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Who Are Going To Be Euro 2024 Champions ?

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Replying To WanPintWin:  "This thread has gone down a bit of a rabbit hole, but on the point made, was it extraordinary that England beat Switzerland? No, of course it wasn't. They were favourites before the game kicked off, with every single bookmaker.
It was a very close game, the Swiss probably edged it in general play, but the one missed Swiss penalty cost them in the end.
The draw has been very kind to them, with all the best teams taking each other out on the other side, but they're taking advantage of it (just about so far)."
Yeah better to be lucky than good I suppose. The Dutch team they play next is decent but nowhere near the level of great Dutch teams of the past. I think England will beat them and likely play France in the final. Although I'd love to see Spain win it. They're the best to watch by far but I just think France will be a bvery tough nut to crack for them. Saliba and Upamecano have been outstanding at the back, and Maignan is a very solid goalkeeper.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9518 - 09/07/2024 10:50:21    2557964

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "I reckon the England squad arund 2004 was the best they had in my memory anyway. Perhaps just lacking a real top quality goalkeeper. When you consider they had the likes of Gary Neville, Cole, Terry, Ferdinand, Campbell, Scholes, Gerrard, Lampard, Beckham, Rooney, Owen etc. They also had the same problem back then in that they didn't have a naturally gifted left-footed wide player and also Sven tried to shoe horn too many of his big names in his starting 11s."
That England squad around 2004 were massive underachievers they didn't get past the quarter finals in 2000 2002 2004 2006 and didn't even qualify in 2008, they have had far better squads who have achieved far more.

Royal.Legend (Meath) - Posts: 681 - 09/07/2024 11:13:12    2557971

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "I reckon the England squad arund 2004 was the best they had in my memory anyway. Perhaps just lacking a real top quality goalkeeper. When you consider they had the likes of Gary Neville, Cole, Terry, Ferdinand, Campbell, Scholes, Gerrard, Lampard, Beckham, Rooney, Owen etc. They also had the same problem back then in that they didn't have a naturally gifted left-footed wide player and also Sven tried to shoe horn too many of his big names in his starting 11s."
Hindsight and all but not selecting Michael Carrick in that era scuppered them. None of the above could play his role to that level and they just didn't cop that every other successful team had someone who could. You could argue that Southgate is doing the opposite too and playing too many DMs

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12200 - 09/07/2024 11:13:49    2557972

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Kinda funny that France have been equally dour and uninspiring as England but nobody on here cares haha

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12200 - 09/07/2024 11:16:11    2557973

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "Yeah better to be lucky than good I suppose. The Dutch team they play next is decent but nowhere near the level of great Dutch teams of the past. I think England will beat them and likely play France in the final. Although I'd love to see Spain win it. They're the best to watch by far but I just think France will be a bvery tough nut to crack for them. Saliba and Upamecano have been outstanding at the back, and Maignan is a very solid goalkeeper."
Yeah it's a pity after such an enjoyable group stage the competition has really petered out and there's no real underdog left. I'm pretty indifferent now but yeah Spain would probably be the most deserving winners

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12200 - 09/07/2024 11:18:29    2557976

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Replying To Royal.Legend:  "That England squad around 2004 were massive underachievers they didn't get past the quarter finals in 2000 2002 2004 2006 and didn't even qualify in 2008, they have had far better squads who have achieved far more."
The level of other national teams then were much higher. Don't think more than a handful of current Dutch or Italian players would make the squads of 00s.

Dutch had kluivert bergkamp van nistelrooy makaay hasselbaink. Now there left with depay or weghorst.

Italy had totti del piero vieri inzaghi now left with lads at bottom end of serie a and scamacca.

Even Spain squad of 00s before making breakthrough in 08 is better then current crew.

jm25 (Galway) - Posts: 1285 - 09/07/2024 11:34:51    2557983

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Replying To Royal.Legend:  "That England squad around 2004 were massive underachievers they didn't get past the quarter finals in 2000 2002 2004 2006 and didn't even qualify in 2008, they have had far better squads who have achieved far more."
I think they were a bit unlucky in 2002 and 2004 to be fair.
In 2002 in the quarter finals they had Brazil worried after Michael Owen put them one up. But that Brazilian team arguably had one of the best front 3's of all time in Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo. David Seaman had a nightmare with Ronaldinho's free kick and that was that.

In 2004 Wayne Rooney was running riot til he picked up his injury. They were 7 minutes away from knocking Portugal out in the quarters only lost on penalties.

Fine margins in tournament football.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9518 - 09/07/2024 11:36:41    2557985

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Oh god here we go France or Spain, England or Netherlands! Don't know who I'd like or what to go for!
Two draws in 90mins is like 9/1.
Napoleon, Franko, Cromwell or William.
Right here we go Final decision France v Netherlands Final.
And I promised myself as soon as Germany or Portugal were gone that I was finished....but alas it pulled me back in!!

katser (Galway) - Posts: 2475 - 09/07/2024 17:47:02    2558089

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Spain will meet England in the Final, Mbappe such an overrated player. Hasn't showing up tonight.

LimerickForLiam24 (Limerick) - Posts: 144 - 09/07/2024 21:44:53    2558120

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Poorish game, with the right result in the end.
Spain, whoever they play in the final, really should win it, but you never know. On form they're the only team who've looked good in the competition.

England to beat the Netherlands on penalties or extra time tomorrow.

Galway9801 (Galway) - Posts: 1942 - 09/07/2024 22:56:05    2558126

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Replying To katser:  "Oh god here we go France or Spain, England or Netherlands! Don't know who I'd like or what to go for!
Two draws in 90mins is like 9/1.
Napoleon, Franko, Cromwell or William.
Right here we go Final decision France v Netherlands Final.
And I promised myself as soon as Germany or Portugal were gone that I was finished....but alas it pulled me back in!!"
You're 0 for 5 now, on the qfinals and semi.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3875 - 09/07/2024 23:16:43    2558130

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Replying To LimerickForLiam24:  "Spain will meet England in the Final, Mbappe such an overrated player. Hasn't showing up tonight."
I understand your view on Mbappe however, last week Hamaan was winging about Ronaldo, this week he's winging about Mbappe but he forgets to share his Winge with the overall French team performance.

Last night both teams performed on par from the start, then Mbappe curled in a beauty ball and it was nodded home expertly for France to score first. Shortly after Spains wonder kid Yamal scored a wonder goal at 16 years of age, this goal visibly shook France, 4 or 5 minutes later the ball was in the net for Spain's second goal an og and from there on France was always back peddling so it literally killed off any chance France had of reaching the final and they knew it. Di Di Hamann tried to put the blame on Mbappe, therefore taking the easy way out, in my opinion Mbappe couldn't raise his game unless the rest of the team did, which they didn't in other words Mbappe was on his own.

Because France as a team were almost non-existent, they made Spain look odd's on favorites to win it out after all Spain only scored one goal from play from the 16 year old wonder kid, they were credited with the second and that being an Og, officially.

Other than the Wonder kid, the overall stand out player on the field was Spain's Cucurella (24)

supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 3051 - 10/07/2024 09:39:23    2558157

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Replying To supersub15:  "I understand your view on Mbappe however, last week Hamaan was winging about Ronaldo, this week he's winging about Mbappe but he forgets to share his Winge with the overall French team performance.

Last night both teams performed on par from the start, then Mbappe curled in a beauty ball and it was nodded home expertly for France to score first. Shortly after Spains wonder kid Yamal scored a wonder goal at 16 years of age, this goal visibly shook France, 4 or 5 minutes later the ball was in the net for Spain's second goal an og and from there on France was always back peddling so it literally killed off any chance France had of reaching the final and they knew it. Di Di Hamann tried to put the blame on Mbappe, therefore taking the easy way out, in my opinion Mbappe couldn't raise his game unless the rest of the team did, which they didn't in other words Mbappe was on his own.

Because France as a team were almost non-existent, they made Spain look odd's on favorites to win it out after all Spain only scored one goal from play from the 16 year old wonder kid, they were credited with the second and that being an Og, officially.

Other than the Wonder kid, the overall stand out player on the field was Spain's Cucurella (24)"
You seem to have a real problem with Hamman calling out obvious poor performances. Both Ronaldo and M'bappe have had below par performances this tournament, that is undeniable. Hamman calling what he sees is not 'whinging' it's his opinion and it reflects the opinion of many others too. I'm sure if Portugal won the Euros you would be on here waxing lyrical about the greatness of Ronaldo, not his teammates, like you were pre tournament. So you can't have all the praise and zero criticism when both have their rightful place in sport.

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2501 - 10/07/2024 11:01:14    2558175

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Really hope Spain go on and win it now. They play the game the right way and fully deserved to beat France last night. Deschamps time is surely up now?

England Holland tonight. Holland could spring a surprise but surely if England can get out of the third gear they've been operating in so far they'll have enough? An England Spain final would be very interesting.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9518 - 10/07/2024 12:25:11    2558193

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "Really hope Spain go on and win it now. They play the game the right way and fully deserved to beat France last night. Deschamps time is surely up now?

England Holland tonight. Holland could spring a surprise but surely if England can get out of the third gear they've been operating in so far they'll have enough? An England Spain final would be very interesting."
I agree, I'd like to see Spain win it from here. Lamine Yamal has been a hell of a story in this tournament and they have lit up and otherwise dull Euros with him leading the charge.

England Vs Holland is a real 50/50 for me. England have the better squad, Holland have a slightly better manager maybe. But Spain shouldn't fear either of them really.

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2501 - 10/07/2024 12:56:03    2558201

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Replying To SaffronDon:  "I agree, I'd like to see Spain win it from here. Lamine Yamal has been a hell of a story in this tournament and they have lit up and otherwise dull Euros with him leading the charge.

England Vs Holland is a real 50/50 for me. England have the better squad, Holland have a slightly better manager maybe. But Spain shouldn't fear either of them really."
Yeah Yamal looks like he has a great career ahead of him. I was reading an interesting fact earlier. Local German labour law prevent minors from working after 8pm. There are allowances made for athletes, but they can't work beyond 11pm. The Spanish manager has joked that they'll just have to get the job done in the final in normal time!!

What a lovely goal last night. Postage stamp finish.

France were very disappointing. Looks like they definitely need a fresh voice in the dressing room who can hopefully find a system that allows their players to express themselves better. Arsene Wenger maybe?

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9518 - 10/07/2024 14:07:43    2558212

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "Yeah Yamal looks like he has a great career ahead of him. I was reading an interesting fact earlier. Local German labour law prevent minors from working after 8pm. There are allowances made for athletes, but they can't work beyond 11pm. The Spanish manager has joked that they'll just have to get the job done in the final in normal time!!

What a lovely goal last night. Postage stamp finish.

France were very disappointing. Looks like they definitely need a fresh voice in the dressing room who can hopefully find a system that allows their players to express themselves better. Arsene Wenger maybe?"
I think Zidane has gone on record that he wants it

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12200 - 10/07/2024 14:38:25    2558219

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May ask Mbappe, he will be deciding!!

hughieferm (Fermanagh) - Posts: 13 - 10/07/2024 16:13:33    2558232

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Replying To Redhot:  "This is not a GAA related topic , For me France ,"
I have got to put my hand up and day that I got it wrong

Redhot (Cork) - Posts: 739 - 10/07/2024 18:25:56    2558258

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For better or worse, the final next Sunday evening just got alot more interesting imo.

Galway9801 (Galway) - Posts: 1942 - 10/07/2024 22:01:26    2558281

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