UEFA Nations League 2024/2025

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Tomorrow's Matches

League A , Group 1 (A1)
Croatia v Poland
Portugal v Scotland


League A, Group 4 (A4)
Denmark v Serbia
Switzerland v Spain

League C, Group 1 (C1)
Slovakia v Azerbaijan
Sweden v Estonia

League C, Group 3 (C3)
Luxembourg v Belarus
Bulgaria v Northern Ireland

League D, Group 1 (D1)
Gibraltar v Liechtenstein

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Day Four

League A , Group 1 (A1)
Croatia v Poland
Opus Arena, Osijek
Result: Croatia 1 - 0 Poland
What would, or will, Croatia be without their talisman? Luka Modric shows no sign of being ready to retire, but he must be getting there soon. He's so important to his national team, like a Ronaldo or a De Bruyne or even a Haaland, perhaps. He had his chances in the first half, but it was after the restart that he again came to Croatia's rescue, scoring the only goal from a free, doing what he does, making it look effortless. Poland did have Lewandowski, though, and he came close, rattling the crossbar on the 70th minute, but it wasn't to be his day. That belonged to Croatia's legendary Modric.

League A , Group 1 (A1)
Portugal v Scotland
Estadio de Luz, Lisbon
Result: Portugal 2 - 1 Scotland

With Portugal's main man looking for his 901st goal, and a gritty and tough Scottish side determined not to be just there to make up the numbers, there must have been a lot of heart in this. Still, you'd have to think Scotland were on a hiding to nothing, even with the surprise news that Ronaldo was not starting, though no doubt we'd see him at some point.

I must say, it was heartbreaking to see, among the Portuguese mascots, three little girls, two of whom were in wheelchairs and the third using a stick like my sister used to have to employ to walk. I'm sure this was or will be one of the greatest memories of their young lives, but I don't mind saying my face was wet watching them. No details as to whether they were born that way or it happened in an accident, but either way, tragic and so sad.

As you'd expect, Scotland were totally outclassed and Portugal bossed the possession, giving the Scots not a ... well now, not quite. Although Diogo Jota had a gilt-edged opportunity to open the scoring on 5 minutes, he didn't hit the target, and two minutes later Scotland were in front, that man McTominay again! Surprised and unexpected is an understatement; the stadium didn't exactly go quiet, but you could sense the shock. Jota went close again, as did Leao, only a superb diving save from the Scottish keeper Gunn preventing him from levelling.

On the bench, no doubt Ronaldo was fuming and itching to get on, but though surely he'd see action I guess the manager couldn't invalidate his own decision by bringing him on too soon. Anyway, it wasn't exactly panic stations: plenty of time to show the Scots how it was done. They certainly had the lion's share of attacks, but they weren't making them count.

Scotland weren't hanging around either though and they had a great opportunity on 30 minutes, just barely missing out while a moment later Portugal almost scored down the other end, foiled only by the man between the Scottish posts. They really were lining up, the battle between Leao and Gunn ongoing, with the Scot coming out on top each time, and still the score remained 1-0 to Scotland as we reached the end of the first half.

And there he was, as the second half got underway, no real surprise. Would the presence of their golden boy give Portugal the killer edge they seemed to have been missing? He'd surely have something to prove, and would be anxious not only to score asap but also to show his manager how wrong he had been to leave him out, show how indispensable he is, or believes himself to be.

His innate selfishness and cockiness worked against the team though; he could have crossed for Jota early in the first minutes of the half but decided to take it on himself, firing way wide and high, a wasted shot. It was in fact Fernandes who broke the deadlock, scoring on 53 minutes to level the match. So after all that, it wasn't Ronaldo who was their saviour, though no doubt he'd claim he had something to do with the shot, even though he hadn't.

Scotland came close on 65 minutes, and literally seconds later Jota squandered another chance for Portugal. Things were heating up! 15 minutes to go and still all square. A draw would of course be a great result for Scotland, but you'd imagine if nothing else Portugal's standing and the expectation on their shoulders would not allow them to take such a result and they'd have to go for the win.

Gunn redeemed his error that led to the goal from Fernandes with a lovely save from Joao Felix in the 77th minute, very acrobatic, and you could see the frustration building on Ronaldo's face as the Scottish keeper stubbornly refused to let him in. Well, to be honest, Gunn wasn't to blame; Portugal's star player just wasn't cutting it, mostly through refusing to pass to anyone else. No, I'm not a fan of his, how did you guess?

Double save in the 81st minute, first from Dalot and then Ronaldo, and a moment later Ronaldo must have thought he had scored with a classic header but it hit the post. The main man swore it crossed the line but the tech said no, Felix ready to nod it home but Gunn clawed it away and 1-1 it remained. Six minutes and extra time remaining, Scotland surely worth the draw if they could just hold on.

Another super save from Gunn as Portugal got a corner in the 85th minute, another corner on the far side played short and going nowhere, eventually lobbed over the top of the net. Sadly, Scottish hearts were broken with three minutes to go and yes, it was him. A wonderful cross from Mendes and Ronaldo stuck out a toe and poked it past a despairing Gunn.

A familiar story for the Scots: played well, deserved so much more, beaten in the last few minutes and no points taken from the match. Then again, it would be fair to say Portugal had not played their usual game, and may have been fortunate to have won. For the Scots though, it's a case of another year, another tournament, another disappointment.

League A, Group 1 Table
Portugal of course top the table, as expected, despite a scare against Scotland, with 6 points, while Croatia are second with 3 points, Poland third, also with 3 points and poor Scotland look very forlorn down there in last with still not a point to their name.

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League A, Group 4 (A4)
Denmark v Serbia
Parken Stadium, Copenhagen
Result: Denmark 2 - 0 Serbia
Almost an early start for the Danes as Christen Eriksen headed but wide. They scored on 35 minutes though and added a second in the 60th with an overhead kick.

League A, Group 4 (A4)
Switzerland v Spain
Stade de Geneve, Geneva
Switzerland 1 - 4 Spain
Spain came out of the traps all guns blazing, and were almost ahead within the first two minutes but blazed over the bar. One minute later it looked like the Swiss keeper, having clawed the ball off the line from a flying header had kept his team in it, but the ball was adjudged to have crossed the line, and so Spain were on their way. End to end stuff, as they say, and Switzerland hit back on the seventh minute, but the goal was ruled out for a handball.

It only took another six minutes before Spain doubled their lead, but on the twentieth minute they lost a man as a red card was produced, and Spain were down to ten. Not that it made any difference. The resultant free crashed off the crossbar, the keeper beaten all ends up, but 2-0 it remained, the Swiss not giving up and trying again on 40 minutes, narrowly missing the goal. A minute later and they had scored, halving the deficit.

The second half had hardly begun before Switzerland scored again, levelling the match, or so they thought. The goal was ruled out and Spain took the opportunity to increase their lead, scoring on 76 minutes to crush any chance of the Swiss coming back. One more goal sealed it for the Spanish, and they got it after a breakaway attack in the 80th minute.

League A, Group 4 Table
Who would have expected Spain to top the group? Only everybody, but in fact they're second, with 4 points to Denmark's 6, leaving the Danes to take first place. Third is Serbia with one point and bottom of the group Switzerland, without a single point.

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League C, Group 1 (C1)
Slovakia v Azerbaijan
Kosicka futbalova arena, Kosicke
Result: Slovakia 2 - 0 Azerbaijan
A penalty in the 21st minute had Slovakia on their way, duly converted, and four minutes later they were two ahead, and never really looked like losing that lead, or the game. In fact, as the game wound down they fluffed a chance to net a third, but the game was still theirs.

League C, Group 1 (C1)
Sweden v Estonia
Friends Arena, Solna
Result: Sweden 3 - 0 Estonia
Nothing much for half an hour before Sweden scored on the rebound after their first effort had come back off the post, and ten minutes later they fired in their second, Alexander Isak again. The half was completed with a third goal. As if that wasn't bad enough for Estonia, they had a man sent off, so had no chance of getting anything out of the game. Nor did they.

League C, Group 1 Table
To nobody's surprise, Sweden top the table with 6 points, also with 6 are Slovakia, at second, while Azerbaijan are third with no points and also without a point is Estonia, in fourth and last place.

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League C, Group 3 (C3)
Luxembourg (84) v Belarus (99)
Stade de Luxembourg
Result: Luxembourg 0 - 1 Belarus
Nothing much seems to have happened here, Belarus leaving it till the last quarter hour to score the only goal, taking them top of the table.


League C, Group 3 (C3)
Bulgaria (82) v Northern Ireland (74)
Hristo Botev Stadium, Plovdiv
Result: Bulgaria 1 - 0 Northern Ireland

Top of the table after what could hardly be termed tough opposition, Northern Ireland faced the equally unimpressive Bulgaria, who were unable to score against Belarus last time out. You'd probably fancy the Nordys for this one, and they did have most of the play in the opening 25 minutes, not that there was all that much of it. A handful of half-chances, nothing to talk about. Nearly a goal on 21 minutes when Northern Ireland gave it away with a sloppy pass, but Bulgaria could not convert, shooting wide. Still, a scare for a maybe complacent Northern Ireland side. Time to wake up, lads.

Though there were quite a few of them, set pieces seem to be neither team's forte, as free kicks went wide, over, or were intercepted by opposition players. Bulgaria came closest with a really atypically brilliant free kick that just clipped the top of the post, definitely the best shot so far, with the clock ticking towards the 30th minute. Never mind the teams needing to wake up, I felt my own eyes slipping closed.

Northern Ireland had their moment in the first half in the 38th minute when they were straight through, but again finishing in the final third proved their undoing and the ball went wide. Two minutes later they were behind, a howler by the keeper who passed inadvertently to a Bulgarian, his own defender missing the pass and Bulgaria taking full advantage of the mistake, Northern Ireland surely now rueing that missed chance. Guess that sparked them into life, as they started to play, narrowly missing equalising a minute or two later, and putting the Bulgarian team under pressure. 1-0 it ended at the break, though you might say Northern Ireland were in the ascendancy (sorry) as they headed down the tunnel.

Whether or not they would do anything with that momentum in the second half was anyone's guess. Well they got a corner in the first minute, but it didn't go anywhere. A few good crosses but nobody on the end of any of them, showing again how poor Northern Ireland are at finishing. Bulgaria, for their part, seemed to be of the "what we have we hold" frame of mind, desperate to hang on to their one-nil lead and just keep the Northern Irish out.

The danger with that sort of strategy of course is that you invite the other team onto you, and a lucky shot or bad tackle down your end and you could be looking at a leveller. Mind you, Northern Ireland didn't look likely to be doing that, no real threat and Bulgaria happy to let them make a mess of things when they had the ball. Having the possession is one thing, doing something with it is quite another.

Then again, at least having it is something, but Northern Ireland seemed determined to keep giving possession away, which was certainly not going to help their cause. Even when they were straight through, only the keeper to beat, they shot right at the goalie and we moved into 70 minutes with no change in the score. Six minutes of extra time just dragged out the boredom really. Very poor match.

League C, Group 3 Table
As I just said, Belarus top the table with 4 points, Bulgaria are second also with 4 points, Northern Ireland third with 3 points and Luxembourg make up the numbers at last place with zero points.

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League D, Group 1 (D1)
Gibraltar v Liechtenstein
Europe Sports Park, Europa Point
Result: Gibraltar 2 - 2 Liechtenstein
Nobody really would have expected such a score in the league of un-death, the lowest ranked teams who can't even muster four of them for the table, but it looks to have been something of a surprise thriller. Gibraltar scored on 7 minutes with a direct shot from a corner, nobody touched it and it sailed in to give them the lead. If that spooked Liechtenstein they didn't let their heads drop, and came back after the break with a fine goal of their own to level the score.

Gibraltar then got a penalty and must have thought that was it, but it didn't go in (I imagine they're not exactly familiar with taking spot kicks) however they were ahead in the 96th minute and must have surely thought they had taken the game, with only three more minutes to play. However somehow 9  extra time minutes went on to 13, and the visitors got a penalty for a handball in the 13th minute! Unlike those from the Rock, they converted it and it was all square, surely the most exciting game ever played between these two, and their best individual performances. Bravo, ye minnows!

League D, Group 1 Table
Now that all three teams have played, San Marino's famous victory keeps them top with 3 points, while Gibraltar and Liechtenstein's individual heroics, which really should have led to better things, cancel each other out and leave Gibraltar on second with 1 point while Liechtenstein are last, also with one point.

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Tomorrow's Matches

League A , Group 2 (A2)
France v Belgium
Israel v Italy


League B, Group 3 (B3)
Norway v Austria
Slovenia v Kazakhstan

League B, Group 4 (B4)
Montenegro v Wales
Turkey v Iceland

League C, Group 2 (C2)
Cyprus v Kosovo
Romania v Lithuania

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Day Five

League A , Group 2 (A2)
France v Belgium
Parc Olympique Lyonnaise, Decines-Charpieu
Result: France 2 - 0 Belgium

Time for a stunned France to come back roaring like the twice world champions they are, though Belgium had a lot to prove too. With two footballing powerhouses though,  how could this not be a thriller? And it was, action right from the off as Belgium were unlucky not to get a free in the first few minutes when their man was pulled down, then did get the free a minute later, but missed. Argy-bargy in the goalmouth as two men got yellow, one from each side, and the Belgians were definitely having the better of it, keeping France penned in to their half, though the French did manage a couple of breakaways and even came close to scoring, but twenty minutes in, despite all the goalmouth action, the game remained scoreless.

Two minutes later and it was all France, as they twice blasted straight at the keeper, starting to show their teeth. Not so much a game of two halves as a game of two halves of a half, if you understand me. France definitely looked the more likely, and as we hit thirty minutes they scored, something that would have been considered earlier as being against the run of play, but with the way they had come into the ascendancy in the last ten or fifteen minutes you couldn't see any other result than France scoring.

Belgium tried to hit back right away, but the pass had too much pace on it and ended up in the keeper's arms. 38th minute and France could have been two up, but again the ball was caught by the Belgian keeper. Belgian attacks breaking down now as we moved into the final minutes of the first half, France dictating the play after a slow start.

1-0 at the break then, and the French picked up where they had left off, putting pressure on a Belgium side increasingly looking less comfortable than they had been, especially as France scored a second in the 56th minute, which you might think would be the end of any chance Belgium had to get anything out of the match. Couldn't see the French putting a foot wrong now. Belgium came close to scoring from a corner a few minutes later, in fairness, but 2-0 it remained as things got even worse for the Belgians with the introduction of Mbappe to the field. Two good efforts in the 70th minute could have changed the whole complexion of the game, but Belgium shot wide and into the keeper's arms.

Mbappe almost made it three mere minutes later, but his shot was saved; a free then went wide and in a reversal of the opening half of the first half, the Belgians couldn't get out and all the action was taking place down near their goal. Another chance for Mbappe on 77 but the angle was too acute, even for him. Belgium then had a go but no dice as 80 minutes clicked up on the clock. Even with extra time it would be asking a lot for Belgium to get back into it now. A third attempt by Mbappe with four minutes to go, still no goal, but his attacks were ensuring that France maintained the momentum.

Belgium kept trying, to I guess their credit, but you'd have to wonder how, with all the possession they had in the early stages of the game, with all the pressure they were putting on France, they had ended up in this position, chasing a 2-0 lead with only extra time - four minutes - left to go. Was it that Belgium were a poorer team than they had been, or that France had just taken time to get going? Probably a bit of both, but what can be said is that Kevin DeBruyne looked absolutely lost out there, the only Belgian player keeping their attack alive, but unable to do so alone. Where are Lukaku and Hazard when you need them? Belgium a spent force? If so, France had shown that they were anything but, and they march on.

League A , Group 2 (A2)
Israel v Italy
Bozsik Arena, Budapest
Result: Israel 1 - 2 Italy
The first half was almost winding to a close before Italy scored their first, just on 37 minutes, and nearly another half hour, deep in the second half when they took a 2-0 lead, scoring on the rebound. Israel managed a last-gasp goal to retain some pride but the day was Italy's. No doubt Netanyahu will complain that the Italian team were anti semitic for not allowing Israel to win.

League A, Group 2 Table
Italy remain top with 6 points while France are now second with 3 points, Belgium are third also with 3 points and Israel are bottom without a point.

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League B, Group 3 (B3)
Norway v Austria
Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo
Result: Norway 2 - 1 Austria
Norway had pride to regain against Austria, so were no doubt happy to score early, in the ninth minute, although it wasn't their talismanic striker who got the goal. Austria replied, but shot wide in the 28th minute, but 8 minutes later they were level. Haaland can't be held down for long though, and he scored on 80 to take the match for his team.

League B, Group 3 (B3)
Slovenia v Kazakhstan
Stozice Stadium, Ljubljana
Result: Slovenia 3 -  0 Kazakhstan
Slovenia took what must have been an expected lead in their game against Kazakhstan in the 25th minute, adding another 5 minutes later, and a third in the 62nd, all scored by the same player.

League B, Group 3 Table
Slovenia take first place with 4 points, Norway below them on second with the same points tally while Austria are in third with just the one point, same as Kazakhstan, who end up last.

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League B, Group 4 (B4)
Montenegro v Wales
Gradski Stadion, Niksik
Result: Montenegro 1 - 2 Wales
Thirty-eight seconds. Thirty-eight seconds. One more time: thirty-eight seconds. That's how long it took Wales to open the scoring, and they were at it again in the second minute, 2-0 up already. Montenegro were nearly back in it on the seventh minute when they broke away but they shot wide, then an amazing almost-goal in the 14th when they shot from the halfway line, catching the keeper off his line, but just clipping the top of the net. Had it gone in, it would have surely been the goal of the tournament. Montenegro certainly weren't lying down and they had another shot, this time cleared off the line as we hit the 30th minute. After a dream start, Wales doing well to hold on to their two-goal lead as we went into the break.

Played in pouring rain (more like Ireland) the game found the Montenegrans still trying in the 68th minute, again just the width of the post saving Wales from conceding. Next shot went wide from them, but you could see they were getting closer, and on 72 their efforts bore fruit, Wales just the one goal ahead now. It was enough though for the Welsh to take the game.

League B, Group 4 (B4)
Turkey v Iceland
Gursel Aksel Stadium, Izmir
Result: Turkey 3 - 1 Iceland
Another quick start in this match - not quite Wales speed, see above, but within the second minute Turkey were ahead. Iceland came back in the 37th minute, and despite some acrobatics by Turkey it took them till the second half to pull ahead again, in the 51st minute, and put the seal on their victory with a hat-trick on 87.

League B, Group 4 Table
Turkey's impressive win lifts them into first place with 4 points, above Wales, also on 4 points. Iceland are third with 3 points and Montenegro, despite their valiant efforts, prop up the table with nil points.

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League C, Group 2 (C2)
Cyprus v Kosovo
AEK Arena - Georgios Karapatakis, Larnaca
Result: Cyprus 0 - 4 Kosovo
Cyprus were fancied for this one, but did it ever turn out differently to how they imagined! A penalty conceded in the 7th minute allowed Kosovo to pull ahead early, and they never let their lead slip, adding a second on 21 minutes, with a third coming just as the second half got going. 54 minutes and they were four goals up, with no reply at all from Cyprus. Maybe complacency undone the Cypriots?

League C, Group 2 (C2)
Romania v Lithuania
Stadionul Steaua, Bucharest
Result: Romania 3 - 1 Lithuania
Another early goal in this game, only 4 minutes on the clock and Romania were ahead. Lithuania levelled on 32 though, then a penalty for Romania at the death let them take the lead, and one more in extra time sealed a good victory for them.

League C, Group 2 Table
Romania top the group with 6 points, Kosovo a perhaps surprising second with 3 points. Cyprus, equally surprising, third with also 3 points and Lithuania, pointless at the foot of the table.

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Tomorrow's Matches

Tomorrow we play the last matches in this round, with both Ireland and England in action (definitely being generous using that word in our case!). After this it's a month's break till any of the teams meet again.

League A, Group 3 (A3)
Hungary v Bosnia & Herzegovina
Netherlands v Germany


League B, Group 1 (B1)
Albania v Georgia
Czech Republic v Ukraine

League B, Group 2 (B2)
England v Finland
Republic of Ireland v Greece

League C, Group 4 (C4)
Latvia v Faroe Islands
North Macedonia v Armenia

League D, Group 2 (D2)
Andorra v Malta

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Day Six

League A, Group 3 (A3)
Hungary v Bosnia & Herzegovina
Puskas Arena, Budapest
Result: Hungary 0 - 0 Bosnia
Definitely seen as the weaker teams in the group, there really wasn't much to separate the two sides, though Hungary had most of the possession and the attacks, none of which came to anything, neither side able to score.

League A, Group 3 (A3)
Netherlands v Germany
Johann Cruijff Arena, Amsterdam
Result: Netherlands 2 - 2 Germany
Who can stand in Germany's way? Well, Netherlands were certainly going to have a shot, and they did, literally: a shot on 2 minutes sending them into the lead. 10 minutes later they had a free but this one went wide, then surviving a German corner on 20 they broke away and almost scored themselves. Germany levelled on 37, some poor Dutch defence and the Germans scored on the rebound. In literally the last seconds of extra time in the first half they were ahead, turning the match completely around. Never count the Germans out, as someone once said.

High-energy football all the way as the second half opened with another goal for Netherlands to draw them level. Germany nearly pulled ahead almost immediately but over the bar it went, Germany applying all the pressure now but unable to make the breakthrough, and honours were shared at the end.

League A, Group 3 Table
Germany remain top with 4 points, Netherlands second also with 4 points, while Bosnia are third with just the one point and Hungary in a similar situation, make up last place.

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League B, Group 1 (B1)
Albania v Georgia
Arena Kombetare, Tirana
Result: Albania 0 - 1 Georgia
Albania had a long shot on 11 minutes but it didn't trouble the Georgian keeper, and shots more or less were aimed hopefully until a fine shot from Georgia on 70 showed why they were a team to watch in the Euros a few months ago.

League B, Group 1 (B1)
Czech Republic v Ukraine
Fortuna Arena, Prague
Result: Czech Republic 3 - 2 Ukraine
More exciting was this game, where on 20 minutes the Czechs opened the scoring, Ukraine taking another 15 minutes to reply with a fine header into the back of the net to square the match. As the first half wound down the Czech Republic reestablished their lead, and extended this when they got a penalty in the 77th for a handball. Could have been a nervy ending when Ukraine scored in the dying moments of the game, but Czech Republic held on for the win.

League B, Group 1 Table
Georgia top the group with a perhaps unexpected 6 points, Albania with 3 take second. The Czech Republic are third also with 3 points and Ukraine, pointless, languish at the foot of the table.

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League B, Group 2 (B2)
England v Finland
Wembley Arena, London
Result: England 2 - 0 Finland
Riding high after their demolition of us at the weekend, on home ground and with Harry Kane awarded the Gold Cap for 100 appearances for his country, not to mention an emotional tribute to the late Sven Goran Eriksson, England must have been full of confidence for this match. Finland are not exactly world-class competition, though in their current form you'd imagine Lee Carsley's boys could take on Brazil almost.

It was, of course, written in the stars for Kane to be the star of the show, and so it proved, as he got both goals though his cross to Saka could have set England off in the first three minutes. 20 minutes later and he was at it again, missed this time but it was only a matter of waiting for the right ball. Finland were limited to a few chances, didn't come to anything, Saka again coming close on 21 minutes, the Finnish goal under siege. How long could it hold?

As the first half drew to a close Alexander-Arnold shot wide, and another shot from Kane, this time from a free, just as the second half got underway. But he would not be denied and in the 56th minute he netted his first of the night, putting England - it must be said deservedly - ahead. Alexander-Arnold to Kane in the 75th minute and England were two ahead and not likely to be caught. Definitely Harry Kane's night, which only seems right.

League B, Group 2 (B2)
Republic of Ireland v Greece
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Result: Republic of Ireland 0 - 2 Greece
Sometimes it's like some sort of divine punishment from above, having to watch Ireland play. Look, we've had our moments, but those moments are long in the past, our glory days - such as they are - well over now and the era of Charlton, McCarthy and O'Neill distant memories. What we have now just about barely qualifies as a football team, and I must admit, I was tempted to switch over to the other side and watch the English game, which surely would be better than this. Couldn't possibly be worse. But hey ho: you support your national team, even if they hardly deserve the description. After the English pissed all over us at the weekend, surely this couldn't be as bad, could it? Worse? Is that possible? Well, for 20 minutes we had the usual Irish performance - long hopeful balls hoofed upfield, shots back to the keeper, poor tackles, bad possession, our first real effort coming from a corner but as usual fluffed. To be fair, Greece weren't any great shakes either, but then, they weren't expected to be. Hell, neither were we, let's be honest. Expectations low, certainly being fulfilled.

Greece had the best effort on 25 minutes, the shot pushed behind for a corner, which went nowhere, but at least it was a little bit of excitement in a game which, so far, was very short on thrills or even spills. Maybe chills, but we're used to that. We had a decent shot on 41 minutes but it was ruled offside, another shot blazed over the bar, so scoreless into the break we went. At least we were beginning to actually play, which is something.

A bad start to the second half as an elbow was used and a Greek player went down, but there didn't seem to be any intent behind it and no card resulted, the Greek soon back on his feet. Feckin' Greeks! They scored first, 50th minute, terrible, absent Irish defence. Now we were up against it. A half chance five minutes later but not enough contact made with the ball, and a corner in the 65th was equally squandered. A minute later we were lucky not to be two down, as Greece also hit it high over the top, but again, where was our defence? If anyone spots them, please do not approach as they are believed to be unarmed and useless.

Greece continued to pile on the pressure, and a free in the 68th minute almost gave them their second, but again too high and we breathed a sigh of relief. Sort of. Still a goal behind and not too much hope we were going to level, never mind turn the game our way. Another Irish free, another wasted opportunity, the clock ticking down as we entered the final 15 minutes of the game. I'd actually be surprised if we didn't concede again before the final whistle. Certainly didn't see us scoring. Oh well, a decent shot on 85 that could have gone in, but didn't, but then as usual the resultant corner was wasted. The sands of time, guys, the sands of time...

... ran out in 87 as Greece broke away and scored their second, and we were toast. What a terrible start to the competition for us: two defeats - and two bad ones - and not a single point as we end the first stages of the tournament. No more than we deserve, of course, but I really had hoped that we could have mustered some pride, some sense of wanting to fight back and vindicate themselves after the thrashing England gave us, but, well, nah. We're just - what's that old footballing term? Oh yeah. Shit. We're just shit.


League B, Group 2 Table
Greece remain on top, thanks to thrashing us (should be getting used to this by now) while England are second, both with 6 points. The zero-point club is made up of us and Finland, our only saving grace - if you can call it that - being that we're not last.