Euro 2016: previews of the last-16 ties

theguardian.com ^ | 25 June 2016 | Martin Laurence

[Berlin_Freeper]

Have Northern Ireland met their match in Wales? Will Italy thwart Spain? Will Portugal pick up their first win? And will England slip up against Iceland?

[Berlin_Freeper]

Three players to look out for in Saturday's Euro 2016 ties

[moose07]

And for today’s Kiss of Doom, I’m going for:
Poland ,Wales ,Croatia.
To win today.

I’d love to see Wales win the tournament....we can all dream. :)

[oldplayer]

Thanks for these posts, Berlin_Freeper.

HOPP SCHWIIZ ! ! ! !

Oldplayer

[mware]

Saw Bale signed on with Real Madrid during the week. That man can run like the wind.

[mware]

Poland looks really good so far in their match. Thought for sure they would get a goal in the first minute there.

[moose07]

Could be the first part of today’s rollover bet in the bag. :)

[dfwgator]

Blaszczykowski though the 5-Hole!!!!!!

1-0 Poland!

[Berlin_Freeper]

Goal! Switzerland 0-1 Poland (Blaszczykowski 39)

The former captain gives Poland a deserved lead. Grosicki gathers possession and gets his skates on up the left wing with Lichtsteiner struggling to get back. He reaches the edge of the area and plays a low cross into Lewandowski on the near post. He dummies the ball brilliantly and sends his marker the wrong way, leaving Blaszczykowski, free behind him to pick it up, give Sommer the eyes, and then nutmeg him with his right foot from 10 yards. Lovely, clever goal.

⚽ J. Blaszczykowski goal vs Switzerland

[Berlin_Freeper]

Switzerland 0-1 Poland
Half Time

55%	Ball Possession	45%
10	Goal Attempts	12
2	Shots on Goal	2
4	Shots off Goal	8
4	Blocked Shots	2
5	Free Kicks	3
3	Corner Kicks	3
0	Offsides	1
15	Throw-in	8
1	Goalkeeper Saves	2
3	Fouls	4
237	Total Passes	191
207	Completed Passes	163

[Berlin_Freeper]

Congratulations!
Looked like a matter of time.

Nice before the half. :)

[BeadCounter]

Switzerland has nearly struck back. This is a bit typical of them.

Good game.

[BeadCounter]

Lewandowski grounded, pretty bad, imagine doing that to Bale?

[Berlin_Freeper]

It’s getting a little too struck.

[BeadCounter]

Robbie Keane plays for Ireland, it is amazing that he was in the squad for them in 2002. That’s a very long time; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSSOXkoNPVY Maybe he was there before. I really don’t expect we will see him in the Euro unless the boys in green sustained some injuries in that position.

[BeadCounter]

Hit the cross bar by the Swiss; that was close.

[BeadCounter]

Bicycle Kick, hard to defend that, Swiss tie it up.

1-1. I hate to see that, Poland was sitting back but that goal was a thing of great skill.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Goal! Switzerland 1-1 Poland (Shaqiri 82)

Well, it’s taken a while but my word! WHAT A GOAL THIS IS! I’ll just get my breath back before describing it. Shaqiri has fired in a scissor-kick from 18 yards out. Incredible technique, his body perfectly poised in the air as he sends the ball over his shoulder and into the far corner gloriously, where it climbs up the netting and spins jubilantly behind Fabianski. The little man has scored a big goal. In quite some style.

W⚽W! X. Shaqiri over-head kick goal vs Poland (Switzerland 1-1 Poland)

[Berlin_Freeper]

[BeadCounter]

Our announcer was correct, St. Etienne is the “home of the bicycle.” A bicycle kick in bicycling hub St. Etienne. Has me thinking and St. Etienne is not far from Switzerland.

Let’s go Poland!

[Berlin_Freeper]

Switzerland 1-1 Poland
Break before Extra Time

57%	Ball Possession	43%
20	Goal Attempts	20
6	Shots on Goal	5
6	Shots off Goal	12
8	Blocked Shots	3
11	Free Kicks	13
8	Corner Kicks	5
2	Offsides	2
37	Throw-in	10
4	Goalkeeper Saves	5
11	Fouls	9
1	Yellow Cards	1
482	Total Passes	363
427	Completed Passes	309