European football championship

[whatagain]

I am a huge fan of football 🤪

First, let me say once and for all that football means foot and ball. American football is played mostly keeping the ball in hand, so should be called american rugby or whatever, but not football.

I discovered there must be something as ads with the Red Devils are everywhere.
I saw on FB (!) that indeed there was a championship and that Belgium was a favorite. 🙂

Basically, it seems we have the best team we have ever had and that team seems to play well.
So it is now or never for us ! If we can't win now, no reason we could later. As a good omen we crushed Russia 3-0 yesterday.😃

Are there a lot of Anyporters and what are your fav teams ?

For me it is Belgium, of course then France if we lose, then Italy.

[kerouac2]

Denmark certainly gave all of the players a scare yesterday but not for sporting reasons. Whenever a young person in perfect health can suddenly (almost) drop dead for no reason on the pitch, it really makes you wonder.

Personally, I think the match should have been replayed rather than continued 3 hours later. I'm sure that not all of the players were in proper psychological condition to go on as though nothing had happened.

[mickthecactus]

Jun 13, 2021 10:48:51 GMT whatagain said:

I am a huge fan of football 🤪

First, let me say once and for all that football means foot and ball. American football is played mostly keeping the ball in hand, so should be called american rugby or whatever, but not football.

I discovered there must be something as ads with the Red Devils are everywhere.
I saw on FB (!) that indeed there was a championship and that Belgium was a favorite. 🙂

Basically, it seems we have the best team we have ever had and that team seems to play well.
So it is now or never for us ! If we can't win now, no reason we could later. As a good omen we crushed Russia 3-0 yesterday.😃

Are there a lot of Anyporters and what are your fav teams ?

For me it is Belgium, of course then France if we lose, then Italy.

Netherlands look a decent side. 2-0 up against Ukraine.

[fumobici]

I adopted the Dutch side for the 2010 Cup and it was a good ride.

[kerouac2]

I wasn't paying too much attention to this, but that has now become impossible since the first match by France (against Germany) is tonight. They have even had to unofficially relax the curfew at 23:00 a bit. Of course, if France loses, people will probably go home on time, but if France wins, they won't. France vs. Germany is always important, even when it isn't a war.

[whatagain]

Jun 13, 2021 20:31:08 GMT fumobici said:

I adopted the Dutch side for the 2010 Cup and it was a good ride.

Hi Fumobici and Mick.

It is impossible for us to support Netherlands.
I would side with Russia or Belarus if theywere the last in line.
Maybe not Belarus.

[mickthecactus]

Impossible? Strange word.

[whatagain]

Jun 15, 2021 21:27:25 GMT mickthecactus said:

Impossible? Strange word.

Not ethically nor historically acceptable...
😇😇😇😇

[kerouac2]

Gary Lineker's statement has been adopted by France for years: "Football is a simple game; 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win."

Not always true, although France won last night when Mats Hummels scored against his own side.

[fumobici]

It is impossible for us to support Netherlands.

I would side with Russia or Belarus if theywere the last in line.

Maybe not Belarus

What is bizarre to me is that on the ground I can hardly tell the difference between what's one one side of the BEL-NL border and the other. One hating the other side seems almost like bizarre self-loathing from outside.

[kerouac2]

The Walloons and the Flemish are so different from each other that it is amazing that the country has lasted so long. And the same can be said about the cultural differences in Switzerland.

[whatagain]

Jun 16, 2021 16:06:14 GMT kerouac2 said:

The Walloons and the Flemish are so different from each other that it is amazing that the country has lasted so long. And the same can be said about the cultural differences in Switzerland.

Not sure wecare so different. Medias and politicians love to show our différences but thete are many similitudes too.
We like to party, we like good food, we are humble, etc.
We are both catholic, like the French, and the Dutch are protestant.
We both dislike the Dutch and we both like the French...
A religious affair

[kerouac2]

Going back to football, there was a poll in France today that revealed that 60% of men and 80% of women in France have no interest in this sport. I find that rather reassuring.

[lagatta]

I live in our historic "Piccola Italia" but so far no parades round here for the Italy win. As is often the case, many "ethnic" neighbourhoods become merely notional and commercial.

[whatagain]

Cool. We don't watch telly but we hear the screams of the neighbours each time Belgium scores.
2-1 for us, 72 min.

Ok. We won.

[lagatta]

We used to have a big Belgium fan around the corner, but I guess he moved. Massive flag. Of course most of the Belgians here are francophones. There is a fair Belgian farming contingent at Marché Jean-Talon. Most of those families moved here after the war. The young urbans are recent immigrants.

[mickthecactus]

Our football correspondent has been very quiet.

[fumobici]

Neither game today was brilliant to watch. At least in the second one, the better team went through. I don't expect the crowd here to be interested in or discuss football or even sport in general.

[mickthecactus]

Speak for yourself!

[fumobici]

Belgium showed why they are the no. 1 seed. Annoying game to watch however, slow-paced, players playing cynically, lots of bad acting, very little offensive or defensive creativity. Beh. NL-CZ was better, but only because the Czech side showed some very nice teamwork at moments.

[onlyMark]

I like Portugal but dislike Ronaldo. All too many times he gets a foul or a penalty by play acting. Just like a kid, he needs his bottom spanking.

[kerouac2]

So, tonight we have France vs. Switzerland in Bucharest. French eyes are always on Mbappé, Benzema and Griezmann, Giroud in a pinch.

[whatagain]

I read the one goal we scored was beautiful.
I read our 2 stars may not be playing against Italy.
Both foe injuries.

I read M'Bappe has a vertiginal ego, that it plays against the team spirit and that his own perfirmances are bot rop notch.

Juat reading and regurgitating, i don't watch and meeting nobody i have noone to talk football too. But we are still on the game !

[kerouac2]

I have always read the opposite about Mbappé -- that he is one of the humblest and friendliest members of the team. After all, he is 15 years younger than most of his teammates. It's hard to be arrogant when you are such a junior.

[mickthecactus]

Great game France v Switzerland. 3 all at the end of normal time.

Extra time now.

[mickthecactus]

France are out.

[fumobici]

Can't remember the last time I enjoyed watching two back-to-back games so much. Spain over a very plucky Croatian side, then the Swiss with the hard-earned upset of top-rated France. Both games brimming with drama and highlights.

[kerouac2]

I went to bed just before the second period of overtime ended. I knew what was going to happen, and I am very happy for Switzerland because they have never advanced so far in the competition.

[onlyMark]

I enjoyed both games as well. But I don't know if I want to watch England tonight. They need to 'raise their game' times twice to be in with a chance I'm sure. Or Germany have a really bad one, which is unlikely.

[mickthecactus]

I didn't see the Spain game but the France Swiss game was of a high standard.
Youngest grandson has a ticket for the England Germany game but England's football has been so turgid I don't see them progressing.