The UEFA Euro 2016 boot battle: Day 5
Fifth day of the tournament, and we’ve named it Pepe Day in honour of one of football’s biggest d****. His Portugal side faced minnows Iceland. In the same group, Hungary faced Austria. Sad news, there were only two games today. Good news, those two games produced more drama than the rest of Euro 2016 put together. And while we’re talking about bad news, on an unrelated topic, we regret to inform you that Low has been at it again with a bit of scratch and sniff. But moving swiftly on.
So Austria versus Hungary. On paper, Austria, who were unbeaten in qualifying, were clear favourites against a Hungarian side who progressed in a group consisting of Faroe Islands, Finland, Northern Ireland, Greece and Romania.
Austria set out instantly for the kill, as David Alaba fired a powerful drive at goal, but his effort hit the post. Soon after, he had another strike, but 40-year-old keeper (yes 40) Gabor Kiraly saved comfortably. The iconic keeper, known for wearing trackies while playing, was breaking a record as the oldest player ever at a Championships. At 40, I would take it if I still have all my limbs intact and have all my teeth.
Hungary then registered their first attempt on goal with Zoltan Gera stinging the palms of Robert Almer in the Austrian goal. Both teams went close again before the break, but ultimately went in at half-time 0-0.
Austria pressed in the second period but failed to find that clinical instinct. With a little less than half an hour to play, Hungary took a shock lead. Adam Szalai, a man who hasn’t scored for club or country since 2014 (and he is a striker!) incredibly bagged a goal. He played a couple of nice one-twos in some great link-up play, and eventually slid in inside the box to roll the ball in the net.
Just two minutes later, Austria thought they’d equalised, after the ball was lashed in, but it was ruled out for a foul. Aleksander Dragovic was penalised for a late challenge, and saw red after receiving a second yellow; the first for a bad tackle in the first-half.
Austria still pressed, despite having ten men, but gaps began to appear. Zoltan Stieber found himself clean through, and showed composure to chip the on-rushing keeper to seal the win for Hungary. What a game!
No players were involved in the battle, although we are thinking of promoting the prolific Szalai now after his goal. Cristiano Ronaldo however, was involved in the battle in the second match of the day, where group favourites Portugal faced minnows Iceland.
After an initial flurry by Iceland, Portugal took the impetus and began to dominate the match. After 30 minutes, Nani showed clinical finishing that Ronaldo couldn’t replicated, after a nice move, sweeping the ball home nicely from a wide angle.
They continued to dominate, but Iceland, a country with a population of 130 times fewer people than Ronaldo has Twitter followers, equalised against the run of play. Birkir Bjarnason capitalised on some shocking defending, and powerfully drilled home a deep cross with a swift volley.
Sit down for this next part, as it will come as a huge shock. You have been warned. Pepe, yes the Saint of football himself, the role model of role models, the man they call the exemplar sportsmanship, lashed out at Jon Dadi. The defender escaped any action, but couldn’t escape abuse on Twitter and people’s already low estimations of him falling even lower.
Ronaldo had a free header just five yards out, but he could only place it straight at the keeper. A number of late free-kicks were also squandered by the Real man, as a heroic Icelandic defensive performance ensured they earned a point.
Team Nike surprisingly suffered following Ronaldo’s performance. The forward failed to score, assist or even deliver a good performance worthy of a point. We penalised him for those free-kicks, which seemed to be magnetised to the Iceland wall.
Adidas
No points
Nike
Ronaldo -1
Overall score
Adidas 11-6 Nike
After the first round of group matches being complete, Nike trail Adidas by five. But with hosts France playing Albania, they will surely pick up a lot of points tomorrow.
Tomorrow’s Euro 2016 matches
Russia v Slovakia
Romania v Switzerland
France v Albania
Players involved
Adidas: Pogba
Nike: Koscielny, Evra, Payet
It’s official! Adidas is better than Nike – Euro 2016 Review
Yep, forget all previous theories. Adidas is officially better than Nike. Our ‘extensive’ research over Euro 2016 and our Boot Battle showed us that the Germans performed better than their American counterparts. So, missing the football? Can’t wait for the new footy season to start? Well, why not read our recap of how the two big names in football boots performed at the Euros in our ep...[Read More]
The UEFA Euro 2016 boot battle: Final
So, Euro 2016 started one month ago in Paris, with a host-nation eager and ready to impress in a stadium full of Frenchies. Now, four weeks on, we are here in Paris with a host-nation eager and ready to impress in a stadium full of Frenchies. An underwhelming tournament which has seen more hype around Joachim Low’s balls, Iceland fans clapping and Russian ‘hard-men’ turning up to the Euros thinkin...[Read More]
The UEFA Euro 2016 boot battle: Day 22
The big semi-final saw the hosts France face Germany in an epic clash of the big guns. France dominated international football back in the day, but things change… England used to not be a laughing stock among football fans everywhere- even the Dutch are laughing at us. Germany are of course World Champions, and were looking to replicate Spain’s back-to-back major tournament wins of 2008 and 2010. ...[Read More]
The UEFA Euro 2016 boot battle: Day 21
The first semi-final saw Wales take on Portugal. Wales were without Aaron Ramsey, but had Bale in their team. Portugal had Ronaldo. It was going to be an epic battle of the Real forwards. It is those two who feature in the battle today. Ronaldo representing Nike and Bale starting for Adidas. It was another fantastic match as the knockout stages of this tournament really have impressed… Is somethin...[Read More]
The UEFA Euro 2016 boot battle: Day 20
The last quarter-final saw hosts France play everyone’s favourite underdogs Iceland, a team who single-handedly made an old man redundant while simultaneously exposing him to abuse from an entire nation. ‘What? But that’s horrible,’ you may say. But when you realise the old man is Roy Hodgson and he was getting paid more than any other manager at Euro 2016, are Iceland not our heroes as well? Pogb...[Read More]
The UEFA Euro 2016 boot battle: Day 19
Today gave us one of the matches of the tournament, on paper beforehand if not in reality. Italy, the team who have perhaps looked the most solid of all the nations so far played Germany, a team who you can never not fancy. Howedes, Hummels, Neuer, Muller and Ozil all started for Adidas, whereas Nike were solely represented by Gotze, who did not make it on to the pitch. It says a lot about the fir...[Read More]
The UEFA Euro 2016 boot battle: Day 18
The home nation’s last representative, Wales, were looking to create history by beating Belgium to reach the Euro 2016 semi-finals. They had to face Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, and furthermore keep them quiet. But they have a not-so-secret weapon… Bale, Gareth Bale. It was a great match from the start, and a definite challenger for game of the tournament; not a true contender a...[Read More]
The UEFA Euro 2016 boot battle: Day 17
Oooh it is getting real. Quarter-finals time! Portugal faced Poland today, with both sides competing to be the first into the last four. Maybe the best in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo, obviously started for Nike and Portugal. From best in the world we go to the other end of the spectrum, with a little side note. Roy Hodgson, has finally left his position as England manager, just in case you needed...[Read More]
The UEFA Euro 2016 boot battle: Day 16
Today was the last day of the last 16. England faced Iceland in the late kick-off with Italy playing Spain before. Sergio Ramos, Andres Iniesta, Joe Hart and Deli Alli all featured in the boot battle today. David De Gea pulled off a worldie of a save in the opening ten minutes from a great header by Graziano Pelle. The Spaniard was in amazing form as always, and saved from Eder soon after, but cou...[Read More]
The UEFA Euro 2016 boot battle: Day 15
Three more last-16 ties were played today. The hosts were in action, as well as hotly-tipped Belgium and Germany. Ireland versus France was the day’s first match, with Paul Pogba, Dimitri Payet, Patrice Evra and Laurent Koscielny all featured in the boot battle. In the opening two minites of the game, Ireland won a penalty following a rash challenge by Adidas’ Paul Pogba. Robbie Brady stepped up t...[Read More]
The UEFA Euro 2016 boot battle: Day 14
First day of the knockouts for Euro 2016. At last teams have to go for it, with a clean sheet and a draw not quite hacking it now, unless you’re confident with your penalties. Switzerland played Poland in the day’s opener, with no players involved in the battle. Switzerland started very sloppily and nearly conceded in the opening 30 seconds after Arkadiusz Milik latched onto some lazy defending, b...[Read More]
The UEFA Euro 2016 boot battle: Day 13
Last day of the group stages, and what a day it was. You would have lost a lot of respect, but you would have been understood if up until now you’d chosen to watch a bit of Eastenders instead of one of the matches at this tournament. Actually, no. It is never acceptable to miss a match for Eastenders, but anyway. It has not really got into fifth gear… That is until now. Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portuga...[Read More]