Euro: Group F: FRA vs. POR, GER vs. HUN, 6/23/2021

[HostileCapSpace]

Finishing second in the group must be tempting...

 

[Havre]

Disappointed. No Moussa Sissoko.

 

[misterchainsaw]

Finishing second in the group must be tempting...

The problem is how do you aim for 2nd if you're Germany? Everything's still reliant on the other game. Portugal also can't finish 2nd without a lot of help from the other game (a draw means they need Germany to lose, a win means they need Germany to win). I suppose France could play for a draw and probably end up 2nd (with a Germany win), but then you're on the razor's edge of finishing 3rd and meeting Belgium if Portugal scores late against you. I'd much rather finish 1st and face the Swiss than finish 3rd and face Belgium.

 

[Moncherry]

Moutinho starting

Of course he would go for a conservative line-up.

 

[HostileCapSpace]

The problem is how do you aim for 2nd without risking everything if you're Germany? Portugal also can't finish 2nd without a lot of help from the other game (a draw means they need Germany to lose, a win means they need Germany to win). I suppose France could play for a draw and probably end up 2nd (with a Germany win), but then you're on the razor's edge of finishing 3rd if Portugal scores late against you.

I know. Was just an observation. Realistically teams won't be looking for this. Maybe France late game if things are tied will be happy with just running down the clock, but that's it. Germany has to aim for a win.

Edit: Third place is definitely the worst - you face Belgium and then if you win potentially Italy.

 

[Eisen]

Germany with the same starting lineup as before except for Müller. Sané is in for him. No Goretzka.

 

[Moncherry]

So the good news for Portugal is that they will now only be eliminated if they lose by 4 or more (assuming they finish 3rd)

The bad news is they will play Belgium and end up on the more difficult side of the bracket.

 

[bossram]

So the good news for Portugal is that they will now only be eliminated if they lose by 4 or more (assuming they finish 3rd)

The bad news is they will play Belgium and end up on the more difficult side of the bracket.

Belgium have looked pretty mortal thus far though. Maybe not the worst thing.

 

[ItsFineImFine]

No Goretzka.

This better be for health-related reasons to save him up.

 

[Moncherry]

Belgium have looked pretty mortal thus far though. Maybe not the worst thing.

Yeah but that path to the semi-finals is way more difficult. Belgium then most likely Italy vs Netherlands then Denmark/Wales.

 

[koyvoo]

Bruno benched

 

[Eisen]

This better be for health-related reasons to save him up.

Goretzka says he's fit. Löw said that, too. The talking heads are pondering that it could be because of the lacking game practice.

 

[ItsFineImFine]

Who'd doing the colour on ESPN for the Germany game? BBC has friggin Robbie Savage.

 

[Live in the Now]

You forget what it's like with full fans, then you see that. Kind of hoping for a Portugal win here to make things more chaotic.

 

[ItsFineImFine]

Not bothering to change any of the three players on a yellow is peak Low.

 

[cgf]

Germany with the same starting lineup as before except for Müller. Sané is in for him. No Goretzka.

Was expecting that, though I'm disappointed we won't see Goretzka or Hofmann starting.

 

[Suiteness]

Play the rest of the tournament in Budapest

 

[TheMoreYouKnow]

Who'd doing the colour on ESPN for the Germany game? BBC has friggin Robbie Savage.

Efan Ekoku

 

[Wee Baby Seamus]

Everyone: hey why don't you play a full back at full back especially given that Pavard is out

Didier Deschamps:

 

[Eisen]

Was expecting that, though I'm disappointed we won't see Goretzka or Hofmann starting.

I wasn't sure. There were questionmarks about Hummels' health which would have tossed everything around.

 

[TheMoreYouKnow]

Not bothering to change any of the three players on a yellow is peak Low.

Peak Jogi would be losing to a Hungarian goal scored on a counter-attack in a game Germany can draw and Hungary needs to win.

 

[cgf]

Not bothering to change any of the three players on a yellow is peak Low.

I can't really fault him for that. Kimmich is our best player, Havertz needs to be allowed to build on his strong game against Portugal, and Ginter is our best defensive player in the back. Swapping Süle for Ginter would really be the only swap I'd have made to the starting lineup due to yellows.

 

[cgf]

I wasn't sure. There were questionmarks about Hummels' health which would have tossed everything around.

Eh, Jogi would've probably just started Süle for Hummels.

 

[Live in the Now]

Portugal is really trying to kill the tempo here because they have a few older players. Not sure that's a good idea.

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

Semdoh lol Mpabbe already running circles going to be a long night for the lad