Alright, let’s get into it. Euros! Where to begin? Laurent Blanc admits France’s dressing room was the scene of some “missiles” fired back and forth between players after their defeat to Sweden, which the Footy Blog will take in the metaphorical sense.

Joe Hart is all talking tough and stuff about taking pens for the mother country.

Tonight is apparently Cristiano Ronaldo’s one true shot at greatness. Yep, the glory of beating the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals of the Euros. Meanwhile Michael Cox warns that tonight’s task is far from easy for Portugal, and Jonathan Wilson says the Czechs will relish their underdog role.

Bundesliga Fanatic looks ahead to tomorrow’s semifinal between Germany and Greece, while Bundesliga Football notes the match will be an important one for Lukas Podolski, who will become the seventh player to reach 100 caps for Deutschland.

There are rumours that Mario Balotelli will start against England on Sunday, while Thiago Motta will sit the game out. Here is some solid evidence how serious Balotelli is taking the match. Roberto Mancini says he must play against England, or else. The Gazzetta says Balo is both loved and attacked, which could apply to pretty much any period over his entire career.

In club news, not much to see here. Outside of the usual transfer rubbish that makes me sick to my stomach to have to link to and/or talk/write about in any way shape or form, we’ve got Andre Villas-Boas upset with Spurs that they’re still talking to other managers, and some cockamamie scheme by Rangers FC to buy Bury FC and jump ship to the Football League, which Bury is smartly denying.

In Canada, Toronto FC coughs up a two-goal lead in the second half against the Houston Dynamo, which will no doubt be painted as progress by the usual suspects, slavering for any reason to get their pom-poms out. Ben Rycroft adroitly goes after MLSE for raising ticket prices.

Meanwhile Mount Royal Soccer discusses Power Rankings with an analytics person, and the Whitecaps play NYRB to a disappointing draw. Ben Massey’s take on the game is, as ever, worth your time.

Bits and bobs, yo! Jonathan Wilson on the deterioration of continental tactical innovation (neeeeerrrrrrd!), Santos are out of the Copa Lib final, a funny speculative video on Zlatan’s departure from Barcelona, and get your sadface on for Clarence Seedorf.

And that, give or take, is the story so far…