THE EURO 2016 RECAP: WEEK #3

POLISH PENALTY PERFECTION

A fantastic game with a fantastic goal and a fantastic example of how you take penalties from both teams but for one player on the Swiss side. Granit Xhaka look away now. He went for 90% power and 10% accuracy and absolutely missed the target. The rest of the penalties from both sides were expertly taken (especially Lewandowski’s pen) but the game was very much a game of two halves. Poland had the best of the first half and a deserved lead through Jakub Blaszczykowski. However in the second half the Swiss made a match of the tie.  It took a moment of absolute beauty from Stoke’s very own Xherdan Shaqiri who scored a scicycle kick (not quite a bicycle or scissor kick = scicycle) from just outside the box. The Swiss pressed and pressed for the winner after that but the game was indeed decided by spot kicks.

If Poland want to progress to the semi final they need to address their lack of chance conversion, as they had 20 attempts on goal v Switzerland but only 5 were on target. They also need to make sire Balszczykowski is having a good day as he has been directly involved in five of Poland’s six goals in European Championship history; three of which he scored and two he assisted.

PORTUGUESE ‘PROWESS’ 

Let’s be honest. This was a poor poor game for a knockout phase of a competition. Both teams started very slowly and the fact that no shots on target were recorded by either team until Ricardo Quaresma scored to put Portugal through in the 117th minute tells you all you need to know about this game. Ronaldo did not have a shot on goal for the entire 90 minutes. Croatia had 17 shots in the game and none were on target, something that hasn’t been achieved at the Euros for 36 years. Portugal committed a massive 28 fouls in the game.

Put it this way, if you did not watch this match you did not miss much; apart from the emergence of a very very talented young man who goes by the name of Renato Sanches. When he came on in the second half his energy and combative display was fascinating to see especially as he was playing against one of the best central midfielders in the world in Luka Modric. Bayern Munich would definitely be happy with the initial £27.5m fee they have paid for the 18 year old. Definitely one to look out for in the future and during the rest of the tournament.

THE DRAGONS CONTINUE TO PROGRESS

The Welsh continue in the Euros and are now the only British representatives left in the competition; following the exits of Ireland, England and Northern Ireland (who Wales beat to get through).

Again it was not the most impressive match of the tournament. Northern Ireland are known for playing that infamous ‘6-4’ formation whenever they play an opponent with a very dangerous attacking player. Wales had to come and attack as the Irish were very happy to sit back and catch them on the counter. Wales completed 330 short passes compared to N Ireland’s 257. NI completed 8 more crosses in the game as they tried to make their height advantage in the box pay off. Bale was well marked during the game and had to consistently drop very deep to try and make an impact during the game. Northern Ireland had their chances however, and could have taken the lead in the first half when a swift counter attack ended with a fine save from Wayne Hennessey. Unfortunately despite the bright start Northern Ireland went out through an own goal by Gareth McAuley; which was the first one they have scored since 2011.  Norther Ireland’s dreadful record v Wales continues as they have won none of their past nine encounters; drawing four and losing five.

EDEN’S GARDEN ONCE MORE

Now this is the Eden Hazard we know. He with the support of Kevin De Bryune made the game v Hungary a full gone conclusion by the 78th minute; despite a very bright start from both teams in the first half.  Belgium seemed happy to catch the Hungarians on the counter attack and worked very effectively for them.  They recorded three counter attacks and four through balls in the 90 minutes.  Hungary recorded 73 more passes than Belgium in  the game and had 54% of possession.  The Belgians very much played to their strengths.

Despite this being a team performance; the two stars of this very talented Belgium team won the match for them. Hazard made the second highest number of passes during the game, recording 48 in total. Hazard’s goal was a beautiful move ending with him cutting in and expertly finding the bottom corner with a powerful shot. Kevin De Bruyne had 78 touches of the ball in the game, which was more than any other player. 14 of those touches were in the Belgian half of the pitch.  He was always looking to play the ball forward. He also had 7 attempts on goal  He provided two crucial assists; one being for the first goal with a superb cross met by Toby Alderweireld to make it 1-0 in the first half.  Belgium also proved how strong their bench is once again, as Yannick Carrasco and Michy Batshuayi scored when they were introduced in the second half.

Belgium are definitely contenders for the title now as this win has to come at the perfect time and key players are picking up form when it matters most.