Minnows rule in Euro 2016
ONGRATULATIONS to Portugal on winning Euro 2016.
This rather odd tournament with an inflated number of teams (24) participating, seemed to have been played in its own little cocoon.
Unlike a World Cup, where everybody around the globe shows some sort of interest, this cup didn’t capture the same sort of excitement from any country outside Europe.
At the end of the first round of matches, I took the tournament even less seriously than when it initially began.
I said to myself: “Any major tournament that has teams such as Wales, England, Iceland and Northern Ireland making it to the second round, is surely farcical.”
However, the amazing impact that the so-called minnows, or underdogs, had on the championship was a sight to behold and lit up proceedings.
Wales, known more as a rugby nation, vanquished star-studded favourites Belgium.
Iceland, with a population of 330 000, caused one of the biggest upsets in football history by embarrassing the arrogant English.
But then again, this is England. Was it really an upset?
Social media jokes did the rounds following the loss, and one that stood out for me was how Iceland co-manager Heimir Hallgrimsson (a part-time dentist) out-thought and outwitted Roy Hodgson, a man who earns almost £5 million (R94 million) per year and has nearly 50 years experience.
Just goes to show that anything can happen in sport, particularly football.
Poor England, their elimination followed their recent first round exits in the cricket, rugby and football World Cups.
As the saying goes, there are three things certain in life: death, taxes and England flopping at major sporting events (even though they invented all these sports).
Some vital statistics from the tournament:
Top scorer and golden boot winner – Antoine Griezmann (6)
Most assists – Eden Hazard and Aaron Ramsey (4) Total goals scored – 108 Most saves – Hannes Halldorssen (27)
STILL on football, the endless transfer rumour mill has being doing the rounds and will no doubt amplify over the next few weeks as teams finalise their squads for the new season.
I was flabbergasted to read that Manchester United are breaking the record books to lure the talented Paul Pogba back to the “theatre of dreams”, after letting him go for free a few years ago.
Reports state that the club are plotting the biggest transfer in history by offering Juventus £103 million, the red carpet and the cats pyjamas for the French star. Are you kidding me? I attempted to convert the figure into rand but preferred to keep my dinner down instead. That figure doesn’t even include salary, performance bonus or sponsors.
A popular news agency had an article on “Why Pogba is worth the fee” and went on to cite a “flash of brilliance in the Euro semi-final against Germany” as reason enough.
THE 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifiers are not too far off and, believe it or not, our very own Bafana Bafana are still in the mix. Quickly… pinch yourself !
The team had an extremely favourable draw, joining teams such as Burkina Faso, Cape Verde Islands and Senegal. A sigh of relief for all teams who avoided the group of death with Nigeria, Cameroon, Algeria and Zambia (only one will qualify)… #Nightmare.
However, with regards to our country being proudly represented in Russia, don’t hold your breath, folks (even though we somehow did win the recent Cosafa Cup).
Too many of our players ply their trade at unknown overseas football clubs in Sweden, Denmark and Belgium. We need some La Liga and EPL players, please!
WELL done to Serena Williams (equalling Steffi Graf ’s 22 Grand Slams) and (the annoying) Andy Murray on claiming tennis’s biggest prize of the year – Wimbledon.
A tournament that will be remembered for world number one Novak Djokovic’s aberration and Venus Williams’s nostalgic comeback and trip down memory lane in which she almost made it to another Wimbledon final against her beloved sister.
Ultimately proving that… it’s never too late to turn back the clock.