IT was a day of unbelievable matches and the mother of all upsets. Spain, ever improving were able to withstand the Croatian onslaught while France came crashing out.
Game of the tournament
Croatia 3 vs Spain 5
28 /06/2021
Telia Parken
Wow! Wow! And wow! This was the most spectacular game of the tournament and will be hard to beat. I feel sorry for Croatia because they came up against an improving high scoring Spain. Spain are the only team in European Championship history to score five goals in consecutive matches. Well done Spain.
It was a horrible start for Spain because against the run of play because Pedri, the Spanish goal keeper, took his eyes off a back pass and it scored – an own goal. This made it nine own goals in this competition and the most ever in any European tournament. Spain were behind and things looked bleak.
In the 38th minute, Pablo Sarabia equalised and Spain were on track, but nothing could have prepared us for what was to come. The first half was exciting and the second half magical.
By the 76th minute it seemed Spain had it won, they scored three goals to Croatia’s one. Cesar Azpilicueta in the 57th and Fernando Torres in the 76th had the goals and Spain were flying high. Then came Croatia as Luka Modric took control of the game. Mislav Orsic in the 85th and Mario Pasalic in 90 +2 brought the game even. It was end-to-end excitement and if you missed this game then you definitely need to see it. Croatia have scored seven goals in this tournament, the most they have scored in any Euro.
There were 35 shots at goal in this game with 23 by Spain. Spain had 68 % of the possession but it did not feel that way.
In extra time, Spain sealed it with a wonderful strike from Álvaro Morata in the 100th and then M Oyarzabal in the 103rd minute. Croatia have made this into a spectacle but were on worn out legs in extra time. This game will be remembered for an eternity.
France 3 vs Switzerland 3
Penalties France 4 vs Switzerland 5
28/06/21 3pm
National Arena, Bucharest
Oh My! Who would have predicted that little Switzerland would have brought the mighty French to their knees? It was an incredible game in the second half and extra time after a weak and dull France in the first half.
Shockingly, Switzerland took the lead in the 15th minute with Haris Seferovic and it was a wonderful header. France were very flat and dull in the first half and were out of the game.
Then came half time and the coach Dedier Deschamps did a marvellous job in inspiring a turnaround. France were lucky when they conceded a penalty and it was saved. Then it was all France for 30 minutes. This is the slick passing French team we were waiting for and they arrived with grace. Two minutes after the penalty Karim Benzema in the 57th levelled the game and in the 59th he gave France the lead. Paul Pogba’s 75th minute wonder goal had victory written all over it but it was not to be.
Seferovic completed a brace in the 81st and Mario Gavranovic equalised in the 90th minute. Extra time came and the deadlock ensued. The first penalty shootout of the tuiurnament came.
It stood at 4-4 and up strode Kylian Mbappe, the young dynamite from France. He had not scored for the tournament and when he was needed he failed. He shot, low and hard but it was met with a strong firm Swiss hand – game over.
Switzerland move on to face Spain and France – the World Cup holders are sent packing to lick their wounds.
Red Eyes for Les Bleus
By Gerald Lutchman
IT was a day of unbelievable matches and the mother of all upsets. Spain, ever improving were able to withstand the Croatian onslaught while France came crashing out.
Game of the tournament
Croatia 3 vs Spain 5
28 /06/2021
Telia Parken
Wow! Wow! And wow! This was the most spectacular game of the tournament and will be hard to beat. I feel sorry for Croatia because they came up against an improving high scoring Spain. Spain are the only team in European Championship history to score five goals in consecutive matches. Well done Spain.
It was a horrible start for Spain because against the run of play because Pedri, the Spanish goal keeper, took his eyes off a back pass and it scored – an own goal. This made it nine own goals in this competition and the most ever in any European tournament. Spain were behind and things looked bleak.
In the 38th minute, Pablo Sarabia equalised and Spain were on track, but nothing could have prepared us for what was to come. The first half was exciting and the second half magical.
By the 76th minute it seemed Spain had it won, they scored three goals to Croatia’s one. Cesar Azpilicueta in the 57th and Fernando Torres in the 76th had the goals and Spain were flying high. Then came Croatia as Luka Modric took control of the game. Mislav Orsic in the 85th and Mario Pasalic in 90 +2 brought the game even. It was end-to-end excitement and if you missed this game then you definitely need to see it. Croatia have scored seven goals in this tournament, the most they have scored in any Euro.
There were 35 shots at goal in this game with 23 by Spain. Spain had 68 % of the possession but it did not feel that way.
In extra time, Spain sealed it with a wonderful strike from Álvaro Morata in the 100th and then M Oyarzabal in the 103rd minute. Croatia have made this into a spectacle but were on worn out legs in extra time. This game will be remembered for an eternity.
France 3 vs Switzerland 3
Penalties France 4 vs Switzerland 5
28/06/21 3pm
National Arena, Bucharest
Oh My! Who would have predicted that little Switzerland would have brought the mighty French to their knees? It was an incredible game in the second half and extra time after a weak and dull France in the first half.
Shockingly, Switzerland took the lead in the 15th minute with Haris Seferovic and it was a wonderful header. France were very flat and dull in the first half and were out of the game.
Then came half time and the coach Dedier Deschamps did a marvellous job in inspiring a turnaround. France were lucky when they conceded a penalty and it was saved. Then it was all France for 30 minutes. This is the slick passing French team we were waiting for and they arrived with grace. Two minutes after the penalty Karim Benzema in the 57th levelled the game and in the 59th he gave France the lead. Paul Pogba’s 75th minute wonder goal had victory written all over it but it was not to be.
Seferovic completed a brace in the 81st and Mario Gavranovic equalised in the 90th minute. Extra time came and the deadlock ensued. The first penalty shootout of the tuiurnament came.
It stood at 4-4 and up strode Kylian Mbappe, the young dynamite from France. He had not scored for the tournament and when he was needed he failed. He shot, low and hard but it was met with a strong firm Swiss hand – game over.
Switzerland move on to face Spain and France – the World Cup holders are sent packing to lick their wounds.
Tuesday’s games
England vs Germany
29/06/21 12 noon
Wembley
Sweden vs Ukraine
29/06/21 3pm
Hampden Park