The UEFA Euro 2016 boot battle: Day 7
Day 7 at Euro 2016, and it was a big one. We’re going to do something a little different with this one. There may have been three matches, but only one stood out like a Zinidine Zidane headbutt to an Italian. England v Wales, so we will concentrate mostly on that battle.
Firstly, though, Northern Ireland faced Ukraine in a match that they could do with winning after their opening-game defeat to Poland, and with their finals game against the mighty Germans.
Gareth McAuley gave the minnows the lead when he headed home in excellent fashion. They got their second late on when Niall McGinn reacted quickest and fired in from close-range.
The win gives the Irish a chance of progressing into the last 16 via third spot in their group. Ukraine, being rooted to the bottom of the group without a point, will struggle to qualify, knowing even a win against Poland won’t guarantee them progress.
No ‘battlers’ in that game, but the Germany v Poland game was full of them! However, the second big game of the tournament very much disappointed fans.
With Neuer, Hummels, Howedes, Muller and Ozil representing Adidas, and Gotze representing Nike, six of our players started the match.
The game was poor, and the Germans again failed to live up to performances shown in the 2014 World Cup. Poland missed the better chances, and would feel the worst about sharing the points.
Ozil lost a point for his booking, but Hemmels, Howedes and Neuer salvaged a positive outcome, getting a point each for the clean sheets. No other points were awarded- Adidas end up with two additional points.
Now for the big one, the big, fat juicy pizza after a nice satisfying appetising portion of beautifully-seasoned garlic bread… England v Wales. Alli featured for Adidas and Hart was, as always, starting for Nike.
The first-half followed a familiar pattern. England dominated possession, but lacked any cutting-edge. Raheem Sterling seemed intent on trying to piss off the whole nation and at least half of Twitter by giving the ball away at every possibility. Bale gave Wales the lead though, just before half-time with an outrageous free-kick. They had struggled to create anything attacking but the Madrid-man’s strike gave them the lead, as his effort from distance was too powerful for Hart to save.
Hodgson thankfully took Sterling off at half-time, bringing on Vardy and Sturridge for the Man City winger and fellow forward Kane.
The second-half started with England playing with intensity, knowing that a loss would put their Euro 2016 campaign in peril. Jamie Vardy, ten minutes after the restart, equalised for the Three Lions. The ball fell to him kindly in the box, and he finished it lethally to even up the game.
What followed was further English domination, but the Welsh defence were resilient. Chances came and went, and just as it looked as though they would be condemned to another 1-1 draw, up stepped Sturridge. He found the ball at his feet, amongst an array of players inside the box, and managed to poke a shot into the net.
England held out and won for the first time at a major tournament when trailing at half-time. It puts them top of the group, and with a real shout of qualifying with a favourable draw for the next round.
Alli didn’t get any points, and Hart lost a point for his dodgy keeping at the hands of Bale’s goal.
Adidas
Ozil -1
Muller 0
Neuer +1
Hummels +1
Howedes +1
Alli 0
Nike
Gotze 0
Hart -1
Overall score
Adidas 14-10 Nike
Adidas extend their lead after a German shutout.
Tomorrow’s Euro 2016 matches
Italy v Sweden
Czech Republic v Croatia
Spain v Turkey
Players involved
Adidas: Rakotic
Nike: Ramos, Srna, Iniesta, Inbrahimovic
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