UEFA EURO 2016: Then There Was One…

Well, the first round of knockouts couldn’t really have gone much worse for our four teams, really. We were guaranteed one to get to the quarter finals, but we weren’t expecting that one to be the lone survivor…

WALES (1-0 win vs. Northern Ireland)

It’s the debutantes who’ve impressed so far that stand as the lone survivors – but impress was not exactly what they did here. If anything, Northern Ireland really brought the fight to them and, arguably, possibly deserved to go through instead.

It was a very unfortunate own goal that cost Northern Ireland their place in the tournament in a game where otherwise they kept Wales out of their goal for the whole match (barring a disallowed goal). Even Gareth Bale, one of the stars of the tournament so far, wasn’t able to find his way in.

Wales are about to enter pressure territory, and based on this game – they’re going to have to step it up a notch if they want to progress to the Semi-Finals. They face the world #2 in Belgium, the highest ranked in this tournament. It’s the toughest ask, but their strokes of genius they had in the group stages need to come back for this one.
NEXT MATCH: vs. Belgium (Friday)

McAuley’s own goal sent Northern Ireland home in the most cruelest of ways.

NORTHERN IRELAND (1-0 loss vs. Wales)

One team’s success was one team’s loss: Northern Ireland became the first home nation to head for the exit, but they do so with their heads held high. It’s almost an unfair result that they leave, considering the strength of their performance against Wales.

It may not have led to a win – perhaps they may still have lost out either in extra time or penalties – but they definitely deserved to at least reach extra time. An own goal by Gareth McAuley in the 75th minute sadly ended Northern Ireland’s tournament in the cruelest of ways.

They’ll leave having made a huge mark on the tournament outside of the pitch, though: helping out locals, partying with everyone, making friends and of course, Will Grigg’s On Fire (despite not even playing at all!). Cheers for the fun, guys!
ELIMINATED FROM TOURNAMENT

A hard fought battle sadly ended in disappointment for the Republic of Ireland.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (2-1 loss vs. France)

It was never going to be an easy ask, but that said: taking the lead after just 2 minutes and coming in at half time 1-0 ahead, we all dared to dream. Surely the knockouts had to provide a shock result somewhere, so why not here?

Unfortunately, as we’ll find out, that was to be saved for another game…

Coming under ever increasing pressure from France, Ireland held on and on and on… and eventually it happened. Griezmann found the net – and so began 10 minutes of chaos for Ireland which would ultimately end their hopes.

Just three minutes after leveling, Griezmann made it two and – whilst chasing down his hat-trick, Shane Duffy took him down with a professional foul and was sent off for it.

In ten minutes, Ireland went from 1-0 up to 2-1 down and with 10 men.

Questions were raised on how fair it exactly was that the host nation were able to have three days extra rest, but Ireland put up a fight nonetheless and only just came up short.
ELIMINATED FROM TOURNAMENT

Joe Hart’s second error in the tournament ends England’s hopes in a miserable performance.

ENGLAND (2-1 loss vs. Iceland)

No. I didn’t make that up. England have been eliminated by the lowest ranked team in the tournament.

In what’s been widely claimed as one of England’s worst ever performances and the most embarrassing showing in five decades, a match that should’ve been a stroll was anything but.

It started rather well – with their usual form of applying consistent pressure from the get-go, Sterling was brought down for a penalty in just three minutes. Wayne Rooney duly converted that to an opening goal – and off they went to take the win. Except… nope.

Just thirty four seconds after the re-start, Iceland had equalised. 34. Seconds. It was level again.

Iceland have made a habit of defending incredibly well in this tournament, but they weren’t ahead yet, so they needed another goal – England should’ve still had the opportunity to use this as a way to break through, until Joe Hart. A standard save for a top level goalkeeper… and he fumbles and the ball limply rolls in to the goal. 2-1 to Iceland after 17 minutes, and then the wall was built. England were always going to struggle at this point to break it down.

Only problem was, England then didn’t attack with the same venom as they had in the group stages. There were chances, but all went amiss.

With a rounding chorus of boos (sans the minority of ecstatic Icelandic fans), England were eliminated from Euro 2016 in the most embarrassing of ways. Take nothing away from Iceland who played incredibly well (and beat the Netherlands to even get here), but even on their best Iceland shouldn’t have been able to do this to England. But knock them out they did, and their reward is the hosts France in the quarter finals.

Questions will be asked of England – and without Roy Hodgson, who dare takes what may be the most difficult position in football?
ELIMINATED FROM TOURNAMENT

Ashley Redman
Desperately seeking Welsh heritage…