Welcome back to Euro 2097! By the end of today’s update we’ll have seen every team play, as Spain and Sweden complete the round in Group E before we move onto the group of death. France, Germany and Portugal are joined by Scotland and I can’t wait.

Group E

Spain vs Sweden

One of my pre-tournament favourites Rob Tait gets his tournament underway today and it’s a fearsome team he has with Spain. He is however without Alfonso who is struggling with an injury. Still, you wouldn’t mess with it.

Michael has a straight forward 4-4-2 here, largely because he was late to the Zoom meeting so I played it with a straight bat.

What a right old tussle this was. Bjorklund gave Sweden the lead and even when Kiko cancelled it out, it didn’t stop Jesper Blomqvist putting Sweden back in front. The unlikely figure of Barjuan Sergi levels and Fernando can hear the drums. That means he scored. As is often the case, the second half isn’t quite as entertaining although Kennet Andersson has a goal ruled out for offside. Hmm.

The stats don’t lie but…4 shots on target out of 23 is not a good return. But a win is a win.

Spain and Poland are in the box seat but there’s a long way to go yet!

Group F

Scotland vs Portugal

Zak has a pretty difficult job on his hands here but if there’s a positive to take, the other three teams are capable of beating each other so who knows, sneak a win and it’ll be a lottery especially with four of the third placed teams advancing. Zak’s opted for a 4-3-3 but with John Collins at left back. McCoist and Scott Booth are injured, which won’t help.

Portugal are a weird team, littered with great midfielders but no stand out striker. Matt’s gone for the famous 2-3-1-2-2. Kenedy’s injury was a one dayer which was recovered by the time the game came round.

Scotland have to make home advantage count and it’s like they’ve been fed raw meat. No wait, Big Dunc is always like that. He gives the Scots the lead and the rather more mild mannered Gary McAllister makes it 2-0. Well. Matt tears into his lads at half time and Domingos (from Little Oakley) makes it 2-1 only for Kevin Gallacher to restore the two goal advantage. The clock ticks down and just when you think it can’t get any worse, Christian Dailly makes it four. The cat is amongst the pigeons.

Vitor Baia conceded every shot he faced. Impressive from the Barca man.

Shock of the tournament so far? Probably. Scotland have never got out of a group stage in their lives but they’re in with a great shout of doing just that now.

Now over to France.

France vs Germany

Two footballing superpowers meet and after a brief falling out over squad numbers with S4ooter, or Dan as we’ll call him, he’s opted for this:

To add a layer of spice into this, Andrew and Dan know each other in the real world. I know, wonders never cease. Andrew came through Anglo-Italian qualifiers to reach this stage and he’s not come to mess about with the famous formation. Klinsmann is injured.

Who had Sean Dundee in the sweepstake? Absolutely nobody. He gives Andrew an early lead but Dan comes storming back with a quickfire treble. Zidane, Trezeguet and Carnot and no, I carnot believe it either. Dundee pulls one back on the stroke of half time. Mario Basler is hooked at half time for Pflipsen and shortly thereafter Riedle replaces Bierhoff and it’s the Liverpool man who sets up the equaliser. His initial shot is saved but Dundee is on hand to complete a hat-trick. The scenes. Henry goes up the other end and scores a winner…or does he? The flag is up. It finishes 3-3. What drama.

We can only assume Desailly wasn’t marking Sean Dundee. What a game.

Scotland top of the pile. Who’d have thought? That draw does Portugal some favours I think.

We’ve seen every team now, so who do you like the look of? We’ll be back tomorrow with more from Group A and one game in Group B. Toodles for now.