The Round Ball Game - II

[johncorrigan]

Gerd Müller

One of my all-time favourite players, gurney.

[gurnemanz]

One of my all-time favourite players, gurney.

Has reputation of being a goalmouth lurker but much more than that. Had a difficult time post football career.

[jayne lee wilson]

Has reputation of being a goalmouth lurker but much more than that. Had a difficult time post football career.

Wonderful how his former Bayern teammates supported him through rehab wasn't it? Gave him a much better life, back coaching with Bayern.

Incredible pace over short distances, agility to turn instantly in limited space, that striker's instinct to pass the ball in; you don't need to break the net.
Wonderful to watch him for both club and country. Very good in the air despite his height. Creative of many other goals in his lay-offs around the box.

That 2-3 defeat for England in the Mexico quarter-final was the first match I ever cried over...! But it was always going to be Gerd Müller, given any chance...and it led to one of the greatest of all World Cup semi-finals: Italy 4 West Germany 3, after ET...5 goals (2 from Müller) in extra time! What a match that was, late in the night, for a 14-year old to stay up for!

***
Its been some saga hasn't it? The dull 0-0 in Spain, the Gazza's Tears semi in Italy, more heartbreak with the 1996 penalties; another dull one in 2000 (we won 1-0, but both teams were eliminated at the group stage)....that impossibly joyful 5-1 in Munich.... (but look what happened next...).

Perhaps worst of all, the Lampard disallowed goal in Bloemfontein. That 1-4 is remembered as a deserved heavy defeat to a brilliant German team (who beat Argentina 4-0 in the next round), but who knows, if we'd hit the break at 2-2?
But it did lead to the goal-line tech, at least. Some good came out of it.

[johncorrigan]

Has reputation of being a goalmouth lurker but much more than that. Had a difficult time post football career.

I didn't know that, gurney. Once in the old Olympic Stadium I saw Gerd, Beckenbauer and others in a 2-2 friendly for Bayern v Munich 1860. It was so great to see him. He was a wonderful player in a wonderful team. I used to wish he was called Gerry McMüller.

[jayne lee wilson]

Gerd Müller's story reminds me of Malcolm MacDonald, whose arrogance at his peak I never objected to, I rather enjoyed it - it was a part of that individual, creative personality.
Fame and stardom, post-stardom, post-fame and adulation, are really hard to deal with for many - sportspeople and performers of all kinds. But hopefully it is better understood and better handled now.

Der Bomber has suffered with Alzheimer's since 2015, whether alcohol-related I don't know. But he should be well looked after, I would hope.
And he leaves a great legacy!

***
BTW, significant rule change for CL and Europa league here....

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57599780

[Dave2002]

All four teams played fantastic football for 90 minutes. I think we can allow them a degree of pragmatism at the end of such exciting games. Its not like England the other night, who stopped playing after 40 minutes.

We were following the France Portugal game mostly. There were only a few minutes at the end of the time wasting I mentioned, but what would have happened if France had pushed on just a bit more? They were unlikely to be worse off, surely, so why did it look as though both sides "agreed" to stick with what they'd got? Portugal did look somewhat more vulnerable, and if they'd mounted a quick attack it could have backfired and they'd be back in fourth position.

It's also quite amusing to see how friendly the team members of opposing sides are - often because they've played with each other in other teams - either recently or in the not too distant past.

[Zucchini]

It's also quite amusing to see how friendly the team members of opposing sides are - often because they've played with each other in other teams - either recently or in the not too distant past.

I don't see it as "amusing" but I thought it nice that Ronaldo & Benzema walked off chatting together at halftime. And that R was caught closely on camers generously applauding B's second goal ...

[LHC]

We were following the France Portugal game mostly. There were only a few minutes at the end of the time wasting I mentioned, but what would have happened if France had pushed on just a bit more? They were unlikely to be worse off, surely, so why did it look as though both sides "agreed" to stick with what they'd got? Portugal did look somewhat more vulnerable, and if they'd mounted a quick attack it could have backfired and they'd be back in fourth position.

It's also quite amusing to see how friendly the team members of opposing sides are - often because they've played with each other in other teams - either recently or in the not too distant past.

Portugal would only have moved back to fourth position if Hungary had managed to beat Germany. By that stage, both Portugal and France were safe (although the players might not have known this). France winning wouldn’t have changed their position; they would still win the group. If Portugal had lost in the final few minutes, they would have qualified in third position rather than second, so again, not much difference, and they no longer needed to win to guarantee qualification.

[Edgy 2]

Not wishing to sound disrespectful to Hungary I did like the look of the Group F table each time they scored

[johncorrigan]

Interesting piece in 'The Conversation' about who the big players are in Euro 2020.

https://theconversation.com/euro-2020-a-football-tournament-where-the-big-players-come-from-china-and-the-us-162622

[jayne lee wilson]

As Frank says in True Detective 2, "on the ropes ain't the same as bleeding out"....

Courage now, Dragons.
Denmark riding waves of passion and self-belief. Wonderful strike from Dolberg. Wales lucky to get to halfway at only 0-1......take a breath, take stock, form up and regroup....

Above all, get Bale back into it....

***
Red Card...really?
But Wales have just been outplayed, by a sharp, fast and inspirational side who might go all the way....(and who might have beaten anyone playing like this...)

[jayne lee wilson]

Good game technically tonight, but the Wembley atmosphere low-key compared to the earlier hothouse - not to mention Rome....

Neutrally speaking, I guess a goal for Austria might liven things up...

[Edgy 2]

Yep, well done Denmark but Wales were very poor and disappointing today
Would love Austria to score first in this one

[jayne lee wilson]

Getting a bit tight and tense, Austria attacking more now.....are Italy missing the Rome crowd...? Lacking some intensity here...can't seem to find another gear...

Arnautovic! Damn, just offside........ he's had a great game though... now things should liven up...

[jayne lee wilson]

Going to be a frantic last few minutes....
Determined, or desperate, Austrian defense now...

So there it is..... 30 minutes more..... glad really, I felt a last minute winner would be unfair on either team. Very absorbing contest.

But - what on Earth am I going to eat? I can only take drinks or soups all day, so either a Bakie goes in now (bored with those), or I guess its yet another Salad - with either pasta or pizza...

Anyway, here we go! Fascinating game....