Swiss knife through French butter!
Bohemia embarrased Oranje!
Portucale beaten by smash-and-grab (makes a change)!
Vikings slayed the Dragons!
Standouts.
Interestingly enough favourites in the group dubbed the "group of death" were all knocked out, appears they emptied the tank in group stage.
Order from most to least convincing in that round:
Denmark
Czech Republic
Italy
England
Spain
Switzerland
Ukraine
Belgium
Moving Christensen into midfield, transitioning from 343 to 433/442 was the difference-maker (same tactic applied in previous match against Russia). Early in-game tweak ensured a griphold of the match and Danes never looked back.
Masterstroke in nullifying and counteracting the threat posed by Ramsey, Bale and co. between the lines. Worked a treat.
Tactical nugget which Tuchel may wish to adopt in future at times.
This move would allow for more attacking players on the pitch and faciliate evolvement of the system for players advancement. Flexible and unpredictable (don't need another stale season, akin to Conte's second).
Making the breakthrough in league matches were an unnecessary uphill struggle, not helped by our creative machine Hudson-Odoi who is absolutely essential against low-block compact sides absence from the field of play and lack of ruthless clinicalism from certain players.
Best believe TT watched with bated breath, as AC accomplishly extinguished fire.
Such is AC' supreme tactical understanding, versatility and shrewedness...he played in three positions/roles against Wales (back 3, midfield, back 4 that order) and adapted seamlessly to the lot of them through each stage of the match. Been a longtime advocate of AC in a hybrid role, a complete player of the highest standard....
Well-equiped in playing hybrid defence/midfield role. Never looked out of place.
Outstanding silent killer! Cannot be stressed enough.
Well, that was an eventful last 16...
posted on 30/6/21
comment by merrysupersteve (monitoring the situation) (U1132)
posted 3 minutes ago
Denmark
Belgium
Czechs
England
Spain
Switzerland
Italy
Ukraine
That's my order, with difficulty of opposition and performance factored in. I still think you have to put Denmark top, even if they didn't have to work too hard.
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Czechs played a large portion of the match against 10 men - has three been factored in?
posted on 30/6/21
I've factored that in but tbh I don't think any of the teams below them played particularly well. You could possibly swap them with England I guess.
posted on 30/6/21
comment by merrysupersteve (monitoring the situation) (U1132)
posted 23 seconds ago
I've factored that in but tbh I don't think any of the teams below them played particularly well. You could possibly swap them with England I guess.
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I just think the list is nonsense full stop, I mean no one gave the Swiss a chance and yet they knocked out the World champions, scoring 3 in the process. Yet the Czechs beating a team that has failed to qualify for the last couple of tournaments and was down to 10 men is more impressive?
posted on 30/6/21
comment by Striketeam7 - #GiveittoSandy (U18109)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by merrysupersteve (monitoring the situation) (U1132)
posted 23 seconds ago
I've factored that in but tbh I don't think any of the teams below them played particularly well. You could possibly swap them with England I guess.
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I just think the list is nonsense full stop, I mean no one gave the Swiss a chance and yet they knocked out the World champions, scoring 3 in the process. Yet the Czechs beating a team that has failed to qualify for the last couple of tournaments and was down to 10 men is more impressive?
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The Swiss won on penalties having had half the number of shots against a team who only won one game in the tournament. The French also totally switched off and let them back into the game. They brought Sissoko on ffs.
Czechs comfortably saw off a team who had a 100% record in their group and rarely looked troubled even before the red card.
posted on 30/6/21
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 1 hour, 49 minutes ago
Bit strange to see teams who needed extra time above teams who won in 90 in the "convincing" stakes.
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Did Belgium not get 9 points in the group stages and beat the same Denmark labeled convincing
I find some football fans to be fanciful.
Teams that have been kept as a group together , have the longest winning/unbeaten runs and have appeared in the later stages of such competitions in the past are the most likely to proceed at this point.
Belgium and Italy are clear favorites, whether they have made you get of your seat or not.
International tournaments are in most cases never won by the entertainers.
posted on 30/6/21
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 1 hour, 58 minutes ago
Bit strange to see teams who needed extra time above teams who won in 90 in the "convincing" stakes.
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Lol
posted on 30/6/21
comment by Sky-blue (U22529)
posted 4 seconds ago
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 1 hour, 49 minutes ago
Bit strange to see teams who needed extra time above teams who won in 90 in the "convincing" stakes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Did Belgium not get 9 points in the group stages and beat the same Denmark labeled convincing
I find some football fans to be fanciful.
Teams that have been kept as a group together , have the longest winning/unbeaten runs and have appeared in the later stages of such competitions in the past are the most likely to proceed at this point.
Belgium and Italy are clear favorites, whether they have made you get of your seat or not.
International tournaments are in most cases never won by the entertainers.
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That’s why England have a chance, it’s boring as fack but we are just not conceding. Italy and Belgium only conceded once so far as well, I’d be very surprised if one of the 3 aren’t the winners of the tournament
posted on 30/6/21
So this Christensen fellas good I take it?
posted on 30/6/21
comment by merrysupersteve (monitoring the situation) (U1132)
Denmark
Belgium
Czechs
England
Spain
Switzerland
Italy
Ukraine
That's my order, with difficulty of opposition and performance factored in. I still think you have to put Denmark top, even if they didn't have to work too hard.
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Wales' main protagonists weren't allowed to play (bar first opening 10 mins). Denmark were allover them like a rash, after the smart tactical switch.
Manager and players had no solutions to the change, comprehensively outplayed Wales.
Much like what Italy did in group...Denmark on larger scale, limited them to nothing but chasing shadows.
Different/heightened pressures comes with knockout stage matches and Denmark stood up to it in a way which no other nation has yet so far.
Shouldn't be discredited or underestimated.
posted on 30/6/21
comment by Devil (U6522)
posted 4 hours, 34 minutes ago
So this Christensen fellas good I take it?
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His name has already been promoted to title a future new stadium surely indicating his current "Magnus" status.