Jimmy_D

I read that at the time. It’s out of date now, the EU have been putting a massive amount of money into ramping up production since then, and Ukraine’s shell hunger isn’t an issue now. Russia have been making small gains in some areas, and are being pushed back in others. Between Ukraine now having authority to hit military logistics and materiel in Russia, the quality of North Korea’s supplies being sub standard, and Russia sending over 10000 troops to their death each week just to maintain their lines where they are, it’s no wonder that Putin is trying to get Ukraine to concede on the negotiating table.

If Ukraine can achieve that, Ukraine then joins NATO, NATO gains the most experienced army in the world with combined NATO, Soviet, and drone warfare, and any future attack on Ukraine becomes unfeasible for Russia.

Ukraine aren’t asking for other country’s soldiers to defend them, they’re asking for as much help as possible to defend themselves. Despite days like today, Russia’s ability to wage war is slowly being degraded. The fact that Russia is even talking about negotiations demonstrates that. (As well as several indications on the ground, not least Russia’s dwindling tank reserve stockpiles, the severe degradation of their anti-air capability ahead of the imminent introduction of F16s, and the increasing reports of Ukraine holding the advantage in drone warfare.) As far as I’m concerned, I’m all for giving Ukraine all the help that it’s possible to give.

I don’t want to live in a World where people like Putin can think “Let’s bomb a children’s hospital and they’ll start making concessions to us.” Bearing in mind that anything Russia agrees to is absolutely worthless, there’s absolutely no gain.

There’s absolutely no way Russia can be allowed to be seen to gain anything from this.

Even among the horrific acts Russia have been carrying out, this one… No words.

Ouch. Pedri apparently out of the semis and the final if they get there with a stretched ligament.

Switzerland have looked good before today but England managed to nullify that for the most part. It hasn’t looked pretty but I think people are underestimating how effective it’s been at stifling opposition. Wouldn’t bet against England being able to do similar against Netherlands and give themselves a chance of clawing their way to the final.

Feel like Turkey were unlucky not to take that to extra time but Netherlands won’t care!

Goal for Turkey!

I don’t even know how he did that

A perfect set of penalties! From England! GERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRIN! Semi Final!

Don’t agree with them wanting to remove extra time myself in the slightest! Teams with the fitter players shouldn’t have that advantage reduced, and teams that manage to do well enough to win in normal time shouldn’t have that advantage reduced over the tournament. Not to mention it’d probably end up with teams wanting to make sure it at least goes to penalties from about 60 mins on.

At least Beckham had a pretty decent conversion rate. Ronaldo has what, 1 goal in the last 60 or so free kicks for Portugal?

Ronaldo on a free kick has to be the most over-hyped aspect in world football.

He’s done two different things that pick up a one match suspension, but there’s some ambiguity as to whether the first suspension (for accumulated yellows) that he first picked up being part of the second suspension (for two yellows leading to a red) affects it, and some ambiguity as to whether, if he does have two suspensions, due to the wording they both apply to just the semi-final rather than stacking to a two match suspension.

I don’t know. It doesn’t look like it’s being reported as two games suspended anywhere though. In Copa America the rules specify that they do stack, but the wording doesn’t seem to cover this case for the Euros rules. Might be that a ruling needs to be made by the competition on it.

The yellows get cancelled, but not the suspensions they picked up for those yellows. It just protects players from getting suspended for the final for accumulated yellows.

They’ll find it tough to get through the semi-final. Three suspended players, plus Pedri potentially out, and the extra half hour in their legs.

I actually don’t know whether the one match suspension for a red gets added to the one match suspension for the accumulated yellows he’d already picked up.

Lost count of the number of times I’ve said ‘he should have scored there…’ during this match.

Yeah, his hand looked like it was out away from his body and he subtly leaned into it as well. And now a cracking header for the goal for Spain. Looks like Germany will be out complaining about the ref here.

Blimey. Looked a stonewall penalty under the current rules to me.

Been a pretty ugly game but compelling to watch.

Admittedly I’m not a huge fan of watching road cycling, but that was a special sporting moment. Can’t imagine how he must be feeling now compared to a year ago!