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| Who won the PSO? |
When the tournament started, all the talk was about 1B-Belgium (#1 team in the world) and 1F-France (deeply talented roster) with maybe a wishful 1D-England thrown in and a little love for reigning champs 3F-Portugal. 1A-Italy was rumbling quietly through a 27-match unbeaten streak while some expected 2E-Spain to regain power in a couple years to let the team mature. Even our own Eric's
Foster's Football Brew labeled both ITA and ESP as "pretenders" rather than "contenders".
Well, the time may be now as ESP got an own goal (the tourney's 10th) and survived the penalty shootout with an unfortunate and stubborn 3A-Switzerland, 3:1 (1:1). ESP missed their first PSO kick, their 6th straight miss, while SUI made their first, their 6th straight make. But after that, ESP got back on track and SUI had two saved and the latter skied high.
A very harsh straight red card in the 77' stopped SUI from trying to break a 1-1 tie (after tying it in the 68') and settled to defend. In the extra time, ESP outshot SUI 17-0 forcing SUI's GK to make 8 saves but SUI succeeded to getting to the PSO to hopefully duplicate their PSO win over FRA. The ref should have given the yellow first and then let VAR advise on a red. By giving the Red, there would never be clear evidence to overturn the ref's decision on intent. You can go Y->R but never R->Y. Unfortunate.
Meanwhile, ITA scored twice in the first half (a 3rd was ruled offsides by VAR) and held off BEL, 2-1. Both teams were riding 14-match win streaks in Euro qualifying/tournament but it was ITA who advances, now unbeaten in 32 straight. BEL had several near misses but didn't manage a shot on goal in the second half. The #1 team and the golden generation fell short again and we should see new blood for the World Cup next year.
8 picked ESP eliminating 4 who can win pool (11 can win) and 2 for money (24 can win money). 14 picked ITA which eliminated 4 from winning pool (7 left) and 11 from money (13 left). Carseroni is now in the lead with 96 pts as 1 of 3 (Footballsack (2nd-Tied, 93), Saharm17 (16th-T, 83) were the other 2) who got both correct. 30 went 0-2. BigRedMessi 1 clinched last with 68 pts (while my Futbol Fabone Twelf (47th-T) will be stuck on 69 pts forever).
But it's Gli Azurri (7th-T, 88) with the best chance to win the pool (31.3%) and Avenger #3 (4th-T, 90) with the best chance to win money (65.6%). Footballsack (59.4%), Forza Roma (2nd-T) (56.3%), and Carseroni (50%) are the other three with at least a 50/50 chance at money. Slyelf (4th-T), who at least tied for the most Group Stage wins (25), R16 qualifiers (15), and R16 wins (15), and led since Match Day 11, can no longer win the pool here on Day 18.
Fantasy is 6th (89) but is eliminated while my second pick, Glory to the Heroes, is tied for 20th (82) and can still win 4th. Rich-inho is 12th (86) and can still win the pool.
DIGNITY HEALTH SPORTS PARK, CA (smt) - 2E-Spain were being written off after lackluster ties to start the tournament but then scored 5 goals in consecutive matches before running into a stubborn 3A-Switzerland team. 1A-Italy had an easy group but outshone the #1 team in the world in #1B-Belgium. 2B-Denmark nearly lost a player in the field and lost the first two matches before fighting back to become the first team to qualify after losing the first two and needed to hold off 3D-Czech Republic. Only #1D-England had an easy path the the semis despite playing away from Wembley Stadium for the first time.
