June 18, 2012

Germany, Portugal Advance in Group B: A Lars Bender goal in the 80th minute sent Germany past Denmark 2-1 and into the Euro 2012 quarterfinals Sunday in the final day of Group B play. Portugal claimed the second spot out of group with a 2-1 victory over the Netherlands. Cristiano Ronaldo scored both goals. The Dutch, runner up in the 2010 World Cup, go home without earning a single point.

posted by rcade to soccer at 11:00 AM - 8 comments

Can someone explain the significance of sucking the thumb when some European players score a goal? Not "kissing the ring" or "blowing kisses", but actually sucking on the thumb.

Ronaldo did that after his first goal (after first strutting the "It's no big deal." walk).

posted by grum@work at 08:11 PM on June 17, 2012

Portugal needs to strike while the iron is hot and win as much as they can. This is probably the best their national team will ever be, with Ronaldo still in his prime and Nani not over the hill yet.

posted by insomnyuk at 09:59 PM on June 17, 2012

I think it's his son's 2nd birthday today. I suspect it was a message for him.

posted by Mr Bismarck at 10:40 PM on June 17, 2012

As I read somewhere in the lead-in to the tournament, if you are a Lionel Messi fan, you should hope for Portugal to do poorly. If the Portuguese make the finals (or possibly even the semis), it seems Ronaldo will be well-positioned to break Messi's streak of three consecutive Ballons d' Or.

posted by holden at 10:59 PM on June 17, 2012

The thumb suck is a tribute to his son.

He can be incredible with the ball when he gets some space and charges the goal. The light touch and that strutting pony step are poetry.

posted by rcade at 11:07 AM on June 18, 2012

I liked the Dutch Future!Soccer uniforms. Too bad their play didn't live up to them.

posted by Rock Steady at 01:00 PM on June 18, 2012

Yeah, the Dutch uniforms looked great. I just wished the font for the numbers didn't always look like someone slapped some duct tape on their back. I also liked the Swedish ones from a couple of days ago (dark blue with a bright yellow "sash", with yellow numbers).

posted by grum@work at 03:13 PM on June 18, 2012

Thirded. I'm also not sold on the Days of Futures Past typeface.

posted by yerfatma at 03:31 PM on June 18, 2012

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