Euro: Euro 2024: announced squads, pre-tournament friendlies etc.

[Savant]

i need ronald koeman to explain this to me like i'm five years old

your only 'left backs' are daley blind and nathan ake, both of whom play centre back at club level.

you also took three right backs, all three of whom are pure right backs/right wingbacks.

and then you get rid of an extremely dynamic left-back

Oh he did and it’s outstanding

 

[cgf]

between the lingering ego of a captain who will insist on starting when he could be the best super sub in the tournament and the enormous bozo who is coaching them, they're hard to predict.

on paper, they are the third best team in this tournament IMO (behind england and france). and they were definitely an absolute machine in qualifying (albeit in a pretty straight-forward group). 10-0-0, 36 GF 2GA is a pretty wild record.

they will also likely face a 3rd place team rather than a runner-up in R16 (albeit, it is possible that the third place team will be one of spain, italy, or croatia).

unfortunately, roberto martinez is the worst possible coach for a squad with potential defensive frailties (a fullback group which has never tracked back and a defensive midfielder whose strategy is 'tackle everything that moves' rather than think tactically). they should go deep, but i don't think they will.

I probably agree that on paper they have a strong case to have the third best squad…but like you point out, there are reasons why I’m not hammering them to make it to the final and think we do deserve to be the 3rd favorite amongst betters…especially given that we’re hosting.

 

[gary69]

TAA starts in as CM, Rice is on the bench, so maybe this is just a choice for this match. After his injury, Harry Kane is on the bench with Watkins up front. Konsa as RB.

 

[Wee Baby Seamus]

TAA starts in as CM, Rice is on the bench, so maybe this is just a choice for this match. After his injury, Harry Kane is on the bench with Watkins up front. Konsa as RB.

It's 100% an audition XI. Trent and Gallagher are playing to see who will be next to Rice. Palmer is playing to see if he starts the opening match. Bowen and Eze are playing to make the squad. Konsa's at RB to see if his versatility will get him on the plane.

 

[gary69]

Croatia eased past N.Macedonia, especially by their 1st half performance. Lovro Majer with two nice goals.

Earlier today, Scotland could only beat Gibraltar 2-0, even though they had plenty more opportunities to score additional goals. It even took almost an hour for their first goal.

 

[luiginb]

Konsa LOL. Southgate is such a moron

 

[gary69]

For Germany (against Ukraine) the top four of Havertz at top, Wirtz & Musiala on the flanks and Gungogan as no.10 could be a starting line-up come tournament time, but not sure how many from rest of today's starting line-up will be first choice in the finals.

 

[luiginb]

Gordon trying hard not to fall asleep in the stands and so far I get him.

Players know Southgate is risk averse so they're playing likewise. 2 metre passes. Eze is the only one who didn't get the memo. I feel for the Newcastle fans, imagine paying to see this dreadful game live.

 

[HajdukSplit]

Croatia eased past N.Macedonia, especially by their 1st half performance. Lovro Majer with two nice goals.

Solid performance but god I hope that’s not the lineup against Spain. Still a lot of question marks. Perisic back in the pitch but still probably not 100%. He was playing in the Croatian league last few months but most opponents “went easy” on him trying not to hurt him. The youngsters played well today but we know Dalic will force Modric/Brozovic to play 3 full 90 minutes in a short span

Game against Portugal will be true test

 

[Wee Baby Seamus]

edit: put my prediction in the wrong thread

 

[Bringer of Jollity]

Sounds like a typical Germany performance so far. 61% possession, 1 shot on target.

 

[PanniniClaus]

Palmer with a pen.. England 1-0.. Southgate looking for a new generation of pen takers to get them through the playoff nil nil draws he will play for.

 

[gary69]

Sounds like a typical Germany performance so far. 61% possession, 1 shot on target.

Lots of personnel changes in the 2nd half, Beier has been a sparkplug, was close to scoring.

Palmer with a pen.. England 1-0.. Southgate looking for a new generation of pen takers to get them through the playoff nil nil draws he will play for.

Of course a penalty for his first England goal, but the keeper wasn't far off from saving it. Otherwise I don't think Palmer had a particularly good match.

 

[Jersey Fresh]

That was definitely a cross, but Alexander-Arnold scores.

I only caught the second half, but I thought Bowen was great.

 

[gary69]

Konsa blocked Bowen from scoring, but Kane forced the ball in anyway.

 

[luiginb]

Konsa blocked Bowen from scoring, but Kane forced the ball in anyway.

Konsa was laughably bad today, also missed three glorious opportunities with weak shots. It's not his fault though, he shouldn't even start for Villa. He did this year because of injuries.

 

[gary69]

Based on this match, Beier must be in the final squad, maybe even start.

 

[Savant]

Based on this match, Beier must be in the final squad, maybe even start.

He will make it. Germany’s extra player is a 4th goalie

 

[HajdukSplit]

Croatia introduce their new manager for the Euros

 

[S E P H]

Konsa LOL. Southgate is such a moron

England has the talent to win, it depends on how self-sabotaging Southgate is going to be.

 

[Bringer of Jollity]

Well, Beier looked good but it's the same old Germany. Stick everyone in the box against them and watch them pass around the edge of the box for an hour.

 

[Moncherry]

The issue with Neves was that he has never performed well for Portugal, and is proven to be a liability ( I view him as a key reason why we lost scandalously to Morocco in 2022). His level has improved in Saudi Arabia, and in fact he was really poor the few times he's played in qualification.

Nunes might have struggled for minutes later in the season, but he brings something none of our other midfielders have. Either probably wouldn't see much playing time (hopefully, with Danilo being the backup DM), but you never know.

You got your wish, Nunes replaces the injured Otávio.

 

[cgf]

Well, Beier looked good but it's the same old Germany. Stick everyone in the box against them and watch them pass around the edge of the box for an hour.

I only watched 15min of the second half, but if Undav had been a little smarter they’d have scored a few goals. There was one shot where if he had just played it back to Beier it would’ve been an easy goal.

 

[luiginb]

You got your wish, Nunes replaces the injured Otávio.

Massive, massive downgrade. I watched the injury happen, didn't think it was that bad live.

 

[Moncherry]

Massive, massive downgrade. I watched the injury happen, didn't think it was that bad live.

lol No it isn't. There shouldn't even be any Saudi-based players there in the first place.

Just to expand, Otavio is a pitbull who can be useful coming off the bench, but it's not like he's some vital piece. Nunes coming in also beefs up the CM position which was a bit lacking, Otavio would have played AM or winger and Portugal already has enough of those options.