euros and friendlies all tied up with strings
Chatter from the sidelines
- Juventus turn down FA plan to remember Heysel disaster I understand, but that's too bad. Especially considering a lot of Juventus fans were pretty embittered with the aftermath.
- Serie A - Italy coach Antonio Conte welcomed in Turin after death threat claims good!
- Arsenal star Lukas Podolski hits out at Italian media: ‘Should I just give up playing football’ hmmm
- THE LVG VS MENDES BLOW-UP: 5 TOP TARGETS MAN UTD CAN KISS GOODBYE all this because Falcao hasn't impressed and LvG (understandably) doesn't want to spend the money with him
- Arda Turan: 'We must finish in Champions League places' top 3/4?
- GUARDIOLA-INSPIRED TUCHEL ITCHING TO RETURN AFTER GAP YEAR gahhh, I'd fire Rodgers and get him if I could
Pictures
NB: due to the high volume of matches played yesterday, there will only be key pictures of some matches and no extended commentary. Priority will be given to the Euros, and if there's time in the week, will add pictures of international matches played. Scores of all the teams are here
Georgia 0 - 2 Germany
Reus scored the first
Müller the second. Boateng got praise re: his defending and attacking abilities. Bayern Munich supporters showed deep throated support re: his performance (best defender in the world). Moving on.
Scotland 6-0 Gibraltar
Fletcher got a hattrick, Gibraltar a mauling
Gibraltar tried, but after the third goal, well... no coming back, was there?
Northern Ireland 2- 1 Finland
No luck of the Irish, here! Just an assured performance that has another home nation in the mix
Laffterty did it for country and glory
Portugal 2- 1 Serbia
Portugal has one of the oldest teams in the competition. Old, but not cold, as they went one up in the first quarter of the match
Again, shout out to Ronaldo. The Portuguese team has been middling for a long while, but Ronaldo shows up for his country in friendlies, and tournaments. It's difficult when the team isn't as good as you are, but Ronaldo doesn't explain, doesn't complain, so no snark here
Thankfully, the Portuguese are keeping their gorgeous kit
Republic of Ireland 1- 1 Poland
Used to be classified as a home country, but they went and got independent, and are pretty irritable when called as such (but are referred to as such in some sports). Anyway, left it till late, the ROI, but got there
Three of the ROI players play for Stoke.
France 2- 0 Denmark (Friendly)
The match wasn't that enjoyable, but I like the French kit
Seriously. Love the nod to Breton design with the white and navy and the touch of red. It's genius
International
Brazil 1 - 0 Chile
Report card- Chile has majorly improved, Brasil must do more
Liverpool Charity Match
I've tried to keep the LFC content to a minimum, storing it up for the charidee match. Today is the day when I spent all that goodwill, chillun
Luis Garcia is waving to you whilst I explain the reason for this. Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher already had their testimonials with LFC (you get one after 10 years with the club). But with Gerrard leaving, they wanted to have a match where people who left the club could come and have their last goodbyes
Everyone came - some bearing presents
Torres said yes, unsure of the reception he'd get back. See, he left LFC for Chelsea, saying that Chelsea was a step up and the rest of it. Considering the fact that he left during the time Chelsea and LFC had their rivalry (under Benitez and Mourinho, old gossip you don't want to know), it went down as well as you can expect. Drogba said yes, because he promised Carra if he needed anything for charity he'd be there. Terry said yes because of Carra's and Gerrard's association with him with the NT
Most of the LFC legends came back (no Daniel Agger). The ones who brought the club glory and European nights. Magical while they lasted and still fondly remembered
Theirry Henry has made no secret re: his admiration of the club's supporters, so when Carra asked, he said YES!
Match pictures
Fernando Torres came back. He didn't know what the reception would be, he was edgy and trembling and nervous, and when the terraces sang his song (Torres Bounce) he cried
Bayern Munich gave Xabi Alonso permission to come back. Considering they're in the middle of a title coronation race, and Champions League hunt, it was nice. Alonso played for half hour (as per agreement) and left. It's well known that he never had the chance to say goodbye. His transfer drama was long and drawn out and then it was over. Real Madrid ponied up the money and he always said that he never got the chance to say goodbye. He got his chance, the Kop sang his song
Alonso came off to Moreno's coming on. Cute moment. Of course, there's more behind this. On the night when Moreno heard that he was leaving Sevilla for LFC, he was distraught. He didn't want to leave his home, his cantera, his team. Alonso pulled him aside on the night and told him that if he allowed himself, he could love the club and new supporters, and he shouldn't close himself off from a new adventure. So.
The atmosphere was electric and glowing and warm. Or that might have been the laptop on my lap
For the Gerrard/Torres shippers. The story behind this moment- Torres didn't know what his reception would be (I know, I've told you that three times already, suck it up! :D) and he needed to be steadied. But hell, if Gerrard was going to embrace Torres openly, the Kop wasn't going to boo, were they? But still everyone moved on, time heals old wounds and all that.
Torres and Suarez and Riise and Gerrard
1 Direction have NOTHING on LFC fans. The twitter and tumblr and all sorts of forums were blazing with emotion last night. The could have beens, the should have beens. But above all it was gratitude. For the lads to come back, and have a kick about and say their goodbyes
Balotelli and Drogba had some chemistry, fam! The link ups, how they read each other. Awesome to see!
Thierry Henry still had it. The Kop loved him
Pepe Reina also had his chance to say hi and bye. He's at Bayern, but he's missed by Napoli
It wouldn't be an LFC match if Gerrard didn't take a penalty! He took two!
Group pic! Gerrard's team had all the stars, Carra's team was more balanced and organised
Alberto Moreno got invited to be a part of the match. His demeanour as sunny as the time of day
I will always have time for king Drogba. Thank you for showing up!
Alonso signing stuff
Shout out to Ashley Williams! The night before this match, he captained his country (Wales) to a win over Israel. Got the first plane back to England (six hours) to honour his commitment. I know that he isn't necessarily well known around these parts (Swansea City captain, Welsh captain and international), but he was linked to a move with LFC and Arsenal (but stayed when Garry Monk was elected caretaker, and then just committed himself to club and city). Much respect to him!
Torres! Sanchez! What could have been!
Balotelli got a pic with Drogba and Henry
Luis Garcia. Legend, journeyman, road warrior
It's been a strange old journey for Torres over the years. Left his boyhood club before he was ready, left LFC before we were ready, and has had a strangely unsettled existence until 2015. In January he was welcomed back to his old club, in March, he's been forgiven by the club that kick started his career. He's found peace, and like Pepe Reina says, he's been fortunate enough to have people who told him that they loved him. At Atletico Madrid and now at LFC!
Ah, bless
OP: done! Any cheers and jeers, well... you know the drill. I need a week to just decompress. The feedback from all the emotions yesterday still left me drained. LOL