Morning.
The ultimate group video games at Euro 2024 each occurring on the identical time is comprehensible and apparent, however it does change issues for the viewer. Final evening I started with the primary half of Scotland versus Hungary, and with all due respect to each nations, it was doubtlessly the worst 45 minutes of soccer I’ve ever seen. And I’ve seen some issues in my time, let me inform you.
Scotland had extra of the ball however didn’t have a single try on objective. So, at half-time, I converted to Germany v Switzerland, with the hosts down 1-0 because of a tidy end from Dan Ndoye. It wasn’t a lot better actually. Germany huffed and puffed and located it laborious to clarify reduce possibilities. Switzerland had a objective disallowed for offside, and it solely took 15 seconds for the choice to be made as soon as it went to VAR.
You may think about Howard Webb sitting at residence completely fuming with that type of effectivity, vowing to make sure that’s one thing we’ll by no means see within the Premier League. Even with the introduction of semi-automated offsides, he’ll make his VAR technicians do this factor you do with the suitable stick in a online game, altering the digicam angle and swirling round to verify every thing takes so long as attainable – defending the very ethos of the PGMOL.
I stored a watch on Kai Havertz. He was okay however not significantly excellent. I believed Switzerland regarded very effectively organised and made it powerful for the Germans. Then there was drama within the different sport when Hungary’s Barnabas Varga was knocked unconscious after a collision within the field. It regarded fairly unhealthy, and took a while to get him handled, however the prognosis seems to optimistic this morning, with Hungary supervisor Marco Rossie saying:
Luckily now we are able to say Barnay just isn’t underneath any type of danger. Most likely he will likely be operated on within the following hours as a result of he suffered a fracture. An important factor is he’s wholesome.
Finest needs to him, and hopefully he makes a full restoration. Scotland wished a penalty when Stuart Armstrong went down within the field, however the ref was having none of it. I believe he was most likely proper, there’s some contact however it six of 1 and half a dozen of the opposite, I’d be very sad if that went in opposition to Arsenal. Steve Clarke doesn’t agree although, saying:
It was 100% a penalty. Any individual, someplace has to elucidate to me why that isn’t a penalty. It was, 100%. It was a one-goal sport; if we get the penalty it may be a unique evening. I’ve different phrases however I’m not going to make use of them.
I can clarify: Armstrong initiated the contact and easily fell over when he may have stayed on his ft and had an try on objective. If I had been a supervisor, I’d be extra upset that my participant didn’t do essentially the most doubtlessly advantageous factor for my workforce. The ultimate levels, with 10 minutes of added time due to the damage, had been way more entertaining than most of what had come earlier than. Hungary had possibilities, Scotland acquired ahead however lacked the standard to profit from their presence within the opposition ultimate third, and proper on the loss of life a breakaway noticed Kevin Csoboth rating the one objective of the sport to win it and finish Scotland’s hopes. The Hungarian commentator definitely loved it although.
In the meantime, substitute Niclas Fullkrug powered residence an damage time header to safe some extent for Germany which ensured they ended up high of Group A. Granit Xhaka had nearly made it 2-0 to Switzerland, however was denied by an excellent save from Manuel Neuer, and that late sucker-punch means the Swiss will face the runners up of group B, whereas Germany will play the second place workforce from Group C, England’s group.
The Group B video games happen tonight, with Sylvinho’s Albania dealing with Spain, whereas Croatia face Italy. I believe I’ll begin with that second sport afterward, however I believe some quick channel switching will likely be at play all through the night.
Proper, let’s depart it there. We could have an Arsecast Further for you a bit afterward. Hold a watch out for the decision for questions on Twitter @gunnerblog and @arseblog on Twitter with the hashtag #arsecastextra – or in the event you’re an Arseblog Member on Patreon, depart your query within the #arsecast-extra-questions channel on our Discord server.
Pod ought to be out by lunchtime. For now, have one.
