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 cheering up today.
Back to real footballers though. This game started quickly, and disappointment Robert Lewandowski gave Poland a perfect start. He collected a pass inside the area and finished nicely into the corner. Just after the half-hour mark, Renato Sanches equalised for Portugal. His shot from the edge of the box was deflected and Lukasz Fabianski could do nothing about the effort.
After the break, Ronaldo missed a great chance when Nani played him in, but his shot went just wide. Alves Cedric had a long-range shot shortly after but it went just wide also. The game lacked intensity as neither team created many significant chances, and it ended 1-1.
Extra-time was again rather pointless and produced zero entertainment, so it was penalties time! Poland saw off opponents in the last 16, Switzerland via a penalty shootout. All of their five penalties were executed to perfection.
The two big boys of the game converted theirs, with both Lewandowski and Ronaldo taking first for their teams. Hot prospect for the future, Sanches showed composure by putting his kick into the top left corner. Poland’s Arkadiusz Milik made it 2-2 with a confident pen into the bottom left.
Joao Moutinho, Kamil Glik and Nani all dispatched their penalties well, making it 4-4 with one each left to take.
Jakub Blaszczykowski then stepped up for Poland and unleashed a powerful shot to the right corner. Rui Patricio, however, pulled off an incredible save to deny them from taking the lead.
Then, up stepped veteran Ricardo Quaresma, who has so far been the most successful substitute at Euro 2016. He kept cool to blast it into the roof of the net and give Portugal a 5-4 win in the shootout.
Ronaldo gets a point for the spot-kick and a point for a good performance. He will lead his side into the semi-finals where they will play the winners of the Wales v Belgium match.
Adidas
No points
Nike
Ronaldo +2
Overall score
Adidas 25-10 Nike
Tomorrow’s Euro 2016 match
Wales v Belgium
Players involved in battle
Adidas: Vermaelen, Bale
Nike: De Bruyne
So, Ronaldo helps to slightly diminish the deficit for Nike. However, they still trail Adidas by 13 points. Portugal progressing ensures that Ronaldo will play at least one more match for them, thus could score some more points, but he will need to put a shift in if Nike are going to win this battle.
Tomorrow will prove to be interesting, with players from both sides appearing. A loss for Belgium would result in Nike losing a valuable asset in de Bruyne, whereas a Welsh loss would mean Adidas’ star Bale would be going home.
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]