itsbeautifuloutside

10th June - (Saint-Denis) 8pm

France 2

• Giroud, 57'
• Payet, 89'

Romania 1

• Stancu, 65' pen

Referee : Viktor Kassai

Attendance : 75,113

Match Report

IBO Reporter : OneBeat

So this is it. Wall chart is up, sticker book almost completed (got any swaps?), and we're nearly ready to go. First though it's crap adverts for fizzy pop, larger, tyres and betting before the usual, dreaded opening ceremony. As this monstrosity was being commentated on by Clive Tyldesley I went and put the kettle on.

FRANCE v ROMANIA

Once all the nonsense is out of the way, the game can begin.

France threaten within a minute and under two minutes later Romania have a shot, then in the 4th minute I thought they'd scored, Loris made an instinctive save on the line from Stanciu and the French scramble the ball out for a corner. It goes against the pundit's comments of them sitting back and going for a draw.

France were in too much of a hurry, but quarter of an hour in Payet put his foot on the ball and fed Pogba who played a great ball to Sagna who crossed to Griezmann who hit the post. They were looking their best when Payet was involved, except his corners, which were predictable and poor.

Aren't commentators paid to watch what's going on? A Romanian player landed heavily on a Frenchman's heal, it look painful but Glen Hoddle thought he'd twisted his knee.

35 minutes; Gruiezmann should have scored, his near post shot went past the post, although it looked like it took a deflection. Three minutes later Romania could have had a penalty, Florin Andone was kicked in the thigh as he ran into the area. But the ref waved play on. After Giroud's header had gone just over the ref blew for half time.

A strange thing happened at half time, both me and my buddy turned down a cup of tea! Not sure what was going on there.

Start of the second half and Romania were straight on the attack, and two minutes into the half they could have scored, Stancu took the ball nicely on his chest but volleyed wide.

Payet played another good pass into Giroud, who's first touch was good but he shot straight at the keeper. France were getting the upper hand; Pogba had a superb shot saved, then a minute later, on 57 mins, Giroud scored with a header that the keeper should have done better with. Of course Payet put the cross in.

63 minutes and Romania are awarded a penalty. Stanciu was challenged by Evra and replays show that it was probably a good decision. Stancu scored, it wasn't a great penalty but Loris hardly moved and it was 1-1.

Soon after, Giroud threw himself on the floor in the penalty area, it was never a penalty, and was then booked after and aerial challenge that left Pantilli dazed, and needing to be replaced.

88 minutes and Payet lashed in a screamer from outside the area. It was a super goal that his overall performance deserved. A minute or so later a very emotional looking Payet was replaced by Sissoko.

After a minute or so of French keep ball the game was brought to an end. Not the greatest game, but we will do well to see a better goal than Payet's.

Teams :

11th June (Lens) 2pm

Albania 0

• Cana - Dismissed 37' (2 Yellows)

Switzerland 1

• Schär, 5'

Referee : Carlos Velasco Carballo

Attendance : 33,805

Match Report

IBO Reporter : channonite

Well that had more incident and excitement than I was expecting. The Swiss ran out 1-0 winners, thanks to a clanger by the Albanian goalie in the 5th minute, allowing Schär to head in and giving them only their second ever win at the Euros.

With two brothers on opposing sides and almost as Albanians in the Swiss side as there were in the actual Romanian side (six players have links to Albania, or Kosovo), this was always going to have a bit of an edge to it.

The Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka and his elder brother Taulant became the first brothers to play on opposing sides in the Euros. Their parents were refugees in Switzerland, having fled the civil war in the former Yugoslavia, when Kosovo broke away from Serbia. The brothers came through the youth system at Basel, but Taulant failed to graduate from the Swiss U21s and switched to Albania. The younger brother, Granit has recently joined Arsenal from Borussia Monchengladbach, so he will be one to watch out for next season.

Another player with links to the Premier League is the Albanian captain, Cana, who used to play for Sunderland, but he was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 37th minute, but he could have easily had a straight red for handball, denying Seferovic. The Swiss No.9 also wasted several more chances to put the game beyond reach.

Even spending the majority of the match with ten men, the Albanians still had two good chances to equalise, but it was not to be. This is the Albanians first appearance at the European Championships and it is unlikely that they will progress past the group stages, but the Swiss were hardly much more impressive.

Next.

Teams :

15th June - (Paris) 5pm

Romania 1

• Stancu, 18' (Penalty)

Swizerland 1

• Mehmedi, 57'

Referee : Sergey Karasev

Attendance : 43,576

Match Report

IBO Reporter : Spot51

I love Switzerland. I worked for Swiss company for many years: I’ve visited the country numerous times: I’ve even watched their football team on several occasions. I maintain the Swiss are THE best supporters - with their cowbells, flags of the Cantons, Emmental hats and even the odd alpenhorn. It is always fun watching football with the Swiss. Sadly, what happens on the pitch is often disappointing.

The Swiss team are never quite the sum of their often excellent parts – but as this is an abridged “group game” report I won’t discuss why that might be.

Romania can defend. They only conceded twice in the whole qualifying campaign. The 2 they conceded against the hosts last Friday probably came as a shock – especially Payet’s late winner. Switzerland had beaten Albania the following day with an early goal but then struggled for the next 85 minutes to convert all their possession into a 2nd goal. You felt Switzerland really didn’t want to go behind against Romania.

Switzerland went behind after 18 minutes. They had dominated the early exchanges creating a number of chances – including two that the hapless Seferovic should have taken. The first, made by Dzemaili (who was winning his 50th cap), he shovelled wide. Ten minutes later Shaqiri set up an even easier chance which he blasted at the keeper’s legs.

On 18 minutes Romania made a rare foray forward. Chipciu cut in from the left and, as he does week-in week-out in Serie A, Lichtsteiner grabbed his shirt. To his horror the racist Russian referee signalled penalty!

Up stepped Stancu. He had struck both shots on target Romania managed against France – including the penalty they scored from. He repeated the trick sending Sommer one way whilst rolling the ball into the other corner. 1-0 Romania.

The rest of the first half followed a predictable pattern. Prepilita and Chipciu were booked as the Swiss dominated possession, with both fullbacks providing good width. Tatarusanu made an acrobatic save to tip Schar’s shot over and in front of him the yellow wall held steady. Indeed, Romania showed they were quite capable of breaking downfield, with Chipciu always a threat on their left.

Keresu was booked on 37m for felling Behrami. The Swiss racked up 66% of the ball but as halftime arrived they still trailed 1-0.

Pintili was replaced by Hoban for the second half. Then Xhaka became the first Swiss to be booked. On 52 minutes Torje drove a great cross in from the right; Djourou, facing his own goal, did well to knock it wide, rather than between his posts.

On 56m Swiss dominance was finally rewarded. They had wasted so many corners but this time Rodriguez’s cross was not properly cleared. The ball dropped inside the area to be met by Mehmedi’s full-blooded strike. 1-1 and game on!

Romania brought on Filip for Rat; Switzerland swapped Seferovic for Embolo. Embolo looked quick and gave the Romanian defenders a new problem. On 65m Keresu might have restored Romania’s lead but he aimed his header straight at Sommer. Then Embolo had a similar opportunity in the other box; his header flew wide.

Sommer made a comfortable save from a long range free kick. Then another Rodriguez cross tempted Shaqiri into trying an overhead kick – not one of his classics. Romania’s elderly defenders were beginning to tire and were forced back by wave after wave of Swiss attacks. They might well have sealed the second win that would ensure progress from Group A but lacked the ruthlessness to score a winner. Typical was Dzezmaili’s outrageous attempt to volley a dipping ball when he had both time and space to control it.

Andone was brought on for Stancu; Lang for Dzemaili. Switzerland continued to press forward but Romania held on. In the 3 added minutes, Tarashaj came on for Shaqiri and Embolo was carded for clattering Grigore when chasing the ball.

Time was up. The 1-1 draw suited Switzerland better than Romania. The Swiss have one foot in the next round, Romania need to beat Albania to progress. Switzerland have never gone beyond the group stage in any competition – Euro 2016 may provide their first taste of knock-out football.

15th June - (Marseille) 8pm

France 2

• Griezmann 90'

• Payet 90'+6

Albania 0

Referee : William Collum

Attendance : 63,670

Match Report

IBO Reporter : OneBeat

When I offered to do this game I didn't realise how packed my evening was going to be. As kick off approached I was stood in the Richard Tauntons College Dance Studio having spent the previous hour and a half watching B do her Dancy thing. Now, I'm very proud of her, and people who know about these things say that she is very very good at dancing, but it bores me to tears. I was back in the car in time to hear the national anthems (oh joy), and 15 minutes later I had the commentary on my phone as I made my way from the Sports Centre car park to watch B play netball; she very good at this too, and I like watching this.

Its quite strange listening to what was being described as a pretty poor first half of football while watching a closely contested game of netball. It seemed that there was a Yeti playing, and for some reason Sudoku. kept getting a mention. Oh, and Neil Lennon really likes Payet. Every few minutes we were reminded that England play Wales the following day (when I'll be at work). The commentators weren't very impressed with France, and Albania seemed to be holding their own, even going close to scoring at one point. Neil Lennon wanted Pogba to come on.

As the netball came to an end, with B's team winning 39-27, Neil Lennon got a verbal pat on the back as Pogba did appear at the start of the second half, and France went close within seconds. I was home with the TV on in time to see Albania hit the post. From then on France began to take over, but although they didn't offer much, Albania were defending in numbers and stifling France.

Then, in the 89th minute a Griezmann header finally beat the Albanian goalkeeper and the stadium erupted.

There were 5 minutes of added on time, and this period saw the game open up a bit and after a stoppage for a nasty clash of heads, the French broke away and Payet scored another very good goal, benign to into the far corner. Neil Lennon must have been delighted.

19th June - (Lyon) 8pm

Romania 0

Albania 1

• Sadiku, 43'

Referee : Pavel Kralovec

Attendance : 49,752

Match Report

IBO Reporter : Simmo70

Ah, It's permutation time, all sorts still possible in group A with Romania v Albania surely the tie everyone has been look forward to since the draw was made. Albania find themselves propping up group A, but it could've been very different. Two goals in added time from the host nation, (with their only shots on target) and concededing late on against the Swiss in their opening game mean they must now beat Romania to have any chance of qualification. That they haven't done so since my Dad was 2 yrs old means this may be unlikely. The afore mentioned 1-0 thumping in May 1948 preceded defeat on no less than 10 occasions, yet two draws in the qualifiers for this very tournament may give some cause for hope. They obviously need to find a goal to compliment their stubborn rearguard, something they have failed to do in tournament footer to date.

Romania for that matter haven't won a game in the Euros since Phil Neville made a horlicks of things 16 years ago and they beat England 3-2. Something may give tonight, I hope I don't have another 0-0 to add to my previous report, which would be of no use to anyone. It seems Romania have an Italian desert in goal, other than that I don't recognise any of the players on paper, I did serve Dan Pet Rescue fajitas once in the mid 90s though Tex Mex fans.

We’re off, after a rather frantic search I find the game on BBC 4, and with my 18 month old is screaming her head off and generally being annoying, I set to. I bet that prick Samuels doesn’t have to put up with this. A lively elbow on three minutes…ouch. Albania keeper, Berisha fumbles a simple looking effort on 4mins. Albania’s plan early doors seems to be park the bus and kick people in yellow, some at head height, Basha somehow escapes a yellow card, I fear a long evening, Miss S2 still got the ‘ump.

Lovely volley by a chap in yellow on 7mins, a dropping ball from a weak defensive header is smacked with some aplomb, keeper palms it back where it came and looks poor.

Romania look like they recognise each other and trying to play football, Albania at the minute don’t and aren’t. Another foul…I think my mate had tickets for this game but couldn’t go in the end…he must be pleased. Romania have another effort sail wide, Albania head into opposition half…a rarity, they foul someone, less of one.

Matel tries his luck from a very long way out and its rubbish, I try to think of kids toy related smartarsery…fail. At this point Albania seem to be a charmless Leicester, trying to hit Romania on the break. Miss S2 asleep.

Albania cut Romania to shreds with some lovely stuff, mid-air back-heals the lot, a great ball is then played across the goal but yer man Lenjani makes an absolute mess of it and skies it over from 6 yards. I reckon Geoff Boycotts nan could have knocked it in with a stick of Rhubarb etc...

Blimey that bloke is still manager of Romania…

Romania now look like they’ve never met and Albania are on top. Memushaj does well but final ball is poor and they sky over from the resulting corner. Berisha the Albanian keeper is rubbish but at least he isn’t wearing Fuchsia like his opposite number.

GOAL! Albania score their first Euro goal…and quite frankly they deserve it. Good deep cross and fuchsia boy watches it sail over him and Sadiku heads it back from whence it came and Albania take the lead. Half time and Albania one goal to the good.

When the feckers did they change the rule at kick off?

Off we go again, Albania have the first chance but a poor ball from Sadiku ruins the opportunity, should have kept it on the deck mate and it would have been dangerous. They continue to press and work hard and force Matel into giving away a free kick in the corner that Memushaj will take…its a shit free kick and it flies over everyone but in the tussle to keep it in Albec twists his knee and is off in some discomfort, never nice to see.

Hour gone...

Fuchsia makes a smart save in the Romanian goal, Albania have a fee kick. Memushaj tries again and its equally rubbish. Its all WWF in the box, when are they going to organise that shit.

Albania trying to keep their shape and break quickly Romania having more of the ball but not really troubling Berisha in sticks as another speculative long ranger spoons high wide and ‘ansome As soon as he types that Romania open Albania up and Florin Andone smacks a chance against the bar after some nice interplay, unlucky not to be level Romania. Stancu then does well on the edge of the box but blazes his shot over the bar. Romania get a free kick in a great position about 25 meters out and quite central...the wall is large and the collective of bollock cupping chaps does very well and Albania break, get a corner kick to relieve some pressure. 5 minutes left. A good break comes to nothing Albania don’t quite know whether to twist or stick, they have been here before and don’t want to let in any more late goals, we’re in the final minute of normal time, but there are five minutes of added to get through. Romania can’t get a hold of the ball then they do, then they kick it out of play…Albania on the brink….they win a corner, take it short shirley? They’ve done it!

History my friends at last a goal to report on and Albania deserved it, they’ll be dancing in the streets of Tirana etc…. Short on finesse and quality but its a nice win and Romania just didn’t know what to do in the end, bereft of ideas they finish bottom of the table. Albania have to wait now to see if they do qualify.

19th June - (Lille) 8pm

Switzerland 0

France 0

Referee : Damir Skomina

Attendance : 45,616

Match Report

IBO Reporter : Spot51

When the Swiss FA witnessed the Euro 2016 draw last December, they doubtless thought “Not again!” to find themselves in the same group as France. In Euro 2004 and World Cups of 2006 and 2014, they were drawn with Les Bleus and had not beaten them yet. In fact, Switzerland had never progressed beyond the group stage of any finals, but this year they arrived in Lille occupying second place in Group A and looking good for the last 16. France were already through and a point tonight would ensure they topped the group.

Switzerland, the “home” team wore red and made just one change, replacing Seferovic with Embolo. France wore white and replaced their whole front six. Payet was left on the bench.

A number of Euro 2016 pitches have cut up badly and Lille is one of them. There had been no rain in the last 24 hours but the surface was claggy and players were slipping and the ball bounced unevenly from the off. France knocked it about nicely early on and won a corner when a Pogba shot flew off a defender. Indeed, France won plenty of corners in an end-to-end encounter but not one seemed to cause any discomfort to the Swiss defence.

By 7m it was the Swiss attacking, winning back-to-back corners. The second, by Shaqiri, caused panic when Schar’s header hit Pogba and bounced goalwards. Embolo, prostrate on the line, tried to hook the ball in but succeeded only in kicking it away. Not for the last time, a Swiss player complained to the ref about having his shirt torn - by Sagna.

On 12 minutes hold-up play by Cignac allowed Pogba to hit a fierce shot that Sommer struggled to turn over. A minute later Pogba was at it again. He was involved in a cross-field move and arrived on the left-hand side of the box to fire a low, hard shot that Sommer did well to turn away.

Switzerland had their share of the ball too but lacked a Pogba to scare the pants off the keeper. He had another chance on 17m, carrying the ball from midfield and striking it from 22 yards. This time Sommer was rooted - and no doubt thankful to see Pogba’s effort cannon off the bar and behind.

Gignac and Mehmedi both had chances they failed to take. Then, on 24m, France won 4 consecutive corners. The pressure was only released when Rami’s clumsy overhead attempt connected with Mehmedi’s head. Switzerland then produced a lovely passing move that won a corner; but theirs were hardly better than France’s…

There were some good tussles going on – Pogba v Xhaka was one such. As the Swiss tried to evade his opponent, Pogba grabbed his shirt – which promptly disintegrated. Switzerland’s skin tight Puma shirts look good – well not on Shaqiri obviously – but tear easily. Whether this is a design flaw or a feature to alert referees to foul play I don’t know. But if the latter, it didn’t work as the ref merely sent the Swiss to replace their tops.

Embolo and Cignac both might have scored before half time but both defences held firm. France’s 4-3-3 played very narrow, allowing both Swiss full-backs to get forward. So it was no surprise to see Switzerland had greater possession: 55%. Half time arrived, still 0-0.

The Swiss must’ve had a good talking to at half-time as they came out fired-up and pushed France back. Mehmedi had moved to the wing allowing Shaqiri a more central role which he was clearly enjoying. This dominance was unproductive and their corners and free-kicks rarely evaded the first defender. The French were more effective – on 53m they surged down the park and Cignac forced a save from Sommer.

A minute later Djourou made an awful error, giving the ball to Griezmann who made a bee line towards goal. He was intercepted by the industrious Behrami whose thumping tackle burst the ball! Rover does that to stray footballs from next door.

The game continued to be end-to-end but the Swiss were noticeably quicker to close down and recover possession. France, however, continued to look more likely to break the deadlock. On 57m they constructed a lovely flowing move down the left. Pogba fed Griezmann who played a one-two with Cignac before striking at goal. Sommer was happy to tip it over.

60 minutes arrived. The game was very much in the balance so France brought Payet off the bench, replacing Coman. Instead of stepping things up the game seemed to go off the boil at this point. Perhaps the fact that 0-0 would do for both sides and the poor pitch that might easily injure players was beginning to affect attitudes. Both sides continued to probe but with less intensity than before.

On 74m Seferovic replaced Embolo and this signalled a final push from both sides. France worked a great opportunity when Sissoko burst down the right. Looking up he picked out Payet on the far side and his lofted cross was perfect. Payet hit a screaming volley. For the second time, Sommer was a mere observer but the ball crashed down off the bar and was cleared. The goal frame trenbled for some time after.

Matuidi replaced Griezmann and Fernandes came on for Shaqiri. On 83m the ref showed a yellow card to Koscielny for fouling Lichtsteiner. Shortly afterwards, a Fernandes free-kick was cleared and Xhaka, his shirt again in tatters, was sent to change it. On 86 Mehmedi was replaced by Lang.

A minute later, Cignac tried to round Schar and the ball bounced up hitting the defender’s arm. This presented France with another opportunity for a late winner. Payet lined up the kick and struck it hard; but the ball hit Sissoko and went off for a goal kick.

In the 2 added minutes, Switzerland put one last ball into the box. Sagna grabbed a handful of Djemaili’s shirt and hurled him to the ground. The ref ignored the foul – after all, his shirt didn’t tear.

Final whistle: 0-0 saw France win the Group. The Swiss seemed happy to be runners-up and with 57% possession. They’ll be less pleased by 0 shots on target all evening.