Euro 2024, day nine
And we’ve made it through the three game days. I… have not slept much since the tournament started. I’ve been getting about four hours a night, every night since the Euros began so, to the surprise of no one, I fell asleep right when I was starting to write this. I’m finally going to get some rest now that the schedule is easing up. For now, you can read hopefully the most sleep-deprived thing I will ever write, so forgive any mistakes.
Georgia 1-1 Czech Republic
“A game of two halves”, if both halves were actually the same.
Czechia really did dominate from the word go. They created a string of good chances and got the ball in the back of the net, only for a handball to interfere. The only thing Georgia created was a free kick that swung into the box for a Czech defender to give away a penalty. Georgia got ahead and it just felt stupid.
Czech Republic did equalise through a very scrappy corner that was the very least they deserved. They created so many good chances, exerted such control over the game, that I would have been incredibly frustrated watching this one were I Czech. They piled on a lot of pressure throughout.
I was really underwhelmed with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia here. He has such a powerful dribble, sucking players towards the ball, but it really hasn’t been worth a lot in this Georgia side. I think I might need to be giving Napoli more credit for figuring out how to utilise his very specific skillset. He’s just not cooking here.
Both these teams realistically need to win on their final day to have a chance of going through. Georgia are playing a Portugal side full of quality but one that could heavily rotate here. Czechia have to play a Turkey side with work to do. Anyone’s guess. This should be exciting.
Turkey 0-3 Portugal
Who’s Cristiano Ronaldo’s favourite Doctor Who villain?
Siuuuutekh!
Sorry, I’m sorry, I’m trying to remove it.
Roberto Martínez did what I asked and brought in an actual central midfielder, to which I have to say: thank you for subscribing, Roberto. João Palhinha, a man who loves nothing more than to kick people, played alongside Vitinha in a double pivot, providing a much more straightforward structure to the team. Rafael Leão and Bernardo Silva were both conventional wingers (despite Silva often coming inside for Manchester City, *ahem*), and Ronaldo was a pure striker. It was more basic than what we saw last time, and more effective.