Poland 0-1 Croatia
Austria 0-1 Germany
While Portugal’s reserves couldn’t thwack the holey-cheesemakers, Croatia’s made short work of Poland last night. Poland couldn’t crack a side making nine changes and were undone by a guy who has had two kidney transplants in last year, plays with a plastic girdle and has been warned that he is risking his life by playing footy. Poland, along with Greece should be consigned to EuroRoom101 for a decade or two.
Bilic once again kicked very ball and celebrated like it was the final when the whistle was blown and more power to his elbow (much in evidence at UP during his years there).
On the other channel, Austria’s chances of progressing at the expense of Germany were being talked up, but then the whistle went and the game began. They may have made more of a fist of their tournament than the Swiss, and they may have dried the ink of those who signed a petition prior to the competition asking for the team to be withdrawn, but they were no match for a German side who were just not going to lose on the night. Austria scurried around and got in good positions but too many misplaced passes and misunderstandings mean that there was never likely to be any upset here. The moments of note of the evening therefore were an altercation between the respective coaches and Ballack’s experession; the former, as Wenger puts it, I didn’t see (but then I was in a car at the time) and the latter I had the misfortune to see in Super-Slo-Mo during a lull in the second-half and unfortunately for me (and for you now) immediately brought to mind Friend Chandler’s “sex-face”.
So to the Beeb’s disappointment and ITV’s glee after the CZE/TUR game the previous evening there was to be no drama. Tonight on the other hand could see plenty of “Red Ross” moments as the Dutch can choose to fix their match with Romania to eliminate both France and Italy who will no doubt still kick and dive their way around the pitch despite their being every chance that it won’t matter a bit.

Colin picked up another four points and is now clear at the top from Liam and Mike B who also picked 4. After a few days on top Jayne drops fourth having picked up only a solitary point. At the bottom the Steve’s are pulling clear of Mike and Norm.