It has been extremely disappointing, but now it is knockout round and ugly can advance.
He's a good player, and I do feel for him. Was watching the game with my son and saw Modric biting his shirt as the game was about to end. You could sense his anticipation/fear. I really wish Croatia had beaten France in the World Cup final a few years ago... That wild have given him a great trophy and shock the world that a small European country child upstage a larger one.
Not lucky. Keeper had a huge (illegal) advantage jumping the line. Break the rules, suffer the consequences.
It wasn't a huge advantage, the keeper's back foot barely came off the line just before the kick. Lewandoski stuttered and almost stopped twice. By the time he kicked the ball he was basically standing still and didn't have too much on it. The keeper made a very good save. Somewhat lucky on the second shot because Lewandoski took the same stutter approach to the same side and the keeper guessed right both times. The ball bounced off the post and in, saving him from missing the shot twice. I don't think he meant to cut it that close.
Interestingly, watched a Mass Tournament of Champions Semi-Final this last weekend that ended in a PK (KFTM) shootout. The Ref (or rather the AR I think), called 3 GK infractions (coming off the line too early). Twice a GK had saved the shot and the retake was good. On the last one, the kicker shot about 10 feet over the bar. Got a second chance and buried it to win. Other teams parents were not happy. But the Ref/AR had been calling it against both teams.
Compared to the other side of the bracket it’s a cakewalk. And the oddsmakers agree.
They way they've been playing, I don't think anything is a cakewalk for England.
I could definitely see Austria getting to the Semi's. Don't know how England will get past Italy. That one looks like PKs.
Oh please, as if Italy have a monopoly on this diving nonsense. It's rooted in many footballers. My son and I were watching several YouTube clips of these before the game; most of the flops were NOT by Italian players.