Soccer Thread 2020-2021

[Critch]

Copa America Brazil v Venezuela on Fox now, it's a veritable soccer-ing bonanza today.

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by Critch

Copa America Brazil v Venezuela on Fox now, it's a veritable soccer-ing bonanza today.

Are they playing 7 on 7? Or did Venezuela get a chance to call up replacements for their COVID-19 depleted squad?

[Critch]

Originally Posted by MIJB#19

Are they playing 7 on 7? Or did Venezuela get a chance to call up replacements for their COVID-19 depleted squad?

They've got a bunch of new Venezuelan league players who may or may not be covid free. They're only there to be the Washington Generals anyway.

[whomario]

Goal of the Tournament already in the Books at the Euro, Schick (after scoring a world class header already) scoring from the halfway line on a perfect looping strike over the too-far-from-goal scottisch Keeper.

This angle of Schick’s goal is mad.. ��
pic.twitter.com/TXbUa70Nb3

— ���������� ���� (@UtdOscarinho) June 14, 2021

[Ghost Econ]

Great goal, but WTF was the keeper doing at the midfield line?

[_dawgfan_]

Originally Posted by Ghost Econ

Great goal, but WTF was the keeper doing at the midfield line?

I'd have to think he had just done a free kick from somewhere around there and Scotland immediately lost possession, but still - he should have been beating a hasty retreat as soon as he kicked it.

[miami_fan]

I wonder if Morata is capable of dropping deep and allowing others to run behind him. I can't see Enrique keeping him as the guy that all the chances drop to just to see him miss chance after chance.

I will now wait for him to score the winning goal just to spite me.

[whomario]

Originally Posted by Ghost Econ

Great goal, but WTF was the keeper doing at the midfield line?

Scotland got a shot blocked like which then bounced directly to Schick. 3 seconds from shot to shot and Marshall almost immediately sprinted back after the blocked shot.
9/10 GKs at the top level go that far out nowadays at least sometimes, but 999/1000 you don't see it as a viewer and once out of a mio it ends like this

[Critch]

Good to see a full house at the Hungary v Portugal.

It either means things are getting back to normal, or Hungary just doesnt care about viruses. Probably a little of both.

[miami_fan]

Of course that is the start the script writers would write for the Denmark v Belgium game.

[miami_fan]

Wouldn't it normally be a horrible idea to have a England v. Scotland match at 8pm on a Friday night? I thought that was one that authorities would prefer to have happen during the day?

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

Wouldn't it normally be a horrible idea to have a England v. Scotland match at 8pm on a Friday night? I thought that was one that authorities would prefer to have happen during the day?

Lol. UK going to get rowdy.

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

Wouldn't it normally be a horrible idea to have a England v. Scotland match at 8pm on a Friday night? I thought that was one that authorities would prefer to have happen during the day?

COVID-19 is so 2020...

[Ghost Econ]

Can we just expel Sweden from the tournament?

simpsons soccer 2 - YouTube

[sovereignstar v2]

Looks like Mexico is finally going to start facing some actual consequences for the goalkeeper chant. They will be playing their first two home WCQ qualifiers behind closed doors.

[Ghost Econ]

England and Scotland playing in the pouring rain seems a bit too on the nose.

[miami_fan]

Anyone have any idea when Jadon Sancho will recover from whatever undisclosed injury he has to be suffering from? Because him not getting on the pitch at all in the first two games has to be the result of an injury.

[bhlloy]

You mean when Southgate's traumatic I still have the 2018 version of Raheem Sterling brain injury heals? 2022 World Cup I'd imagine - England are always a tournament away and will always play their exciting young players who will be ready next time.

[sovereignstar v2]

Assume Sancho will play the 3rd match. He has been so shit for England previously it's not that big of a surprise that he hasn't played yet.

[whomario]

Best Germany NT game in a loooooong while, beating Portugal 4-2 with lots and lots of quality plays getting the 2 WBs to the byline with all goals resulting from that. Gosens was amazing, well deserved goal to top it off

Weird stat alert: 2 Portugal OGs, now a record 5 for the Tournament (there were just 9 total in all prior Euros).

[MIJB#19]

2/3rd of the Euro20201 group stage is finished and if all the remaining games end up 0-0, we'll have the following Round of 16 matchups:
Belgium vs Portugal
Italy vs Ukraine

France vs Finaland
England vs Slovakia

Sweden vs Austria
Czechia vs Germany

Netherlands vs Spain
Wales vs Russia


How will the groups unfold?

A	Italy win	Italy = Wales	Wales win
Switzerland win	1 Italy 9 2 Wales/Switzerland 4 3 Switzerland/Wales 4 4 Turkey 0	1 Italy 7 2 Wales 5 3 Switzerland 4 4 Turkey 0	1 Wales 7 2 Italy 6 3 Switzerland 4 4 Turkey 0
Switzerland = Turkey	1 Italy 9 2 Wales 4 3 Switzerland 2 4 Turkey 1	1 Italy 7 2 Wales 5 3 Switzerland 2 4 Turkey 1	1 Wales 7 2 Italy 6 3 Switzerland 2 4 Turkey 1
Turkey win	1 Italy 9 2 Wales 4 3 Turkey 3 4 Switzerland 1	1 Italy 7 2 Wales 5 3 Turkey 3 4 Switzerland 1	1 Wales 7 2 Italy 6 3 Turkey 3 4 Switzerland 1

Wales and Switzerland at 4 points each will be determined by:
goal difference (currently Wales +2, Switzerland -3),
if still tied goals scored (currently Wales 3, Switzerland 1),
if still tied discipline record (currently Wales 3 yellows, Switzerland 4 yellows),
if still tied Switzerland wins on UEFA ranking (#1 vs #19)

C	Ukraine win	Ukraine = Austria	Austria win
Netherlands win	1 Netherlands 9 2 Ukraine 6 3 Austria 3 4 N-Macedonia 0	1 Netherlands 9 2 Ukraine 4 3 Austria 4 4 N-Macedonia 0	1 Netherlands 9 2 Austria 6 3 Ukraine 3 4 N-Macedonia 0
Netherlands = N-Macedonia	1 Netherlands 7 2 Ukraine 6 3 Austria 3 4 N-Macedonia 1	1 Netherlands 7 2 Ukraine 4 3 Austria 4 4 N-Macedonia 1	1 Netherlands 7 2 Austria 6 3 Ukraine 3 4 N-Macedonia 1
N-Macedonia win	1 Netherlands 6 2 Ukraine 6 3 Austria 3 4 N-Macedonia 3	1 Netherlands 6 2 Ukraine 4 3 Austria 4 4 N-Macedonia 3	1 Netherlands 6 2 Austria 6 3 Ukraine 3 4 N-Macedonia 3

B	Belgium win	Belgium = Finland	Finland win
Russia win	1 Belgium 9 2 Russia 6 3 Finland 3 4 Denmark 0	1 Belgium 7 2 Russia 6 3 Finland 4 4 Denmark 0	1 Belgium/Finland/Russia 6 2 Finland/Russia/Belgium 6 3 Russia/Belgium/Finland 6 4 Denmark 0
Russia = Denmark	1 Belgium 9 2 Russia 4 3 Finland 3 4 Denmark 1	1 Belgium 7 2 Russia 4 3 Finland 4 4 Denmark 1	1 Finland 6 2 Belgium 6 3 Russia 4 4 Denmark 1
Denmark win	1 Belgium 9 2 Denmark/Finland/Russia 3 3 Finland/Denmark/Russia 3 4 Russia/Finland/Denmark 3	1 Belgium 7 2 Finland 4 3 Denmark 3 4 Russia 3	1 Finland 6 2 Belgium 6 3 Denmark 3 4 Russia 3

Belgium, Russia and Finland all tied at 6 points will be determined by:
htd goal difference (currently Belgium +3, Finland -1, Russia -3),
if still tied on hth goals scored (currently Belgium 3, Russia 1, Finland 0),
if still tied on overall goal difference (currently Belgium +4, Finland 0, Russia -2),
if still tied on overall goals scored (currently Belgium 5, Russia and Finland 1),
if still tied on discipline record (currently Belgium 1 yellow, Russia 3 yellows, Finland 4 yellows),
if still tied Belgium on UEFA ranking (#5 versus Russia #17 and Finland #28).
After 1st place is determined, 2nd place goes to the head-to-head winner of the two remaining teams (Belgium over Russia, Russia over Finland, Finland over Belgium).

Russia, Finland and Denmark all tied at 3 points will be determined by:
htd goal difference (currently Russia +1, Finland 0, Denmark -1),
if still tied on hth goals scored (currently Russia and Finland 1, Denmark 0),
if still tied on overall goal difference (currently Finland 0, Russia and Denmark -2),
if still tied on overall goals scored (currently Russia, Finland and Denmark 1),
if still tied on discipline record (currently Russia and Denmark 3 yellows, Finland 4 yellows),
if still tied Denmark on UEFA ranking (#15 versus Russia #17 and Finland #28).
After 2nd place is determined, 3rd place goes to the head-to-head winner of the two remaining teams (Denmark over Russia, Russia over Finland, Finland over Denmark).

D	England win	England = Czechia	Czechia win
Croatia win	1 England 7 2 Czechia/Croatia 4 3 Croatia/Czechia 4 4 Scotland 1	1 Czechia 5 2 England 5 3 Croatia 4 4 Scotland 1	1 Czechia 7 2 England 4 3 Croatia 4 4 Scotland 1
Croatia = Scotland	1 England 7 2 Czechia 4 3 Croatia 2 4 Scotland 2	1 Czechia 5 2 England 5 3 Croatia 2 4 Scotland 2	1 Czechia 7 2 England 4 3 Croatia 2 4 Scotland 2
Scotland win	1 England 7 2 Czechia 4 3 Scotland 4 4 Croatia 1	1 Czechia 5 2 England 5 3 Scotland 4 4 Croatia 1	1 Czechia 7 2 England/Scotland 4 3 Scotland/England 4 4 Croatia 1

Czechia and Croatia at 4 points each will be determined by:
goal difference (currently Czechia +2, Croatia -1),
if still tied goals scored (currently Czechia 3, Croatia 1),
if still tied discipline record (currently Czechia 3 yellows, Croatia 4 yellows),
if still tied Croatia wins on UEFA ranking (#9 vs #20)

England and Scotland at 4 points each will be determined by:
goal difference (currently England +1, Scotland -2),
if still tied goals scored (currently England 1, Scotland 0),
if still tied discipline record (currently England 0 yellows, Scotland 2 yellows),
if still tied England wins on UEFA ranking (#4 vs #25)

E	Sweden win	Sweden = Poland	Poland win
Spain win	1 Sweden 7 2 Spain 5 3 Slovakia 3 4 Poland 1	1 Spain/Sweden 5 2 Sweden/Spain 5 3 Slovakia 3 4 Poland 2	1 Spain 5 2 Poland 4 3 Sweden 4 4 Slovakia 3
Spain = Slovakia	1 Sweden 7 2 Slovakia 4 3 Spain 3 4 Poland 1	1 Sweden 5 2 Slovakia 4 3 Spain 3 4 Poland 2	1 Poland/Slovakia 4 2 Sweden/Poland/Slovakia 4 3 Slovakia/Sweden/Poland 4 4 Spain 3
Slovakia win	1 Sweden 7 2 Slovakia 6 3 Spain 2 4 Poland 1	1 Slovakia 6 2 Sweden 5 3 Poland/Spain 2 4 Spain/Poland 2	1 Slovakia 6 2 Poland 4 3 Sweden 4 4 Spain 2

Spain and Sweden at 5 points each will be determined by:
goal difference (currently Sweden +1, Spain 0),
if still tied goals scored (currently Spain and Sweden 1),
if still tied discipline record (currently Spain 1 yellow, Sweden 2 yellows),
if still tied Spain wins on UEFA ranking (#7 vs #16)

Poland, Slovakia and Sweden at 4 points each will be determined by:
goal difference (currently Sweden +1, Slovakia 0, Poland -1),
if still tied goals scored (currently Poland and Slovakia 2, Sweden 1),
if still tied discipline record (currently Sweden 2 yellows, Slovakia 4 yellows, Poland 7 yellows),
if still tied Poland wins on UEFA ranking (#10 vs Sweden #16 and Slovakia #21)
After 1st place is determined, 2nd place goes to the head-to-head winner of the two remaining teams (Sweden over Slovakia, Slovakia over Poland, Poland over Sweden).

Poland and Spain at 2 points each will be determined by:
goal difference (currently Spain 0, Poland -1),
if still tied goals scored (currently Poland 2, Spain 1),
if still tied discipline record (currently Spain 1 yellow, Poland 7 yellows),
if still tied Spain wins on UEFA ranking (#7 vs #10)

F	France win	France = Portugal	Portugal win
Germany win	1 France 7 2 Germany 6 3 Portugal 3 4 Hungary 1	1 Germany 6 2 France 5 3 Portugal 4 4 Hungary 1	1 Germany 6 2 Portugal 6 3 France 4 4 Hungary 1
Germany = Hungary	1 France 7 2 Germany 4 3 Portugal 3 4 Hungary 2	1 France 5 2 Germany 4 3 Portugal 4 4 Hungary 2	1 Portugal 6 2 France 4 3 Germany 4 4 Hungary 2
Hungary win	1 France 7 2 Hungary 4 3 Germany 3 4 Portugal 3	1 France 5 2 Portugal 4 3 Hungary 4 4 Germany 3	1 Portugal 6 2 France/Hungary 4 3 Hungary/France 4 4 Germany 3

France vs Hungary at 4 points each will be determined by:
goal difference (currently France +1, Hungary -3),
if still tied goals scored (currently France 2, Hungary 1),
if still tied discipline record (currently France 1 yellow, Hungary 3 yellows),
if still tied France wins on UEFA ranking (#6 vs #31)

[Ghost Econ]

The last 20 minutes of Spain-Poland was screaming for Adama Traore to come on, run at people, and sling crosses. Tiki taka then cross once Poland sets up clearly wasn't going to work.

[miami_fan]

LOL! That goal for Denmark was karma for all that silly time wasting that Russia was doing earlier.

[Ksyrup]

All of the European soccer games I've ever watched have the home team as first on the scoreline, unlike the way we do it in the US for any sport. However for this Russian/Denmark game it's "US style." Is there a particular reason for that, or is it ESPN trying to make things familiar for the US audience?

[MIJB#19]

So we now have Denmark, Russia and Finland equal with 3 points. Denmark is clearly the #2 team now, but between #3 and #4 I'm confused on how UEFA intends to apply the rules:

Originally Posted by UEFA Regulations Euro 2020

20.01 If two or more teams in the same group are equal on points on completion of the
final tournament group stage, the following criteria are applied, in the order
given, to determine their rankings:
a. higher number of points obtained in the matches played among the teams in
question;
b. superior goal difference resulting from the matches played among the teams
in question;
c. higher number of goals scored in the matches played among the teams in
question;
d. if, after having applied criteria a) to c), teams still have an equal ranking,
criteria a) to c) are reapplied exclusively to the matches between the
remaining teams to determine their final rankings. If this procedure does not
lead to a decision, criteria e) to i) apply in the order given to the two or more
teams still equal:

point b is applied:
Denmark 4-2 (0-1 Finland, 4-1 Russia)
Finland 1-1 (1-0 Denmark, 0-1 Russia)
Russia 2-4 (1-0 Finland, 1-4 Denmark)

In the past I would read that as meaning all is final after point b. For whatever reason I've read it this time around as meaning that Denmark is #2 and the determination of #3 will go through the whole process another time, this time having Russia the head-to-head winner, that is how I wrote it above. But I think I wrote it wrong in post #422 of this thread.

In the end, it might not matter as 3 points and a goal difference worse than -1 will probably be insufficient to be amongst the 4 best 3rd place teams.

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

All of the European soccer games I've ever watched have the home team as first on the scoreline, unlike the way we do it in the US for any sport. However for this Russian/Denmark game it's "US style." Is there a particular reason for that, or is it ESPN trying to make things familiar for the US audience?

It is neither. Technically all matches in Euro2020 are played on neutral territory, the home and away side are only assigned for locker room assignment and coin toss choice. In the "round robin" all teams are assigned as home team once or twice (and road team once or twice as well). Maybe comparable with the Super Bowl, where there's no true home team either. That's how Russia vs Denmark is Russia's "home" game, while played in Denmark.

[bhlloy]

Which is the biggest crock of shit ever, but UEFA and $$$$. Just like Dublin and Bilbao getting pulled for not guaranteeing they would allow fans and now Amsterdam saying they are going to ban non-EU fans for the knockout stages.

And I'm not saying I disagree with that decision in the slightest, I wouldn't want any Brits coming to my country with the delta variant either. But this tournament format with a bunch of teams being able to play home games and others flying from one side of the continent to the other while the organizers completely denying they were home games or represented any advantage whatsoever was dumb before a global pandemic, now it is absolutely insane. At least UEFA choosing Baku still resulted in Turkey shitting all over themselves, so no advantage there.

It will be fun to see the English press turn on the tournament format if the semis onwards do get moved out of Wembley due to a third wave. Shockingly they've been completely silent on the matter so far.

[miami_fan]

Because it's England, that's why.

Euro 2020: England duo Ben Chilwell, Mason Mount isolating; will miss Czech Republic clash

I don't think it is that huge of a deal tbh. I don't know about trying to get a specific team in the next round etc.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by MIJB#19

It is neither. Technically all matches in Euro2020 are played on neutral territory, the home and away side are only assigned for locker room assignment and coin toss choice. In the "round robin" all teams are assigned as home team once or twice (and road team once or twice as well). Maybe comparable with the Super Bowl, where there's no true home team either. That's how Russia vs Denmark is Russia's "home" game, while played in Denmark.

Ah, that makes sense. Thanks.

[AlexB]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

Because it's England, that's why.

Euro 2020: England duo Ben Chilwell, Mason Mount isolating; will miss Czech Republic clash

I don't think it is that huge of a deal tbh. I don't know about trying to get a specific team in the next round etc.

In a weird way it might actually help the shape of the team... The more I see of Mount, the more I like him, but he's one position too far forward for me for England.

I think he's a great box to box midfielder, but not quite creative enough to be in the hole - I'd have Phillips or Rice, then Mount, and Grealish at 10.

Southgate looks like he's committed to Rice and Phillips, so having Grealish in should mean we're a little more aggressive in the final third

[miami_fan]

I agree with Mount being too far forward. As I said at the start, I like Southgate. However, I want to grab Marcelo Bielsa to choose the first eleven and manage the first twenty minutes of this match today. I believe that the weakness part of England's team in the defense but they are turning the attack into a bigger weakness to protect the defense. I know quality of opposition etc., etc., the reality is England has allowed 5 goals in thirteen matches since the start of 2020. Of all the games, this can be the game where England attacks from the start and see if the defense can hold its own without a double pivot and only one or two players being in the attacking third. If the defense can't hang, they are not winning the title anyways. They need to sort out the attack and stop playing so safe.

[sovereignstar v2]

Southgate is fucking clueless. How he is managing England I will never know.

[siona]

Premier league is my all-time favourite league. We can see more competitive and faster gameplay in PL rather than in other leagues.

[sovereignstar v2]

Great timing. I was just wondering where I could service my Yukon over in Dubai.

[bob]

Oof, that Slovakian own goal....

[bhlloy]

Lewandoski is still good. That finish was top drawer.

[sovereignstar v2]

Yeah, I don't think he has passed on the 'best striker in world football' torch yet.

[bhlloy]

Today has been some of the best entertainment at a major tournament I can remember in a very long time

[MIJB#19]

What a terrible performance today.
Memphis should get his act together, focus on football and stop putting his time in all that social medio rap video I'm the best non-sense. He was clearly not with his head to football today. Frank de Boer has clearly lost his lucky mojo after he left Ajax, but bringing Quincy Promes for Donyell Malen, that was the equivalent of waving the white flag. At the end we were playing like we're Portugal. Guys, we're not that sly, so don't even try.

[bhlloy]

Memphis is just an incredibly lazy player. If it's not at his feet, he doesn't want to know. Multiple crosses he could have probably got on the end of. I can't imagine how it's going to work with him and Messi on the same team.

[MIJB#19]

Keep your heads straight, Belgium. Don't play along with these Portuguese antics. You can't outPepe them.

[MIJB#19]

Yo, VAR, red card for Morata there. Text book example.

[bhlloy]

What a tournament so far

[MIJB#19]

It's a goalfest today.

[kingfc22]

These games today...wow

[sovereignstar v2]

Pogba still celebrating?

[kingfc22]

Originally Posted by sovereignstar v2

Pogba still celebrating?

Probably still

[Ghost Econ]

That Mbappe miss was coming the whole tournament.

[sovereignstar v2]

Just caught the penalties. Nice!

[MIJB#19]

Is it bad that I was cheering for Mbappe to miss? I think he's second behind Neymar on my cheer against list.