The Lions' Pride

He wasn't offsides, it was Ireland's fault for kicking it towards the goal.

Some thoughts (I was at the beach all weekend and didn't check the board at all):

-Dutch were beyond wasteful. Would have rather seen Huntleaar and RVP on the field at the same time from the get go in something similar to what Diddy presented on the last page. I know the numbers don't really back it up (28 goals in 66 apps) but RVP just doesn't seem to produce on the same level for the national team, and didnt have a great game on Saturday.

-Pepe was unlucky that shot of his didn't go in off the bar. The shot itself had some power on it, just needed to keep it an inch or two lower. Ronaldo needs to be more involved offensively.

-Side note, does anyone know what happens if the Netherlands and Portugal each with their next match 1-0 (putting all four teams even on 3 points and on goal differential) and then all the teams draw during the third game? Each team would have 4 points (1 win, loss and draw) and even on differential. Not sure its ever happened but my friend brought it up during the match and I didn't know the answer.

-Spain went with the 4-6-0 and Italy countered with a 3-5-2 to start. Fun game for the most part, Torres definitely didn't help himself in his critics' eyes, I thought he looked lively just couldn't finish.

-Croatia looked pretty good, tough for the Irish not to get that penalty though.

1. Tiebreaker order goes like this:
a. Points attained in matches between teams in question
b. Goal difference attained in matches between teams in question
c. Goals scored in matches between teams in question
If still tied:
d. Superior goal difference in all group matches
e. Superior goals scored in all group matches
f. *Position in UEFA coefficient rankings*
g. Fair play conduct of the teams (final tournament statistics)
h. Drawing of lots

Both ties would need to be equivalent scores for your scenario to play out (goals scored). My guess is that option F becomes the decider at that point. In that case, Germany and Portugal would advance.

2. Spain should be giving us a huge dose of Llorente. I have no idea why they're not. He's the PERFECT front player for Spain's system. Fluid, technical, clinical, TALL. Hugely underrated. He should be starting, much less the first option off the bench.

He was overrated 8 years ago, and that was before his knee problems. Quality player, but isn't good enough to start for a sidelike England.

A couple of sweet goals for Sheva.

Against an admittedly a bit depleted back line for Greece, Czech Republic scores 2 inside the first six minutes. Didn't see this one coming.

fify

Greeks never seemed to get it going. Pols just answered Ruskies like a knock out fight back and forth action awesome! Go Polska

Remember you can change your teams in Euro Manager for the second and third set of games in group play. I forgot last night...

Anyway really looking forward to the games tomorrow. It's going to be fun trying to get through the day without finding out the Germany/Netherlands score before I watch it.

I hope someone else has been watching this Denmark Portugal game it has been the best of the tournament IMO.

In a meeting all day. Caught the first half while eating lunch (When did Subways install TVs?) but missed the 2nd. DVRing Germany/Netherlands.

Germany is making it look easy. So much space in the midfield for them even tho the Dutch are playing with two holding midfielders. Both of Gomez's goals were sweet

RvP made it interesting but Germany held most of the possesion after his goal