Belgium finally turned up for the tournament with a dismantling of the Republic of Ireland, Hungary were the latest to be frustrated by Iceland and a Cristiano Ronaldo horror show gave Austria a point even they didn’t seem to believe they were capable of earning.
Day 9 of the European Championships was certainly not dull.
Belgium 3 Republic of Ireland 0
Another day, another striker finds his goalscoring touch, with Romelu Lukaku’s (9.0) double underlining Belgium’s clear superiority over an ROI side lacking quality and conviction going forward.
The result handed Italy top spot in Group E, and it will be a major surprise if the Belgians don’t confirm second place against Sweden on Wednesday.
Under-fire coach Marc Wilmots made three changes to the side that lost to Italy. Thomas Meunier came in for Laurent Ciman at right-back, Mousa Dembele for Radja Nainggolan in midfield and Yannick Carrasco for Marouane Fellaini.
Carrasco’s (6.0) start proved to be the key decision as it allowed Kevin De Bruyne (10.0) to play in a central, free-roaming position from which he dictated Belgium’s attacking impetus in a fine individual performance involving three attempts, 11 crosses, seven chances created and an assist.
Meunier (4.5) – four crosses, one chance created, one attempt, an assist, two tackles won and an interception – was also influential in DraftKings and looks to be a real budget enabler at that official game price should he retain his start.
Axel Witsel (6.5) also came to the party, scoring a goal from three attempts, as Belgium made their first tentative steps towards looking like a team, aided by a better showing from Eden Hazard (9.5), who registered an assist, created two further chances, put over three crosses and fired in one shot.
Ireland were industrious, but their lack of ambition meant they didn’t have a single shot on target all match.
Their only real performer on the day was Robbie Brady, who was given a more advanced role on the left flank that promised (and delivered) good DraftKings returns as he’s classed as a defender. He finished with eight crosses, two chances created, three attempts, one successful tackle and one foul drawn.
They can still qualify for the Round of 16, and Italy are now even more likely to field a weakened idea in their final match, but must up their attacking game to do so.
Belgium will surely stick close to their winning formula to secure second spot. The Italy defeat saw a mass exodus of managers investing in their players, with 7% the highest ownership figure for a number of their stars and De Bruyne backed by just 1%.
Those figures could and should rise for the Sweden match, although tougher opposition down the line might well find the fault lines in the team, particularly at the back.
Iceland 1 Hungary 1
Yet another late goal gave Hungary a deserved point that all but assures them a place in the knock-out stages.
For Iceland it was a cruel blow, but they offered barely anything going forward once they had taken the lead through a Gylfi Sigurdsson (8.0) penalty in the 38th minute.
Only when Birkir Saevarsson (5.0) turned a Nemanja Nikolic (5.0) cross into his own net with three minutes to go did Iceland come back out of their shell, and they nearly grabbed an unlikely winner right at the death when veteran Eidur Gudjohnsen’s (6.0) deflected shot went narrowly wide.
That would have been incredibly harsh on a Hungary side that had 12 shots to Iceland’s 8, although the four saves Hannes Halldorsson (5.0) had to make were all routine.
Two players, Hungarian midfielders Laszlo Kleinheisler (5.0) and Balazs Dzsudzsak (6.5), proved the main threat and provided some of the best DraftKings returns.
The former put in five crosses, created one chance and had three attempts, the latter seven, one and four.
Hungary’s own veteran, Zoltan Gera (6.0) was the most creative player on the pitch, providing three chances and two crosses, but Hungary lacked an end product, a situation not helped by coach Bernd Storck’s decision to leave one of the scorers from the first match, Adam Szalai (6.5), on the bench.
Seen by many as one of the weakest teams in the tournament, Hungary now need just a draw against Portugal to guarantee a Round of 16 berth, and they could well go through even if they lose.
In Kleinheisler and Dzsudzsak they have a pair of productive midfielders available at a competitive price.
Iceland’s race is not done yet either. Victory against Austria will take them into the knock-out stages and Sigurdsson, who had three attempts, remains an attractive option, even if five of his last seven international goals have come from the penalty spot.
Portugal 0 Austria 0
Portugal have now fired in 49 shots over two matches but have scored just one goal, and their draw with Austria plumbed new depths of profligacy.
Cristiano Ronaldo (12.0) was the main culprit, missing a penalty – one of ten attempts he had – while Nani (7.5) spurned three great chances to give Portugal the win they desperately needed and thoroughly deserved.
Austria were frequently ragged and seemed to be playing with fear for much of the match, managing just four attempts to Portugal’s 23.
Goalkeeper Robert Almer (5.0) was one of the few Austrian players to emerge with much credit, pulling off six saves, including a fine full-length stop to repel a rasping Ronaldo drive.
Ricardo Quaresma (6.0) started in place of Joao Mario (6.0) and was a constant threat down the right, putting in 17 crosses, creating four chances and giving Christian Fuchs (6.0) a torrid evening.
Vierinha (6.5) had another solid night, particularly as a DraftKings asset where he’s classed as a defender, with seven crosses, two chances created, two shots, two interceptions and a tackle won.
Austria were forced into some key changes. Watford’s Sebastian Prodl (4.5) replaced the suspended Aleksandar Dragovic in defence while the absence of injured playmaker Zlatko Junuzovic led to David Alaba (7.0) playing further forward.
The Bayern Munich man struggled in the role, however, looking off the pace and as nervy as his teammates, while Marcel Sabitzer (5.0), preferred to main striker Marc Janko (7.5), was a willing but limited target man.
The result leaves the group wide open, with Hungary the unlikely holders of the whip hand.
Anything but a win for Austria and Portugal will definitely mean the end for the former and probably for the latter as well.
Ronaldo and company still offer good prospects of Fantasy returns, but the pressure to finally get the job done will be massive against a Hungary team that needs only a draw to win the group – unless Iceland win handsomely.
Based on what we’ve seen from a hugely disappointing Austria so far, that’s not outside the realms of possibility.
