ponsaelius

I got one this morning as well. Absolutely buzzing!

Never ever gonna have a better chance to win a tournament here mind.

Two big lads upfront. Nothing to lose so ganning for it. Could be a fun second half.

Hopefully a Schick brace so Ronnie looses his personal trinket.

Vertonghen will be 35 and Vermaelen 37. Alderweireld nearly 34. Unless they've got defenders coming through 'sorting out their CBs' will be a major issue.

I was 18 when I made this thread

I was honestly stunned when I heard he was gonna play like. He was crippled 4 days earlier.

Emerson is obviously not as good but he was the first choice left throughout qualifying and had a good relationship with Insigne.

Belgium have 3 or 4 genuine world class players but I'm not sure they have any god given right to be winning ahead of other big sides in the tournament. They're a small country and the talent pool only goes so far. They don't seem to have a left back in the whole country of international standard. The back 3 is ancient. Once you get into the squad players there's clear weaknesses in depth. It's a generation, particularly at this stage of their cycle, more akin to the likes of Czech Republic in 2004 or Croatia a few years ago. Martinez has done a good job overall and fallen short against very good sides. The big fuck up was Wales in 2016 when they still had Wilmots.

Forza Azzurri! Gutted for Spinazzola mind.

Subs they've made have been ropey. On Mancini if they concede.

He's had so many injuries over the years. real shame.

Verratti off and Spinazzola going off. Big changes to the dynamic of the team. If Belgium get an equaliser I'd fancy them in extra time.

Immobile has had a proper stinker. Lack of a proper striker gonna cost Italy.

I'm so, so happy for Insigne.

That is never a red. Just like his one against Real Madrid.

Also that Zakaria goal is a nightmare all-round because they really needed him to step up but he's shrank confidence wise since it.

Swiss been rattled by Spanish high press and ability with the ball. Plus losing Embolo is massive. Change of system has gradually got them more competitive in midfield but as a trade off they're finding it harder to play out from the back.

Sky Italia reckons De Bruyne fit but Hazard out.

Would love another Schwiiz upset but Xhaka being suspended is a huge blow.

There's argument to be made that making a massive big deal about national anthems, and the 'offensiveness' of defiling them with boos and whistles, is overtly nationalistic in and of itself. At the end of the day it's just a daft song. And this is just another example of the theatre of football.

So what, man. It's just a bit of theatre.

Apparently Gosens is an injury doubt? Crease if we switch a 3-4-3 to match up and then Germany ditch with wing-backs.

This tournament is massively proving the depth of European football mind. No mugs whatsoever in the last 16.

I have just been giggling manically for the last 5 minutes