… no surprise today, kids.
Germany made tough going of it, though they were never threathened in their 1-0 win against Austria. Austria were exactly what it said on the tin: organised, fit, up-for-it, and about as likely to score as a hobbit in a knocking shop.
Croatia, meanwhile, continue to show their growing (and limitless?) class as they made 9 changes to their starting line up and still beat Poland 1-0. Poland are not a bad side. Technically sound and always in fantastic physical condition, they simply have no goal threat and the Croats put them away handily.
Croatia to play Turkey in the quarter finals. Germany to play Portugal. Ooooohh, that’s going to be nice.
Best part of today’s game was the ref. dismissing both managers to the stands for what he described as “persistant nagging,” according to ESPN’s Andy Grey (thank you ESPN, btw, for getting Mr. Grey to commentate. Now please put Tommy Smyth back where he belongs, on your building’s maintenance crew).
“Have a seat, lads”…
The referee made a complete bollocks of this, and would surely have done better to send himselfto the stands to make up for his pettiness. Watching German Coach Joachim Löw being greeted in the stands following his red card, however, by a handshake from German chancellor Andrea Merkel was a priceless moment. Talk about an official pardon.
