Julius

Mbappé off is strange, especially with pens coming up, though he's got a broken nose so it's a weird one. He's clearly been in a lot of pain in the matches he's been wearing the mask and picking up knocks to the face. Also, I know he was brilliant at them at the World Cup in 2022, but he missed the deciding pen for France at Euro 2020/21 in the R16 if I'm remembering right. So I do wonder if there's a little bit of that at play Weird for someone at his level to seemingly ask to come off with 15 to go to pens. Really weird.

There were chances at least, but good lord, extra time AGAIN?! Not going to be in the mood for tomorrow's England match at this rate Anywho...needed to pass the time, so Ronaldo when Portugal get a free kick: Ronaldo to his teammates when they don't find him: Ronaldo to every Portuguese person in a 20 mile radius when there's a chance at a free kick: That would mean the referees and UEFA acknowledging that they made mistakes. (I totally agree though)

Ran out of insults in English to use to describe the scum that is Anthony Taylor and Michael Oliver, so decided to look up some insults in other languages. Obviously, German, to keep it topical. Think my favourite is bananenbieger – Someone who’s engaged in a pointless task, who can’t concentrate, or has no direction in life can be called a bananenbieger, or “banana bender.” Seems very accurate for these refs

Right? Having Ronaldo come on with 30+ left strikes fear into the opposition, he can be fresh both physically and mentally (as we saw isn't so much the case after his emotional outcry last time out), much more likely to score if they were to do that too I think. But it's Martinez. He's a tinkerer, but there's a reason he won nothing of substance with Belgium. Also, really harsh yellow for Palhinha. Referring today has been all over the place. And those refs? Anthony Taylor and Michael Oliver, of course

Yes, commentators, we know he's Sérgio Conceição's son. Because you've told us EVERY. FREAKING. TIME. he's walked onto the pitch this tournament

Just been thinking, Martinez probably should've been trying to utilise Ronaldo like an impact sub similar to how Nagelsmann had been using Füllkrug. Promise him he'll come on around the 60th minute to help define the final scoreline, think it'd have more of a mental impact for his team and against the opponents, too

Proper end-to-end now. Great chance for France there. Hope this continues on for the next 25+ to close this game out

Portugal really going for it now, some great attempts from them and excellent saves by Maignan. Shocked Ronaldo and Portugal wasn't shouting for a pen, I don't think it was one but a case could certainly be made. Much more of one than that Mendes dive earlier.

I did, great trailer Though we've almost had as many trailers for that game as we have Own Goals at this edition of the Euros!

Both teams look fully capable of scoring, the game has been flowing well in that it's going from left to right and back again...but they just kind of refuse to. Not quite the place or time I was expecting the players' strike to start to be totally honest Checked on this, because, well, not a great match so far and what else is there to do, really? Can confirm they both missed a pen on Russia. Messi vs Iceland @ World Cup 2018 Ronaldo vs Iran @ World Cup 2018 Great, now I need to find another rabbit hole to fill my time with during this second half...

So, 2018? I swear they both missed one at the World Cup in Russia, I'll check on the break

Couldn't have Ronaldo on screen without mentioning Messi's penalty miss. What year is it again?

Don't get any time to really soak this one in because now it's time to switch over to BBC One for Portugal v France. I'm knackered.

Oh, absolutely. Totally necessary and he had no real choice. Guarantee the guys back in the studio tear him apart besides Keane – if only Carva were Italian

Kroos getting the final kick It goes nowhere farewell to one of the best and one of my favourites

Carvajal lmao what a pro

SPAIN LET'S GO Germany just didn't carry that momentum like they needed to. That might be it for Toni Kroos. @Hero-of-Time totally agree, the "reason" is it's not there for yellows or whatever, but while I get Nacho obstructing Wirtz from chasing the ball...what harm is he trying to stop when Simon is there and blasting it over to the other side of the pitch? It's crazy.

Dives really need to be VAR reviewed. Really, really poor from Nacho.

Btw Christina Unkel perspectives on these referee/VAR calls has been one of the highlights of the tournament to me

The smug look he had on his face when he immediately dismissed the penalty shouts. I'm glad he didn't give it, but still, he's a bit of douchebag, isn't he?

Anthony Taylor really doing his part to kill this match off and the subsequent semis with these yellows. Joselu. Let's see something.

Not sure how Anthony Taylor hasn't given the advantage to Spain there with Olmo in a great position. Got to imagine it's down to Cucurella clutching his face. Which, by the way, we've seen a lot of -- players taking advantage of the new grad injury rules and feigning head injuries. It's been gross. Really need to start seeing bookings for those.

Kroos getting away with murder in this match, because that was a foul. Ref let it go because...of the potential injury I guess? Seemed caught in two minds. Even though Germany then got the advantage before the following Spanish foul and also weren't interested in kicking it out. Another subpar performance by the ref for me tonight. It's Anthony Taylor though, is that really surprising? Yeah, think they said at one point (and might still be the case) that they hadn't had a shot since scoring the goal. You can't do that and also take off your fast wingers and captain, seems a terrible mistake by de la Fuente. Extra time it is. Going in I was thinking it'd be 2-2 and 3-2 to Spain AET, but it all seems to be going Germany's way, and I'm not really sure how Spain can now break it up. I'd say coax Kroos into doing something rash because he's on a yellow and get him sent off but, again, he's got away with a lot this match that I'm not sure he'll get sent off unless the ref sees something worthy of a straight red. What's really interesting is, if Germany do go through, they've got a good few players with too many yellows accumulated in their starting XI who will need to sit the semi-finals out.

Well, that's been coming. Great finish from Wirtz, you just knew it was coming back across into the box when it was crossed in. Those Spain subs seemed risky if things didn't pan out. All the momentum with Germany. This is about to get very interesting.