Italy 0 England 0 (Italy win 4-2 on penalties) Sometimes a feat of courage leaves you thunderstruck but Pirlo’s spot-kick got what it deserved. Would you or I have left that penno under-struck? Sometimes a feat of courage leaves you thunderstruck. The notion that it could have been a blunder struck the millions watching; left […]

Spain 2 France 0 To Donetsk, far Ukraine city, so far east it must be Asia, came the Spanish in their thousands, with Manolo, pounding rhythm, playing with their ten midfielders, masters of the ball retention; and the French, the handball heroes, lambs to slaughter sacrificial. Napoleon, in all his glory, never ventured this far […]

Germany 4 Greece 2 The lovely Mrs. Merkel sat within the golden circle with Platini and the rest of the antiques and she watched proceedings smugly, winning beautiful not ugly, as the Germans went to town against the Greeks. Philip Lahm’s first touch was deft as he cut in from the left, as reporters started […]

Portugal 1 Czech Republic 0 You’ve got to hand it to him, he strode like a colossus. You’ve got to hand it to him, looked dangerous on crosses. Without him, it might well have ended goalless. Without him, they’d have struggled to a draw. The fare would have been uninspired and soulless and frankly turned […]

Germany 2 Denmark 1 Alas, poor Bendtner. I knew him, Horatio. At home, a poor goals to game ratio but, if they say that all the world’s a stage, a veritable master of the age. Is this an Agger that I see before me, battling bravely in conditions stormy? Painted warrior, fighting to the last […]