itsbeautifuloutside

Semi-Final One

July 6th - Lyon, 8pm

Portugal 2

• Ronaldo 50'
• Nani 53'

Wales 0

Referee : Jonas Eriksson

Attendance : 55,679

Match Report

IBO Reporter : ormerdog

Here we go. Sorry if it's a bit self indulgent and nonsensical but i'm half cut and tired.

Wales (more specifically Barry a large town 8 miles west of Cardiff) has been a strange place to be for the last week. For a nation who's default setting in terms of sport normally operates on a spectrum of glorious to ignominious failure, its been pretty odd having people come up to you in work and go "You going back out for the final then?" "We'll beat Portugal though won't we? they've been rubbish" and "we play like we did on Friday and we'll murder them". The collective swell of pride in the nation after the stunning victory over Belgium has clearly made people forget themselves and where they are from. This is the Welsh football team for christs sake, what is going on. I have to admit I've been completely swept along by it. All those people can't be wrong can they.

The first half was cagier than a high security prison. Wales didn't look like the fearless team Chris Coleman had been waxing lyrical about all week. Passes were going astray for the first 15 minutes. Portugal looked more composed, they'd been here before after all. Ronaldo had a decent penalty shout after James Collins decided the best way to stop him was to get him in a headlock Ric Flair would have been proud of. No dice greaseball. Sorry. Wales grew into the game. Bale, who was very deep, picked up the ball on the half way line, breezed past a few challenges and struck a shot straight at the keeper. Then he raced down the right and crossed for King who was well shackled by some horrible looking bastard called Fonte. Robson Kanu then crossed for King who's header looked goalbound but this FOnte geezer was tight to him and deflected it wide. Me and him were going to fall out. The camera cut to some Portugal fans. "I bet the stench of BO is overpowering in that section of the ground" said my mate who thinks Portugese people are all smelly. That was the highlight of the half really.

The game never really came to life but the pundits were bullish at half time. "Wales are the better team" said the sockless Lee Dixon. "We need to be a bit braver but it's there for us" said the sockless Craig Bellamy. "ummm" said Ryan Giggs and "its a feckin bag of absolute dog shoite" said the crazy bloke with the salt and pepper beard. So there we are, footballing superpower Wales would surely take the game by the scruff of the neck in the second half and blow away this team of talented footballers playing for top european clubs.

Well, not quite. A corner for Portugal is taken short. In comes the cross and up rises the preening one and plants a header past Hennessy. Shit. 1-0 portugal. It's OK though, we came back against Belgium. THen two minutes later, "Cristiano" as everyone seems to cal him now shanks a shot from the edge of the box which falls to Nani who prods home from 8 yards. Fark. 2-0.

Wales looked shellshocked. Bale drops deeper and deeper to get the ball and is now understandably trying to win the game on his own. He hits one from 30 yards which goalie man does well to tip wide. Coleman looks at the bench and decides to throw on Reading reject Simon Church (2 goals in 19 games for MK Dons last season) for Reading reject Hal Robson Kanu. I have a moment of clarity. This is a microcosm as Wales as a football nation. I decided to cut them some slack.

The next 30 minutes are painful. Bale desperately trying to create something but he's missing his mate Ramsey. He can't do it all on his own. Jonny Williams comes on (0 goals last season) and Sam Vokes too. Wales are trying but it's all looking a bit desperate. Coleman talked a lot about "game management" and "being streetwise" before the game, well Portugal are giving a lesson in this. The second goal finished Wales.

The game fizzles out like a vegetarian sausage on a barbecue. Wales are out. The dream is over.

I leave the pub straight away and get the train and am surprised how gutted I am. I've never considered myself that Welsh but I'm annoyed. I look at the names flashing across the train station screens "Merthyr Tydfil...Aberdare...Barry Island" and picture all the people slumped in front of the telly "Oh well Dai, we give it our best didn't we". The train is full of happy, smiling people. DId they not watch it? But then then I realise, we are in our comfort zone, hello failure my old friend. Everyone is so magnanimous ("I tell ew what, that feckin Renato Sanches is gonna be sum player like") and then I get annoyed for being annoyed. Its only a game innit.

Fair play to you Wales. I didn't know I liked you this much. You have provided some golden moments, you've made my wife interested in football, you've played above and beyond your capabilities and have given hope to all the little guys out there.

See you in 58 years.

Semi-Final Two

July 7th - Marseille, 8pm

Germany 0

France 2

• Griezmann 45'+2 (penalty), 72'

Match Report

IBO Reporter : OneBeat

I'm feeling queazy. It's nothing to do with excitement for this second semi final between two of the pre tournament favourites, I think it's because i went to my favourite chippy yesterday, the one that we use before night games at St. Mary's, and the chips were horrible. I've felt odd ever since. So it's probably good that I'm home alone and there's footer on the TV. So, instead of tea, i have some sugar free lemonade.

Normally I'd be off doing something right up until kick off, but I don't have the energy, so I'm having to suffer the anthems. The commentator introduced La Marseillaise as The German anthem started playing in the stadium. I find it a bit uncomfortable seeing close ups of players self consciously singing their country's anthem. And then they do that stupid countdown from ten.

Just get on with the bloody football!

The start was all a bit rushed, both sides attacked, but neither seemed to be able to get their foot on the ball.

Has there been a change in the laws of the game when it comes to throw-ins? Are players now allowed to lift one leg off the floor? Because ether all do it, and no one seems to care.

It took 4 minutes, but France seemed to settle and have some longer periods of possession, exchanging some neat short passes, trying to work an opening. It came a couple of minutes later, Griezmann took the ball ran at the German defence, playing a couple of nice one-twos and then bursting into the area and firing at goal, it took a full stretch save from Neuer to keep it out.

At last Germany got some of the ball, played it around a bit then then Muller was in the box, but he scuffed his shot wide. Martin Keown in commentary said that Emre Can hadn't touched the ball, and straight away he fed Muller for his shot, and soon after had a much better shot of his own that Lloris did well to save, diving down to his right.

It's not happening for Muller, he had another long range shot, but Lloris just knelt down handpicked it up. Suddenly it was all Germany, and on 20 minutes they had a shout for a penalty, the referee gave nothing and it looked as though any foul there was by Pogba on Kroos was just outside the area.

Then France broke away and Payet was fouled by Schweinsteiger 25 years or so out. Payet's long range free kick was well saved by Neuer though. Germany got the ball back and kept it, forcing a good save from Lloris and winning a couple of quick fire corners. When France did nick the ball back and tried to launch an attack they wasted it, giving possession back to Germany.

France won another free kick for a foul on Griezmann by Can, it was in almost exactly the same place as Payet's earlier kick. Pogba took this one, but the result was the same, a comfortable save from Neuer.

All the best stuff from France was coming from Griezmann and Payet, but it was Germany who looked the most dangerous. Then France broke, they had two on one and Giroud could have squared it to Griezmann, but decided to shoot, and it was blocked by Benedikt Howedes.

Out of nowhere, in the 46th minute, France were awarded a penalty for handball. The commentators thought it was harsh, but Schweinsteiger challenged for a header with his arm up and kind of punched the ball. France didn't care if it was deliberate or not as Griezmann swept it home.

And that was the first half.

France started the second half on the front foot, Giroud and Griezmann both involved in attempts on the German goal. Then, Like the first half Germany started to get into the game again, keeping the ball in the French half.

Things got worse for Germany when Boateng had to go off injured with half an hour still left to play. They made another sub 6 minutes later with Can being replaced by Gotze.

The second half wasn't as exciting or engaging as the first, although Germany had a couple of corners and a free kick, all of which came to nothing. France bought Kante on for Payet. And almost straight away Griezmann scored agin. Great work from Pogba, he toyed with the defender, floated over a cross towards Giroud, Neuer got a hand to it, but it fell straight to Griezmann who prodded it home.

The second half sprang to life; Griezmann could have scored his third, but Germany cleared and went on the attack and full back Kimmich hit the bar with a curling shot. They then went very close with a free kick from Draxler.

Schweinsteiger was replaced by Leroy Sane who almost scored with his first touch, but the ball was deflected just wide for a corner.

Griezmann broke, Gignac was up with him, but he was never going to square it as he looked for his hat-trick. Shame the shot was a poor one. Gignac did have a shot a few seconds later, but once more it wasn't enough to trouble Neuer. Griezmann attacked again, but didn't get to pass or shoot this time, he was well tackled as he briefly dithered.

France were cruising now and Germany looked beaten before the final whistle, although there was still time for them to force Llorise to make a superb save from a close range Kimmich header. Germany lifted themselves for a late attack, but France stood firm. And that was it. France were in the final.

I'll say one thing for the game, it made me forget about my stomach pain for 90 minutes, and I celebrated that with some peanuts, which may not have been the wisest move.

WIll Fonte and Cédric want to upset their new boss by beating his national ream on Sunday?