OT - 6/22 Euros/Copa America Open Thread

Submitted by bacon1431 on June 23rd, 2021 at 9:08 AM

Final day of the group stage today, with Groups E and F playing their final games. Saving the most potentially chaotic groups for last. 
 

France and Sweden have secured a spot in the next round, but which landing spot is still up in the air. All four teams in each group have something at stake, which makes for a very interesting day. 
 

12pm - Slovakia v Spain - ESPN

12pm - Sweden v Poland - ESPN2

3pm - Portugal v France - ESPN

3pm - Germany v Hungary - ESPN2

Two interesting matches in Copa America. Only drawback is that with groups of 5 and the top 4 in each advancing, the stakes of each game don’t feel high. But South American teams love to attack, so each game promises to be entertaining. 
 

5pm - Ecuador v Peru - FS1

8pm - Brazil v Colombia - FS1

Lots of MLS games tonight as well, so soccer fans will have a full day. 

goblueram

June 23rd, 2021 at 9:25 AM ^

Today should be fun.  Predictions:  Spain, draw, France, Germany.  The 3 winners advance and Portugal sneaks through in 3rd place, setting up big round of 16 battles of England vs. Germany and Netherlands vs. Portugal.

Allez les bleus!

goblueram

June 23rd, 2021 at 9:47 AM ^

From the England Germany rivalry wiki page.  England stinks...

As of 2016, Germany has won four World Cups and three European Championships, and has played in a total of fourteen finals in those two tournaments. England has won one World Cup in the only final they ever reached in either tournament.

goblueram

June 23rd, 2021 at 9:33 AM ^

I think if they lose be 2 or less they will sneak through as the last of the 3rd place teams (only 2 of them get knocked out).  Assuming I am interpreting the tiebreaks correctly, and I guess assuming that Spain takes care of business.

  • Portugal 3 pts +1 GD 5 GF
  • Ukraine 3 pts -1 GD 4 GF
  • Finland 3 pts -2 GD 1 GF 

Lou MacAdoo

June 23rd, 2021 at 10:42 AM ^

I’ve been loving being able to turn on a game at almost any time. It’s awesome. Did anyone see Philly comeback from 2-0 down to tie in the 92”? What a moment that was. A howitzer in the upper 90

bacon1431

June 23rd, 2021 at 12:09 PM ^

Sweden pulls ahead early. Don't really see a way back in it for Poland unless they have a 180 from the way they've played the whole tournament. 

Needs

June 23rd, 2021 at 12:56 PM ^

But it was real bad... The Guardian's description... 

31 min: That’s an absolute shocker for Dubravka. Sarabia unleashed a shot that hit the crossbar and sailed towards the heavens. As it dropped from the sky, Dubravka leaped to ... well, I don’t know what he was trying to do but instead of tapping it over his own bar for a corner, he simply palmed it into his own net.

bacon1431

June 23rd, 2021 at 1:44 PM ^

Poland were dead, being down 2-0 to Sweden. Lewandowski has scored two! They need another in the last five minutes plus stoppage time to advance. 

Needs

June 23rd, 2021 at 1:45 PM ^

Poland attempting a huge fight back from 2 goals down to go through. Worth turning on for last 10 minutes. Now 2-2. Poland needs one more goal.

Needs

June 23rd, 2021 at 5:18 PM ^

The knockout bracket turns out to be wildly imbalanced. 

The top has ... Belgium, Portugal, Italy, France, Spain (and Austria, Croatia and Switzerland)

The bottom has ... England (has looked mediocre), Germany (has looked bad), Netherlands (plus Sweden, Ukraine, Czech, Wales, Denmark).