Dugout Discussion
6 July 2016 1445 comments
Paul Paul
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The Euro 2016 semi-finals get up and running this evening as Wales take on Portugal in Lyon at 8pm.

After drawing all three of their Group F fixtures, Portugal squeezed past Croatia in extra-time before seeing off Poland on penalties in the previous round.

Wales, on the other hand, have won four of their five matches, culminating in a stunning 3-1 victory over Belgium in the quarter-finals.

Despite failing to win any of their five matches in 90 minutes, Fernando Santos’ side are regarded as favourites to clinch a place in Sunday’s final against France or Germany.

Certainly, in terms of shot count, Portugal have boasted the greater threat and fired 95 attempts to Wales’ 60, though they’ve failed to take their chances and trail their opponents by six goals to ten.

Ultimately, tonight’s match could come down to the battle between Real Madrid team-mates Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.

The former has fired more attempts than any player in the tournament, yet has scored just two of his 36 attempts, whilst Bale leads the way for shots on target (14) in Euro 2016 and will be looking to compensate for the loss of the suspended Aaron Ramsey to fire his country into the final.

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    1. RᴀᴄɪɴɢTᴏᴀᴅ
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Congrats!

  1. RᴀᴄɪɴɢTᴏᴀᴅ
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Ronaldo is making himself look a right idiot with all this free kicks...

    1. Syd.
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Great footballer but an absolute tosser

  2. Fergies fledgling
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    France or Germany should wreck this Portuguese team in the final.

    Should.

    1. Hakchak
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      They'll play super defensive

  3. Jazz!
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Guerreiro (C) SUCCESS! Lol at you Ronnie (c)ers 😉 😉 😉

    1. Hakchak
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Haha congrats man

      1. Jazz!
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        😀

  4. ★Kuntheman★
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Yesss CS locked!!!

    1. Hakchak
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      This wish I had the balls to go with 4 defenders happy with 3 though

      1. ★Kuntheman★
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        I'm more than happy with two wasn't ready to risk having to make too many transfers for the final

  5. A-S-H
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    lool 5 portugal defenders and ronaldo - risk paid off

    1. ★Kuntheman★
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Damnnnn

    2. 420king
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      hope you have lots of the other finalists too, else your defense will suck in the finals 😛

      1. A-S-H
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        8 transfers tho mate

  6. ★Kuntheman★
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    France win without penalties tomorrow, and I will have won my league.

    1. George Sillett
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      And therein is the problem.

        • 12 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        Home advantage, Hummels out, Khedira out, Kante back, don't be so sure Slouch.

        1. George Sillett
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 7 months ago

          I do think that the Germans are being written off far too readily for this game Balders. Yes France walloped Iceland but they haven't been that great IMO. 2/1 isn't a bad price over 90 mins.

  7. El Patron
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Ronaldo(C) surely twist? Only have Umtiti tomorrow.

    1. Johnny Drama
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Only Umtiti??

      1. Johnny Drama
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        A jk maybe..

      2. El Patron
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        jk :D,

        I have some germans and Payet

        1. Johnny Drama
          • 9 Years
          9 years, 7 months ago

          You got me haha

  8. RᴀᴄɪɴɢTᴏᴀᴅ
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    20 Portugal defenders LOCKED! 😀

  9. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    YES!!!

    4 CS's.
    2 assists.
    2 goals.
    CR7 Captain

    1. ★Kuntheman★
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Well played mate haha

      1. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        Thx.
        🙂

    2. Hakchak
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Congrats man you in the chase for the overall title?

      1. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        God no!!! 🙂

    3. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      4 x Wales defy
      Bale (c)
      Williams

      😀

      1. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        🙂
        There is always next time and you are probably still ahead of me in OR

        1. Jafooli
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 7 months ago

          No chance 😛 I'm like 10k or something rotten...well played Crunch 😀

  10. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Ramsey to blame for getting the YC last game?

    1. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Somalion says it's Mignolet's fault

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        Both 😛

  11. Johnny Drama
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Jazz, Guerreiro (C) was a smart move.. 😉

    1. Jazz!
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      😀

      1. Johnny Drama
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        Well played!

        1. Jazz!
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 7 months ago

          Thanks mate.

    2. 420king
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      meh, 1 pointer 😛

  12. Eden Hazardous
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    47 points today. On 370 points now in total. 😀

    1. Hakchak
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      You must be in with a shout of winning hazardous or at least top 10

      1. Eden Hazardous
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        I hope so! 🙂

    2. Jazz!
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Wow! Hope you can win it! Shouldn't be too far off right?

  13. Ayew Serious
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Well done Portugal.

    Given a hard time but can't argue with the results

    1. Syd.
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      They are a solid team but I wouldn't pay to watch them

      1. Ayew Serious
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        That's a lie. You would, anybody would pay to watch a team with Ronaldo

  14. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Unlucky Wales great tournament regardless of tonight's result. Can't see Portugal getting a result against either Germany or France

  15. KingNidge
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Congrats Ronnie dragging this bang average lot through once again..

    Hats off to the Welsh... been a revelation through out

    1. Ayew Serious
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Bang average. No

      1. KingNidge
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        Far from great.. Germany or France will fix them.. final is a serious achievement

        1. Ayew Serious
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 7 months ago

          Yes. But he's not carrying an average team past Wales.

          Wales haven't the player Portugal have. Poland nothing special either.

          And Ronaldo was anonymous against the one top team, Croatia

  16. RᴀᴄɪɴɢTᴏᴀᴅ
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    A bit pathetic that it's 'great' to see 2 teammates embracing each other after a match! 😆

  17. GoonerByron
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    50 points.. Could barely have gone any better 😀

    Now to decide which France/Germany players to put in.. Players like Pogba and Draxler gonna have to stay benched 😮

    1. Jazz!
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Nice

  18. andy85wsm
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    3 Portugal clean sheets and Ronaldo (c) - that's how it's done. Glad I didn't get that second Welsh defender now - would have been Guerrerio sacrificed too

    1. Jazz!
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      🙂

  19. A-S-H
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Lol Guerreiro (C) outscored Ronny. Get in

    1. Jazz!
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      🙂 🙂 🙂

  20. ★Kuntheman★
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Who would you bring in for Williams and Bale? Pick two:

    Hector, Kroos, Draxler

    1. GoonerByron
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Kroos Draxler.. Can see goals

  21. Däzzy
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    I'm fairness to Portugal they are very well set up defensively

    1. Leaf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      They are better than everyone says

      1. Däzzy
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        Very true. I will claim I predicted them to reach the semis b4 the tournament
        Also predicted Spain to win the tournament 😉

  22. Lestat
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    England have the most resources available compared to Wales, Northern Ireland and Rep of Ireland (leaving Scotland to one side) but are still the worst team in these Isles based on the Euro performances- any opinions on why this is??

  23. Mancunian
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Got Ronaldo (C) but accidently kept Guerrero on the bench ....

  24. andy85wsm
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Easy sub choices now. Lloris stays benched.

    Chester, Bale and Sanches subbed. Hector, Boateng and Griezmann in.

    Think I'll stick with captain.

  25. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    44 (-4)

    Patricio (7), Guerreiro (9), Fonte (6), Nani (6), Ronaldo (C)(16)

    Two Dilemmas:

    1) Have to chose to put one of Koscielny/ Hector in for Chester (0)

    2) Have to bench one of Pogba, Payet, Gotze, Ozil, Draxler, Giroud 😡

    At least if Giroud or Gotze are out my decisions will be made for me....

    1. Jazz!
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      1) Hector easy
      2) Bench Pogba

      1. Bøwstring The Carp
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        More than likely will do that, though the decision may be made for me if Giroud/ Gotze don't start

        1. Jazz!
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 7 months ago

          Of course 🙂

  26. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Ryan Giggs has now been a pundit for more Wales games than he played in games that were 'not important'

    1. ★Kuntheman★
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      He's a real pr**k. Bale's already exceeding him in all aspects.

      1. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        Withdrew from the squad more times than from his brothers wife

      2. Malcolm Tucker for England …
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        100%

        he fits into the team because he plays in the formative matches

  27. ★Kuntheman★
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    If tomorrow ends 1-0 France, I'm golden.

    1. Jazz!
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Don't see it mate 🙁 Good luck though.

  28. GoonerByron
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Can only bring in 2 of Gotze, Draxler, Pogba, Hector, Rami.. Thoughts?

    1. Jazz!
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Hector and Drax

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Hector + 1

      1. GoonerByron
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        Am playing Payet Giroud though (they were my certainties?).. Don't really fancy a German cleany?

    3. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      The French connection.

  29. Malcolm Tucker for England …
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Well done the Welsh lads.
    Did us proud even getting there but the semis was a huge achievement.

    Top 6 in the World now (somehow)

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Lol at being the only team beaten by England

      1. Malcolm Tucker for England …
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        lol at being English

        1. The Bandit
          • 15 Years
          9 years, 7 months ago

          Ashley wants a word 😉

          Seriously though, great run

          1. Malcolm Tucker for England …
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            9 years, 7 months ago

            you're obsessed with that! 🙂 check the English team historically. plus your rugby and cricket teams!! 😉

            proud of them, now to qualify and win in Russia (if everyone else boycotts)