UEFA Euro 2020

[jfy1999]

Wales 1–1 Switzerland

Good recovery by Wales after it looked like Switzerland might grind out a victory.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I watched much of the first half which Switzerland controlled but without creating many chances, albeit they should have gone ahead just before halftime with a golden opportunity spurned.

I thought that it was the sort of game where the team with the possession and territory but failing to capitalise would live to regret it and so it proved. I didn't see any of the second half. Did Wales improve? Had Wales lost they would have found it very difficult getting into the knock-out stage.

Switzerland aren't a great side and on the evidence of yesterday neither are Turkey, but they were playing Italy whose resurgence under Mancini has been remarkable.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

I'm not sure how many of you were watching the Denmark v Finland game, but towards the end of the first half a most awful event happened. Christian Eriksen collapsed on the pitch and was seen to be being given CPR.
UEFA have reported that he has been stabilised in hospital and the Danish FA say he is awake and awaiting further tests.
I'm sure you will all join me in praying for his full recovery.

Kevin

 

[jfy1999]

my prayers go out to him, his family and his teammates

 

[Ray Finkle]

It truly was horrific to see, why the BBC didn't cut back to the studio quicker than they did is beyond me. I'm just so glad that he is now stable and wish him a full and speedy recovery.

Massive respect to the Denmark team for playing the second half, it can't have been an easy decision.

I really hope that all of those medics are bought out before the final and given some kind of recognition.

 

[JENNYJET]

The BBC just loves a story and that idiot Sean Lay ( sp.) Just waffling on was insulting. The news channel must get professional or lose it.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I was surprised that screens weren't brought out sooner. The Denmark team stood around the player to try to effect some privacy but with most people having instant photo/video facility via smartphones I hope no moron in the crowd tries to publish any on the likes of YouTube.

I remember watching a motor racing Formula 1 race in the 1990s live on tv (I"m not normally a great motor racing follower) when Ayrton Senna was involved in a horrendous crash, striking a concrete barrier. It looked ominous from the beginning and so it proved with Senna killed instantly. The programme director immediately withdrew live close-up shots of the wrecked car and we were quickly returned to the studio.

Hopefully today's outcome will be similar to that of Fabrice Muamba who collapsed whilst playing for Bolton Wanderers in an FA Cup tie against Spurs at White Hart Lane in 2012. It was later reported that his heart had stopped for 78 minutes but happily he has made a full recovery, albeit his football career ended. On that occasion a consultant cardiologist who is a Spurs fan was in the crowd. He managed to persuade stewards to allow him onto the pitch and supervised the treatment there and in the ambulance.

 

[JENNYJET]

Sadly, if there is a STORY, decency is the last consideration in studio directors minds. Had a player been struck by lightning they would probably try to get close ups of the scene. The F1 last season when a driver crashed and the car fireballed, an example of minimum necessary footage by SKY and host broadcaster.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Italy and Belgium both looked impressive in their opening matches.

Can England do the same? The omens are not good. The country's rugby team had a dismal Six Nations and now the cricket side is being blown away by New Zealand.

We might do quite well in international competition when it comes to club teams both in rugby and football but of course those squads are made up of players from a number of nations as well as England-qualified players. JENNYJET made a broadly similar point about the Premier League a few days ago.

Anyway, we shall see. Perhaps we will be pleasantly surprised. I still expect England to reach the knock-out stage.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Had a player been struck by lightning they would probably try to get close ups of the scene.

Unfortunately, that's exactly what happened this evening with Christian Eriksen. Close ups of his face whilst unconscious and the medics performing CPR. Then zooming in on distressed players (of both teams) and fans (again both teams), many in tears. I'm all for the freedom of the press, but there has to be a self imposed level of decency and respect.

Kevin

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

Press have yet again shown to be exactly what they are. Scum, Poison whatever you want to refer to them as. There should be standards in which we adhere to; showing someone going through cardiac arrest and been recovered by the specialist teams is just low of the low. A set standard of "cut to the studio" and that's it. I get the studio team may not be able to add anything, may not be able to speak about much. But it's better then showing someone literally dying/been recovered. Distasteful and disgusting.

I'm all up for freedom of speech but this is just too far. We need now more then ever; a world wide regulation of the press. Regulate them to the high heaven. Regulate the editors; the journalists; the owners everyone to the high heaven.

They say that Climate Change is the next threat to our lives. Well it maybe; but the biggest threat that we face at the moment is the media.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Can England do the same? The omens are not good. The country's rugby team had a dismal Six Nations and now the cricket side is being blown away by New Zealand.

I have kind of lost interest in the England national team in recent years but there's nothing like a tournament to regain it. On paper I think we have a very good squad with a mix of youth and experience along with some real quality but as we so often see, football is not played on paper. The 2018 World Cup bought much excitement but that was a fairly easy run and as soon as we came up against a decent team we lost (I do accept that you can only beat what is put in front of you). I think (hope) England will have a good tournament but I don't see them winning it, the likes of France and Belgium look way to strong. That said anything can happen in a game of football, Greece proved that in 2004, and this is probably the most confident that I have felt about an England squad since the summer of 1996.

We shall see.

Italy and Belgium both looked impressive in their opening matches.

I drew Italy in our sweepstake at work, coincidentally my son also got them in his class draw.

Belgium looked very good and with more players returning I have a feeling they will only get stronger as they progress.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I have kind of lost interest in the England national team in recent years but there's nothing like a tournament to regain it. On paper I think we have a very good squad with a mix of youth and experience along with some real quality but as we so often see, football is not played on paper. The 2018 World Cup bought much excitement but that was a fairly easy run and as soon as we came up against a decent team we lost (I do accept that you can only beat what is put in front of you). I think (hope) England will have a good tournament but I don't see them winning it, the likes of France and Belgium look way to strong. That said anything can happen in a game of football, Greece proved that in 2004, and this is probably the most confident that I have felt about an England squad since the summer of 1996.

I posted last week that my interest in international competition whether football, rugby or cricket has lessened over recent years and now I'm more interested in the club teams that I follow in each of these sports (county in the case of cricket).

Tournament football is an acquired art and England have never seemed able to address it. They invariably do well in the pre-tournament qualifying group stages but that is more like a league season in this country and anyway many of the teams in the European groups are make-weights so England ought to do well.

However, when they reach the finals themselves the wheel all too often comes off. This year it's different with the finals being played all around Europe but with England having an advantage over everyone else in that if they did reach the actual final nearly all their games including the semi-finals and final would be at Wembley.

I don't know what it's like elsewhere but when England are in European or World Cup finals there are usually St George flags everywhere - in house windows, on cars. With this tournament I've seen very few in my area - far fewer than in the past.

 

[David_itl]

I expect part of the reason is that it doesn't really feel like a tournament. It's like a 4 team pre-season event in various cities then we get Quarter Finals, Semi-Final and Final. I've not seen that many flags around.

At our work, apparently there were at least 2 sweepstakes. I wasn't told about them until all the teams had been accounted for with some people having 2 or 3 teams.

And some very encouraging news about Christian Eriksen who has sent greetings to the rest of his teammates this morning I really do doubt if he will ever play professionally anymore

 

[JENNYJET]

Kevin, the media have a fixation with emotions....listen to post game interviews of any sport and invariably the first question will be " How do you feel etc.? " First thing I yell at the screen or wireless is " non of my sodding business " and I switch to NCIS!

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Kevin, the media have a fixation with emotions....listen to post game interviews of any sport and invariably the first question will be " How do you feel etc.? " First thing I yell at the screen or wireless is " non of my sodding business " and I switch to NCIS!

Thanks Jenny. I never watch the pre or post match discussions. I'm only interested in the game and am quite capable of making my own mind up regarding the performance without being told about it by excessively overpaid pundits.
The commentary in the game can be bad enough. While watching the Wales v Switzerland match, after Wales had equalised I heard one of the commentators say 'The fans seem happy with 1-1, do you think they'd be happier with 2-1?'

Kevin

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Stones and Mings at centre-back. Just have to hope they can manage a game without at least one major game-changing blunder from one of them.

Grealish not starting. I thought he would have been a certainty after his pre-tournament games last week. Just shows the lack of point in playing them.

This line-up does not excite me. I just hope to be proved wrong.

Thanks Jenny. I never watch the pre or post match discussions. I'm only interested in the game and am quite capable of making my own mind up regarding the performance without being told about it by excessively overpaid pundits.
The commentary in the game can be bad enough. While watching the Wales v Switzerland match, after Wales had equalised I heard one of the commentators say 'The fans seem happy with 1-1, do you think they'd be happier with 2-1?'

Kevin

I always record MOTD to fast forward the 'expert' comments between the games and also to avoid incessant replays of goals.

I watched the first half of the Wales game yesterday with the sound switched off. Will probably do the same with the England game today. If I'm at a match in person I don't want someone giving a running commentary in my ear. I never watch pre-match preliminaries either and always switch off at the final whistle.

Some might like to watch post-match celebrations or commiserations as the case might be. I just want to watch the game and as soon as it's finished I move on.

 

[JENNYJET]

Best if commentary came from former players thus avoiding " should have passed the ball" or "should do better" remarks and ditch summarisers. As to replays, too many cameras invite forensic examination and work for those in the studio.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Gareth Southgate showed today why he knows a hell of a lot more about football than I do. England did prove me wrong with a solid performance and deserved the win. Phillips ran the show and the centre backs had a largely trouble-free day.

I'm not sure how good Croatia are these days. They had a good deal of possession at times in the second half but didn't really pose a serious threat although Southgate would no doubt argue that was because England didn't allow them to.

Not getting carried away but today certainly gave some hope for optimism that England might make some progress in the competition even if not all the way - that's still probably unlikely but tournament football can throw up the unexpected.

The Scotland game will be interesting especially if the Scots get a decent result against the Czech Republic. They are always motivated when playing the 'Auld Enemy'.

Anyway, for today well done England.

 

[JENNYJET]

Only the idiots that booed the Croatia anthem spoilt it. Make them stand naked in centre circle and turn on the sprinklers. Wars have been fought over such disrespectful behaviour.