Cracking opening night to the U21 Euros last night - all four quarter-finals rocked. Holland beat favourites France 2-1 with a winner in the 94th. minute. Spain put Croatia out in extra-time after a very late Croatian equaliser in normal time. Portugal and Italy went at it hammer and tongs deep into extra time in the kind of back and forth barnstormer you wish you could see very time you tune in - 5-3 Portugal after Italy had also equalised late in normal time to come back from 3-1 down. And Germany dodged a bullet with a late equaliser against Denmark to make it 1-1, then won on penalties after extra time with the score at 2-2. Another humdinger that could have gone either way.
Semis on Thursday:
Portugal v Spain
Germany v Holland
This is proper tournament football - straight knockouts, eight teams only. Younger players still not battered into tactical submission by obsessive laptop coaches. Goals, drama and action from start to finish.
And all around 24 hours after I'd said following Lincoln v Blackpool, "I'm going to take a rest from football until the start of the Euros..." Glad I was weak.
Semis on Thursday:
Portugal v Spain
Germany v Holland
This is proper tournament football - straight knockouts, eight teams only. Younger players still not battered into tactical submission by obsessive laptop coaches. Goals, drama and action from start to finish.
And all around 24 hours after I'd said following Lincoln v Blackpool, "I'm going to take a rest from football until the start of the Euros..." Glad I was weak.
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