Euro 2016: the best XI from the first round of matches

theguardian.com ^ | 15 June 2016 | Martin Laurence

[Berlin_Freeper]

The decision to expand Euro 2016 to a 24-team tournament suggested that the group stage would be somewhat cagey, particularly in the first matches, but the opening round of fixtures has met expectations. Who would have thought that Hungary would be the only team with more than a single-goal lead going into added time at this stage? There haven’t been many goals but a number of players have caught the eye. Here is our statistically calculated team of the round:

[Berlin_Freeper]

Ukraine 0-2 Northern Ireland
Finished

65%	Ball Possession	35%
17	Goal Attempts	13
5	Shots on Goal	7
8	Shots off Goal	4
4	Blocked Shots	2
14	Free Kicks	17
2	Corner Kicks	3
3	Offsides	1
32	Throw-in	27
5	Goalkeeper Saves	5
14	Fouls	14
2	Yellow Cards	3
519	Total Passes	238
423	Completed Passes	137

[Berlin_Freeper]

you’re welcome moose07!

[Berlin_Freeper]

German Coach Joachim Loew Apolgises For scratching his balls

[Berlin_Freeper]

Video : Northern Ireland - Ukraine suspended due to hail

[Berlin_Freeper]

Germany 0-0 Poland
Half Time

65%	Ball Possession	35%
7	Goal Attempts	2
0	Shots on Goal	0
5	Shots off Goal	0
2	Blocked Shots	2
8	Free Kicks	8
3	Corner Kicks	1
2	Offsides	2
16	Throw-in	15
0	Goalkeeper Saves	0
6	Fouls	6
2	Yellow Cards	1
284	Total Passes	118
241	Completed Passes	84

[dfwgator]

The key is Poland has limited the Germans’ set pieces, where they’re so deadly.

This one has a final of 0-0 written all over it.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Someone is going to score in added time.

[Berlin_Freeper]

I am a fan of the other Mario G.

[EEGator]

Thanks for all the updates!

[dfwgator]

Well we had those two great chances in the second half, but overall I’ll take the point.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Germany 0-0 Poland
Finished

63%	Ball Possession	37%
15	Goal Attempts	7
3	Shots on Goal	0
9	Shots off Goal	3
3	Blocked Shots	4
12	Free Kicks	16
8	Corner Kicks	2
2	Offsides	3
29	Throw-in	28
0	Goalkeeper Saves	3
14	Fouls	9
3	Yellow Cards	3
591	Total Passes	242
517	Completed Passes	177

[dfwgator]

Now it’s GO USA!!!

[BeadCounter]

Congrats! Yes, fine performance.

Poland seemed to defend mainly in the last 5-7 minutes. I was afraid Germany might sneak one in at the end.

Earlier, Fabianski made a great save, that one would have gone in, parried over the cross bar.

What progress from when they played Germany in the 2006 World Cup.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Group A

Country	W	D	L	GD	Pts
FRA	2	0	0	3	6
SWI	1	1	0	1	4
ROM	0	1	1	-1	1
ALB	0	0	2	-3	0

France 2-1 Romania
Albania 0-1 Switzerland
Romania 1-1 Switzerland
France 2-0 Albania

Group B

Country	W	D	L	GD	Pts
ENG	1	1	0	1	4
WAL	1	0	1	0	3
SVK	1	0	1	0	3
RUS	0	1	1	-1	1

Wales 2-1 Slovakia
England 1-1 Russia
Russia 1-2 Slovakia
England 2-1 Wales

Group C

Country	W	D	L	GD	Pts
GER	1	1	0	2	4
POL	1	1	0	1	4
NI	1	0	1	1	3
UKR	0	0	2	-4	0

Poland 1-0 N.Ireland
Germany 2-0 Ukraine
Ukraine 0-2 N.Ireland
Germany 0-0 Poland

Group D

Country	W	D	L	GD	Pts
CRO	1	0	0	1	3
SPA	1	0	0	1	3
CZE	0	0	1	-1	0
TUR	0	0	1	-1	0

Turkey 0-1 Croatia
Spain 1-0 Czech Republic

Group E

Country	W	D	L	GD	Pts
ITA	1	0	0	2	3
IRE	0	1	0	0	1
SWE	0	1	0	0	1
BEL	0	0	1	-2	0

Ireland 1-1 Sweden
Belgium 0-2 Italy

Group F

Country	W	D	L	GD	Pts
HUN	1	0	0	2	3
ICE	0	1	0	0	1
POR	0	1	0	0	1
AUT	0	0	1	-2	0

Austria 0-2 Hungary
Portugal 1-1 Iceland

June 17
Italy vs. Sweden, 9 a.m. on ESPN
Czech Republic vs. Croatia, 12 p.m. on ESPN
Spain vs. Turkey, 3 p.m. on ESPN

UEFA.com
UEFA Euro 2016 - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

#EURO2016

[Berlin_Freeper]

You’re welcome EEGator!

[Berlin_Freeper]

Gomez was put in and didn’t receive a single pass.
The German players should be attacked by the German fans.
Such a disgrace.

[BeadCounter]

Gomez was put in and didn’t receive a single pass. The German players should be attacked by the German fans. Such a disgrace.

No way. Michael Ballack mentioned it; Germany has had some problems in the 2nd game of tournaments. Serbia beat them in 2010., I'm sure one can find other cases.

[BeadCounter]

Not sure if it was mentioned elsewhere, a Northern Ireland supporter collapsed at that game and died.

http://us.soccerway.com/news/2016/June/16/second-northern-ireland-fan-dies-in-france/n800906/

[dfwgator]

We’ll see how they do against eliminated Ukraine, we’ll see if their other neighbor rolls over for them or puts up a fight.

[BeadCounter]

We’ll see how they do against eliminated Ukraine, we’ll see if their other neighbor rolls over for them or puts up a fight.

Often when what happened to Ukraine happens, then, teams come out loose and actually play well.

Poland will likely advance in the end, but probably better to finish in 1st or 2nd.

I like the Czechs too, but they seem a bit toothless like Ukraine and play Croatia tomorrow. I don't think they will do well unfortunately. The Czech haven't even won that many games over the past year and a half. Their record is on that page. I don't really mind Croatia though, at least too much.