Euro 2020 (21)

[Arthur Crabtree]

Penalties again.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Swiss on penalties again actually.

Lots of misses.

[mikesiva]

Spain through to the semis on penalties.

Good to see both Belgium and Italy taking the knee. No booing too!

[yuppie]

The Belgium defense could do with a bit more cover in front of it.

[yuppie]

Not sure i can watch Italy again. The gamesmanship is just on a level that takes all the enjoyment out of the game for me.

[Durhamfootman]

Belgium completely outplayed by Italy tonight. De Bruyne was quite poor I thought. He was given the ball for all the set pieces and rarely got the ball past the first defender. A good shot in the first half which was saved well and a pass fired across the box which was defended well, but that was about it. Keown suggested late on that Belgium should get the ball to KdB so he could find Lukaku, but tbh he hadn't found him all night.

Before the game I thought Belgium would win, but then I saw Chiellini's face shortly after the kick off and he was grinning from ear to ear while everyone else on the pitch was looking tense, so I switched to fancying Italy.The longer the second half went on the tighter the Belgian players became and the more the Italians seemed to be enjoying themselves.

For what was probably the tie of the tournament it was as straightforward a win as Italy could have ever hoped for

[Durhamfootman]

Not sure i can watch Italy again. The gamesmanship is just on a level that takes all the enjoyment out of the game for me.

I was pleasantly surprised at how positive and free flowing Italy were. It was only the last few minutes where they were just seeing the game out that they reverted to type

If Gareth SG wants to see how a wing back should be playing he need look no further than the example set by the outstanding (and now crocked) Spinazzola

I remember all the talk before England Belgium 3 years ago was about how old and slow the Belgian back 3 were..... well 2 of them are still there... they might be 3 years older and 3 years wiser but they are also 3 years slower and the Italians went after them at pace and did a great job of it.

Hard to see how Denmark are going to beat Italy in the final

[yuppie]

Belgian certainly did not play like the best team in world football.

De Bryune did have a poor game and i wonder how bad his injury was? Not sure Martinez will be the coach any longer and i wonder if this was their best chance to win a major tournament for them. Im sure SP will let us know what the feeling is like in Belgium.

Belgian had their chances but Italy were the better team for me as well.

Would have been nice to have seen a team like Belgium win a major title but judging from tonight's performance they seem a long way from that.

Last 15 minutes was just ruined as a spectacle for me. Italy can close the game out like they always have been able to. But i just hate to watch it. Im working with an Italian tomorrow, i just hope he does not get an injury...............

[Durhamfootman]

don't brush against his sleeve

he won't be able to help himself

[Gingerfinch]

Didn't see either game. Was hoping Belgium would prevail but Italy are a resolute bunch.

[alfie]

Belgian certainly did not play like the best team in world football.

De Bryune did have a poor game and i wonder how bad his injury was? Not sure Martinez will be the coach any longer and i wonder if this was their best chance to win a major tournament for them. Im sure SP will let us know what the feeling is like in Belgium.

Belgian had their chances but Italy were the better team for me as well.

Would have been nice to have seen a team like Belgium win a major title but judging from tonight's performance they seem a long way from that.

Last 15 minutes was just ruined as a spectacle for me. Italy can close the game out like they always have been able to. But i just hate to watch it. Im working with an Italian tomorrow, i just hope he does not get an injury...............

Bit blatant sometimes , isn't it ? Not that they are the only ones , but think they get the Oscar...

Fair enough win for them though ; although Belgium didn't half miss a couple of excellent chances to level. (Damn ! I was holding out for extra time - though it might just have become the usual snore fest of two teams happy to wait for penalties)

Belgium might be seeing their "window" for winning a BIG ONE with this Golden Generation closing. I actually had fancied them to win this until the injuries to de Bruyne (presumably still off his best from the after effects tonight) and Hazard ; but they were very much second best when it counted.

That earlier game had a bizarre finish ! Can't remember seeing so many feeble penalty attempts in one shoot out...and the Swiss with the same personnel had been perfect just the other day Perhaps it just shows you don't win the lottery twice in a row.

Now to check my supplies of Scotch for Saturday night...

[sussexpob]

Belgium have a crop of exciting young players who have potential, they can stick around in the future. Doku last night for instance was Belgium's best player. If I'm honest I don't get a sense of bitterness from the locals; I think for a small country with a not so glamorous history, they will remember the time they were relevant inajor tournaments with pride rather than sadness they didn't win. The punditry at the end was forgiving, and de Bruyne gave a huge interview where he seemed pretty upbeat.

Italy deserved it. Belgium had two massive chances, but in reality it felt at the end Italy left goals out there if they'd wanted to attack. The Italians attack was just too suffocating for a back three well past their best.

[Durhamfootman]

Doku was terrific last night. I really appreciate live wires who just run at defenders. The defenders hate it, but I love it

[Arthur Crabtree]

Watched a bit of Denmark v Czechia on itv and the commentator was making it sound like this is a knock out to face England in the semis...

[Durhamfootman]

I'd be tempted to start Sancho against Ukraine. He must be champing at the bit to get on the field and I think he could be a real handful if let loose.

I get my wish