France Euro 2016 round Up

Cristiano Ronaldo's post-match interview outburst over minnows Iceland's ability to frustrate mighty Portugal in a match that ended 1-1 on Tuesday night capped the intensity that has seen a surprisingly low-scoring affair so far. CR7, popularly monikered "Penaldo", claimed rather colorfully that "The way they celebrated at the end was unbelievable. Iceland don’t try to play, they just defend, defend and defend. Then they celebrate like they have won the Euros. This in my opinion shows a small mentality. They are not going to do anything in this competition." That match rounded up the first group matches meaning all teams had played. 

This is how matters look so far with each team in Group A having played their second matches yesterday, as well as Group B's Slovakia and Russia. France won 2-0 against a resolute Albania, earlier Romania and Switzerland played out to a 1-1 stalemate. Russia's loss left them at the base of the Group before the big one, England vs Wales cracker later today.  Didier Deschamps made a ballsy move by dropping Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann to the bench but had to reel them back in after the break as the France threw everything but the kitchen, yet Albania stood firm only to crumble in the 90th minute to Griezmann header and a second goal of the tournament for Payet in 95th.

Group E
Teams	P	GD	Pts
Italy	1	2	3
Republic of Ireland	1	0	1
Sweden	1	0	1
Belgium	1	-2	0

 

Group C
Teams	P	GD	Pts
Germany	1	2	3
Poland	1	1	3
Northern Ireland	1	-1	0
Ukraine	1	-2	0

 

Group A
Team	P	GD	Pts
France	2	3	6
Switzerland	2	1	4
Romania	2	1	-1
Albania	2	1	-3

 

Elsewhere, Russia received a "suspended disqualification" for fan violence at the stadium on Saturday 11th in Marseilles, they were also fined €15,000. The charges were in relation to "crowd disturbances, use of fireworks and racist behavior" within the stadium. The suspension would be lifted if incidents of such nature do not recur in the stadia during the remaining matches. That does not seem to have deterred a section of their fans from lighting up a flare in the 80th minute after Russia pulled a goal back through Glushakov, a match they went on to lose. 

German manager Joachim Löw, meanwhile was apologetic for some lewd moments when he was caught on tape thrusting his hand into his trouser and sniffing his hand! "I saw the images the next day. Of course you do something unconscious now and then. I'm trying to behave differently from now on." He said.

Gareth Bale was eager to get in the faces of the English by claiming that they lack a similar passion to their Welsh rivals. He went on to state matter of factly, that no English player in the current side would get into the Welsh team.

Fifteen games played and twenty-nine goals scored so far. Dimitri Payet and Bogdan Stancu lead the top scorers’ list with two goals apiece. Wales vs England at 16:00.

Will Roy Hodgson flog some of the disappointing performers like Harry Kane and start Jamie Vardy and maybe Jack Wilshere? I will especially be keen to see whether Chris Smalling will get flogged for comically trying to control the Berezutski's ball with his eyes, only to 'deflect' it into the well into the net!

Group C's Ukraine vs Northern Ireland at 19:00 and at 22:00, Germany v Poland. My Predictions N. Ireland will play out a goalless draw with Ukraine as Germany will edge out Poland 3-1.