'twas a bad night for the Euro 24 favourites, with France losing 2-0 to Germany and England looking lame without Kane and falling to a 1-0 defeat to Brazil.
Of course, it is only friendlies and there is only so much you can take from performances in March. However, the result for Germany will surely make some reconsider if the hosts have a chance. Germany did beat France 6 months ago, but their inactivity in competitive football has led to 6 defeats in the last 12 months. 3 wins (US being the other) and 2 draws has not impressed most and Germany are not fancied by many. Home advantage has helped teams to get deep into the competition, but no host has won since 1984. They have a group they will fancy to top.
Germany start the tournament with a tie against Scotland, and the Scots got a good look at one of the "dark horses" this week. Netherlands are a very inconsistent team with a lot of youngsters in and out of their squad as they struggle to find the next golden generation of talent and tend to go back to the more experienced players. Van Dijk is obviously the standout name, with the likes of Depay, Gakpo and Weghorst leading the attack. Xavi Simons is one of the youngsters who looks most likely to establish himself in the team. A group with France, Austria and either Poland or Wales isn't the easiest, so the Dutch will have to be on it from the start.
Holders Italy can never be ruled out, and Spain are still capable of going a long way. They find themselves in the same group with Croatia. Despite their great record in World Cups, Croatia struggle in this competition. This could be a group where a decent team get knocked out.
Portugal and Belgium are in a bit of a transitional period, with the likes of Ronaldo, Pepe, de Bruyne and Vertonghen probably playing their last Euros tournament. The next generation is coming through so both nations have some optimism ahead of the summer. Both will be happy with the draw, with the winners of their groups playing a 3rd placed team in the first knockout.
The dreaded "dark horse" title, that Turkey found heavy to bear, goes to Hungary. In the group with the Scots, the hosts and the Swiss, they will have to work hard to progress. However, they are on a run of 13 without defeat. They spun a few heads in the Nations League, beating England 4-0 at Molineux, 1-0 in the reverse, beating Germany in Leipzig and getting a draw at home. They also had a decent Euros last time, despite being in the group of death - drawing with France and Germany.
Denmark are rated "best of the rest" by the bookies, and went to the semis last time despite the shocking event in their opening game. Thankfully Eriksen is set to lead his country on this stage once more. A group with England, Serbia and Slovenia is definitely getoutable for the Danes.
Turkey are again a "darkhorse", Czechia will look to at least repeat their surprise run to the Quarters 3 years ago and Romania will look at their group as a chance to progress for the first time since 2000.
We have an exciting Premier League campaign to complete before then, but at this point who is your money on? Has your faith in France been dented? Has Southgate convinced you he can deliver? Will it be same old Germany at tournaments?
Euro 2024
posted on 24/3/24
For me there is one team that really stand out to be favourite to win the EUROS. England. They have a real good mix with talented young and experience players. Surely destined to get into the semis.
The German with the home advantage....you'll never know what you get. Yesterday's game against France showed that we have still have it.
France for me is still too much depending on Mbappe. Everything is built around him. Deschamp favours players in his team that shouldnt be even there. Konde, Rabiot, Upamecano still playing game by game and arent good enough.
Dont think that Portugal have it to win the tournement.
posted on 24/3/24
comment by #LiquidGenius (U20571)
posted 54 minutes ago
Even another Euro for Ronaldo wouldn’t change anything iro the Messi/GOAT debate.
Messi settled the Ronaldo beef on that fateful night in the desert, and he clinched GOAT status when he passed up Pele in Golden Balls with #8. The 7th & 8th FIFA player of the year was just icing on the cake.
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Ronaldo has the numbers though
posted on 24/3/24
Hi DJ
posted on 24/3/24
comment by House (U17162)
posted 41 minutes ago
comment by #LiquidGenius (U20571)
posted 54 minutes ago
Even another Euro for Ronaldo wouldn’t change anything iro the Messi/GOAT debate.
Messi settled the Ronaldo beef on that fateful night in the desert, and he clinched GOAT status when he passed up Pele in Golden Balls with #8. The 7th & 8th FIFA player of the year was just icing on the cake.
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Ronaldo has the numbers though
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Which numbers?
Messi has better; goals per game, assists per game, successful dribbles per game, chances created per game, more titles, more Golden Balls, more Golden Shoes, more MVPs at international tournaments.
posted on 24/3/24
comment by #LiquidGenius (U20571)
posted 23 minutes ago
comment by House (U17162)
posted 41 minutes ago
comment by #LiquidGenius (U20571)
posted 54 minutes ago
Even another Euro for Ronaldo wouldn’t change anything iro the Messi/GOAT debate.
Messi settled the Ronaldo beef on that fateful night in the desert, and he clinched GOAT status when he passed up Pele in Golden Balls with #8. The 7th & 8th FIFA player of the year was just icing on the cake.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ronaldo has the numbers though
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Which numbers?
Messi has better; goals per game, assists per game, successful dribbles per game, chances created per game, more titles, more Golden Balls, more Golden Shoes, more MVPs at international tournaments.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah Messi all day. Not sure they is a stat that favours Ronaldo when you weigh it all up. And like I said before, Messi wasn't even an out and out striker really, he ran the show. Ronaldo barely left the final third for the last decade.
posted on 24/3/24
comment by Diafol Coch 77 🏴 (U2462)
posted 9 hours, 26 minutes ago
I don't really get the Southgate hate amongst some England fans either really.
England are maybe in the top six teams in the world and he, on average, gets them to a Semi Final. Would he have therefore been a genius had Sancho and Rashford managed to score their pens in 2021? Fine margins.
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Top 6?! . Top 2 without a doubt for talent in the squad. We should have done better in the last two tournaments than we did. What occurred before this squad is irrelevant.
posted on 25/3/24
I think this should be Southgate’s last chance, he has to make the final in my opinion, the only squad that can hold a candle to ours is the French and you take Mbappe away and Englands would be undoubtedly stronger.
Needs to stop playing the double pivot in midfield and instead go with 2 creative players. If we go with Kane, Saka, Foden, Bellingham and Grealish up top, it still leaves on the bench potentially Maddison, Palmer, Eze, Bowen, Toney, Watkins, Sterling, Elliott, Gordon, Mainoo, Rashford.
These are players who would start for other nations
posted on 25/3/24
comment by #LiquidGenius (U20571)
posted 15 hours, 25 minutes ago
comment by House (U17162)
posted 41 minutes ago
comment by #LiquidGenius (U20571)
posted 54 minutes ago
Even another Euro for Ronaldo wouldn’t change anything iro the Messi/GOAT debate.
Messi settled the Ronaldo beef on that fateful night in the desert, and he clinched GOAT status when he passed up Pele in Golden Balls with #8. The 7th & 8th FIFA player of the year was just icing on the cake.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ronaldo has the numbers though
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Which numbers?
Messi has better; goals per game, assists per game, successful dribbles per game, chances created per game, more titles, more Golden Balls, more Golden Shoes, more MVPs at international tournaments.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think you know what numbers
posted on 26/3/24
Comment Deleted by Article Creator
posted on 26/3/24
Comment Deleted by Article Creator