Euro 2016 Group Stage round 2

Second album syndrome is a pretty standard phenomenon and there is a little bit of that about the second round of group games. It was always just a matter of time, but now we've had some tight games without many chances and a few heavier defeats yet, the tournament is still pretty open. It isn't, however, as refreshingly footbally as the first games. The third team qualifying changes the whole dynamic and no team is definitely out - and only a few (Spain, Italy and France) have recorded two victories - though not definite group winners.
So, those heavy victories - were they mismatches? I'm not really sure they were and if you take three goal victory to be a heavy win, Belgium and Spain are the only ones. Turkey and Ireland could count themselves unlucky to be on the end of a flurry to be honest, although they were eventually outclassed.

Goals are overrated
Once the enjoyment at the tightness had gone, for whatever reason, it was always a quick jump to saying the games are low scoring and so dull. 

Low scoring games, and high scoring games in fact , are only a guide to whether games are good or enjoyable to watch for me. This is classic correlation not being the same as causation material. I have really enjoyed seeing the organisation that means each goal, each attack, is difficult and it means each successful movement is essentially of such a quality. This is not a "pop it into the mixer" kind of level and for that I am very pleased. The joy, as they say, is in the struggle.

Standouts
There is a little bit of the 2010 era Frank Lampard of Ronaldo at the moment - so many shots, so many chances, so few goals. It won't last, but there is an element of schadenfreude that I cannot deny, especially after the ungracious comments about Iceland in the first game. He does, as far as I'm aware, pay his taxes though...

Daniel Sturridge is one of the finest constructors of a shot that I have seen in football, his ability to work a shot or get a shot away is truly exceptional. England have a number of strikers that you think can do the job, but it is nice that they can approach their roles in such different ways. The 45 minute performance was superb but it did highlight the dearth of attacking quality (in the game) being supplied when he had to keep dropping deep. He did a great deal to get that win for England.
Modric provided a true all-action display in the middle for Croatia and can be considered pretty damn unlucky to be on the drawing team - the Czech Republic were on a hiding to nothing, until it became a hiding to a point. He passed, created and shot beautifully throughout. Croatia have been a joy to watch.

With all the groups being finely poised and no dead rubbers in the third section, there is plenty to look forward to. And in many ways, the tournament doesn't really start until the knockouts. With the Tour de France starting soon, this has the feel of the peleton, jostling for position, readying itself for the finish.