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.
Antoine Griezmann had the first effort, with his shot being saved early on by Neuer. Emre Can had the German’s first chance but Hugo lloris saved comfortably. The French keeper later pulled off a great save from Bastian Schweinsteiger to keep it goalless.
Griezmann was off target with a shot just before the break. Olivier Giroud also found himself clear by a good 90 yards, but somehow managed to run at walking pace and wait long enough to pull the trigger before his shot was blocked.
In the 46th minute, the match came to life in an adverse way. Schweinsteiger bizarrely handled the ball (not the first bizarre handball of Euro 2016) in the area to concede a penalty. Neuer could do nothing to stop Griezmann’s clinical strike to put the French 1-0 up rather against the run of play.
The second half was fought heroically by both sides, with Germany pressing evermore to get the valuable equaliser. However, in the 72nd minute they played out from the back. A stray pass gave it straight to France on the edge of the box, and resulted in a cross not being dealt with by Neuer. Griezmann was first to react to poke the ball in and condemn Germany to a loss.
Joshua Kimmich had time to hit the left post, before a Julian Draxler free-kick that went just wide as well as two headers from Kimmich and Gotze which again didn’t find the net. Griezmann also had a chance to extend France’s lead further, but Neuer saved and the German’s couldn’t make their pressure count.
Payet gets a point for a good performance, looking dangerous as ever. Koscielny gets a point for a clean sheet as well as a good performance, but Evra’s clean-sheet point is cancelled out by his booking. Gotze gets nothing for Germany.
Ozil loses a point for his ridiculous antics after the match, and by that we mean collapsing like a drunk 14-year-old girl and having to be carried up by his teammates. Neuer loses three points for the goals and his contribution for the second goal. Hummels did not feature at all, and Howedes only loses one point (two goals) after his incredible comeback challenge against Giroud- although the striker gets an assist with this point after his impossibly-slow run. Muller loses a point overall for his disappointing tournament. Pogba gets a point for a good performance.
Adidas
Neuer -3
Howedes +1
Hummels N/A
Ozil -1
Muller -1
Pogba +1
Nike
Gotze 0
Evra 0
Koscielny +2
Payet +1
Overall score
Adidas 21-16 Nike
Euro 2016 final
France v Portugal
Players involved
Adidas: Pogba
Nike: Koscielny, Evra, Payet and Ronaldo.
The UEFA Euro 2016 boot battle: Day 12
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The UEFA Euro 2016 boot battle: Day 11
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The UEFA Euro 2016 boot battle: Day 10
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The UEFA Euro 2016 boot battle: Day 6
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The UEFA Euro 2016 boot battle: Day 5
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The UEFA Euro 2016 boot battle: Day 4
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The UEFA Euro 2016 boot battle: Day 3
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The UEFA Euro 2016 boot battle: Day 2
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The UEFA Euro 2016 boot battle: Day 1
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