0 comments by Phillip Bupp on 6/30/2016
Last week, U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati and CONMEBOL President Alejandro Dominguez discussed the possibility of having a combined playoff between the Copa America Centenario winner (Chile) and the Euro 2016 winner. Now it appears that is all but official. Dominguez tweeted Wednesday that CONMEBOL is discussing possible dates with UEFA to have a playoff […]
NICE, FRANCE – JUNE 27: Elmar Bjarnason (R) and Iceland players celebrate after the UEFA EURO 2016 round of 16 match between England and Iceland at Allianz Riviera Stadium on June 27, 2016 in Nice, France. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
0 comments by Phillip Bupp on 6/28/2016
We get it everybody, Iceland is a small country. We get that Iceland has 330,000 people and their population is the same as [insert medium sized U.S. city here]. It certainly makes Iceland’s trek through the Euros a better story but at the same time, it takes away the fact that this is a team […]
LILLE, FRANCE – JUNE 26: Jerome Boateng of Germany celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with his team staffs during the UEFA EURO 2016 round of 16 match between Germany and Slovakia at Stade Pierre-Mauroy on June 26, 2016 in Lille, France. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
0 comments by Josh Espinal on 6/26/2016
What a start for Germany. The current World Cup champions are looking for European glory to tack on to their illustrious trophy case. They had a great start in their Euro 2016 round of 16 game against Slovakia as Jerome Boateng as he scored a fantastic goal to give Germany the 1-0 lead early on […]
SAINT-ETIENNE, FRANCE – JUNE 25: Poland players celebrate victory after 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 Lars Baron/Getty Images)
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 […]
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)
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)
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 […]
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)
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)
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 […]
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)
0 comments by Pauly Kwestel
If you aren’t a fan of the English Premier League then you may know Aaron Ramsey as the guy on Wales that isn’t Gareth Bale. You also may know him as the guy with the seriously terrible hair. As of right now he may also be the guy who won the group for Wales. Taking […]
0 comments by Pauly Kwestel on 6/16/2016
With this summer’s Europeans Championships and Copa America happening right now, ESPN and Fox have their marketing campaigns to get American viewers to tune in in full swing. Summer tournament marketing has been around for a while and it’s given us some great commercials. Prior to the 2014 World Cup ESPN had a great spot […]
MARSEILLE, FRANCE – JUNE 15: Antoine Griezmann of France celebrates scoring his sides first goal during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group A match between France and Albania at Stade Velodrome on June 15, 2016 in Marseille, France. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
0 comments by Pauly Kwestel on 6/15/2016
The story of the match was French manager Didier Deschamps dropping Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann from the starting XI and going with a 4-2-3-1 formation. The move was a disaster as France failed to generate any attack. Pogba was subbed on at halftime, with Griezmann following shortly after as France went back to a […]
PARIS, FRANCE – JUNE 10: Paul Pogba of France lines up for the national anthem prior to the UEFA Euro 2016 Group A match between France and Romania at Stade de France on June 10, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
0 comments by Pauly Kwestel
Day six at Euro 2016 saw Slovakia score a big 2-1 win over Russia to put themselves even with Wales at the top of Group B, and leave Russia in serious trouble. Switzerland were unimpressive once again but did enough to get a draw with Romania which puts them at four points. That should certainly […]
PARIS, FRANCE – JUNE 15: Admir Mehmedi of Switzerland celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group A match between Romania and Switzerland at Parc des Princes on June 15, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
0 comments by Pauly Kwestel
Through one and a half games Switzerland were one of the least impressive teams at Euro 2016 in France. They were outplayed in their first match against a 10 men Albania side, and it’s very easy to say they would not have gotten all three points had Albania had 11 men the whole match. To […]
LISBON, PORTUGAL – JUNE 21: Wayne Rooney of England is congratulated by coach Sven Goran Eriksson after he is substituted during the UEFA Euro 2004, Group B match between Croatia and England at the Luz Stadium on June 21, 2004 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Wayne Rooney
0 comments by Pauly Kwestel on 6/14/2016
International football is tricky. Teams are bound by strict restrictions on who can play for them and if those players aren’t up to snuff, there’s really nothing you can do. Sometimes a country gets a once in a generation talent, but no other good players to support him. Think Ryan Giggs’ entire Wales career. Other […]
TOULOUSE, FRANCE – JUNE 13: Gerard Pique (C) of Spain celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with his team mates during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group D match between Spain and Czech Republic at Stadium Municipal on June 13, 2016 in Toulouse, France. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
0 comments by Pauly Kwestel on 6/13/2016
Day 4 at the Euro’s saw the holders Spain put their disastrous 2014 World Cup performance behind them. They left it until late but they came away with the three points. Meanwhile Italy upset Belgium while Ireland and Sweden played out a very entertaining 1-1 draw. Let’s take a look at the day that was […]
