks in as many minutes. On 64 the ball came out of the area to Walcott 25 yards out in the centre who looked up lifted his foot and wanged it down the middle with such swerve on the ball that it sent the keeper to his left as the ball zinged right through the centre of the posts. Brilliant.

England fans went ballistic and all of a sudden we knew we could win. So did the team.

Walcott recieved the ball on the right quarter of the box, pegged it past 2 Vikings to the line and cut it back. Welbeck’s run had taken him just past the cross so he turned 180 as he ran in and back heeled it into the goal. A fabulous finish to match Walcott’s fabulous play.

Although there was only a 1 goal cushion it was a comfortable last 10 minutes that we had to wait to cheer a team that had put us through the mill but did it in the end.

The verdict: We have the ability to score and to trouble the top teams but the defense frailties will have to disappear if we are to stand any chances of reaching a semi. Sweden, well, Knowing Me Knowing You, you had a Dream but If It Wasnt for The Night you’d Still be Alive but Just Like That we have to say So Long. That, my friends, Is The Name of The Game.

Ukraine 0 France 2

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It finally happened, I missed a game. In my defense, it was not my fault. The rain delay meant that kick off was an hour late. It just so happened that I had to go to the school Gala Dinner to play in the soul band and was there from 7-835, the entire period of the match.

But this was not necessarily such a terrible as it meant I had time to find somewhere to watch the England game as that was delayed till 9.

As I say, I didn’t see this one so I cannot really provide a proper match report so its back to the BBC again.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18181783

I watched the highlights and it seemed to be a similar performance to that against England. Lots of missed chances due to the lack of a genuine word class striker and dominating possession.

The verdict: France seem to have a tight midfield, with some nice passing football being played but I can’t seem them challenging for the title. Maybe semis. The Ukraine – we’ll see on Tuesday.