Day 5: Hungary vs Portugal | France vs Germany

[RobinLFC]

We won 3-0, I'm calm

It's just the truth, no? The tournament is unbalanced because of the draw with some teams having it much easier that others due to awful seeding criteria and loads of teams having home advantage. We should have never been in the position we were with 10 minutes to go where we were half way out of the tournament.

And Hungary fought for their lives to draw this game even though a draw meant they're pretty much out of the tournament. It's not like Sweden yesterday where a draw is a good result for them.

The tournament is unbalanced because of the draw, yes, but UEFA didn't "plan this whole thing", just bad luck for Portugal. (EDIT: just figured you meant planned badly in general, not planned to feck Portugal. Apologies )

And yes Hungary fought for their lives but what did you expect, them going all out to attack and give your midfield and attack acres of space? This was the only option for them and one we'll also see against the other two teams. They don't have the quality to execute another gameplan against either of the big three in your group, unfortunately.

 

[giorno]

I would say that France and Italy are culturally close yet different, I don't know a single french that actually has a bad thing to say about Italy or italians. I would say that it's a friendly rivalry.

Yeah, jokes aside, it is. Culturally we always have had a lot of admiration for France

But the food/wine rivalry is very real and it spills into everything else, though not in a bad way

Also we tend to think you're all a bunch of arrogant cnuts

 

[Eendracht maakt macht]

Cars? Nope.
Food? Tie.
Music? Nope.
Women? Tie.

Women win Italy easily.

 

[Withnail]

Cars? Nope.
Food? Tie.
Music? Nope.
Women? Tie.

German food???

 

[alexthelion]

Cars? Nope.
Food? Tie.
Music? Nope.
Women? Tie.

How can cars be "Nope"?

 

[P-Ro]

christ, just seeing the graphic of the french team. they are so stacked.

 

[SCP]

We won 3-0, I'm calm

It's just the truth, no? The tournament is unbalanced because of the draw with some teams having it much easier that others due to awful seeding criteria and loads of teams having home advantage. We should have never been in the position we were with 10 minutes to go where we were half way out of the tournament.

And Hungary fought for their lives to draw this game even though a draw meant they're pretty much out of the tournament. It's not like Sweden yesterday where a draw is a good result for them.

I get your point but Belgium also played away at Russia and so on. Were you complainig when we won the Nations League at home? Or playing 2004 at home? Let's not make excuses and the minimal objetive should be to at least reach the top 16. And we are only in this situation because Santos fecked up the whole thing in Ukraine. By the way, do you think the President of the Portuguese Football Federation voted against this model?

 

[Eendracht maakt macht]

German food???

Against France it was I thought?

 

[RedDevilRoshi]

I thought Hungary gave a very good account of themselves and was gutted when their goal was disallowed.

Portugal huffed and puffed but you just knew the goal was going to eventually come. Still backing them to go deep in this tournament. Interesting to see how they get on against France & Germany.

 

[Boavista]

We won 3-0, I'm calm

It's just the truth, no? The tournament is unbalanced because of the draw with some teams having it much easier that others due to awful seeding criteria and loads of teams having home advantage. We should have never been in the position we were with 10 minutes to go where we were half way out of the tournament.

And Hungary fought for their lives to draw this game even though a draw meant they're pretty much out of the tournament. It's not like Sweden yesterday where a draw is a good result for them.

"Fighting for a draw" is useless criticism though. They gave it a go as good as they could, and came pretty close to taking the lead in the second half. Really don't understand what you're on about. What else were they supposed to do?

They weren't even playing particularly dirty or negative like you're implying.

 

[Cal?]

Please. We have Ferrari, Lambo, Maserati, Pagani

They have Bugatti, who was an italian immigrant

Food? TIE?!?!? Have you no taste buds

Music? Ok, yeah, i'll give them this one

Women? Heh. They all prefer italian anyways

Cars definitely goes to Italy.

Food? Debatable, personally I prefer Spanish

Fashion France edges it

No view on music

 

[Withnail]

Against France it was I thought?

Oh sorry. The Germany reference was a different point.

 

[Chicharo]

That French starting lineup is damn scary

 

[NoPace]

Is it Havertz or Muller on the right, or a 3-4-1-2?

 

[Teja]

I don't know what your standards are but we field Neuer, Hummels, Gündogan, Kroos, Kimmich, Müller, Gnabry and Havertz while Gosens, Rüdiger and Ginter all had a good season with their clubs. The big question mark is if we finally manage to play like a team. That has been the major issues the last few years.

It's in comparison to France really. France has higher quality as individuals and as a team, so I don't really think it's a foregone conclusion that it's a German victory if they somehow manage to play as a team whatever that means. At best 50-50 because you're at home, more like 70-30 if it was in Paris and both teams played to their potential.

Even if you were to go player by player:

Neuer, Hummels, Kimmich, Muller are good.

Gundogan's alright but I don't think he can replicate his goalscoring form for the national team, Havertz has been pretty bad.

Rudiger had a good season after Tuchel but was pretty shit before that. Still a ? for me how much of it was system / coaching and how much it's on the player.

Not too familiar with Gosens and Ginter.

 

[HerrLeinad]

Is it Havertz or Muller on the right, or a 3-4-1-2?

All three (Gnabry, Havertz, Müller) will switch positions and occupy the striker spot depending on the situation but it's in average more likely to see Havertz up top and Müller on the right / around Havertz.

 

[Schmeichel's Cartwheel]

That French starting lineup is damn scary

Their star player gets benched for McTominay & Fred. Levels

 

[TheReligion]

Their star player gets benched for McTominay & Fred. Levels

Here we go again.

 

[Who's Kissing Cameras?]

Their star player gets benched for McTominay & Fred. Levels

Mbappe plays for Utd in midfield? News to me.

 

[P-Ro]

2 of my favourite national anthems coming up. Can't wait!!

 

[TheReligion]

2 of my favourite national anthems coming up. Can't wait!!

Agreed. Lovely.

 

[Withnail]

2 of my favourite national anthems coming up. Can't wait!!

I think Italy just pips France in the anthems department.

 

[hellhunter]

France team is absolutely stacked

 

[WeePat]

2 of my favourite national anthems coming up. Can't wait!!

Germany might crack my top 10, maybe not. France, Italy, Russia and Portugal are definitely top tier for me.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Clive and Ally again.

 

[JPRouve]

German food???

Who wants a Fiat Panda? And Alpha Romeo cars have a 30 minutes life expectancy. Also France has more WRC wins than Italy.

I didn't pick cars and competitions that suit my agenda, I swear.

 

[BeforeKeanetherewasRobson]

The two XIs are absolutely stacked. Hope this is open, could be a classic

 

[TheReligion]

Clive and Ally again.

Dream team

 

[SCP]

Germany might crack my top 10, maybe not. France, Italy, Russia and Portugal are definitely top tier for me.

Portugal and Brasil is great too. But my favourites in Europe beside Portugal are Italy and France, have to say England anthem on a full stadium has his appeal, but for a guy who isn't a fan of Kings and Queens this day and age you have to forget that part. (not a insult to your Queen boys calm down).

 

[Samid]

Putting Kante next to Pogba in the anthem lineup is just savage

 

[Dobba]

Ooh Aaaaahhhh Cantona!

 

[Port Vale Devil]

The French national anthem is brilliant.

 

[always_hoping]

Father Jack (RIP) would be proud of that French national anthem.

 

[Sphaero]

So, the game is just around the corner, opening match vs a top opponent with tons of history and rivalry behind it. By all means I should be really excited yet there is no anticipation for me. It is actually really freaking sad how little I care about my own countries national team. I really hoped that this would build up to when it actually started, but the staff, FA and UEFA just did a too good job to suck all the fun and emotions out of it. Due to the carnival nature of the tournament it does not even feel like a proper EC.

I will just watch the game without any emotional attachment and hope for some good football.

 

[VorZakone]

I'm surprised Low didn't go into hiding after his sniffing antics.

 

[Widow]

Hoping the game lives up to expectations. It could be a classic!

 

[JamesB__]

Rudiger’s mask looks like it’s made out of carbon fibre.

 

[Godfather]

On paper France has the better team. Not by alot though. Let's hope for a good game.

 

[Salt Bailly]

Looks like Rudiger's heading straight to the masquerade ball after the game.

 

[TrustInJanuzaj]

Hope France batter Germany tonight. Come on Pogba masterclass.