It was goals galore on day 2 of the Euro 2024 Championships in Germany, following the trend set by the hosts last night in their 5-1 thrashing of Scotland. Here is how the action unfolded in a chaotic few hours – PLUS, of course what it means for our Adidas vs Nike Boot Battle.
Switzerland Too Good for Hungary
Bloody VAR. Coming here, taking our goals (away). Who does it think it is? Well, in this instance, it didn’t actually take, but instead gave. Kwadwo Duah was deemed to be offside as he was played through one-on-one down the middle of the Hungarian back line. He slotted home anyway and our savour Lord VAR determined he was in fact onside. With 12 minutes gone, Switzerland were 1-0 up.
Their lead was doubled just before the break, with a rocket from the edge of the area by Michel Aebischer sailing into the corner. The Swiss were well worth their lead, with Hungary not turning up whatsoever.
Hungary Push in the Second Half
The second period was a different story, with Hungary finally waking up and realising they actually might have to try play some football if they want to score. Their efforts paid off midway through the half when Barnabas Varga got in front of his man and headed home from a few yards out. It was clever from the forward, who had missed a decent chance minutes before.
Like the Big Bad Wolf, Hungary huffed and puffed but couldn’t blow down Switzerland’s proverbial house. In the 93rd minute, second-half substitute Breel Embolo capitalised on a dodgy header. It was one of those your fat centre-back would do, where instead of jumping or attacking the ball, they simply shut their eyes, squat a little for good effect and let the ball hit them – not knowing where the ball would land. Well, in this instance it landed at Embolo’s feet and he found himself one-on-one with the keeper. He finished off with a delicious chip over the keeper to secure Switzerland the win and a crucial three points.
Adidas
Aebischer (Goal): 3
Varga (Goal): 2
Nike
Embolo (Goal): 2
Duah (Goal): 2
Running Total: Adidas 3 – Nike 15
Yamal Ya Man After Spain Surge Past Croatia
What were you doing at 16, huh? In your room playing with Lego? Chasing the cute girl from your school around in the hope she might be your girlfriend? Wondering whether you should take A-Levels or go to College? PATHETIC. Because I’ll tell you what Lamine Yamal was doing, he was representing his country and terrorising poor Croatian full backs.
It was a fascinating match up on just the second day of the Euros, with everyone interested to see if an ageing Croatian team could replicate their recent tournament successes, and also if a Spanish team that wasn’t much fancied could overachieve. Truth be told, Croatia didn’t really threaten to lay a glove on the Spaniards and Luka Modric coming off midway through the second half equated to a boxer putting two hands in front of their face and not allowing any further head shots to land.
Spanish First-Half Blitz
Goals from Alvaro Morata and Fabian Ruiz either side of the 30-minute mark thrusted the tie into life. Up until that point, it had been a lot of meaningless possession from both sides and it was difficult to see where a goal would come from.
Just before half time, Daniel Carvajal made it three after converting a wicked Yamal cross – did you know he was 16 by the way?
45 Minutes of My Life Lost
Did nobody tell Croatia they’re meant to actually try to win games. I get it, 3-0 down against Spain but some of us want to be entertained while eating nachos off our stomachs. The second half was as interesting as listening to paint dry. Spain couldn’t be bothered, clearly used to taking a siesta at this time and Croatia couldn’t do anything.
In the last 10 minutes, they did get a lucky break. The ball found its way to Bruno Petkovic after a mix up and he had to score. What couldn’t have been more than seven yards out, he took it past the keeper and looked certain to score, but Rodri was their to seemingly whip his feet away from him. BUT DRAMA, there was no contact and Petkovic appeared to have tripped himself up.
The foul was given anyway, but the officials remembered Rodri played for City and knew they wouldn’t be getting this month’s check if they sent him off, so they just booked him instead. Don’t yap on about double jeopardy – he was going to score. If it’s deemed a foul surely Rodri has to go? Anyway, Petkovic missed the pen but scored the rebound after it was squared back to him, only for VAR to get involved for encroachment. It was ruled out and it was perhaps the most dramatic thing that happened in the game. If I wasn’t already asleep from boredom of that second half I might have more to say on the matter.
Full-time, 3-0 Spain.
Adidas
Simon (Clean Sheet): 3
Le Normand (Clean Sheet): 2
Fernandez (Clean Sheet): 2
Ruiz (Goal): 3
Morata (Goal): 2
Yamal (MOTM): 4
Nike
Petkovic (Missed Pen): -3 (FBG DotD): -4
Running Total: Adidas 19 – Nike 8
Italy Comeback from Quick Albania Scare
Albania? ALBANIA? They made the Euros? Well surely, surely they will be nothing more than cannon fodder for the likes of Italy – the reigning champions and World Cup winners as recently as 2006. What is the point in even playing? Why waste the 90 minutes of everybody’s lives. Just give the Gli Azzurri the points now. Oh wait, Albania scored.
Yes, in the time it took you to read that, Albania capitalised on a match-fixingly bad throw in, as Nedim Bajrami latched onto it and viciously finished into the roof of the net. It was the quickest ever goal in a European Championships. The crowd was heavily dominated by Albanian fans and they went as crazy as a, as a… cat in a room full of catnip? Ah, we missed with that, but just imagine thousands of grown men collectively losing their minds simultaneously.
Italy Launch Quick Comeback
Just ten minutes later though, and their jubilation was simmered considerable. A great cross landed on Alessandro Bastoni’s head, and he couldn’t miss from close range to equalise. Five minutes after that, Nicolo Barella thought quickly to strike the ball from the edge of the box. It’s one of those you dream of getting, falling to you in a way too delicious not to strike. In Sunday League, this goes into the trees 99 times out of 100 but this isn’t Sunday League – this is Europe’s elite international competition. The keeper didn’t move as it flashed passed him to give the Italians the lead.
They continued to dominate and had a couple of chances but Albania went in just one down at the break. The second half was much of the same, with few chances. Federico Chiesa had a shot go narrowly wide and Albania had glimpses but Italy came through in the end to survive what after 34 seconds seemed like it could have been a scary game for them.
Adidas
–
Nike
Chiesa (MOTM): 4
Barella (Goal): 3
Bajrami (Goal): 3
Running Total: Adidas 19 – Nike 18
Boot Battle Standings (Adidas 19 Nike 18) – Matchday 2:
Wow, what a comeback. From the depths of minus points after matchday 1, Adidas have now overtaken Nike thanks to a great show by Spain and its Adidas-dominated players.
FBG Donkey of the Day understandably Petkovic – who didn’t help Team Nike’s cause by getting deducted seven points for the missed pen and the DotD award. Instead of staying on his feet and finishing into the empty net, he took the dive when he felt contact from Rodri. Not only did Rodri not get sent off, but he also missed the subsequent penalty. A true donkey if ever we saw one. Eyy-orr.
