UEFA Euro 2020 (now 2021)

[system7]

Enjoyed the Wales game against Turkey! 2-0.

Super goals. Pleased that Bale and Ramsey have hit such good form. Bale's accuracy with passes is astonishing.

France are now at 7-2 to win.

Now we'll see if my £30 6-1 investment in Italy pays off. Switzerland tonight. Azzurri must be fancied.

[Macca]

seemed like a good effort from Wales although I was only able to catch the last 20 minutes. Should give them a bit of confidence going into the knockout stage.

[anubisgrau]

turks were awful, even an average wales looked much better then they really were.

[struth]

yeah good win from Wales.. keeps them in it. Turkey have been very disappointing.

[Marco]

I'll comment on this properly later, as we're just about to go out and do some shopping. However, needless to say Wales and Italy were great!!

Your selection in the sweep doesn't seem to be too bad, eh Martin?

Marco.

[Marco]

Yeah, first of all Wales were excellent. I disagree that Turkey were awful. In the first game, they made it very hard for Italy in the first half, then ran out of steam once Italy had ran them ragged, and of course were well beaten in the end simply by a much better team. I think that Italy would've done that to quite a few teams in this tournament, not simply Turkey, so you gave to bear that in mind.

Yesterday, Turkey gave Wales a game of it and had some chances to score, although they were again eventually beaten by the better team, and this Wales side are certainly no mugs. I reckon that they could give any team in this tournament a good game. So Turkey have been a little bit disappointing, yes, but not poor. I think that they can beat Switzerland in the last game and regain some pride.

Italy carried on from where they left off against Turkey and simply ran over the top of a hardworking Swiss team, with a soupcon of talent. I particularly like Shakiri (wish Celtic would sign him) and Embolo, who I'd also gladly see at Parkhead, and who tried their best collectively, but were ultimately outclassed by a far superior Italian team, who seem to be getting better with each match.

Gary Neville said last night that he wasn't sure whether Italy would have enough attacking threat or quality to hurt the big teams, and he may have a point, so we'll have to wait and see, but the question I'd put to him is would the big teams he's referring to (I'm presuming he's talking about the likes of France, Portugal, Germany, Belgium, etc) have done any more against the two teams Italy have played so far and thumped 3-0, going on 4 or 5-0?

I doubt it. As they say, you can only beat what's put in front of you, and in my view when any of said 'big teams' are put in front of Italy, later in the tournament, they'll know all about it!

Ok, so Denmark vs. Belgium next... I think Belgium could be in for a hard game today, as the Danes will be desperate to make up for their opening defeat to Finland, in a game that should never have been restarted after Eriksen collapsed, and instead played later, once their emotions had calmed. Therefore, the team will want to do well for the player as he recovers in hospital. That would certainly be my team talk, if I were the Danish manager: 'Go out there lads and do it for Christian!'

Therefore, we'll see what happens, but I do expect Belgium to have too much quality for them over the 90 mins, and so in the end will emerge triumphant

Marco.

[Macca]

one nil to Belgium is my prediction.

[struth]

they were talking about a tribute to eriksen during game... would be a nice tribute. sure it'll be a close game.. the dutch play tonight and i expect them to win

[Marco]

What a great game of football, which panned out pretty much as I predicted!

I knew that Denmark would be right up for this one, for reasons stated, and boy were they! In the first 30 mins they blew away a rather lacklustre Belgian side and could easily been 3 or 4 up, but had to settle for the one goal, which was taken well by Poulsen.

Then at half time I suspect that (a no doubt seething) Martinez shoved rockets up the arses of his players, for the shabby performance in the first half, and they came out all guns blazing, then when their big guns came of the subs bench (Hazard, De Bruyne and Witsel) and showed their class, the goals soon folllowed and that won the game for Belgium.

The plucky, and in no small amount talented Danes, were always still in it though, and had a few chances to equalise, but as predicted Belgium's class eventually paid dividends, especially when Denmark tired after having played the game at such a high tempo from the start, so despite a valiant effort, were unable to take any points.

However, Belgium will have to massively improve defensively if they're to go on to win this tournament, as all too often Denmark exposed the weaknesses in their defence and made them look rather ordinary, which is one of the reasons why I don't think they have quite what it takes to go all the way.

So.... Now onto Netherlands vs. Austria. Austria are a good side, with a tight defence and decent goal threat up front, so I suspect they'll give Holland a difficult game, but again, much like with Belgium, I think Holland will have a bit too much for them, and so should win the match by the odd goal

Marco.

[Macca]

well I've not got a scoreline right yet but I'm going to say two-nil to Holland.