Euro 2016 Group F Final Matches a few quick thoughts

Dan Tracey June 23, 2016 Leave a comment 1,810 Views

Many thought this group was going to be the sleeper when the draw was made
But these four teams have arguably thrown up the most exciting football of the tournament so far
Portugal vs Hungary was definitely the game of the tournament so far and Cristiano Ronaldo has finally come alive
He got a brace last night and with that pipped Zlatan Ibrahimovic in being the first person to score in four successive European Championships
It was another night of history making for the Real Madrid star but he didn’t have the night his own way as Hungary once again exceeded all expectations
37 year old Zoltan Gera got them off to a dream start after 19 minutes
Portugal failed to clear a corner properly and the ball fell to the ex Fulham and West Brom Midfielder who let rip with a fantastic effort from the edge of the box to give the Hungarians the lead
They couldn’t quite go into the break in front though as Nani restored parity just three minutes before the break
He was played in by Cristiano Ronaldo’s and took his own Euro 2016 tally to two goals
Scores level at half time but the Hungarians were the quickest out of the blocks
Balazs Dzsudzsak’s deflected effort soon after the break put them back in front
But then the stage was finally set for Cristiano Ronaldo to get his history making goal
A cute flick in the box was too quick for Gabor Kiraly and Portugal were level for a second time
Then the pendulum swung back in Hungary’s favour again as Dzsudzsak attempted a long range strike and again it managed to deflect past Rui Patricio to give them the lead for the third time
You could see the anger on Cristiano Ronaldo’s face but he was not to be outdone
He ended this quick fire flurry of 4 goals in 15 second half minutes as he rose higher than anyone to head home and restore parity for the third time in the game
This wasn’t good news for England though as it looked set for Portugal to be paired up with Roy Hodgson’s side on Monday night
Portugal get out of the group stages after failing to win a game and drawing three straight matches
But the group was going to have one final sting in the tale
With Iceland still playing against Austria
They broke at rapid pace in the 94th minute as the Austrians themselves went on the hunt for a do or die winner
Arnor Ingvi Traustason slid in at the far post to seal a sensational victory that lifted Iceland from third to second in the group and meant that it would be they who will face England on Monday night
Iceland started lively with Johann Gudmundsson smashing the woodwork in the second minute
And it would be the Icelanders who would go ahead on 18 minutes when on Jon Dadi Bodvarsson fired his effort past Robert Almer in the Austrian goal
Aleksandar Dragovic was given the perfect opportunity to level the scores when Austria were awarded a Penalty
But he subsequently missed his spot kick much to the distress of the Austrian fans
They would however get back in the game on the hour
Alessandro Schopf equalised after a low finish followed a jinking run into the area
He could have had a second had it not been for the heroics of Icelandic Goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson.
Both teams had to go for a win and it looked as if Austria were now in the ascendancy
But as has been the theme in this tournament there was another late goal and this was the latest of them all
Arnor Ingvi Traustason’s goal has made Gudmundur Benediktsson an internet sensation after his commentary of the winning goal
Iceland were many people’s so called second pick at the start of the tournament although they are facing England on Monday that may no longer be the case
Austria go home bottom of the group while David Alaba and Marko Arnautovic have had disappointing tournaments by their own standards
Portugal go up against Croatia on Saturday night, with the winner of that possibly going all the way to final
While surprise package Hungary go up against Belgium on Sunday