I was concerned about a trip to Estonia after hearing Hearts struggle in their home leg against Estonian opponents last week, so news that Gibraltar’s Lincoln Red Imps beat Flora Tallinn was welcome, although the concern was tempered as news arrived that Hearts were three goals up in the away leg.
The lesson here is that in July, one more week’s training has a huge impact on performance.
Brendan Rodgers will be happy with how training has progressed thus far, but it’s only when players put multiple 90 minutes under their belts that they are ready for competitive action. There’s not necessarily a great deal of work to do to overcome Red Imps (no offence intended), but qualifiers come thick and fast thereafter. Despite beating Slovenian champions Olimpija Ljubljana yesterday, I expect Celtic will be more motivated for Saturday’s game against Maribor.
It gets serious from now onwards.
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JIMTHETIM53 on 10TH JULY 2016 11:02 PM
I’m about to put my central heating off. But it doesn’t matter, for the past year no one except BMCW has ever acknowlwedeged me.
====================================================================
I think that should be acknowledged.
Geddit ?
:-)
POGMATHONYAHUN AKA LAIRD OF THE SMILES on 10TH JULY 2016 10:57 PM
BGFC, you on lake Garda?
———————–
We are mate – after Garmisch-Partenkirchen last week (which me and Wee BGFC loved!!!!) we took the advice offered here on CQN – we booked into the T14 villa just outside Bardolino. Great digs – lovely pool – very hot.
Happy to take any recommendations.
BGFC
Had a feeling Portugal’s name might be on the trophy. Wouldn’t say they deserved it, but they did deserve to win the final. France completely lacking in ideas.
Hope UEFA see sense and get it back to 16 teams, but it ain’t gonna happen.
BGFC – if you’ve got a car go to Verona and Mantova (Mantua) – both beautiful cities within half an hour of where you are. Otherwise the Cavour waterpark and Gardaland are both great. If you don’t have young kids you’ll look silly going to those tho :)
Thought it was an extremely poor final,
had a feeling Portugal would win after Ronaldo went off,
only ones happy with this tournament will be the cream cookies
There is very little to choose between Ronaldo and Messi as regards talent. As human beings, the little I have read suggests Cristiano has more quality as a person than Lionel.
On a more important matter, what will be the team selection for Tuesday?
JJ
That has got to be the worst fecking tournament final ever. if both teams fell in a barrell of tits theyd come up sucking their thumbs. shite
The mother of Cristiano Ronaldo’s baby is today revealed as a desperate British student… who now wants her baby BACK.
Until now the lothario football star has kept secret the name, age and even nationality of the mother after she gave up her rights to the child in exchange for a £10million payment.
However, the Sunday Mirror can reveal she is a woman aged 20 who now bitterly regrets her decision and phones ex-Manchester United ace Ronaldo regularly in tears begging for a chance to meet her baby.
And the mother – who became pregnant after a one-night stand with Ronaldo – claims she is even prepared to give his millions back, insisting she has changed her mind about the deal.
Six months on, her decision to give away the child in return for a fortune from the player – the most expensive in football history – has left her deeply depressed, friends say, leading to her dropping out of a college course.
A clause in the contract she signed with Ronaldo’s lawyers means she is not allowed to tell anybody she is the mother – including her family.
She simply disappeared when she was pregnant – then, after she had the baby, told people she had received an unexpected windfall.
When she asks to see her son, Ronaldo is said to taunt her by telling her he may consider her requests… if she repays some of the money.
Jaysus
The amount if moaning on here about the Euros,
Glad Portugal won,tonights game wasnt a great spectacle for neutrals but so what,neither is Kilmarnock -V- St Johnstone
Overall I totally enjoyed the tournament,Republic beating Italy was fantastic and our game against France was very enjoyable,we went out with heads held high.
Iceland and Wales brought great stories,Albania winning their game against Romania was a great story.
Englands humiliation made the month of June very enjoyable.
Overall a great feast of football
Feck the begrudgers
TSOAL
Could not agree more.
Football has to realise that its in the entertainment business and it’s future is in peril.
Young people have a lot more choices in entertainment than previous generations.
This truly dismal tournament struggled to catch the attention of even the most diehard fans.
CHAVEZ on 10TH JULY 2016 11:16 PM
BGFC – if you’ve got a car go to Verona
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Cheers mate – have a car, and we are off to Verona in the morning for a wee trip – renaissance gardens on my list (so best get to the cot).
HH
BGFC
Truly dismal tournament
WTF are you people on
Scullbhoy
The Sunday Mirror. An impeccable source. ” Ronaldo IS SAID to taunt her…” Ha!
Goodnight all and roll on Tuesday.
JJ
JIMTHETIM53 on 10TH JULY 2016 11:02 PM
:-))
HH
WITS
Dider Out !
Grizeman at 9/1 was my only saving grace……
WITS
Don`t you know that only idiots are impressed? Truly perceptive chaps see how terrible all modern football is.
Ha !
Hot Smoked
Well this idiot truly enjoyed the whole tournament
Pity it had to end
WITS
Maybe do away with the final game then
LOve
Major tournaments are the summer blockbuster movies of football.
Big stars, big moments, drama and a global shared experience.
Rarely do we ever get consistency of overall performance – and especially nowadays with so many domestic games draining the stars. But I always enjoy the experience more for those incidences of high drama, the catastrophies (thanks england!) and the unexpected triumphs – well done Iceland and Wales.
Like any overblown event movie they are more remembered for particular moments than anything else. Tonight’s forgettable final will be spoken of purely for its moments of dramatic reality that you would have scoffed at in a script – superstar suffers early injury,but rest of team-mates rally to heroically win the trophy for a nation used to agonizing loss.
It’s the sporting and footballing history unfolding before your eyes that gets it for me. Bears as much resemblance to our domestic fodder as Star Wars does to Coronation Street, but have loved watching the world Cup and Euros since I was a kid.
Well done to big Ronaldo and Portugal. Deserved it as much as any of the much-lauded Italian defensive units have in the past, with a population a fifth the size.
I expect the whole of Portugal will be drunk for a month. Flying over there to the Canaries soon; the fumes alone should keep the plane up.
Sandman
Very good analysis
I have been to several world cups/euro tournaments .Always enjoyed the occasions,mingling with fans from different countries,great banter and crack,watching different styles and types of players,the passion and drama of it all
Of course you will see some bad games,Ireland and Egypt in Italia 90 was enough to put anyone off football for life or in my case about half an hour
The euros were great
Goodnight Timland
roll on Tuesday
C.O.Y.B.I.G.
HH
Two sleeps:-)
Looks like I’m one of the few who enjoyed the Eurochamps. Thought there was lots of talent and tactical nous on display. Loved watching the Germans, the Icelanders, the Welsh, The Irish, the Italians and the Belgians. Portuguese I found a tad boring until tonight when I thought they played an impeccable 120 mins. Congrats to them and Ronaldo.
And a massive congrats to wee Andy Murray. I doubt we’ll see his likes again on these shores for another few generations after he retires, hopefully with a few more Grand Slams and especially 2 more wimbledons. As soon as he sealed his victory tonight I heard for the first time ever how ole Fred not only won Wimbledon but did it 3 times. Highlighted as a slight on Andys achievements. C’mon ANDY. GIRFUT.
MWD
Yup, WITS.
England’s humiliation, Wales’ incredible spirit, Iceland fantastic adventure, their commentator, Portugal 3-3 with hungary, Ronaldo’s back-heller, Ronaldo’s incredible series of misses v Austria, Norn Iron’s valiant effort, France hitting moments of swashbuckling attack, the Gemran slick maching hititng the rocks, Muller not hitting anything, tikki-Takka getting the Mafia treament, the crazy penalty shootout between italy and Germany, Ireland’s late win v Italy, Ronaldo’s heider v Wales, tonights drama and Panini’s sticker album.
Plenty of fun was had and seen.
Only real downer was Portugal winning it without Ronaldo also being top tourney scorer.
Impossible? Illogical?
Yup, f#cking ridiculous. Especially when you’ve got 50 quid on the double at 50/1…
Sandman
Generally the fans were brilliant also
The English and Russians of course being the exception and both countries should banned from the next tournament (of course that will never happen)
Anyway I have spent most of the last month sitting down on my couch with my wife and daughters and several glasses of wine,watching football,laughing about players hair styles and silly coloured boots,having to agree with them about who the hottest player in the tournament was ( dont ask) crying when ireland went out,laughing when england went out,trying to get my daughters NOT to support the Germans ( why ? cos they were nazis,Oh get over yourself ,he’s gorgeous etc)
Yes a thoughoughly awful time
Roll on Kilmarnock and St Johnstone ( on a wet wednesday in November)
Yep WITS – it’s that peripheral interest that hooks in the world to watching a big footy tourney – keeps football on top of the sporting world as THE cultural marker of its time; e.g my 9 y-old daughter getting into the Panini stickers in competition with her brother and the two of them, surprisingly, frothing over the drama of tonight’s ‘dismal’ final. They dug the whole Ronaldo/injury/winning Portuglas first Trophy against theodds/beating-Messi-to-it thing.
Sheer populist drama over footballing substance but od they car eaabout tactical nous or team cohesion? Nope. Just exciting events and ‘wow’ drama they’ll remember the sport of football as capable of providing.
That said, and the Euros done and dusted, there’s only one question remaining that I’m sur ethe whole blog will want to know:
Who exactly did YOU vote for as the tournaments’ hottest player?
:))
Sandman
I cant say who I voted for* but apparently my Gals gave the award to Mats Hummels of Der Vaderland
Thats women for ye.
* that said I would have kissed Robbie Brady after he scored against Italy …..but thats my little secret
What is the Stars on 11th July 2016 12:12 am
Roll on Kilmarnock and St Johnstone ( on a wet wednesday in November)
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Good man, that’s the Celtic spirit. See you there. I’ve enjoyed the summer break, generally.
Wits,
Throughly enjoyed the tournament.
Plenty of surprises.
My oldest boy is in Dublin for the weekend for the Beyonce concert.
Drew Portugal in his works set up and is flat out in Templebar tonight.
Up the Dubs bud.
TCR
Hope your boy enjoys Dublin
I beleive Beyonce puts on a good show….
That Temple Bar is an awful place though !!!!!
the_huddle on 10th July 2016 11:05 pm
TerryK on 10th July 2016 10:57 pm
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Not saying I agree with Foxy’s post but a footballer covers more ground in 90 mins than a tennis player covers in 5 sets.
TH
Let’s agree to differ on the relative merits of a top professional tennis player against a top professional footballer – with respect that was not the issue.
I was responding to slanted comments on a fantastic Scottish athlete from a twit with serious hang-ups who demonstrated not just “a chip on the shoulder” but a full fish supper and a couple of pickled onions!
TK.
A midfielder can cover up to 9 miles in 90 mins whereas a tennis player is around 3 miles.
C’mon Brendan.Get that cheque book out..
And get Ambrose,Boyata,Lustig,Bitton,Brown and Johansen oot the door pronto.
Utter failures of the highest degree.
The team needs gutted and nobody from last season’s debacle is out yet.
Wits,
Ach let him enyoy himself. .;-).
A good session and he loves Templebar to be fair.
Me and Mrs H, had just had a stroll back to the hotel, after a steak sandwich (€3.25) and a few beers. Was in the room to catch the last 15 minutes of the Final.
The Azorians were well happy with the result, shouting, singing and car horns blaring, it was nuts for a while. It has just calmed down a bit in the last 15 minutes.
Going to catch a bus tomorrow for our first sortee out of Ponta Delgado. Going to go to a few villages along the coast, and perhaps a volcanic crater, with hot mud pools.
I managed to watch the Maribor game via my UK Celtic tv subscription on the IPad. Don’t know if that is the norm, or l was just lucky?
Also caught some of Wimbers today on BBC 1 via a website called Film on TV. Andy Pandy was brilliant and well deserved for the effort he puts in.
Does anyone have details of kick off time on Tuesday, and also what channel is covering it. I will hopefully be able to access the game somehow.
If not, updates on here would be well received by me.
Portugal is green and red. Tooooooooooot hoot hoot parp.
TCR
of course
I am just a grupmy old middle aged git
Temple Bar is a young mans game and I am just jealous that i am too old to play
TRICOLOURED RIBBON
My daughter saw Beyoncé at Hampdump on Thursday
Said she was “Awesome”
HH
Wits,
Just like masel bud.
My days of drinking in Madigans and the Flowing Tide in Lower Abbey St are well gone pal.
Magical memories. With fabulous friends from all over Dublin,especially the Liberties.
Please God we will get a beer some day .God bless bud.
TCR
Yes hopefully we will share a beer or 2 soon enough
Goodnight pal