Sunday 17 June 2012

Day 10 - Group B MBM

Prematch - Welcome to the Group of confusing permutations (Copyright S Day).  Any of the teams can go through and any of them can go out. There are plenty of ifs and maybes, but rather than go into it now, I'll just update as the evening progresses.
What is certain is that we have 2 very exciting looking games, which are pretty tough to call.  Obviously the Germans are favourites, but the Danes have shown they are no pushovers and a draw wouldn't be a big surprise. Neither Holland v Portugal have hit form yet, but are both capable of big performances.
I'll be flicking between the games and no doubt missing most of the important bits! Making the task a bit trickier is a serious hangover from last night.  Expect plenty of typos and some incoherent rambling.

The teams:

Portugal: Patricio; Pereira, Alves, Pepe, Coentrao; Veloso, Moutinho, Meireles; Nani, Postiga, Ronaldo. 
Holland: Stekelenburg; Van der Wiel, Mathijsen, Vlaar, Willems; De Jong, Sneijder; Robben, Van der Vaart, Van Persie; Huntelaar.


Denmark:  Andersen; Jacobsen, Agger, Kjaer, S. Poulsen; Zimling, Kvist; Poulsen, Eriksen, Krohn-Dehli; Bendtner

Germany: Neuer; Bender, Badstuber, Hummels, Lahm; Khedira, Schweinsteiger; Muller, Ozil, Podolski; Gomez

Holland finally decide to play 2 up top, Poulsen comes in for Rommedahl, and Lars Bender replaces Boateng for the Germans.  Finbarr Saunders rejoices!


Kick off  I'm starting in Lviv to see if Germany can confirm their place in the semi finals. Yes, I know there's still Greece to beat but seriously.


3 Mins Quiet start in both games.  I'm going for 30 second chunks before changing channels, pretty sure I've missed nothing of importance.  
Andy Townsend is ranting about Holland being selfish. Let it go Andy.


6 Mins  It's noticeably louder at the Dutch game, a common occurrence when Holland are playing.  
Ronaldo is getting booed which is good to hear.
Germany almost scored but I missed it. How's that for insight?!


10 Mins  Still haven't seen the German effort. On the plus side, the hangover is improving a bit.
Khadira is almost played in but Agger (who's having a great tournament) cuts up the ball from Ozil.  Gomez fires over from a difficult chance.
And then I miss a goal from Van Der Vaart, a good one to if the inane comments on Twitter are anything to go by.


13 Mins  It was a cracking strike. Lovely curled effort form outside the box after good work from Robben.
It looks like a very open game.  Ronaldo then hits the post after a trademark run and cut into the box.  
NB - I don't actually think Ronaldo has got a trademark on that but you know what I mean.


17 Mins  Postiga is presented with a great chance but it's deflected wide.  This game is winning the battle for my viewing. 
Then I get lucky and flick over about 10 seconds before Podolski fires Germany ahead.  Podolski has 100 caps and is 27.  That is absurd. Good move from Muller and a simple finish for the centurion.
As things stand, the Germans are off to play Greece and Portugal will be facing the Czechs. 
But one more goal from Holland and they go through. 


23 Mins Ronaldo just can't score, now he heads a good chance straight at Martin (quicker to type than his surname!) 
I miss another goal as Denmark equalize through Krohn-Delli. Header after Bendtner headed it across goal.  Poor marking from the Germans.


28 Mins Missed goal number 3! Ronaldo finally scores after a dreadful ball from the woeful Willems and a lovely pass from Peraira.  So good that it's rivaling Pirlo for best assist of the Euros.


34 Mins Guess who heads just wide for Portugal! They're good value for their goal, Holland look ropey at the back. 
Germany have a FK on the edge of the area....Podolski hits it very hard and very high.


38 Mins Germany are actually 2 goals away from going out...I can't be bothered to explain how/wide.  
Keidira pokes one just wide.  He's getting forward well today, not his usually game but it's a useful string to his bow. 


42 Mins Finally a quiet spell!  This has been a superb 90 minutes...if you see what I mean.  Another corner for the Danes but Kjaer's shot is blocked.


HT And relax.  This is hard work.  As thing sstand, the Danes will be through to face the Czechs, which would be a very tough game to call.  Germany would play Greece.
I'm off to find a can of Relentless Inferno.


46 Mins And we're off again.  Holland are so poor at the back, Portugal get in almost immediately but Ronaldo's shot is blocked.  Very hard to see the Dutch going through.
Gomez is getting much more of the ball tonight...and it's a bad thing.  Limit his contribution and he's lethal, let him play and not much happens.  I'm not sure how Germany would go about that.  
Whilst I ponder that stupid ramble, Poulsen clips the post when he really should have scored. Lovely set up from Bendtner, who's proving a lot of people wrong, myself included.


51 Mins Vlaar heads wide when he really should have scored.  Meanwhile the Germans are pleasing on the eye with their "tikitaka lite", but they are falling into the trap of trying to score the perfect goal.  


57 Mins The seconds halfs are alot quieter so far, but you get the impression it's the calm before the storm.  Man alive I'm using alot of lazy cliches tonight. Sorry, I blame the cider from last night.  Terrible decision.


62 Mins  More lovely play from the Germans, but no end product.  It could come back to bite them if they lose and something or other happens in the other game.


65 Mins Rapid break from Portugal ends with Coentrao having his shot saved by Martin.   Anderson makes a great low save to deny Schurrle and things are livening up a bit.  And then there's an injury and it slows down again.  The heat isn't helping but the second halfs have been a bit of a letdown.


72 Mins Germany seem happy enough with the draw., a dangerous game.
Ronaldo scores! Swift break, good finish, thoroughly deserved.  Bye Holland, they look a shambles.
A goal for the Dames and Germany are out. 


76 Mins Germany are doing OK, but don't look like potential champions.  Denmark are still a threat. but are struggling to commit numbers forward.


80 Mins Bender!!!  Lars saves the day with a neat finish after Muller (who's played very well) engineers a break.  Surely that's that.
Holland meanwhile are imploding in front of my bleary eyes.  Thank God Lawro isn't commentating, he'd be unbearable.  Even more so than usual.  Portugal absolutely destroy them on the break, but Nani chips a cross onto the roof of the net.


87 Mins  After all that, it seems like the Germans and Portuguese will be through with points to spare.  Both games are fizzling out a bit and the main interest is in whether any Dutch players have a fight!


89 Mins  Ronaldo hits the post again! Yet another wonderful break and a great shot.  Getting somewhat embarrassing for the men in Orange but Portugal look a real threat. you've got to fancy them to beat the Czechs.


FT That was the hardest blog yet.  Too much going on and impossible to see everything.  
In the end, Germany were worthy group winners, Denmakr played well, but really were the victims of a tough draw.  Portugal looked good and will be confident of at least reaching the semi final.  As for Holland? Dross.


I'll be back tomorrow to write up my report of the Group A finale.....it's been a long day!


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