Whoever says soccer is boring didn’t see these two games.
First, Spain is trailing Croatia 1-0 on one of the worst plays ever made by a GK. As one of the commentators said, it was a mistake you would hope not to see in a game of 11 year olds. He took his eye off a back pass, looking upfield to see where to kick it, and it bounced off his foot and rolled 15 meters into the goal. Croatia hardly touched the ball the first 70 minutes of the game, yet they were up 1-0.
Spain scored 3 goals and was on cruise control after 75 minutes. Croatia had two shots and 32% possession. They got their 3rd shot on goal in the 81st minute. Spain started substituting in the 72d minute resting some key players and playing some guys out of position. They had an attacking midfielder playing Center Back for example. Croatia scored in the 85th minute on its 4th shot on goal and then equalized it 2 minutes into added time. Spain scored twice in the overtime, including an absolutely classic goal from the maligned Alvaro Morata.
Game 2 couldn’t match that right? It did. Swirtzerland versus defending World Cup champion France and it’s roster of all-world players. Switzerland goes ahead 1-0 early on a goal which perfectly explained why me and 10 million other Barca fans want Clement Lenglet gone. He failed to man up the CF for the Swiss on a cross, allowing him an easy header.
Lenglet was a surprise starter and not surprisingly was subbed off at halftime. Dicier Deschamps went to a different formation in the second half, adding another attacking MF in Kingsley Coman. It paid dividends, as France scored 3 times and was on cruise control with a 3-1 lead. But, oh those pesky Swiss. A header in the 81st minute and then a goal in the 90th minute by a player who the French decided not to cover at the top of the box.
Overtime. Not many chances in the first 29 minutes, and then fireworks. A Swiss goal called back for offsides with one minute to go, another Swiss chance missed with 30 seconds left after a bad first touch, and then, on the very last touch of extra time, Kingsley Coman hits the crossbar.
Penalty shootout. We saw this before in the Europa League finals, where Villareal made 11 PKs in succession — the last one by the GK — to beat heavily favored Manchester United, who paid more to acquire Paul Pogba than Villareal paid for its entire squad. Here, the no-name Swiss made their first 5 PKs. The French made their first 4. Up steps Kylian Mbappe, who many argue is the best player in the world not named Lionel Messi or CR7. He is the regular PK taker for both France and his club team, PSG. The Swiss GK saves it. France is eliminated, which unfortunately means we no longer get to hear the world’s best national anthem at these Euros. The Swiss move on.
Today was an incredibly exciting day of soccer!
First, Spain is trailing Croatia 1-0 on one of the worst plays ever made by a GK. As one of the commentators said, it was a mistake you would hope not to see in a game of 11 year olds. He took his eye off a back pass, looking upfield to see where to kick it, and it bounced off his foot and rolled 15 meters into the goal. Croatia hardly touched the ball the first 70 minutes of the game, yet they were up 1-0.
Spain scored 3 goals and was on cruise control after 75 minutes. Croatia had two shots and 32% possession. They got their 3rd shot on goal in the 81st minute. Spain started substituting in the 72d minute resting some key players and playing some guys out of position. They had an attacking midfielder playing Center Back for example. Croatia scored in the 85th minute on its 4th shot on goal and then equalized it 2 minutes into added time. Spain scored twice in the overtime, including an absolutely classic goal from the maligned Alvaro Morata.
Game 2 couldn’t match that right? It did. Swirtzerland versus defending World Cup champion France and it’s roster of all-world players. Switzerland goes ahead 1-0 early on a goal which perfectly explained why me and 10 million other Barca fans want Clement Lenglet gone. He failed to man up the CF for the Swiss on a cross, allowing him an easy header.
Lenglet was a surprise starter and not surprisingly was subbed off at halftime. Dicier Deschamps went to a different formation in the second half, adding another attacking MF in Kingsley Coman. It paid dividends, as France scored 3 times and was on cruise control with a 3-1 lead. But, oh those pesky Swiss. A header in the 81st minute and then a goal in the 90th minute by a player who the French decided not to cover at the top of the box.
Overtime. Not many chances in the first 29 minutes, and then fireworks. A Swiss goal called back for offsides with one minute to go, another Swiss chance missed with 30 seconds left after a bad first touch, and then, on the very last touch of extra time, Kingsley Coman hits the crossbar.
Penalty shootout. We saw this before in the Europa League finals, where Villareal made 11 PKs in succession — the last one by the GK — to beat heavily favored Manchester United, who paid more to acquire Paul Pogba than Villareal paid for its entire squad. Here, the no-name Swiss made their first 5 PKs. The French made their first 4. Up steps Kylian Mbappe, who many argue is the best player in the world not named Lionel Messi or CR7. He is the regular PK taker for both France and his club team, PSG. The Swiss GK saves it. France is eliminated, which unfortunately means we no longer get to hear the world’s best national anthem at these Euros. The Swiss move on.
Today was an incredibly exciting day of soccer!
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