Call for Gareth Southgate to be sacked immediately following England’s poor 1-1 draw with Denmark were COMPLETELY justified in our opinion. Ivory Coast did it in their recent African Cup of Nations campaign, sacking their manager mid-group stage and they ended up winning the tournament! Anyone got their old manager’s number, I reckon he could do a job for us. Here is how things unfolded in Matchday 7 of our Adidas v Nike Boot Battle.
Jovic Equaliser Saves Serbia
It was a lively start to a lively game, as Serbia looked to get their first points on the board against a Slovenia side who drew their opener with Denmark. Both sides had efforts on goal, with Slovenia coming closest. Timi Max Elšnik saw his effort cannon back off the post and the rebound was spooned wide. On paper it looked like a bore, goalless draw but it was another but that. Goalless yes, but a bore it was not. Somehow we went into the break at 0-0.
Žan Karničnik broke the deadlock midway through the second half. He started the move, dispossessing his opponent. He continued his run and ended a sweet move, tapping home from close range to make it 1-0 to Slovenia.
Serbia pushed for that much-needed equaliser, but it didn’t look like it was coming after Aleksandar Mitrović missed a flurry of chances – including one that hit the bar. But it did come, and it came very, very late on. The kitchen sink was well and truly flung at the Slovenian defence, who know they had to get three points here or face a win or bust tie with England in their final group game. But Luka Jović ensured it would be a point apiece as he headed home from a corner deep into injury time.
Adidas
Jovic (Goal): 2
Karničnik (Goal): 3
Nike
Elšnik (MOTM): 4
Running Total: Adidas 71 – Nike 87
Denmark Derailed England
Given the backlash (rightfully so) England received following a boring, eventless draw against Denmark, you’d have thought that Iceland metaphorically pulled our pants down and dumped us out the tournament – as they did on that sorrow night in 2016.
It started so well, as it had done against Serbia a few days before. Kyle Walker took advantage of some slack Danish defending and the ball eventually found its way to Harry Kane. He couldn’t miss from five yards as he opened his account for the tournament. But the lead didn’t last too long. England did as they do, and sat back as if they were 1-0 up in the last two minutes of the final, and were punished in the 34th minute. Morten Hjulmand launched a whopping strike on goal from long distance that cannoned off the post and into the net. It would have been goal of most tournaments, if every other goal in this one wasn’t an absolute worldie.
The second half wasn’t too eventful. England had further chances but they weren’t in rich supply. It was the Danes who had the best chance to win it, but Pierre-Emile Højbjerg effort was well saved by Jordan Pickford. As in the earlier game, the points were shared, keeping alive the Danes’ hopes of progressing. England should top the group, but this dismal performance littered with questionable managerial decisions (IS PALMER LEGALLY NOT ALLOWED TO ENTER A FOOTBALL PITCH IN GERMANY?!) catalysed more questions than it gave answers.
Adidas
Højbjerg (MOTM): 4
Hjulmand (Goal): 3
Nike
–
Running Total: Adidas 78 – Nike 87
Spain Stay Perfect
Spain put on another commanding performance against strong opposition, maintaining their 100% record in the tournament having not yet conceded.
Pedri went close early on, with his header being tipped over the bar by Gianluigi Donnarumma. Spain missed another glorious headed chance. This time it was Nico William, who was picked out beautifully by Alvaro Morata. He couldn’t convert and spurned Spain’s second great chance inside 10 minutes. They continued to create opportunities but couldn’t get past a resolute Italy side, who offered little in attack.
Spain Striving Sees Second-half Breakthrough
Pedri was again the culprit of missing chances. Marc Cucurella cut it back from the left, but the Barca midfielder could only put the resulting effort wide of the near post. The goal finally did come, and it was very much deserved. Some nice work by Williams on the wing resulted in a cross being diverted into his own net by Riccardo Calafiori, who couldn’t do too much about it. Death, taxes and either a long-range or an own goal at Euro 2024.
It’s a wonder how Spain didn’t add to their lead, and they would have kicked themselves if they’d have thrown it away and not left with three points. Williams was denied by the woodwork and the Spaniards missed a host of other decent chances. Italy, though, couldn’t make them pay and sit on three points after their win against Albania in their previous game.
Adidas
Simon (Clean Sheet): 3
Le Normand (Clean Sheet): 2
Fernandez (Clean Sheet): 2
Laporte (Clean Sheet): 2
Calafiori (Own Goal): -2
Nike
Williams (MOTM): 4
Running Total: Adidas 85 – Nike 91
Boot Battle Standings (Adidas 85 Nike 91) – Matchday 6:
Adidas v Nike – which boots are better? Well, our goal to find out hit another crucial day at Euro 2024. Adidas clawed back Nike’s lead thanks to a great performance by Adidas-dominated Spain in their win over Italy. Nico Williams rescued points for Team Nike with a deserved MOTM performance.
Elsewhere, it was a low-scoring day as neither of the earlier games saw any clean-sheet points. Tomorrow we find out if Kylian Mbappe is back for France after his broken nose that he suffered in the win against Austria.
