Euro 2020/21 Soccer

[Tom]

Hungary XI: Gulacsi; Fiola, Orban, At.Szalai; Lovrencsics, Kleinheisler, Nagy, Schafer, Botka; Sallai, Ad.Szalai.

Portugal XI: Patricio; Semedo, Dias, Pepe, Guerreiro; Danilo, Carvalho, Bruno Fernandes; B. Silva, Ronaldo, Jota.

I've never heard of any of these Hungarian players, a completely unknown quantity.

Portugal keeping faith with William Carvalho despite him not playing a lot of club football.

Important for Portugal to start off with a win. I think they will. I'll go for 2-0.

 

[Tom]

Portugal have set themselves up well for the rest of the group. Pressure on the others now.

Teams for the evening game:

France XI: Lloris; Pavard, Varane, Kimpembe, Hernandez; Pogba, Kante, Rabiot; Griezmann; Mbappe, Benzema.

Germany XI: Neuer; Ginter, Hummels, Rudiger; Kimmich, Kroos, Gundogan, Gosens; Havertz, Muller, Gnabry.

Benzema fit to start up top. Pleased to see Gosens picked as he deserves a chance.

Really excited for this game. When I did that UEFA tournament predictor thingy I had these two teams meeting in the final.

I'll go for a 1-1 draw.

 

[Spikey]

Every team has played one match now. Hard to call a winner going from Round 1

France, Belgium, England and Italy were quite impressive. Portugal took there time but can be great when they hit the ground running.

 

[Tom]

Finland XI: Hradecky; Toivio, Arajuuri, O'Shaughnessy; Raitala, Schuller, Kamara, Uronen; Lod; Pohjanpalo, Pukki.

Russia XI: Safonov; Fernandes, Diveev, Dzhikiya, Kuzyayev; Zobnin, Barinov, Ozdoyev; Miranchuk, Dzyuba, Golovin.

Change of keeper for Russia. Pleased to see Safonov get a chance as he did well in the Champions League with Krasnodar. Shunin looked dodgy in the last game. Miranchuk also starts.

Finland through with a win but think Russia will have a response after the Belgium loss, plus they have home advantage. I'll go Russia to win by a goal.

 

[Tom]

Turkey XI: Cakir; Zeki Celik, Ayhan, Soyuncu, Meras; Yokuslu, Ozan Tufan; Karaman, Calhanoglu, Under; Yilmaz.

Wales XI: Ward; Roberts, Mepham, Rodon, Davies; Morrell, Allen; Bale, Ramsey, James; Moore.

Thought Turkey might make more changes. Looks like Under for Yazici is the only one.

Expecting a response from them today. I'll say 2-1.

 

[Tom]

Teams for the evening game

Italy XI: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bonucci, Chiellini, Spinazzola; Barella, Jorginho, Locatelli; Berardi, Immobile, Insigne.

Switzerland XI: Sommer; Elvedi, Schar, Akanji; Mbabu, Freuler, Xhaka, Rodriguez; Shaqiri; Seferovic, Embolo.

The Swiss are usually competitive so this could be a good test. I'll go Italy to win a goal.

 

[Tom]

Ukraine XI: Bushchan; Karavayev, Zabarnyi, Matviyenko, Mykolenko; Shaparenko, Stepanenko, Zinchenko; Yarmolenko, Yaremchuk, Malinovskiy.

North Macedonia XI: Dimitrievski; S. Ristovski, Velkovski, Musliu; Nikolov, Ademi, Spirovski, Alioski; Bardhi; Pandev, Elmas.

This could be a decent game. Both were involved on the losing side of entertaining games and both need to go for it. I'll say Ukraine to edge it.

 

[Tom]

Denmark XI: Schmeichel; Wass, Christensen, Kjaer, Vestergaard, Maehle; Damsgaard, Hojbjerg, Delaney; Poulsen, Braithwaite.

Belgium XI: Courtois; Alderweireld, Denayer, Vertonghen; Meunier, Dendoncker, Tielemans, T. Hazard; Mertens, Carrasco; Lukaku.

Denayer comes in for Boyata in defence. Didn't think he had a good season with Lyon so would be concerned about him today.

It will be interesting to see how Denmark get on. I'll go for a draw.

 

[Tom]

Netherlands XI: Stekelenberg; De Ligt, De Vrij, Blind; Dumfries, de Roon, de Jong, van Aanholt; Wijnaldum; Weghorst, Depay.

Austria XI: Bachmann; Dragovic, Alaba, Hinteregger; Schalger; Lainer, Ulmer, Laimer, Sabitzer; Gregoritsch, Baumgartner.

De Ligt back for the Dutch. I'll go the Dutch to win by a goal.

 

[David76]

Has anything been followed up on Rüdiger biting/nibbling Pogba?