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 to take the subsequent kick, and he perfectly buried his effort right into the corner. Daryl Murphy and Shane Duffy has chances to extend their lead but they weren’t taken, and they defended resiliently to deny France many decent openings.
Blaise Matuidi forced a great save out of Darren Randolph, and Koscielny and Payet had efforts off target. An equaliser was on the cards though, and it came via Antoine Griezmann, where he headed a cross powerfully into the net.
Just two minutes later, the forward put his side into the lead when he ran through on goal and finished calmly.
Things got worse for the Irish in the 65th minute when Griezmann ran through on goal, but was fouled by Shane Duffy, who subsequently received a red card. The hosts continued to press and looked to be going through comfortably following an early scare. It finished 2-1, meaning it was the end for the brave Irish.
Koscielny and Evra lose a point each for the goal they conceded, and Pogba also loses a point for his stupid challenge to give away the penalty. Payet gets nothing.
Germany played Slovakia in the 17:00 match. Germany were being typically German by cruising to the knockout stages of a tournament without really being too breath-taking, but looking a bit better as they progressed.
Jerome Boateng gave the German’s an early lead with a magnificent long-range volley. It could have been over within 15 minutes as Martin Skrtel was penalised for pulling in the area, but Mesut Ozil’s tame penalty was saved.
They were two up, though, just before half time after some good work by Julian Draxler was finished off by Mario Gomez.
Slovakia looked better in the second half, and threatened to come back into the game before Draxler made it three, pouncing on a rebound in the area.
They went through comfortably in the end. Mats Hummels and Manuel Neuer both get a point each for the clean sheet, but Hummels’ is councelled out by his booking. Howedes, although coming on, did not play for long enough. Gotze did not feature for Nike, but Ozil loses a point for his penalty miss and Muller does not get anything.
The final match of the day was Hungary versus Belgium. Thomas Vermaelen and Kevin De Bruyne featured in this one and in all fairness, Belgium walked it.
Toby Alderweireld headed home inside ten minutes to give the Belgians a perfect start. Hungary contained them well, but good defensive work was undone in the 78th minute when Eden Hazard played in Michy Batshuayi who finished from close range.
Hazard himself then dribbled past a few defenders before unleashing a shot into the corner of the net in the 80th minute, to put the game to bed. Yannick Carrasco had time to put another one in in stoppage time, ensuring his side came out 4-0 winners.
Vermaelen gets no points after his clean sheet was cancelled out for his booking. De Bruyne gets one bonus point for a good performance.
Adidas
Pogba -1
Neuer +1
Hummels 0
Ozil -1
Muller 0
Vermaelen 0
Nike
Evra -1
Koscielny -1
Payet 0
Gotze 0
De Bruyne +1
Overall score
Adidas 25-15 Nike
Tomorrow’s Euro 2016 matches
Spain v Italy
England v Iceland
Players involved
Adidas: Alli
Nike: Hart, Ramos, Iniesta
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