Wales roast Russia to romp to top of Euro 2016 Group B

Wales roast Russia to romp to top of Euro 2016 Group B
By Robert Hackwill
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With France and Switzerland already qualified from group A, Monday was the moment when group B’s fate was sealed, one of the most equal of groups.

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With France and Switzerland already qualified from group A, Monday was the moment when group B’s fate was sealed, one of the most equal of groups. All the teams started with options, but one was destined for disappointment. Let’s see who made it to the next phase.

It was a case of Monday blues for England who failed to end top of Group B after a draw with Slovakia, but the Welsh odyssey continues after a 3-0 thumping of Russia gave them the group honours, inspired by Aaron Ramsey and driven through the middle by Gareth Bale’s pace and power.

Russia simply had few ideas and seemingly little cutting edge and rarely got a sight of the Welsh goal.

England on the other hand created chances and had shots on target, but every time there seemed to be a Slovak body in the way. Roy Hodgson started Rooney on the bench but even England’s top scorer failed to make an impact when he came on. Unbeaten, England stagger on.

The day in photos

EURO 2016 day 11On Tuesday night Portugal face a crucial match in their aspirations to qualify for the last 16. They will play against Hungary, one of the surprises of the Euro so far.
To know how both teams made it this far we have Doloresz Katanich, Hungarian journalist and Francisco Marques, who is going to give us his opinion about the Portuguese team.

After a 44-year absence from the European Championship, Group F leaders Hungary look set to qualify for the knockout phase. Did you expect this?

Fans, fans, fans

Doloresz:
“I don’t think a lot of people here expected it but we were hopeful ahead of the tournament. To tell you the truth, I don’t believe Group F is very strong and it seems as though teams facing us tend to underestimate our group of players. Complacency seeps in and most of them think it will be easy to beat us until we face-off. Now other teams can see that we are competing with the likes of Portugal.

Now we play with Portugal for the first place in our group, with Ronaldo who is alone worth more than the whole Hungarian team. I have to say that besides ourselves we surprised some other nations as well.”

euronews:
“What is the atmosphere like in Hungary right now and how can you explain your team’s great start to the competition?”

Doloresz:
“It is hard to describe this feeling for Hungary, there are 20,000 Hungarian fans in France and tens of thousands in Hungary in front of the screens, on the streets. Earlier speaking with some friends I had this impression that they basically gave up hope for all Hungarian football but now even my mother is speaking about this. The key to the success is two names: Pál Dárdai and Bernd Storck.

Head coach Dárdai opened a new era in the life of the team and then Bernd Storck kept on doing the job, bringing a very precise system to the team. They finally have a strategy that is well-thought-out, followed and executed. And to top it all his obsession is the physical preparation so the team faces this match in the best possible condition and the supporters have multiplied the teams’ self-confidence, so we are ready.”

euronews:
“Portugal, on the other hand, have failed to deliver so far. They were held twice and currently sit third in Group F. What’s going on?”

Francisco Marques:
“It’s a worrying situation, it’s true but it’s football. Portugal is creating enough opportunities to win the matches but is not scoring. In fact, Portugal still didn’t lose in the tournament and have just left it late. They’re in the playoff stages already!

Like 32 years ago when Portugal played their first European Championship in 1984 it was also here in France and we started with two draws against West Germany and Spain.Then they won against Romania and went all to way to the semi-finals where they lost to the hosts, France. Everything can happen now. Portugal need to score the chances created and to win.”

euronews:
“And what about Cristiano Ronaldo? Would you say he has failed to live up to expectations so far?”

Francisco:
“In fact, Ronaldo is not playing very well, just like in the World Cup. But he is the best in the world and from him we can expect everything. Luckily for Portugal the team is not only Ronaldo. In the last match, (against Austria), it was already possible to see the importance of William Carvalho. He’s one of the best defensive midfielders in the world these days, a real “Spiderman” recovering balls and very quick launching the team in counter attacks.

André Gomes and João Moutinho are not playing so well either so the best is for the coach to change something. Maybe betting on João Mario as number “10” and then there is this ace we are keeping back which is Renato Sanches, Bayern Munich’s new signing. He could be a good surprise in the tournament. There is still time.”

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euronews:
“And here’s my last question. How do you think the game will end?”

Francisco:
“Five-three, and the best match in the tournament so far. Good luck Hungary!

Doloresz:
“One-zero…of course for us. Good luck.”

euronews:
“We’ll see who’s right. Good luck and thank you for your opinions.”

With France and Switzerland already qualified from group A, Monday was the moment when group B’s fate was sealed, one of the most equal of groups. All the teams started with options, but one was destined for disappointment. Let’s see who made it to the next phase.

Wales go through in style

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It was a case of Monday blues for England who failed to end top of Group B after a draw with Slovakia, but the Welsh odyssey continues after a 3-0 thumping of Russia gave them the group honours, inspired by Aaron Ramsey and driven through the middle by Gareth Bale’s pace and power.

Russia simply had few ideas and seemingly little cutting edge and rarely got a sight of the Welsh goal.

England on the other hand created chances and had shots on target, but every time there seemed to be a Slovak body in the way. Roy Hodgson started Rooney on the bench but even England’s top scorer failed to make an impact when he came on. Unbeaten, England stagger on.

*Worth their weight in gold?”

In terms of hard cash, the teams at the euro are worth vastly differing amounts, but whether any of the top 10 represent value for money is hard to figure, especially when Iceland qualified with just 100 professional footballers in the country. Despite the premier leagues’ riches the England squad is a cool hundred million off the top spot, held by Spain.

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Spain – 592
Germany – 580
France – 487
England – 477
Belgium – 468
——-
Iceland – 44.75
Northern Ireland – 38.10
Hungary – 25.30

We might be wrong…

Our predictions geniuses have been poring over the runes and the tea leaves do not not look good for our chances but we will share our predictions with you anyway. Think they’re rubbish? #TheCornerScore and tell us why.

Lovely Boys

Who has won the sexy vote? After a week on the field the ideal eyecandy team has been picked by the euronews sports team, stop laughing at the back.

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They’re just sexy beasts, admit it, and sure to pay as much attention to a close tackle as their hair styling, striking home a ball smoothly to some haute couture. An exemplary eleven, this is one gang everyone wants to be part of.

1. Giroud
2. Pellé
3. Cristiano Ronaldo
4. Konoplyanka
5.Larsson
6.Wilshere
7.Cyrus Christie
8.Evra
9.Piqué
10. Hummels
11. Boruc

Ronal-Doh

More merciless fun from those wicked English wags at 442 sees Ronaldo, already the object of some ridicule, given a thorough pasting with a girly anthem. See? This is what happens when you mock the Icelanders…

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