Match 19 - Slovakia 1-2 Ukraine
With two games played each Slovakia and Ukraine are level on three points and, while Ukraine have conceded more goals, they are above Slovakia in the standings because the head-to-head result decides who goes through if teams finish level.
Slovakia took the lead just over a third of the way through the first half and with the pressure they had looked more likely to score the next goal as well. But Ukraine refused to bow and, in the 54th minute, Shaparenko equalised. The last half-an-hour became a little more frenetic but still it seemed Slovakia had the edge. And then Ukraine scored again. The result leaves the goup wide open with three teams on 3 points, and Belgium hoping to avenge their opening defeat and become the fourth of four to share the points.
Match 20 - Poland 1-3 Austria
Both these teams lost their opening game and a loss in this one would condemn them to being out of the tournament before the final game as, even if they won their final game.
Austria took the lead in only the ninth minute, but Poland forced an equaliser in the 30th. At half time things were level and finely balanced. But Austria had the superiro possession and chances and slowly the pressure grew. Baumgartner scored on 66 minutes and a 78th minute Arnautović penalty gave Austria a definitive lead.
Match 21 - Netherlands 0-0 France
The final second round game in Group D had the potential for either team to lay claim to the group. Recent form and patch-ups gave France the edge, but with Mbappe injured in game one and not quite ready to play, Netherlands surely had a chance.
Netherlands set up to defend, and they did so resolutely. Conceding two-thirds of posession to France they soaked up fifteen shots, while only having eight of their own. Griezmann missed out on two chances and in most other circumstances would have surely found a way to clear his feet and scuttle the ball home for the first, or at least get it to a fellow Frenchman.
The ball did end up in the net, for Netherlands, but Dumfries was not only off-side, he was stood within a pace of the goalkeeper and , despite Dutch chagrin, was correctly adjudged to be involved in play by virtue of being a hindrance to Maignan's movement.
With the draw both teams are on four points, and both have a goal difference of plus one. Netherlands sit atop the table by virtue of having scored two goals to France's one. This means the groups final games will be see both teams pressing for goals to retain or overturn that difference.
A note of interest - this is the first 0-0 draw in a EURO's game since England v Scotland in the 16th match previous tournament, 50 games ago.
| Match Number | Teams | 1st Half Score | 2nd Half Score | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | Slovakia v Ukraine | 1-0 | 0-2 | 1-2 |
| Match | Austria v Poland | 1-1 | 2-0 | 3-1 |
| Match | France v Netherlands | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Total Matchday Goals | 2-1 | 2-2 | 4-3 | |
| Total Tournament Goals | 30 | 24 | 54 |
Tomorrow there are 3 matches:
Czechia v Georgia
Portugal v Türkiye
Belgium v Romania
For fellow football following HIVIANS (looking at anyone in @hivefpl, @footballonhive, @sportstalksocial, etc) I've got a couple of leagues to join for the EURO's:
Fantasy Football: Build a squad, score points, top the league! Join Here
Match Predictor: Guess the match score, beat everyone else! Join Here
Please come and play, and tell the HIVIANS who you think may be interested.
text by stuartcturnbull art by UEFA & altered by stuartcturnbull
