Day 21 - End of Group Stages, and my stay in Lyon

It's a Knock Out

Wednesday, 22nd June was the most dramatic day of football at the 2016 European Championships so far. I'm still buzzing with excitement even now as I quickly tap this in for the last breakfast time in my hotel in Lyon.

The day started quietly with a lie in for me and a bit of shopping before meeting up with Jake and Dougie who came to Lyon to see the same group game I did - the 6pm kick off between Hungary and Portugal. This was one Group F decider, the other being Iceland v Austria, played at the same time.

Group F has been the closest, most exciting  group and the one with the most surprises, with Hungary beating Austria 2-0 and Iceland holding Portugal to draw. Despite this most people (me included) assumed that normal service would be resumed and Portugal would beat Hungary to top the group, the other game being harder to call.

Portugal 3 Hungary 3

This was certainly the best game of the tournament so far and one of the best ever. Hungary and Portugal slugged it out, exchanging goals at one point as if it were a basketball match.

Outside the Stadium in Lyon - Red and Green everywhere

About to witness a classic

The view of Lyon from the stadium

Hungary started brightly and Gera took the lead on about 20 minutes. At about the same time, Iceland took the lead against Austria. So at this stage it looked like Hungary would win the group, Iceland would come second and Portugal 3rd - but with only 2 points they would almost certainly be eliminated.

So, facing this ignominious exit, Portugal came back strongly and Nani equalised for them just before half time. A draw would mean Portugal would have 3 points and, with a better goal difference than two other 3rd placed teams, they'd go through, even if it were not in the manner they'd hope.

The crowd were buzzing even then but in 15 incredible minutes after the break four more goals went in. 2-1 Hungary. 2-2. 3-2 Hungary. 3-3. It was Dzsudzsak versus Ronaldo each time. So it was an emotional roller coaster for Portugal - one minute they were out, then they were back in it. The final goal, that made it 3-3 was preceded, moments before, by an equaliser by Austria. This meant that Portugal were now set to finish second and set up a round of 16 game against England, probably the most desired outcome, considering how England are perceived as the weakest seeded team by many here. Winning the group, on the other hand, would land them a round of 16 match with the fancied Belgians./

Complicated, isn't it?

This reasonably acceptable status quo for Hungary and Portugal, considering the other game was likely to be low scoring and therefore stay at 1-1, seemed to diffuse down to the players and now Portugal had scored more goals than Iceland, their qualification in second place looked assured. The last 15 minutes became a little surreal as both teams appeared to have declared no further attacking intent. Hungary passed the ball around at the back and Portugal let them do so with only a half hearted attempt to win possession back.

As the final whistle blew in Lyon, it looked like Portugal had got what they wanted, qualification and a match against England rather than Belgium. But as we got up from our seats and started making our way to the exits, the stunning score line from Stade de France came on the screen...

Iceland 2 Austria 1

Portuguese faces suddenly looked concerned. They would not finish second now, but 3rd. Would they even qualify? Yes. Their zero goal difference would be better than Turkey's and Albania's. But as the 55,000 or so fans streamed away from the ground the realisation grew that Iceland would be playing England in the knock out round and Portugal would be playing, instead, against the much fancied Croatia. Hungary's "reward" for topping the group would be a knock out game against Belgium.

The neutrals in the crowd and the Hungarians were humming with approval at what they had just witnessed as I got on a bus, and then caught the metro into the old town to meet up with Jake and Dougie.

Hungary, Iceland and Portugal though

Just in time for the next match...

Ireland 1 Italy 0

Ireland were on the brink of exiting the tournament after their 3-0 defeat by Belgium in the last match. Italy, on the other hand, were already not only guaranteed qualification to the knock out phase but also in first place, as they had already beaten Blegium, the only team that could overtake them on goal difference. Italy also already knew who their opponents would be - Spain.

So, it was no great surprise that manager Conte decided to rest all of his first team for this match that wasn't really of any importance to them. Playing their best eleven would only expose players to the risk of injury and suspension and allow the Spanish coaches a close examination of them before the big clash next Monday.

And so, Martin O'Neill's Ireland knew they had a chance. It was basically the reserve team they were up against and, in typical gritty style, they set about them in a very positive way.

The first half was dominated by Ireland and they were frustrated a number of times by what looked like fouls in the penalty area. The referee really should have awarded at least one penalty.

So, into the second half, the score stayed 0-0 and as time ticked away it was beginning to look like this was a dream that would not be fulfilled. Belgium were winning in the other game to seal their second place when with just 4 minutes of normal time remaining, Robbie Brady got a crucial head to a cross into the box to flick it into the net. The Irish bar (The James Joyce) we were watching the match in erupted in joy.

Ireland make it to the knock out phase too

So, the group stages are complete and we now have a two day break from football before the eight round of sixteen games begin at the weekend. Three matches on Saturday, three on Sunday and then two on monday.

It's also the end of my stay in Lyon. Ten nights here have seemed a long time and it's unusual for me to have such a long stay. It feels a bit like a home now, but it's time to move on and I have an ambitious plan to go west into the Basque country for a couple of nights in San Sebastian before a long drive East to Nice for the England v Iceland game.

Another proud moment for Martin O'Neill

Three weeks gone, two to go!

OK. Better get going!

To be continued....

Aljice

Last morning in Lyon