Euro 2016 - 24 things you didn't know about the teams

Blackleaf

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So has Britain withdrawn from this tournament yet? Or has it already lost and home playing golf?

Northern Ireland are out of it. England and Wales are still in it. England play Iceland in the last of the Last 16 matches tomorrow night
 

Blackleaf

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Last 16

Yesterday

France 2-1 Republic of Ireland
Griezmann 57, 61.............Brady 2 (pen), Duffy sent off (66)


Brady puts Republic of Ireland in front from the penalty spot after just two minutes

Hosts France came from behind to beat the Republic of Ireland, who finished with 10 men, and reach the quarter-finals of Euro 2016.

The Republic got off to a stunning start, leading in the second minute, as Robbie Brady converted a penalty after Shane Long was fouled in the box.

But the French hit back through Antoine Griezmann, who nodded in the equaliser before driving in the winning goal.

Shane Duffy was then sent off for a professional foul on Griezmann.

Didier Deschamps' side will face England or Iceland in the next round at Stade de France on Sunday, 3 July (kick-off 20:00 BST).

However, defender Adil Rami and midfielder N'Golo Kante will miss the match through suspension, after picking up their second bookings of the tournament.


Griezmann scored twice to put the hosts into the Quarter Finals, where they will face either England or Iceland

France 2-1 Republic of Ireland - BBC Sport


Germany 3-0 Slovakia
Boateng 8
Gomez 43
Draxler 63



Draxler makes it 3-0 with a near-post volley

Germany enhanced their status as favourites for Euro 2016 as they overwhelmed Slovakia in Lille to set up a quarter-final against Italy or Spain.

Centre-back Jerome Boateng gave the world champions an eighth-minute lead with a superb 25-yard volley before Mario Gomez poked in the second.

Julian Draxler, who provided a superb assist for the second, made it 3-0 with a near-post volley after the break.

Mesut Ozil also missed a penalty for Germany in the 14th minute.

Slovakia's best chance fell to Juraj Kucka, whose header was brilliantly tipped over by Manuel Neuer.

The last-eight tie between Joachim Low's side and one of the other fancied teams takes place in Bordeaux next Saturday.

Germany 3-0 Slovakia - BBC Sport


Hungary 0-4 Belgium
.......................... Alderweireld 10; Batshuayi 78; Hazard 79; Carrasco 90+1



Eden Hazard scored a dazzling solo goal as Belgium defeated Hungary to book a Euro 2016 last-eight tie against Wales.

The Chelsea winger was outstanding in Toulouse and capped off a good Belgium display when he cut in from the left, beat two players and fired in low.

Tottenham's Toby Alderweireld headed Belgium ahead and Michu Batshuayi made it 2-0 when he tapped in.

Hazard then scored his superb goal in the 80th minute before Yannick Carrasco fired in the fourth in stoppage time.

Belgium and Wales will meet in Lille on Friday.

Hungary 0-4 Belgium - BBC Sport


Today

Italy 2-0 Spain
Chellini 33
Pellè 90+1




Euro 68 winners Italy have knocked out the Euro 2008 and Euro 2012 winners Spain in a clash of the titans.

Spain had beaten Italy on the last four occasions they have bet, but the Azzurri turned the tables today thanks to a potent blend of attack, defence and togetherness. This could be their year.

As for Spain, it's their first defeat in the knockout stages of a major tournament since the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Italy will play Germany in the Quarter Finals.

Euro 2016: Italy v Spain - BBC Sport

Today's Last 16 match:

England vs Iceland (Allianz Riviera, Nice; 20,00 BST)
 

coldstream

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File under 'things that were not expected' .. Iceland 2, England, 1.. out in the Round of 16. :(

Iceland population 330,000.. England (ex UK).. about 53 million.
 

HarperCons

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not expected but not the most surprising thing, as England has looked like crap the entire tournament.
 

coldstream

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Chillliwack, BC
Roy Hodgson resigned immediately after the game.. took full blame.. but i don't know. England had 70% of possession but almost a complete lack of quality shots on goal. Hand it to the Icelanders.. they did Erik the Red proud.. stalwart defense worthy of an Icelandic Saga.
 

Tecumsehsbones

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When American dentist Walter Palmer killed a lion, the world was outraged.

When Icelandic dentist Heimir Hallgrimsson killed three lions, the world laughed its a*s off.
 

EagleSmack

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Not one own goal by the Brits. Progress.

It was almost as entertaining as watching 8 Russian fans chase hundreds of British Hooligans from street to street in France.
 

Blackleaf

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Last night's result:

Quarter Final

Poland 1-1 Portugal (after extra time. Portugal win 5-3 on penalties)
Lewandowski 2....................Renato Sanches 33


Lewandowski puts Poland 1-0 up after two minutes

Portugal reached the semi-finals of the European Championship for the fourth time in five tournaments with a penalty shootout victory over Poland.

Ricardo Quaresma scored the winning spot-kick after Jakub Blaszczykowski's effort was saved by Rui Patricio.

Robert Lewandowski had fired Poland ahead in the second minute with teenager Renato Sanches equalising via a deflected strike.

Portugal's semi-final opponents will be either Wales or Belgium.

Remarkably, Portugal have reached the last four without winning a game in normal time following three draws in a group in which they finished third and an extra-time win over Croatia in the last 16.

No side has ever got this far in a European Championship without winning a match inside 90 minutes.

Portugal have also only led a match for 22 minutes during the whole tournament, while Poland have not trailed for a single minute.

However, for a second dour and conservative knockout game running, Fernando Santos' side did what was required when it mattered.


The Portuguese celebrate their penalty shootout victory which put them in the Semi-Finals

Today's Quarter Final:

Wales vs Belgium (Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille; 20,00 BST)


Poland 1-1 Portugal (3-5 pens) - BBC Sport

Not one own goal by the Brits. Progress.

There is no Great Britain team in the tournament.

As for the England football team, it has scored a grand total of 24 own goals since it was established in 1872.

Since, and including, the 1990 World Cup match against West Germany and, and including, the friendly match against Turkey in May, England scored just eight own goals.
 

Blackleaf

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Roy Hodgson resigned immediately after the game.. took full blame.. but i don't know. England had 70% of possession but almost a complete lack of quality shots on goal. Hand it to the Icelanders.. they did Erik the Red proud.. stalwart defense worthy of an Icelandic Saga.

Probably England's biggest shock defeat since they lost 1-0 against part-time USA in Belo Horizonte in the 1950 Brazil World Cup. The Haitian Gaetjens scored the goal after 38 minutes. It remains one of the World Cup's biggest shocks and even has its own Wikipedia page and film (The Miracle Match).

It was England's (but not USA's) first-ever World Cup (the UK sides boycotted the previous ones, refusing to play in them) and playing at right-back for England in the match was Alf Ramsey, who would become the manager of the England team that won the World Cup in 1966.

By the way, Erik the Red was Norwegian.
 

Blackleaf

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Wales recorded the greatest night in their football history as they came from a goal down to beat Belgium at Euro 2016 and reach the semi-finals of a major tournament for the first time.

It is the first time a UK side has reached the semi-finals of a major international tournament since England at Euro 96.

Belgium are ranked No2 in the world yet Wales proved too much for them last night.

Wales will play Portugal in the semi-final - which means that we will have a mouthwatering showdown between Gareth Bale, the world's most expensive footballer, and his Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, probably the world's greatest player.

Quarter Final


Wales 3-1 Belgium

Williams 30.............................Nainggolan 13
Robson-Kanu 55
Vokes 85



Wales's English star Ashley Williams, who is qualified to play for the side through his Welsh maternal grandfather, celebrates his equaliser last night

Wales recorded the greatest night in their football history as they came from a goal down to beat Belgium at Euro 2016 and reach the semi-finals of a major tournament for the first time.

Radja Nainggolan put Belgium ahead in Lille with a thunderous 25-yard strike but Wales captain Ashley Williams headed in from a corner to equalise in a breathless first half littered with chances at both ends.

Welsh celebrations reached stratospheric levels when Hal Robson-Kanu, a striker without a club, gave them the lead with a divine turn and finish.

After withstanding late Belgium pressure, Wales sealed victory through a header from substitute Sam Vokes that set up a semi-final against Portugal and a mouth-watering duel between Real Madrid team-mates Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo.


Robson-Kanu puts Wales in front

Wales manager Chris Coleman had described the last-eight tie as Wales' biggest match since their 1958 World Cup quarter-final defeat by Brazil (who had Pele playing in his first World Cup), their only previous appearance in the knockout stages of a major tournament.

His players rose to the occasion wonderfully, recovering from a difficult start to claim what must rank as the greatest win in Welsh football history.


Gareth Bale and his team-mates celebrate the greatest win in their footballing history


Wales fans celebrate the third goal at an outdoor scrreening of the match



Tonight's Quarter Final:

Germany vs Italy (Matmut Atlantique, Bordeaux; 20,00 BST)



Wales 3-1 Belgium - BBC Sport
 
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Tecumsehsbones

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Wales is the real deal. I think they have a real shot at beating Portugal before falling to Germany, which is one heck of an achievement.

If not, a third-place match between Wales and Iceland would be a blast!
 

Blackleaf

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Wales is the real deal. I think they have a real shot at beating Portugal before falling to Germany, which is one heck of an achievement.

If not, a third-place match between Wales and Iceland would be a blast!

What the media have not mentioned is that all ALL THREE of Wales's goalscorers last night - Williams, Robson-Kanu and Vokes - are actually English.
 

Blackleaf

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World Champions Germany beat Italy in a major tournament finals for the first time last night.

The match finished 1-1 after extra time and went to penalties. Despite Germany missing three of them - the first of the misses being the first time since 1982 that they have missed a penalty in a shootout - they still won the shootout and progressed to the Semi-Finals where they will face either France or Iceland.

Yesterday's result:

Quarter Final

Germany 1-1 Italy
(after extra time. Germany won 6-5 on penalties)
Özil 65...................... Bonucci 78 (pen)



Germany reached the Euro 2016 semi-finals after winning a thrilling penalty shootout against Italy in Bordeaux.

Joachim Low's World Cup holders looked on course for victory in normal time - against a country they had never beaten at a major tournament - when Mesut Ozil rounded off a slick build-up with Mario Gomez and Jonas Hector to score at the near post in the 65th minute.

Italy did not flinch but were grateful for a moment of madness from Germany defender Jerome Boateng when he needlessly handled, allowing Leonardo Bonucci to score the first penalty of his career with 12 minutes left.

Germany missed more penalties in one shootout than in their history - three - but were once again the winners on penalties.

They have still never lost a shootout since the 1976 final of this competition when they lost to Czechoslovakia - some 40 years and 13 days ago.

It was settled when Hector drove low under Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon after Manchester United's Matteo Darmian saw his side's ninth penalty saved by Manuel Neuer.

Germany will now play either hosts France or England's conquerors Iceland in the last four.

Germany 1-1 Italy (6-5 on pens) - BBC Sport

Tonight's Quarter Final:

France vs Iceland (Stade de France, Paris; 20,00 BST)
 

Tecumsehsbones

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Well, Iceland's Cinderella run ended 2-5 France. They went down with courage and class, having accomplished the impossible already.

They gave us one heck of a tournament. And increased Iceland tourism about 1000%
 

Curious Cdn

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... but Wales marches on!


Pity. I though that a Wales-Icelsnd final had a certain karmic tone to it.
 

Blackleaf

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Sunday's result:

Quarter Final

France 5-2 Iceland

Giroud 12, 59............. Sigthorsson 56, Bjarnason 84
Pogba 19
Payet 42
Griezmann 45



Olivier Giroud scored twice in France's 5-2 win over Iceland

France scored five to bring a brutal end to the Iceland fairytale and set up an intriguing Euro 2016 semi-final against world champions Germany in Marseille on Thursday.

There was almost a sense of disbelief around the Stade de France at the break as the host nation walked off with a 4-0 advantage, two of the goals coming in the closing minutes of the half.

Olivier Giroud's low strike and Paul Pogba's powerful header from a corner had settled early French nerves and put their side in control.

Dimitri Payet scored his third goal of an increasingly memorable tournament for the West Ham playmaker with a precise low strike from 20 yards that skidded across the greasy surface before Antoine Griezmann deftly lifted the ball over Iceland goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson.

After the restart Kolbeinn Sigthorsson stabbed home at the near post from Gylfi Sigurdsson's cross as Iceland refused to give in before France restored their four-goal advantage when Giroud headed in a free-kick.

Still, there was more to cheer for the excellent Iceland fans when Birkir Bjarnason headed a second for his side in the final stages of what has been a remarkable tournament debut for their team.


The Iceland players have done their country proud in its first appearance at a major international football tournament finals


France 5-2 Iceland - BBC Sport


Tonight's match:

Semi-Final

Portugal vs Wales (Stade de Lyon, Lyon; 20,00 BST)


... but Wales marches on!


Pity. I though that a Wales-Icelsnd final had a certain karmic tone to it.

With their three goalscorers in their 3-1 win over Belgium being English.

I reckon they'd not have got so far had they actually fielded a team of Welshmen.

England are the only team to have beaten Wales so far in this tournament, but I think Portugal will beat them tonight.