Euro 2020 Diary Day 13 – Szia!

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I had a wee drink last night and let’s just say I wasn’t in a state to write anything, well anything coherent anyway. We have a free day tomorrow so Scotland will have their day in the diary. But for tonight, let’s finish the groups.

Group E started the day and what has been the most boring group of the competition seemed to be trying to redeem itself. Spain went into their game against Slovakia needing to win or face an embarrassing early exit. It looked like things just weren’t going to go their way when Morata missed an early penalty. He’s a conundrum Morata, I’m sure he’s good I just couldn’t provide you with any evidence to back that up.

Spain were helped by possibly the greatest own goal in history. Martin Dubravka Was the hero when he pulled off the penalty save but then he forgot what sport he was playing and played a perfect volley ball spike onto the ball and into his own net. I could watch this a thousand times and I would not work out what Dubravka was doing and I don’t think it would get any less funny.

It ended up being quite comfortable for the Spaniards who ran out 5-0 winners and finally showed some sign of a pulse in this tournament. Not a bad time to get going. They will now face Croatia in Copenhagen, that could be a good one.

It looked like it was going to be similarly straight forward for Sweden who only needed a draw to get through and took the lead through Emil Forsberg after only two minutes. I maintain that Sweden are still the most boring team in the tournament but fair play, this was good entertainment.

What about Big Boab though and that miss in the first half? It’s so unBoab like. Sweden made Poland pay for that and doubled their lead just before the hour through Forsberg again. Then Poland came to life with an absolute screamer from Big Boab. A Big Boab Banger I would say.

With five minutes to go, it was up to Boab again who got things back on level terms. Both teams were going for it and had their chances. Sweden took advantage of Poland pushing up, as only a win was any use to the Poles, and Viktor Claesson’s goal in the 93rd minute sealed matters and secured Sweden’s spot as group winners.

Big Boab has been criticised for not scoring the amount he should at major tournaments. I don’t think you could really lay that at his door this time, even with the comedy double miss in this game. I think this was a case of Poland being very much a one man Boab, sorry, team.

Then to the madness of group F, where the only thing we knew for sure was that France were through and every other team could go out or go through. It was the perfect start for Portugal when Hugo Lloris decided to twat Danilo square in the jaw. Correct decision from the ref and Cristiano Ronaldo made no mistake from the penalty spot.

Meanwhile, in Munich, the world seemed to be collapsing around the German’s as Hungary took the lead after 11 minutes. A lovely diving header from Adam Szalai put Hungary into dreamland and left Germany bottom of the table and facingthe prospect of being eliminated at home.

Back in Budapest, France were level before the break. The referee decided that Nelson Semedo had impeded the run of Kylian Mbappe and we had the second penalty of the night. This one was…a little bit soft. Karim Benzema made it 1-1 and the group was poised nicely.

Benzema struck two minutes into the second half after a superb through ball from Paul Pogba. Portugal were on the brink again, now bottom on three points and behind Germany on the head to head record.

Half time had come and gone in Munich and Hungary were now in second place! Then, a crazy two minutes. It looked like the party was over for the underdogs when Kai Havertz had Germany level with a header after Peter Gulacsi came rushing off his line and getting nowhere near the ball. More awful goalkeeping and more was to come.

Hungary were back in front 90 seconds after Germany had levelled things. Andras Schafer Got on the end of long through ball and nodded it past the oncoming Manuel Nuer, what he was doing here I am also at a loss. But the impossible was back on.

Portugal were awarded another penalty in Budapest and Ronaldo once again scored, this was the result they needed. As it stood Portugal were finishing second and going through with Hungary in third while the Germans were heading out.

The group was finally settled six minutes from time when substitute Leon Goretzka scored to break Hungarian hearts and set up a tantalising tie at Wembley with England.

Football eh? Bloody hell. A fantasist day of football and now we are set! The diddy teams, like Scotland, have been disposed of and we move on to the real thing. As long as we can survive the two days with no football.

Tags: Euro 2020

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