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Two 2-2 Ties Help Decide Group of Death

Portugal vs. France

Ronaldo and Benzema braces result in a 2-2 tie between Portugal and France at the Ferenc Puskás Stadium in Budapest, Hungary. Three penalties were awarded and converted during this game. Ronaldo would convert both of Portugal’s at the 30th and 60th minutes respectfully. Benzema would convert his penalty in the 45+2 in added time, and his second (two minutes into the second half) was the result of a perfect through pass, where he would pass the ball to the left of Portuguese keeper Rui Patrício, off of the left post, and in to the goal.

Both teams would play for the win as the result of the Germany vs. Hungary game (being played simultaneously) could affect their qualification status. Once that game ended, they both played for a tie, knowing it would assure both of them qualification into the Round of 16.

Germany vs. Hungary

Hungary would always be in front, as Germany came back twice to draw 2-2 at the Allianz Arena in Munich. Hungarian striker Ádám Szalai opened the scoring at the 11th minute with a beautiful diving header that would end up in the bottom right corner of the goal.

It was not until the 66th minute that Germany would tie things up when keeper Péter Gulácsi would miss time his jump, allowing German striker Kai Havertz headed the ball into an open goal from two feet away.

Hungary would pull ahead for the second time just two minutes later when Szalai played a nice pass over an incoming defender and into the path of teammate András Schäfer who would, from behind the penalty spot, head the ball past Manuel Neuer, who miss timed his run.

Germany tied things up again in the 84th minute when Leon Goretzka took a shot from just outside the box, that was helped in off of two slight deflections.

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Poland vs. Sweden

Lewandowski brace is not enough as Sweden beat Poland 3-2 in their last Group E match in St. Petersburg. Swedish striker Emil Forsberg opened the scoring after just two minutes as he blasted the ball from inside the box, into the bottom right corner, after multiple bobbles left him with an open shot. He later completed his brace in the 59th minute, when teammate Dejan Kulusevski set him up right at the top of the box for a Toni Kroos-like shot into the bottom right corner to give Sweden the 2-0 lead.

Robert Lewandowski tied things up with his brace. The first goal coming in the 61st minute with a beautiful curling shot into the top right corner, followed by his second in the 84th when a misread pass left him passing the ball into the goal, from right outside the six-yard box.

Viktor Claesson ended Poland’s dreams of advancing when he would score off of a breakaway in the 93rd minute of added time, making the final score 3-2.

Spain vs. Slovakia

Spain would secure their spot in the Round of 16 with an emphatic 5-0 win against Slovakia at the Estadio de La Cartuja in Sevilla. After a penalty save for Martin Dúbravka, the Slovaks would quickly start to fall apart from there. The first mistake came at the 30th minute, when Dúbravka accidentally hit the ball into his own goal, giving Spain a 1-0 lead.

Spain would then do some scoring of their own, as Aymeric Laporte, Pablo Sarabia, and Ferran Torres would find the back of the net in the 45+3’, 56’, and 67’ minutes, respectively. Slovakia would sadly help Spain close out the game with another own goal coming from the Slovak midfielder Juraj Kucka at the 71st minute.

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 Final Standings for Groups E and F:

Group EPtsGroup FPts
Sweden*7France*5
Spain*5Germany*4
Slovakia3Portugal*4
Poland1Hungary2

* qualified for knockout stage

Round of 16 Matchups:

  1. Wales vs. Denmark
  2. Italy vs. Austria
  3. Netherlands vs. Czech Republic
  4. Belgium vs. Portugal
  5. Croatia vs. Spain
  6. France vs. Switzerland
  7. England vs. Germany
  8. Sweden vs. Ukraine

Photo: Toni Kroos, from Shutterstock, taken by katatonia82

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