Match Day Thread EURO 2020(1?)

Work to do here for Scotland. Still possible. Armstrong and Adams both having good games. Adams in particular has impressed me with his hold up play but his work against the ball is where he needs to improve IMO

 

Bye bye Scotland.

 

Scotland are Bompey. Celebrate a meaningless result against the enemy and then get relegated.

 

The loser of England v France/Germany/Portugal (assuming it's not Hungary) will be annoyed enough that they had to run into their victorious opponent so early on in the competition. But it'll be even more annoying that their opponent could progress to play the winner of, potentially, Czech v Sweden.

 

So, from England's perspective, the hope now for setting up the knockout stages is probably something like:

Sweden/Spain win.
Germany wins/France and Portugal draw.


As far as I can tell, that would make the draw:


Belgium vs Portugal
Italy vs Austria
Germany vs Swiss
Croatia vs Spain

Sweden vs Ukraine
England vs France
Dutch vs Czechs
Wales vs Denmark

 

Come on France and Germany!

 

For all the disappointment in that game I
It was pretty generous of us to give them their only point.

 

Surely wins for France and Hungary would be better?

That would put France in the top half and we would play Hungary

 

Libby, I may be entirely misunderstanding your point about using the naked eye, but is this a reference to looking at the video replay for an offside decision, or a reason to revert to the good ol' days of leaving things to the linesman (OK, Assistant Referee), with no use of technology?

99% of the time, ARs are good at their jobs, in terms of identifying that an attacker is, or is not ahead of the last defender, but I've always felt that it is very difficult for one person (the AR) to watch the ball, and the attacker, so that the exact moment at which the ball is played forward can then be compared to the exact moment at which an attacker either is, or is not, ahead of the defender. The AR is basically expected to look in two places at once. As such, using VAR ought to provide a clear indication of the timing of the two situations - ball being kicked/headed, and position of the attacker, relative to the defender.

If the margin is equivalent to a gnat's todger, especially if the gnat is on the shirtsleeve of either player, then the attacker should get the benefit of the doubt, and the concept of drawing lines should be dispensed with.

Well, it's either discussing VAR, or speculation about England's next opponent, so it's guesswork either way...

 

This is essentially my view. If the amount the attacker is offside is so marginal that you have to use lines drawn on a screen, then just call it level and have done with it.

I have said this many times but the two issues of simultaneously determining the exact moment when the ball is played forward and the exact position of the attacker's furthest forward ball-playing organ simply CANNOT be resolved with the technology in use. The Lukaku goal the other night that was disallowed was a great example of the ball being kicked between frames, so Lukak's position couldn't be accurately judged. That being the case, the technology shouldn't be used at all.

I don't mind if a simple, normal speed replay is used to see if there is an obvious offside that the lino or ref didn't spot, but fine margins are best called level, with the attacking side benefitting.

 

That makes absolute sense and will substantially reduce the constant frustration currently being experienced. This whole VAR thing, for me, has done little, if any, to increase my enjoyment of the game. There is never going to be a perfect solution for this issue.

 

1-0 Sweden

 

Spain have now missed their last 5 penalties!

 

Finland's was so, so unlucky. Whereas that was a total howler.

 

Dubravka own goal!

 

oh dear

 

Just seen Dubravka's own goal.

 

Looking like Portugal just need to avoid a thrashing to go through.

 

What a goal that is from Lewandowski.