First day of knockout round at Euro 2016 features plenty of forgettable soccer

0 comments by Pauly Kwestel on 6/25/2016

After the group stage featured too many teams playing passive soccer so as to not hurt their goal differential, we kept telling ourselves that when the knockout rounds began things would open up. That certainly did not happen Saturday. Northern Ireland and Wales played what you would have thought was the worst game you’ve ever […]

SAINT-ETIENNE, FRANCE – JUNE 25: Xherdan Shaqiri of Switzerland scores his team’s first goal during the UEFA EURO 2016 round of 16 match between Switzerland and Poland at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on June 25, 2016 in Saint-Etienne, France. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Switzerland’s Xherdan Shaqiri equalizes with a perfect bicycle kick against Poland

0 comments by Phillip Bupp

He couldn’t have struck that any better. Behind 1-0 to Poland in the Euro 2016 Round of 16, Switzerland’s Xherdan Shaqiri put up a perfect bicycle kick from the edge of the 18 yard box to equalize late in regulation. Simply perfection out of the Stoke player. Entering extra time, Switzerland and Poland is tied […]

PARIS, FRANCE – JUNE 22: Aron Gunnarsson of Iceland takes a selfie photographs with supporters to celebrate his team’s 2-1 win after the UEFA EURO 2016 Group F match between Iceland and Austria at Stade de France on June 22, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Why expanding the Euros to 24 teams was the right move

0 comments by Pauly Kwestel on 6/23/2016

Behind the World Cup, the next best international soccer tournament is the European Championships. You may think that’s an opinion, I think it’s a statement of fact. The Euros used to seemingly be perfect, there were 16 teams, half the number that are in the World Cup. Four groups of four teams gets filtered down […]

KIEV, UKRAINE – MARCH 28: The official UEFA Euro 2016 match ball prior to kickoff during the International Friendly match between Ukraine and Wales at NSK Olimpijskyj on March 28, 2016 in Kiev, Ukraine. (Photo by Dennis Grombkowski/Getty Images)

UEFA watered down the Euros by expanding to 24 teams

0 comments by Phillip Bupp

Euro 2016 is the first Euro tournament where the field was expanded from 16 to 24 teams. This has caused some debate in terms of whether it was the right decision to go to 24 teams or stick with 16. I 100% understand why UEFA has decided to go to 24 teams, I just believe […]

LILLE, FRANCE – JUNE 22: Republic of Ireland players celebrate their team’s 1-0 win after the UEFA EURO 2016 Group E match between Italy and Republic of Ireland at Stade Pierre-Mauroy on June 22, 2016 in Lille, France. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

Day 13 of EURO 2016 saw the game of the tournament as group play ends

0 comments by Harrison Prolic on 6/22/2016

So it is finished. The group stage in Euro 2016 has come to an end, and after all the confusing advancement rules we have our round of 16 participants. Day 13 saw the game of the tournament as Hungary and Portugal played out a six goal thriller, while Ireland and Iceland showed they’re here for […]

LYON, FRANCE – JUNE 22: Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal scores his team’s second goal during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group F match between Hungary and Portugal at Stade des Lumieres on June 22, 2016 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

WATCH: Cristiano Ronaldo finally scores in Euro 2016 with great backheel goal

0 comments by Phillip Bupp

It took him 230 minutes to do it but Cristiano Ronaldo has finally scored a goal in Euro 2016 off a great backheel goal. As a result, Ronaldo became the only person to score in four consecutive Euro tournaments and gave his Portugal the equalizing goal against Hungary. Hungary took the lead once again but […]

LYON, FRANCE – JUNE 22: Zoltan Gera of Hungary celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group F match between Hungary and Portugal at Stade des Lumieres on June 22, 2016 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

WATCH: Simultaneous goals in both Group F games result in Portugal falling behind early

0 comments by Phillip Bupp

Within seconds, teams in both Euro 2016 Group F games scored at the same time and it could result in a massive upset. First, Iceland took the lead in the 18th minute thanks to Jon Bodvarsson shooting home a long throw in and moving up to the top spot in the group for a few […]

BORDEAUX, FRANCE – JUNE 21: Ivan Perisic of Croatia celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group D match between Croatia and Spain at Stade Matmut Atlantique on June 21, 2016 in Bordeaux, France. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)

Day 12 of Euro 2016 has Spain getting upset by Croatia and Germany struggling but winning

0 comments by Phillip Bupp on 6/21/2016

Well this was a rather strange day in the Euros. Germany won but struggled and Croatia pulled off a massive upset on one of the favorites to win the group. 1) Biggest winner: Croatia For obvious reasons. Croatia beat Spain and thus won Group D in a shocking 2-1 win. That sets up Croatia into […]

BORDEAUX, FRANCE – JUNE 21: Danijel Subasic of Croatia stops the penalty kick by Sergio Ramos of Spain during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group D match between Croatia and Spain at Stade Matmut Atlantique on June 21, 2016 in Bordeaux, France. (Photo by Dennis Grombkowski/Getty Images)

Watch: Danijel Subasic saves Sergio Ramos Penalty, Ivan Perisic scores late winner for Croatia

0 comments by Harrison Prolic

They say goals change games, but surely so do penalty saves. Danijel Subasic, the Croatian goalkeeper gave his side a huge boost of momentum and denied Spain the chance to take a 2-1 lead when he guessed correctly and stopped Sergio Ramos’ spot kick. David Silva was taken down in the box rather delicately by […]

BORDEAUX, FRANCE – JUNE 21: Nikola Kalinic of Croatia scores his team’s first goal past David de Gea of Spain during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group D match between Croatia and Spain at Stade Matmut Atlantique on June 21, 2016 in Bordeaux, France. (Photo by Dennis Grombkowski/Getty Images)

Watch: Nikola Kalinic levels the score for Croatia right before halftime

0 comments by Harrison Prolic

Spain spent most of the first half dominating possession as well as getting an early goal, but a late side-footed finish from Nikola Kalinic means that Spain and Croatia will begin the second half leveled at 1. Croatia, who’s matchup with the defending champions has been overshadowed by rumors of crowd trouble, had trouble getting […]

BARCELONA, SPAIN – APRIL 02: Karim Benzema of Real Madrid CF celebrates with team-mate Luka Modric after scoring his team’s first goal during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at Camp Nou on April 2, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

The best XI players snubbed at the Euros

0 comments by Jeff Snyder

As with any major tournament, there are going to be players who don’t make the cut, either because of form or fitness or even politics. For the Euros, we happen to have a mix of all three. So we decided to build a team of the best XI players that were left behind. There was […]

MARSEILLE, FRANCE – JUNE 21: Jakub Blaszczykowski of Poland (R) celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with his teamates during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group C match between Ukraine and Poland at Stade Velodrome on June 21, 2016 in Marseille, France. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Watch: Jakub Błaszczykowski curls in a beautiful shot to give Poland 1-0 lead

0 comments by Harrison Prolic

Jakub Błaszczykowski compounded Ukraine’s misery in Euro 2016 with a terrific second half strike that game Poland a 1-0 lead over Ukraine. This match means much more for Poland that it does for Ukraine who have already been eliminated coming into today. Poland who is battling with Germany for the top spot in group C […]

PARIS, FRANCE – JUNE 21: Mario Gomez (2nd R) of Germany scores the opening goal past Michael McGovern and Aaron Hughes of Northern Ireland during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group C match between Northern Ireland and Germany at Parc des Princes on June 21, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Watch: Mario Gomez scores in his return to the Germany starting 11

0 comments by Harrison Prolic

Mario Gomez found his way back into the starting 11 for Germany against Northern Ireland, and after a half hour, he celebrated his return with a goal to finally break down the stout Northern Irish defense. A quick break from the Germans and quick passes from Joshua Kimmich and Mesut Ozil found Thomas Müller around […]

TOULOUSE, FRANCE – JUNE 20: Aaron Ramsey (1st R) of Wales celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with his team mates during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group B match between Russia and Wales at Stadium Municipal on June 20, 2016 in Toulouse, France. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Day 11 at the Euro 2016 sees Wales top Group B as England and Slovakia draw

0 comments by Pauly Kwestel on 6/20/2016

Heading into the tournament England were the heavy favorites to win Group B, with their tiny neighbor Wales being seen as a dark horse. There were some who doubted Wales though, with many thinking they were just Gareth Bale and 10 other players. After England’s last minute win over Wales last week, England were in […]

TOULOUSE, FRANCE – JUNE 20: Neil Taylor (C) of Wales celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group B match between Russia and Wales at Stadium Municipal on June 20, 2016 in Toulouse, France. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)

Watch: Neil Taylor completes great counter attack to make it 2-0 Wales

0 comments by Pauly Kwestel

There may be nothing better in soccer then a good team goal. You know the ones that start from good defending work their way all the way through the midfield and then that killer final ball gets played to the striker left back for the finish? Wait the left back? Yes, left back Neil Taylor was on […]

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