Half time for the cup being played in Berlin between England and Spain. I’m so torn between who to cheer for while watching the match in my local pub here in West Seattle. Both squads are playing a very defensive match and not getting horribly rough. It’s pretty equal so far.
Also if you are in Europe watching the match, where are you?
Scotland
.... maybe next time
Ahhh yes - Scotland for sure (next time)
Your patter is improving Nigel. Only had a couple of weeks to think of that one though :)
We just finished dinner at our hotel in Southwest France. A French gentleman from a nearby table informed us, as he was leaving the dining room, that the final was tonight, and stressed that the teams were England and Spain. I’m not sure whether he heard us speaking English and figured we were English, or just wanted to share the info. I suppose that if we were English soccer fans, we’d already know about the match, so wouldn’t need the update. I don’t know whether he was heading up to his room (or somewhere in this tiny town) to watch the rest of the action, or if, because France wasn’t in it, he’d lost interest. I do know that he’ll be at the fire station at 11:00 tonight for the fireworks, since it’s Bastille Day, France’s national holiday.
Imagine that, fireworks starting that late! And being shot off from a place in town with people who are actually equipped to deal with fires! The fire danger at home means that lots of displays have been discontinued, or replaced with iluminated drone performances.
May the best team win for the Euro Cup. The Tour de France will be going on for another week, with Slovenians, Danes, French, Italians, Africans, North and South Americans, etc. and yes, both English and Spanish riders. I’ll be cheering for several of the riders, but soccer, I don’t really follow. Is the game tied at halftime at 0-0?
Where are you? France, an area that used to be part of Aragon and also Catalonia, so you know who our area is cheering for…tough call for expat Brits here.
It’s hot, all windows are open, so I can hear not only my own family but all the neighbors yelling in nearby buildings and the corner cafe.
Edit:
Fireworks were late this year so they wouldn’t interfere ether match. This far north, they normally begin at 10:30.
@Cyn saw the climb up Col d’Agnès yesterday and wondered if you were still there for the Tour. Our TV at home had the match, of course. LOL. We were just on vacation in the Hautes Pyrénées two weeks ago. The Pyrenees are gorgeous and great hiking (Lola and others) but lack the train and lift infrastructure found in Switzerland. Oh yes, back to the match….
I’m a bit torn. My favorite Arsenal player is playing but Spain has been on a roll and I’d like to see them win too. Today is an exciting day for Spain with Carlos Alcarez winning the men’s Wimbledon final earlier today.
As much as I’d love to be in Europe watching the match, I am at home. I do love the energy of being in Europe for the Euros!
Cyn, France lost to Spain in the semifinals so maybe he was disappointed?
Spain is ahead in this match 1-0.
Goooooooooal for England !!
That's who my husband and I are rooting for here in Paris since France and Italy got knocked out.
Now it’s 1-1 in the 75th minute! Linda, a pub in West Seattle sounds like a fun place to watch. I just passed through that area earlier today.
Nigel.....you do know that everyone in Scotland is rooting for.......Spain.
Yes, England got the equalizer with a great shot with the ball, slamming into the Back of the net.
Oh, I love this pub. It’s a good crowd. They serve so many different beers other than the IPAs and a large selection of nonalcoholic beverages as well. It’s called the beverage place and it’s away from the main junction in West Seattle, where the Summerfest is taking place. Glad I avoided that.
Rooted for Alcaraz at Wimbledon this morning….
Rooting for England now!
me enemy's enemy is my friend - ish
Where are you? France, an area that used to be part of Aragon and also Catalonia, so you know who they’re cheering for.
Bets, we’re in the Pyrénées (in Cauterets), about 7 miles from the Spanish border. I suppose you’re right.
We have le Concert de Paris on TV - reminds me a bit of the holiday concerts in the USA from Washington on The Fourth, except it’s all outstanding classical music and aerial views over Paris (with some man-on-the-street reporting of celebrants not at the concert at Paris City Hall), the Olympic Flame being carried through the city, and no military presence. We missed the U.S. concert this year, as we arrived in France on July 3rd.
Spain the best team in the tournament won
I was cheering for England--you can't get more underdog than them. Ah, well.
Both squads are playing a very defensive match
That was as far from a defensive match as you can get! Both teams pressed constantly, a good game that was very close and the better team won. Congratulations Spain, they've had an excellent tournament.
Yes what a fabulous match that was. Spain couldn’t be stopped - although England had a lot of good opportunities and worked very hard.
Now onto the COPA America-Argentina v Columbia.
Well, the “artificial fire” fireworks show ran until 11:10 PM, and was entertaining, with whistling rockets, as well as large and small explosions. The finale, compared with US displays that end with a million fireworks all at once, was a single, really high, really loud rocket,
Walking back home, I heard loud singing. It was the L’Aragon bar, with people waving Spanish flags. They weren’t at the fireworks show, but there wasn’t a TV screen visible, so I’m not sure they were watching soccer, either. They were doing a lot of singing, to an accordion accompaniment, and the bartender looked busy.
I’m an England fan but Spain were the best team by far so can’t be too upset with the result. Defensive football is really out of fashion. All the top teams play a very forward pressing game these days and Spain definitely fit that mould.
Disappointing tourney. ALL the marquee players were without any magical moments. The best moments came from the unsung bit players - that 17 YO for Spain, the sub for England. I wasted a lot of time watching. Futbol needs to figure out how to get the scoring higher.
Futbol needs to figure out how to get the scoring higher.
You should draw up a report with some suggestions for UEFA. You sound like a real authority on the subject.
I'm really pulling for Colombia after the pasting they administered to the US earlier this year. They seem to have all the horses. Like in UEFA Europe, the big name in Copa have failed to do much of anything worth watching. Messi is in retirement mode, other Argentina players spend their off-hours in wheelchairs.
Go COLOMBIA!!
Ah, GerryM, GerrryM, ya sound bitter, me lad. Watching England waste the opportunity has turned ye sour, I'm guessin'.
Hopefully this is the last time we see Harry Kane. He needs a nap.
Ah, GerryM, GerrryM, ya sound bitter, me lad. Watching England waste the opportunity has turned ye sour, I'm guessin'.
Hehe I wasn't supporting England :)
Just a little joke. That was probably the most American thing I've ever heard anyone say about football :)
Well, we all need our fun after such a defensive time-wasting game.
Cyn said above: "Is the game tied at halftime at 0-0?" Cyn, all games in modern futbol are tied at 0-0 at halftime. It's a UEFA rule. That way, the punters have more time to put money on the second half.
Final score 2-1.
That was as far from a defensive match as you can get!
Really?
No, I did not see it.
During this series of games, the 'highlights' that made the news broadcasts here were the incompetent officiating gaffes ( or just corrupt officials?). Two examples that come to mind: 1) a non goalie slapping away a shot on the goal with his hand not being called some sort of foul. 2) a player falling down and the opponent who was 5-6 feet away being assessed a penalty.
Soccer needs to figure out how to get the scoring higher.
Make the goal a foot higher and 3 feet wider?
I thought it was a great game. It was some of the best football England played all tournament.
England is always chanting "futbol's coming home". Their problem is that they are unclear as to where home is. As far as I can tell, it's either Paris, Madrid, or Buenas Aires.
As far as the "best football England has played", I agree - I saw Harry Kane actually moving for a short period near the end of the first half. Southgate should have started some of the hungry younger players. Those old guys are too complaisant.
England is always chanting "futbol's coming home".
No they don't, it's called football not futbol.
As for some Americans insisting that higher score lines make for a more interesting match it appears that they demonstrate a lack of understanding of the game or don't actually watch it at all. Some of the most skillfull and entertaining football is played during games with a low scoreline and generally the higher the score the less interesting the game is either because one team is more highly skilled than the other or the losing team gives up trying to win.
I agree that Kane should never have started. I think his record as England's all time top scorer kept him in the starting line up but as we saw with Palmer's inspired goal soon after he came on demonstrated that it's time the younger, faster, hungrier players need to start likewise with Watkins in the game against the Netherlands.
Just because a game is 0-0 at half time does not mean it was a defensive game. Spain are about as far from defensive as you can get. These teams are both stuffed full of amazing players and it’s not easy to score when you’re up against the best of the best.
Saying there needs to be more goals is a classic stereotype of how we think Americans feel about the game, by the way. Nobody who loves the sport agrees, although everyone likes to see attacking football.
Just because a game is 0-0 at half time does not mean it was a defensive game. Spain are about as far from defensive as you can get.
Exactly! Anyone who claims last nights game was a defensive match either didn't watch it or doesn't understand the game. England have been guilty of playing defensively in earlier group games but certainly didn't last night (or against the Netherlands) and Spain can never be accused of playing defensively. Both teams were hungry for the win but scoring goals is difficult when you have teams of world class players all of whom are skilled in their respective positions, a world class striker is going to find it difficult to get past a world class defender or score against a world class goalkeeper.
So happy for Spain. And I dare say the better team won. England have not looked good all tournament and I think their rise had a lot to do with luck and trying to wear down a team. Also Southgate's weird strategy of parking the bus after they score a goal instead of attacking and getting another goal. As Germany learned, Spain can come back quickly.
I gather Gareth might not be around much longer. As a coach, he is a nice guy and has brought the teams mentality up. However, sometimes nice guys aren't always the best at strategy and coaching. Sorry Ted Lasso.
Still think Spain-Germany game was the best played but it was fun while it lasted and seemed a lot more organized than a certain Copa Americana finale.
Sheeze - Maybe my terminology was off but what I meant was both teams were defending the goal line to the max. Yes, they were both very competitive and I loved the match.
I watched another match the other day and the score was 5-1 and it was BORING.
This match between Spain and England was super exciting And well played
Also, I was interested in where people were watching the match and if it was during their travels.
anyway I had a good time at the pub here in West Seattle where the fan base was equally mixed between England and Spain, and it was entertaining with the fans for Spain flying their flags and tooting their horns when there was a goal scored. Fun times Had in this otherwise troubled world.
I use "futbol" to distinguish from "football". The term "futbol" is the game with the round ball where you use your feet. The game "football" is the US game with the oblong ball where you almost never use your feet. It's confusing in the US. Some call it "soccer". I prefer "futbol".
I certainly enjoy the camaraderie in a group of spectators where the game is the focus, and no one is beating any one else. One favorite memory is sitting in an outdoor venue in Zagreb watching the Champions League Final. No Croatian teams were in the final, but many of the players were Croatian in the 2 clubs.
Linda, I love that pub! I appreciate the atmosphere and that their beer selection isn’t too heavy on IPA, and they have more sours and radlers than most places. Unfortunately we don’t make it over there too often but I do enjoy it. Glad you had fun watching the match there!
I use "futbol" to distinguish from "football". The term "futbol" is the game with the round ball where you use your feet. The game "football" is the US game with the oblong ball where you almost never use your feet. It's confusing in the US. Some call it "soccer". I prefer "futbol".
It's called football, it's been called football before the American game was invented, perhaps you should refer to it as gridiron. The term soccer has never taken on in the UK and in the rest of the world it's commonly referred to as football. Futbol is just naff.
The term soccer has never taken on in the UK and in the rest of the world it's commonly referred to as football
The English called it soccer first. From “Association”.
Is “American Football” that one that’s a bit like rugby, but for people who don’t like to get hurt?
Meg it’s a fantastic place and I’m pleased you have popped in.
Also, to be fair, it's futbol if you're a Spanish speaker.
