The Knockout Rounds

06/24/2021

By: Jeff Yoder

Good Morning,

Fans are sweating bullets these days. Elimination season is sending teams home on a nightly basis. The do-or-die games are coming in bunches, from NBA and NHL to the College World Series and the Euros. We’ll start in Europe where the knockout stage is finally set, and history was made by one Cristiano Ronaldo (who else?).

Letter Rip!

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SOCCER

Euro 2020: The Knockout Stage

Image: UEFA.com

Final 16 Ready for Knockout Rounds at Euro 2020

 

After 36 group stage matches and plenty of drama, the Euro 2020 Tournament has trimmed the field from six groups of four to 16 teams. The knockout stage is set after two draws between France-Portugal (2-2) and Germany-Hungary (2-2)as well as a stunner between Sweden-Poland (3-2, Sweden) on Wednesday. Only one match was a blowout with Spain-Slovakia (5-0) being a five-goal runaway in favor of the Spaniards. The final 16 are set, and the knockout rounds begin Saturday.

 

*All links above to match highlights

 

Knockout Stage Bracket

 

Belgium vs. Portugal (Sun. 3:00 pm ET)

Italy vs. Austria (Sat. 3:00 pm ET)

 

France vs. Switzerland (Mon. 3:00 pm ET)

Croatia vs. Spain (Mon. Noon ET)

 

Sweden vs. Ukraine (Tues. 3:00 pm ET)

England vs. Germany (Tues. Noon ET)

 

Netherlands vs. Czech Republic (Sun. Noon ET)

Wales vs. Denmark (Sat. Noon ET)

 

Additional Storylines

ESPN: Ronaldo Rewrites History as Portugal Join France in Euro 2020 Last 16
NY Times: 
The Euro 2020 Group Stage is Over: Here’s What We Learned

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TRIVIA

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in Portugal’s match to tie the record for the most all-time goals in men’s international soccer with 109 (Ali Daei, Iran).

 

Who is the next active player on the list of all-time international goal scorers?

 

A) Lionel Messi (Argentina)

B) Robert Lewandowski (Poland)

C) Sunil Chhetri (India)

D) Ali Mabkhout (UAE)

E) Neymar (Brazil)

 

*Answer at the bottom of today’s edition

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NBA PLAYOFFS

Trae Takes Over Game 1

Photo: Stacy Revere / Getty Images

Hawks def. Bucks (116-113) Behind Trae Young’s 48-Point Masterpiece

 

Atlanta’s unbelievable postseason run continues! Trae Young was unconscious in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, scoring a playoff career-high 48 points on 50-percent shooting in a late-game comeback. The Hawks overcame a seven-point deficit in the final four minutes as they outscored the Bucks 18-8 down the stretch. Clint Capela (19 rebounds) and John Collins (15 rebounds) out-rebounded the Bucks’ entire starting lineup (34-30) in a glass-cleaning frenzy. And after another shocker from Atlanta, the Hawks are undefeated in Game 1s throughout the playoffs (3-0).

 

Trae Young’s Stat Line

48 Points, 11 Assists, 7 Rebounds

17-for-34, FG | 4-for-13, 3-Pt | 8-for-10, FT

 

Watch: Hawks Shock Bucks in Game 1 of ECF

 

Tonight’s Schedule

Gm 3: Suns at Clippers (9:00 pm ET)

 

Additional Storylines

USA Today: Hawks Steal Game 1 on Trae Young’s 48-Point Night
AP News: 
Chris Paul Listed as ‘Probable’ for Suns in Game 3, Kawhi Leonard ‘Out’ for Clippers

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NHL PLAYOFFS

Beauvillier Saves Isles in OT

Photo: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images

Anthony Beauvillier’s OT Winner (3-2, OT) Forces Game 7 Between Islanders & Lightning

 

Let’s go seven! Nassau Coliseum was ready to close up shop for the final time, but Anthony Beauvillier had other plans. The Islanders trailed the Lighting 2-0 in the second period before the elimination adrenaline kicked in. Jordan Eberle and Scott Mayfield scored for New York to tie it at 2-2 and force overtime, and Matthew Barzal (two assists) was brilliant in Game 6. Just 1:08 into OT, Beauviller stole the puck in front of the Tampa Bay net and smashed home an earthquake-maker. Long Island erupted. If it was, in fact, the last game at Nassau Coliseum, it was an epic sendoff. Game 7 heads back to Tampa Bay on Friday.

 

Watch: Islanders-Lightning Game 6 Highlights

 

Tonight’s Schedule

Gm 6: Golden Knights at Canadiens (8:00 pm ET)

 

Additional Storylines

NY Post: Islanders Fans Throw Beer on Ice in ‘Dangerous’ Crazy Scene After OT Win

NHL: Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov Exits Game 6 With Shoulder Injury; Questionable for Game 7

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🎥 OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

⚾️ MLB: Giants Go Off in Extras

The best team in baseball? It’s the San Francisco Giants, and they proved why on Wednesday. Trailing the Angels in the 13th (3-2), San Fran reeled off a seven-run inning thanks to Mike Tauchman’s 3-run HR. The Giants (48-26) have won three straight and hold the best record in the majors.

 

⚾️ CWS: #4 Vandy Wins on Wild Finish

Chaos in Omaha! #4 Vanderbilt overcame a four-run deficit to knock off #9 Stanford (6-5) in a wild finish at the College Baseball World Series. With two outs in the bottom of the 9th and runners on the corners, Enrique Bradfield Jr. singled to right field to plate the tying run. Moments later, Spencer Jones scored on a wild pitch, and Vandy advanced to the semifinals against NC State.

 

🏀 WNBA: Lynx, Fowles Make Historic Comeback

Sylvia Fowles (26 pts, 19 rebs) was fantastic for the Minnesota Lynx on Wednesday night, but her team’s historic comeback was even better. The Lynx rallied from 18 points down to beat the Dream (87-85) after holding Atlanta to just nine points in the 4th quarter.

 

⚽️ COPA: Luis Diaz’s Must-See Bicycle Kick

The Brazil men’s national team hadn’t given up a goal since October 2020, but Colombia’s Luis Diaz broke that streak with an unbelievable bicycle kick in their Copa America match last night. The night’s must-see highlight was spectacular, but Colombia still lost (2-1). If you watch one highlight from today’s edition, this should be it.

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THE STORYLINES 

⚽️ USWNT Olympic Roster Revealed

U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Vlatko Andonovski has named the 18-player roster for the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The roster includes 11 players from the 2016 Olympic squad, including Megan Rapinoe, Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan and Julie Ertz. (US Soccer)

 

🏀 NBA Mock Draft, Post-Lottery Edition

The unofficial clock has started for the Detroit Pistons, winners of the 2021 NBA draft lottery. Teams have until July 29 to do their homework and explore different trade scenarios. The Pistons, Rockets and Cavs hold the Top-3 picks. Here’s what they should do. (Bleacher Report)

 

🏅 The Heartbreak of Olympic Trials

The spotlight at the ongoing track and field trials has largely been on the triumphant, feel-good moments… Yet for every athlete whose competition ends with an bouquet of flowers and a victory lap, there are perhaps a dozen others who are left to quietly reckon with failure. (USA Today)

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TRIVIA ANSWER

Ali Mabkhout of the United Arab Emirates is 2nd among active goal scorers in international competition (76 goals). He’s still 33 goals behind Ronaldo.

 

All-Time International Goals (Active)

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (109)

2. Ali Mabkhout (76)

3. Sunil Chhetri (74)

4. Lionel Messi (73)

5. Robert Lewandowski (69)

6. Neymar (68)

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