DJHazey

My World Rank Pre-Tournament: #3 Projected World Rank Now: #3 (Not enough to surpass Belgium who are projected to drop from #1 to #2 with this tournament, because Brazil are on a Copa America run and the new projected #1) FIFA: Ranked #4 before the tournament and as well as right now ELO: Ranked #7 before the tournament and #5 right now EURO Titles: 0 (1 finals appearance) World Cup Titles: 1 (1 finals appearance) Goals Scored in EURO 2020: Harry Kane (4), Raheem Sterling (3), Jordan Henderson (1), Harry Maguire (1) Latest Starting XI: 4-2-3-1 Kane Sterling • Mount • Saka Rice • Phillips Shaw • Maguire • Stones • Walker Pickford Key Reserves Based on This Lineup: Trippier (DF), Grealish (MF), Foden (MF), Henderson (MF), Rashford (FW), Sancho (FW) Average Age for Core Group: 25.2 My World Rank Pre-Tournament: #9 Projected World Rank Now: #5 (The highest I've ever had them since I started ranking world football in 2012) FIFA: Ranked #7 before the tournament and #6 right now ELO: Ranked #6 before the tournament and #3 right now EURO Titles: 1 (4 finals appearances) World Cup Titles: 4 (6 finals appearances) Goals Scored in EURO 2020: Federico Chiesa (2), Ciro Immobile (2), Lorenzo Insigne (2), Manuel Locatelli (2), Matteo Pessina (2), Nicolò Barella (1) Latest Starting XI: 4-3-3 Insigne • Immobile • Chiesa Verratti • Jorginho • Barella Emerson • Chiellini • Bonucci • Di Lorenzo Donnarumma Key Reserves Based on This Lineup: Toloi (DF), Locatelli (MF), Pessina (MF), Belotti (FW), Berardi (FW) Average Age for Core Group: 27.5 (younger attackers, older defence) Matchup History 2014 World Cup Group Stage | 2-1 Italy EURO 2012 Quarterfinal | 0-0, 4-2 Italy on penalties 1998 World Cup Qualifier | 0-0 1998 World Cup Qualifier | 1-0 Italy 1990 World Cup Third Place | 2-1 Italy EURO 1980 Group Stage | 1-0 Italy 1978 World Cup Qualifier | 2-0 England 1978 World Cup Qualifier | 2-0 Italy

Blast "Its Coming Home" and "Freed From Desire"

At game speed that it always a penalty for a ref, Sterling was basically sandwiched between to Danish defenders. In old days that would have been the end of it but even VAR could not overturn it which you now have, it's a penalty.

Ukraine was going to be fine with sitting back but Denmark certainly won't. I think they had the most shots on goal of anyone after the Round of 16 or were close to it.

Without Sommer, Switzerland would already be dead in the water.

Crazy stat: Thomas Muller has 10 goals in three world cups and yet has 0 goals in three EUROs.

Kane has now equalled Wayne Rooney for goals scored at major tournaments for England (7), with only Gary Lineker (10) and Alan Shearer (9) netting more across the World Cup & EUROs for the Three Lions.

Sterling is only the second player to score each of England's first three goals of an edition of a major tournament (World Cup or EUROs), after Gary Lineker did so at the 1986 World Cup.

Germany have conceded at least once in each of their last eight matches at major tournaments (EURO and World Cup), since a 3-0 win against Slovakia at this stage of EURO 2016. Only once have had they had a longer run without a major tournament clean sheet, which was in their first nine World Cup matches between 1934 and 1954.

Not in a major tournament.

On what planet is Hungary 50 times better than Scotland? They're both in the bottom half of the world's Top 50 nations. The point stands England is the better team than Germany right now. If England were in Group F, they'd have beaten Hungary, drawn to either Portugal/France, and beaten the other.

And Germany almost lost to Hungary.

The 'underdog' team is actually Germany, but I understand feeling that way because of history and how close England is for people that live there, obviously. However if you were to take a step back and look at the matchup objectively as the teams stand right this minute, there isn't a doubt England should be considered the favorite. This isn't your parents' or grandparents' Germany squad.

Both sides then could've won it in the last few seconds, each with enormous goal scoring chances!

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS! TWICE ON THE SAME SAY!

On paper this truly is like 3-1 England, looking at the teams in their current forms. However the game is never played on paper and they'll find a way to mess things up. Hope I'm wrong.

I don't know, I get the feeling that Belgium, Denmark, and also Croatia if they complete comeback are feeling like 'teams of destiny' this tournament.

Hungary!!!

Scotland stay alive with a big draw!

Immobile's shot was absolutely filthy! And I was the only one to pick Italy in the poll? Hehe

Chiellini pulled up lame with a hamstring and was subbed out. goal.com | 26' | ITALY LEAD! It's a wonderful move from Italy which is started by Locatelli out to Berardi on the right. The midfielder continued his run to the edge of the six-yard box to get on the end of the cross into the middle and he slots it past Sommer before the goalkeeper even realises he's there. 1-0 Italy!

U.S. broadcasts get Jon Champion/Taylor Twellman or Ian Darke/Stewart Robson for most our matches on ESPN. I think we're blessed.

goal.com | 19' | CHIELLINI SCORES! Insigne swings the corner in and Chiellini jumps between two Swiss players to reach it. He nods it down and takes advantage of the confusion in the box to poke the ball past Sommer from close range, but VAR is having a look at this one... goal.com | 20' | NO GOAL! VAR has a look at the replay of the goal and the ball actually struck Chiellini's arm when he brought it down. It's a handball in the direct build-up to the goal, so it won't count. Still 0-0!

goal.com | 90' + 5' | GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!! ROBERTS SCORES!!!!! 2-0 WALES!! Roberts surely secures the win for Wales as he stabs home a pass from Bale from close range. Bale brings the ball out from the corner and teases the Turkey defence. The Real Madrid man spots Roberts in space and offloads into the six-yard box. The full-back sticks out a leg and diverts a low strike past Cakir. Bale atones for his penalty miss by killing off the game with a pass to Roberts. The full-back makes no mistake from six yards.