Fit to be Tied (6/19)

SUI GK had it!

HOME, CA - #66 B4-Albania struck first against #10 B2-Croatia but persistence prevailed as CRO peppered ALB with 20 shots forcing an own goal in 76' to take a 2-1 lead.  But sub Klaus Gjasula, who gave up the own goal, scored in stoppage time to salvage a tie for ALB, 2-2.  So technically, Gjasula is the first person to score twice in a match this tournament.  A2-Scotland scored on an own goal on a A4-Swiss deflection and for a while, SCO had 2 goals on zero shots on goal in the tournament.  But late in the second half, UEFA changed it to a goal (because the shot was on target).  SUI's Xherdan Shaqiri's (of MLS fame ;-) golazo strike tied it in the 26' and the score ended 1-1. Like E1-Belgium, SUI had two goals taken away via VAR in the 22' and 45'+2.

A1-Germany became the first team to clinch a Round of 16 spot with a 2-0 win over A3-Hungary.  ALB and CRO didn't do themselves any favors with the tie as each has 1 point after 2 games.  Both would need a win against B1-Spain or B3-Italy to have a chance.

Lots of leaves, little fruit

So after the corrections to the standings, 8 are tied for first with 11 points.  BlueIsTheColour 3 is still last with 6 pts.  No one picked the ALBvCRO tie, 15 picked the tie between SCOvSUI, and 53 picked GER.  Eleven went 2-1 while Ronaldo Pulls a Messi went 0-3.

So I was supposed to go the LA Galaxy match vs NYC but wasn't feeling well so wore my 1998 home Croatia jersey outside and sad to find lots of leaves and flowers but very little fruit thus far.  All the rain we've had in LA hopefully just delayed things a bit.  But hoping for good poms and plums next month.

23 seconds (6/15)

A step too far

EASTERN WASHINGTON U. CATALYST BUILDING, SPOKANE, WA - B4-Albania, ranked #66, capitalized on a poor throw in by B3-Italy to score 23 seconds into a match (a Euro record) but ITA quickly scored twice in the next 16 minutes to rally for a 2-1 win.  

A different B1-Spain showed up, yielding possession to B2-Croaita (54-46%), the first time in a competitive match ESP did not have possession advantage since Euro 2008 final (vs GER, an incredible 136 straight games), yet easily won 3-0 over #10 B2-Croatia.  ESP had 5 saves and were outshot 16-11.  They didn't die 1000 passes being out passed 528-455.  CRO didn't help by missing a penalty kick and having their rebound goal taken away due to encroachment into the box before the PK was taken.

On fubo, which no one has, A4-Switzerland beat A3-Hungary 3-1.  Four more minor games will be on fubo which on the replays, didn't show the score or time.  Very odd.  

Actually thunderstorms later

35 picked SUI, 43 ESP, and all 58 picked ITA.  30 entries went 3-0 while 7 went 1-2.  30 are tied for first with 4 points while nine are tied for last with 2 pts.  Only three other games were picked by all 58 - CRO over ALB, C4-England over C1-Slovenia, and F3-Portugal over F2-Georgia

I do have a balcony and an okay view of the Spokane River blocked by some trees.  An amazing area though were within walking distance are campuses of Gonzaga, Washington State U. (based in Pulman), and Eastern Washington U. (based in Cheney), where we had our meeting at the new Catalyst Building.  I wore my 2010 Italy goalkeeper (Buffon) jersey, which ITA has already changed their logo twice since then.