A year later, the Euros gets underway with Italy v Turkey. Always has been my favorite tournament even with the expanded format.
Although France are heavy favorites, I think with the amount of soccer played these last 14 months that players are tired and any team can get hot and make a run.
Unbeaten in 28 games. 9 straight clean sheets.
So my opinion is purely from that standpoint. What I saw with Portugal was a team that was very crisp and quick with their passing especially when they were pressing. I thought Spain looked good but blew some real chances. France looked very good but I had not watched them until yesterday for the 1st time so that was after my earlier Portugal post. I thought Germany did well but I can't shake the fact they lost to N. Macedonia a couple of months ago. Looking forward to watching Italy for the first time.
I disagree about Portugal. They have several good players who are prominent fixtures at top clubs. They can certainly beat Germany, though France is a different story. They look like they're a cut above the rest of the field.
Bale sure looked good these last 2 minutes though
True. You also get situations like Group F, which will essentially turn into a contest to see who can thump Hungary the most.
Portugal is not a one man show at all. Silva, Felix, Jota, Dias have all won major trophies with their teams and contributed.
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but man is their back line and goalie look suspect.
Bale sure looked good these last 2 minutes though
He looked good all game, guy just doesn’t score anymore. 13 caps in a row without a goal.
I don't think Spain wins the tournament, but I expect them to get out of the group comfortably. I wouldn't do much different against Poland or Slovakia than they did against Sweden. Advancing in this tournament is about keeping clean sheets.
I'd tier the contenders like this:
1. France
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2. Italy
3-6. Spain, England, Portugal, Belgium in any order
7. Germany
8. Netherlands
It's gonna be tough for anyone to beat France. Kante is the best player in the world and Mbappe is Thierry Henry all over again.
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Watching Turkey right now, I’m really wondering how good Italy actually is. Portugal is a 1 man show practically and Spain can’t finish.
Unbeaten in 28 games. 9 straight clean sheets.
That might have been a little confusing. I was referring to people talking about them on Frances level right now (which IMO is a cut above the rest) A 3-0 shellacking of what was considered a solid Turkey team solidified that a bit. The odds have come way down on Switzerland so I think this is a much better test if they belong on that top tier with France.
I will give the guy credit for the rest of his game though. He works his ass off pressing, moving off the ball, chasing lost causes...he's a big part of the reason Spain had 80-whatever percent of the possession. If they replace him with Moreno (a better finisher, but maybe not as good in these other areas), I think it's going to cost them in their ability to hold the ball.
Because of how they play Spain is rarely going to be around a lot of goals either scored or conceded - they're going to have a lot of the ball and opponents are going to sit deep. That's just how they play. They hold the ball to defend and exhaust opponents...not to create a million scoring chances.
This team is really young and inexperienced so I expect that'll cost them in this tournament. But they might be really good in the next couple tournaments.
Spain, like Germany, has sort of fallen back to the top end of the tier 2 teams in Europe. I would put Portugal ahead of both at this point in time.
Yes, same Isak. And he was 17-18 at the time (with Dortmund). He sure looked good the other day.
Spain, like Germany, has sort of fallen back to the top end of the tier 2 teams in Europe. I would put Portugal ahead of both at this point in time.
Agree on Germany. I think they are lacking any real scoring threats. Muller has been a great player, but no longer. Do you trust Werner as a go-to striker?
I like Sane's pace and athleticism. I would use him much more...
Isak is such an unusual combination of length and extremely good ball skills and elusiveness in tight space.
The rule can be summarized thusly: a player can be in an offside position--it is not a violation unless that player interferes with play or with an opponent from that position. Interfering with play is engaging in active play, whether vs the opponent or making a play on the ball, not even necessarily touching it, though certainly the latter.
Flags have been going up so late, so long AFTER the player in an offside position is engaged in active play, that it can trick defenders, keepers, and other attackers into thinking there is no offsides violation and altering their approach. Just weird.
I have noticed this too and agree that it's weird. I'm wondering if AR's have been instructed to keep the flag down if there's any doubt, since VAR is available as well (kind of like NFL refs letting them play subject to video review in certain situations). The problem with that is what you say - players glance at the AR and alter their approach accordingly. I think the AR's should just call 'em as they see 'em. VAR can sort out obvious errors but the players are entitled to decisions in real time as well.
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Flags have been going up so late, so long AFTER the player in an offside position is engaged in active play, that it can trick defenders, keepers, and other attackers into thinking there is no offsides violation and altering their approach. Just weird.
I have noticed this too and agree that it's weird. I'm wondering if AR's have been instructed to keep the flag down if there's any doubt, since VAR is available as well (kind of like NFL refs letting them play subject to video review in certain situations). The problem with that is what you say - players glance at the AR and alter their approach accordingly. I think the AR's should just call 'em as they see 'em. VAR can sort out obvious errors but the players are entitled to decisions in real time as well.
Even in the PL refs have taken this approach, so its really not new. Basically its the same philosophy as the NFL now does with things like fumble recoveries (as an example). They know VAR (or in the NFL's instance instant replay) is there, so they let the play continue to its end. Then they review it and make the decision. Its a lot better than stopping it right there and being wrong
I'll have to ask if their citizenship status will be revoked!
Even at the top level, several missed deflections and who the ball last touched are missed. I wonder if the reason is the lack of people who can see it?
He has completely changed the game since coming in.
Yes, looks like they will win today but their back line can't play like this against better scoring teams.
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Guy has a great antenna to find open players.
He has completely changed the game since coming in.
That goal was a laser.
He's just a great all-around player. Personally, I think he's the best player in the game right now.