The UEFA Euro 2016 boot battle: Day 10
Business time! Two matches played simultaneously. Obviously we can’t be in two places at once, and don’t have the dedication or will-power to record one game and watch it after, so we only watched the most important game. Seeing as though the tournament is being held in France, and the fact you could probably count the number of Romanian and Albanian players on a paraplegic’s hand, we chose to watch the France game. That is no disrespect to all the Albanians and Romanians out there, plus those playing for those teams, we just have no idea who you are.
So, we have no idea what really happened if we are being honest in the Albania v Romania match. What we do know, though, is that Armando Sidiku scored a header to give Albania a surprise victory. It leaves the Albanians on three points, and in with a real chance of progressing into the last 16 via third place. The win was also their first win in a major tournament ever. Getting out of a group containing the host nations, high-ranked Switzerland and a solid Romanian side is no mean feat. They will have to wait a few days, though, to see if the miracle does happen.
So onto the France v Switzerland game. Paul Pogba and Patrice Evra both started, but there was no place for tournament stand-out player Dimitri Payet, as he was rested. France had already qualified, but knew that a point would secure them top spot, whereas Switzerland had to avoid defeat to guarantee qualification- with a win securing them top spot.
Pogba has a powerful effort tipped over in the first-half, before Yann Sommer saved the midfielder’s well-executed volley later on. Undeterred, the Juventus-man rifled a long-range shot which thundered off the crossbar. Despite his best efforts, he couldn’t prevent the half-time score-line being 0-0.
After the break, the French continued to press with Antoine Griezmann linking up well with Andre-Pierre Gignac and stinging the hands of Sommer.
They hit the woodwork again towards the end of the game, when Moussa Sissoko finished an incredibly powerful run by crossing to substitute Payet, but his volley couldn’t find the net.
In all honesty, much of the second-half was played at a subdued pace which lacked any cutting-edge. Both sides seemed happy with a point each which would see them finish first and second in the group.
Evra gets a point for the clean sheet, and Pogba gets a point for a good performance. However, France were largely disappointing in the match, and continue to somewhat underwhelm in their own tournament which they were predicted to do so well in.
The hosts will most likely play either Northern Ireland, Czech Republic or Sweden in the next round. Switzerland will face second in group C, which could either be Northern Ireland, Germany or Poland, but it is most likely going to be Poland.
Adidas
Pogba +1
Nike
Evra +1
Payet 0
Overall score
Adidas 17-11 Nike
Tomorrow’s Euro 2016 matches
England v Slovakia
Wales v Russia
Players involved
Adidas: Alli, Bale
Nike: Hart
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