Euro 2020, round of 16, day 2: Tilting at Windmills

DennyDoyle'sBoil

Found no thrill on Blueberry Hill
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Sep 9, 2008
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Dutch looked uninterested and a step slow all game. The red card was in part because there was no other defender level with or behind the ball because they were jogging and watching a 1 v. 1. The second goal was lazy midfield play. Deserved result.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
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Jul 22, 2006
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I suppose so, but are they really all that good?
Not really, but you think they’d like to advance past the Czech Republic, who while a solid if not unspectacular side, should beat beatable. deBoer is a clown, but you look at the world class talent on that squad, see the path to the semis, and then no-show? Poor
 

McBride11

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I think I had Ned in the semis given the weak bracket basically going by the talent on the team. Whoops. Complete no show
 

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
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Dec 16, 2010
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edit: I’ll need to watch it again as I’ve only been paying half attention. I have no horse in this race but my first viewing it looked clumsy but not something worth sending some off over. If he did deliberately handle it and I didn’t see it then he deserves it for his own stupidity
Here it is. He screwed up the initial play and panicked. That's quite obviously a deliberate play of the ball.

View: https://twitter.com/FIFA21Daily/status/1409199062243545093
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
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Jul 22, 2006
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Smart midfield by Santos...I think you need to be more defensive and try to hit Belgium on the counter, especially as they like to push 5 up high when attacking. One of Tielemans or Witsel is going to need to be able to get back.
 

Tangled Up In Red

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As much as I love Jan and Toby, not much pace on Belgium's back line. If I'm Portugal, I'd look to exploit running in behind.
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
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Assuming the Portugal/Span border is open, this seems like a signficant home field advantage.
 

Nick Kaufman

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I understand the local Basque officials were asking for the moon in order to allow play in San Mames, but couldn't the Spanish have found a better stadium? Spain has so many great football grounds and their contribution is a soulless track and field venue?
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
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Jul 22, 2006
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haven't been following much lately...is Bruno just exhausted or being benched for poor form?
i think those are related.

people smarter than I have thought he doesn’t fit as well into the Portuguese set up as he does in Manchester when things are built around him.
 

coremiller

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Jul 14, 2005
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i think those are related.

people smarter than I have thought he doesn’t fit as well into the Portuguese set up as he does in Manchester when things are built around him.
Leaving Bruno out is certainly ... a choice.

Raises the question of why the side isn't built around him.
 

coremiller

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I understand the local Basque officials were asking for the moon in order to allow play in San Mames, but couldn't the Spanish have found a better stadium? Spain has so many great football grounds and their contribution is a soulless track and field venue?
Even in Seville, they could have played at the Sanchez Pizjuan.
 

67YAZ

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Dec 1, 2000
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Leaving Bruno out is certainly ... a choice.

Raises the question of why the side isn't built around him.

He's not sharp right now and Portugal are going to have to play compact on defense and incisive on the counter. Belgium are going to try to protect their backline from Portugal's speed by dominating possession. In his curren form, what is Bruno going to contribute to that effort? He's better off the bench as an attacking sub if necessary.
 

teddykgb

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Jul 16, 2005
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Portugal need work rate in midfield to connect the back line to the front. Bruno has played himself so far forward that it isn’t surprising he’s benched. They can’t afford to play effectively 4 forwards
 

McBride11

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What was mama Hazard eating during pregnancy? Is this the first team with 2 brothers starting in an international competition?
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
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Jul 22, 2006
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I think there’s 5 brothers or some shit and at least one other plays professionally

both parents were professional footballers
 

Kliq

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I feel like around the 15 minute mark these teams just swapped strategies.
 

Kliq

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Lol, Lukaku was being held back like a parent whose child was in a burning building.