Ah, the Euro 2020 2021 is beginning soon. Tbh actually I'm not in the mood yet but I'm sure as soon as it's starting I'm "glued" before the TV. It's always the same with me, can't help myself. What do you expect from your team? I'm honest, this is the first major tournament since the Euro 2000 where I have a bad feeling (yeah, I didn't have a bad feeling before the World Cup 2018. We were defending champion back then, won the Confed Cup 2017 in good manner with young players. But it went all wrong in the end.... and it even made a "rip in the space-time continuum" because it was the first time since the World Cup 1966 that England finished better than Germany in a major tournament. I hope the crack is repaired now and that everything is normal again (Sorry, could not resist, Brits. But we're not accustomed to it that you finish above us) So my main expectation for this (transition) tournament for the German team: 1: Surviving the group of death with France and Portugal. Even Hungary is actually a threat. I'm sceptical about it, tbh France and Portugal are actually way better than us. But that doesn't mean we can't get a win against both but only if everything works fine. Actually we create enough chances but can't convert it. Was to be seen yesterday par excellence against Denmark (who are actually placed above us in the rankings). We dominated the whole match (even without the Chelsea players and City's Gündogan) but could only score once (plus two goalpost shots). Denmark on the other hand, had only 1 chance in the whole match and scored. Against France and Portugal we need way better efficiency upfront. My other wishes are already fulfilled before the tournament starts: Getting rid of Löw Getting Hansi Flick as our new Bundestrainer What are your expectations about your team? Do you watch a lot of matches? Or only those of your team?
I expect them to start slowly, Southgate to make bizarre selections, and get knocked out in the quarter finals. I'll watch almost all the games as it'll (hopefully) be better than any of the other clart on TV.
If we top the group and play Portugal or France we’ll probably get knocked out. If not we will probably carry on till we have to face them later ! Or a Belgium/Spain. Will try to watch most of the game - particularly knock out stages .
England will be well organised and we'll get through the group stages okay, and might get a win or two in the knock out stages, until we come up against one of the other big nations who'll beat us in a tight game. Most likely quarters, but could be last 16 or semis depending on who we play.
Expecting nothing as usual. Probably just about do enough to win the group and then out in round of 16. I will be trying to watch as many as I can. I always enjoy the other games more than England ones anyway.
I love the Euro's and World Cups and International Football in general, despite all the disappointments. I am excited to see how we perform - in an attacking sense we have some fantastic options, flip it and in a defensive sense we have very few options (except right back of course). My biggest worry is Southgate is not tactically up to it, he cant change a game when its needed and he is woeful at making substitution's. The group will be a case of can we break Croatia, Scotland and Czech Rep down. Croatia are not as strong as the team we faced at the last world cup but them and the Czech's will be organised and hard to breakdown. The Scotland game will be exciting and open and more like a domestic game - i do expect us to come through with 7 points but i don't think we will learn too much. The test is the last 16 if we win the group and we face one of France, Portugal, Germany or Hungary. We typically lose when we face a 'top' nation in this competitions and in France and Portugal you have many peoples two favourites and well the other is Germany. If, we did get through that then i think the nation would suddenly be swept up in the madness and the belief would be there. In terms of the team - If Maguire is injured then Southgate is going 3 centre backs which will limit the forward players. For me both Rashford and Sterling should not start and those forward positions either side of Kane are contested between Sancho, Foden and Grealish. The tournament as whole is intriguing for me. Whilst i prefer one nation to be hosts, i think this multi nation/multi venue set up could cause some shocks. Take the 'group of death' as an example. I think Portugal and France and most peoples picks not just for the group but the whole thing - however, Germany will be playing all three 3 group games in Munich and Hungary will be hosting both Portugal and France in Budapest. This is similar in some other groups as well - depending on what crowds are allows across Europe this could change the outcome it would be on a neutral venue. Given the busy football schedule the bigger/stronger squads should perform. Winners: France Surprise package: Turkey (Semi Finals) Surprise early exit: Spain England: Maybe i'm older and wiser but i am going to say Last 16 loss to France which wont be anything to be ashamed of should they go on to win it but i don't think we have the defence, keeper and manager to win a trophy yet.
We have so many interesting attacking options, and we have deficiencies at the back. We know it, other nations know it. My hope is that Southgate avoids the temptation to pick the team with extra defensive players hoping to prop-up this weakness by negating our strength. I'm quite happy to see a more attack minded team, knowing we will concede goals, but let's play to our strength and entertain people. We aren't going to beat a France type team and win it, no matter what style of play, so until such time as we meet that calibre, let's enjoy ourselves a bit. My expectation is that we'll edge through group games like last night, never really letting our creative players off the leash. We'll get to the same point and go out against the same top level team, but have ground and bored our way through to that point.
What are your expectations about your team? To be honest just getting through to the last 16 would be a big achievement, even if that is by coming in third place. Italy, Switzerland and Turkey are all good sides and at the time of the draw it wasn't actually too bad as we would only have to play Italy away, and would have Switzerland and Turkey at neutral grounds. The format of the tournament gives a huge disadvantage to anyone that isn't a host, with most sides having to play two away games, and a game at a neutral ground. We need one win really, the barrier for third place sides last time was 3 points and a neutral goal difference. We're a young side, and only really six of the last Euros squad have managed to survive to make the 26 (Hennessey, Davies, Gunter, Allen, Ramsey, Bale). I think we'll be a better side for Euro 2024, but I think this side does have the potential to win games. We've got a lot of quick players, and plenty of technical ability although we do have a mistake in us. I think we'll certainly be an interesting one to watch, if we can get our full side out there (which we haven't been able to so far). All three games are tough, but I think we're in with a chance of winning any of them. Ward (27) Rodon (22) - Cabango (21) - Davies (27) C. Roberts (24) - Allen (31) - Ampadu (20) - N. Williams (20) Bale (31) - Ramsey (30) - D. James (23) That's our strongest side. Six of the new generation, three players at the tail end of their peak who still have plenty to offer, and two who are probably just beginning to peak now. Do you watch a lot of matches? I'll watch as many as I can as it'll be a busy period with work, and the kick off times are sometimes quite early mid-week. This is the only football that I'm really interested in at the moment, as international football still hasn't become too sanitised in the way the Premier League and the Champions League have. Hopefully VAR doesn't ruin that. Other sides Winners: France Just watching them last night, having added Benzema in to the mix of a side that's already won the World Cup and seeing him linking up perfectly with Mbappe and Griezmann, I'd have to back them. They didn't even have Kante last night. There side will look something like this, and I just don't see how most sides are going to be able to compete with it, they move the ball so well and have such good movement in behind sides. England have a good side but the France have centre-backs in Upamecano, Laporte and Konate who'd all be starting for them that weren't even considered for selection. Lloris Pavard - Varane - Kimpembe - Hernandez Kante Pogba - Tolisso Griezmann Benzema - Mbappe Surprise package: Denmark (Semi-Finals) I could see them doing well, they are a really solid side with some major tournament experience that are certainly hard to score against, they've got the advantage of being hosts and if they do end up runners up to Belgium in their group then they've got a favourable draw to potentially reach the Semi-Finals by beating two similar nations to themselves (runners up Group A, winners of Group C) and importantly avoiding any of the major powerhouses. Surprise early exit: Netherlands (Last 16) I'm not sure if they'll go out in the Group Stage, as they've got three homes games and have North Macedonia. A home win over them should see them through in third place at the absolute least but I can see them dropping out in the last 16 when they'll have their first neutral game. I'm not convinced at all by Frank de Boer as a manager, and he's had some dodgy results as manager already. They're obviously missing Van Dijk, and are very reliant on de Ligt, de Jong and Depay. I'm not sure they've got too much quality outside of that.
My expectation really is that we will be competitive. I genuinely don't have any expectations as such in terms of progression within the tournament but am of course hopeful we can get out of the group. We are up against 3 good teams so that will be tough, but hopefully we can recapture the spirit of 2016 and cause a surprise or two.
Most England fans expect disappointment. It's all the past two or three generations have known. However when you actually compare our squad to others and take into account we made the semi-finals of the World Cup (albeit with a favourable draw) three years ago then we really should be a bit more optimistic. France clearly have the strongest squad in the world but beyond them I don't see a lot to be scared of. If KDB isn't fully fit after his eye injury you may as well rule Belgium out, while Germany, Spain and Italy are all a bit 'meh' compared to some of their past teams. No-one will want to face us in front of our home crowd with the likes of Mount, Foden and Kane all on top form. I just hope we do ourselves justice and attack the tournament from the off. We don't have the easiest group but we should still be winning it and going into the final 16 full of confidence.
I expect Gareth to play extremely defensive and passive football in a 3-5-2. This will result in us losing a game in the quarters/semis narrowly, so Gareth can walk away and say we only lost due to luck/one mistake, without damaging his reputation, meaning he will have a decent job lined up after he finishes. I expect France to win. N'golo Kante and M'Bappe in the same team is almost cheating. Even France B would have a better chance of winning the Euros than England.
Not too sure what to expect from us to be honest. I think we’ve got a great squad and as shown at the last Euros we have the ability to grind out results. I think we go through in 2nd from our group and the we’ll get to the quarters as a minimum. My main fear is that now people are saying us and France have the best squads and we’re expected to go well, that we’ll just completely fail to turn up
England will go out in the last 16 if we win the group, quarters if we finish 2nd. Turkey are my surprise pick to do well, I fancy them or Denmark for a semi final place with the way the draw works out. Netherlands will likely go out in the last 16 as the surprise early exit, I reckon they’ll end up second in their group with a defeat to Turkey in the round of 16. Quarters isn’t an early exit per se but I have doubts about Belgium getting to the semis, especially if KDB is injured.
Heard it too, that they're considered as a bit of a dark horse for this tournament. It is said, that it is the best danish team since the Euro 1992 (where they won it although not qualified but due to the bloody balcan war they earned the spot of Yugoslavia. I still can't believe it that they beat us in the final back then) We played them yesterday in a friendly. Tbh I wasn't impressed but I shouldn't judge them only about yesterdays lacklustre performance. Maybe they didn't want to show all their weapons yet Fingers crossed. An early exit of the Dutch is always desirable. We lost to North Macedonia at home in the World Cup qualifiers end of March thx to the blooper of Timo Werner
I echo Happily Lost's comment on slow & passive football despite every Portuguese , Italian , Brazilian , Pole etc... at work envious of our players we just end up lacking at most tournaments. The media have a lot to do with this over hyping stuff up but I'm not a Southgate fan , he seems like a FA wet dream by being a yes man . I finish work on the 10th & am back on the 21st , I've got 40 pints of home brew ready which I'll be consuming whilst binging out on the Euro's & Royal Ascot . Reckon England quarter finals & Scotland will also quality out of our group . The Frogs have one heck of a squad , been there & done that , hate to say it but reckon they'll win it.
I'll try to watch every game. There is nothing I like more than a Euros/World Cup. As most England fans, I expect disappointment. A likely second round exit looking at the draw, but they could surprise me and I live in hope!
A few positions up in the air but I’d expect to see: GK - Patricio Defense - Cancelo, Dias, Pepe, Nuno Mendes The midfield is the hardest one to call, I’d expect one of William/ Danilo alongside Moutinho in the first game with Bruno Fernandes as the attacking outlet Front three of Ronaldo, Felix/Jota and Bernardo
