Everyone seems to have France as odds-on faves since the prodigal son's return, but the WC/Euro double has only been achieved by two teams for a good reason, and there are many other squads that could make noise.
The new 24-team format might make the group stages suck but it's been such a topsy-turvy season that I wouldn't count out any shockers

https://www.espn.com/soccer/uefa-european-championship/story/4399092/england-euro-2020-squad-liverpools-trent-alexander-arnold-included-despite-doubts

Also interesting to see Saka make the cut. I'm sure his versatility factored into that one.

So Fullbacks are essential because they can be deployed as wingbacks and
left and right Halves.

Also, a *LOT* of people in England are suddenly going to realize that Grealish doesn't dive now that he's in a three lions shirt (and WHAT ABOUT that out-ball for Kane to start the goal move?)

however I think he ends up at City in 2 seasons if Pep is around for the long haul

need to know where the battle lines are drawn

Just want to see good games from good teams...

preferably Belgium and England...

My list of countries in order of level of support:

1. Sweden
2. Wales
3. Finland
4. Scotland
5. Switzerland
6. Denmark
7. England
8. Czech
9. Poland
10. Italy
11. Austria
12. Netherlands
13. Croatia
14. Spain
15. Hungary
16. Germany
17. North Macedonia
18. Ukraine
19. Belgium
20. France
21. Portugal
22. Turkey
23. Slovakia
24. Russia

As long as England play countries 8-24, they're my team. But I hope they lose to Scotland in their group.

They don't have enough talent to do anything this year though

They dont have fullback cover for Dumfries and Wijndal, but theres an excellent mix of youth/vets with a legit star or two in each level.

im actually afraid Malen is gonna show out and be gone before PSV can qualify for CL group stages

Anything beyond that will be tough IMO

hes more of an attacking player than FDJ/Gino/Koop/Gravenbirch/de Roon, but thats still a real good group

also, seems weird for a dutch team to roll out in a 532. i dont understand why anyone would rather have Timber on the field than Berghuis

traditional fullbacks at wingback dont leave room for wingers like Bergwijn and El Ghazi, and Berghuis is coming off the bench

like at the same time

I like the players, English fans & media are so obnoxious tho.

>I like the players, English fans & media are so obnoxious
>tho.

fan of lucho and enjoy his style of play, but this squad is in between generations of talent.

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you think we playing chess, but i'm playing mad-making. Basaglia

but i hope it does as always lol

>but i hope it does as always lol

everyone else can pretty much kick rocks, but especially Germany, Spain and France.

I like the Croatia team too, I've always wanted to see them win something big. Not sure where the team really stands now.

The return of Benz is a clear vindication of the people's champ who was so unfairly wronged.

Although as England gets blacker And blacker the only thing that made me root for France (plus the right wing made making if that blackness and arabness) is starting to stand out less.

Plus the British press stay trying to shame them out of taking the knee before games and they ain't having it.

Spain, France, Belgium, and Netherlands are cool though.

shame the saga ended this way

but I feel for him

https://twitter.com/CedricCanale/status/1399830611511103495

Gesu ha pianto.

at least Werner will put it in the net. Morata through 90th minute on goal, goalie gives him the whole net and this fuck claps the crossbar

They are both cans of spam....

lots of movement on the wings, full of elusiveness. Looking forward to the Italy-Turkey opener next Friday

Tony wanted too much transfer money. Ooops.

He wants ultimate control and power... he would still
be at Chelsea if it weren’t for his antics. Dude got himself fired
to cash in. They had committed so much money in him, but
Roman had no chance but to sack him. Conte basically stopped coaching
or caring because he didn’t get the players he wanted.

Conte wanted to bring his staff with him they said no
They were off by 3m on his salary requests
Unable to provide transfer assurances

Why did they even contact him knowing they are broke and cheap

Dwindling club with hated owners, or a club on the rise with beloved owners? Great historical stadium with atmosphere, or a sterile, quiet Eurobowl?

Woooooooooooooo

Oh it's about to be ON.

Mind you it’s a pointless ‘title’, nevertheless…

bunch of kids running around out there and hoping for the best

Looked like one of those early NWO segments.

puli doesn't take many so i can't say that i expected *that*

value is high.

seems like gio just got hit in the face by a bottle. wild shit.

I mean...US-Mexico is not going to be world-class but it should aspire to be frantic, dramatic and entertaining

LEGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

https://twitter.com/EricWynalda/status/1401745207071105030

Dempsey reaction got me so weak

Threw so much stuff they hit their own players at the end

You know they're world famous for throwing bags of piss and shit at people, right?

im re-sensitized to their tomfoolery now

Something really needs to be done. No more fans home games. Maybe no more fans at Mexico games period until they get their shit together. Masculinity in Mexican culture can be toxic af, and their footballing fan culture is like the ultimate embodiment of it. It's gotta change.

now and always

I mean, I'll def watch Gold Cup as well.

But those qualifiers are gonna be fire.

Loved Incy. Similar build, same shitstarter tendencies.

Probably no one else is old enough to get this reference

I vividly remember him roasting Holland in a counter attack in Euro '96, plus a couple of times with Liverpool (unfortunately never saw him at his peak with United)

It always fascinated me that he's I believe the only prominent player to ever play for both United and Liverpool.

I didn't live through Ince but my coach growing up used to give me old United tapes to watch which was how I became a United fan.

Rips the shirt off, runs over to the stands and gives zero fucks about all the shit they are throwing on him and gives the Mexican fans the "shush finger."

Cold blooded.

Edouard and Soumare coming in for Brendy’s Boys. They’re gonna be trouble, man.

i think any of their players can be had for a modest fee

Fucking Bruno, man....Man, we had a chance to get this dude back in
2018. We were all on him.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2773418-chelsea-reportedly-make-contact-with-bruno-fernandes-amid-spurs-liverpool-links

But Sarri came in and didn’t rate him I believe. And Manchester buys him in
January 2020...basically 2 years later.

Dude might Hazard league for the next decade.....and we are fucking around
with Havertz and Werner who can’t score shit.

Now I have to watch this dude destroy the league for MU.

thank you

But Sancho's not going anywhere. United will fuck it up.

can't expect them to misspend £200mm again.

If they do decide to buy him , It will take at least a year .
Dortmund is not letting him leave this summer.

Personally, I hope we don’t pull the trigger, big buys never work for us.
And doing it again at over 100 million would just plain be silly.

Too much great talent out there at lower prices that can serve the role.

Schvcheko-Torres-Morata-Werner/Havertz. Don’t need to keep
repeating that history....

https://twitter.com/fabrizioromano/status/1403198392696819714?s=21

and we're still trying to nickel/dime them
the price is the price. it shouldve been done the day the window opened and definitely before the fan forum

don't let Dortumnd take an inch! it's about principles!

Let's see if King Burak can do something against the ageing Squadra backline

Could be Latvia v. Luxembourg, and I'd be all in.

>Could be Latvia v. Luxembourg, and I'd be all in.

I hear ya though, I can talk myself into watching intensely any of the group stage games, as long as I can spare the time

And now I remember.

he's the face of the sport on espn. it's embarrassing when you think about casual fans in the states tuning in and hoping to get into the sport... and they get 90+ minutes of twellman.

seems like the powers that be are doing everything in their power to not grow the sport with things like the berhalter hire and the half ass media coverage.

I think it's an American broadcasting thing, that whoever's in charge thinks that sporting events have to have somebody talking every second, or the audience will freak out at the silence or something.

Didn't use to be that way though. Noticed it the last 20 years especially in baseball. Used to be one, maybe two guys to remind you of the count, announce subs, have some casual conversation. Now it's three guys filling every moment with jabber. But it's baseball, and not much happens, and not very fast, and that must scare TV execs, so it's talk talk talk.

So maybe they think the same thing about soccer, so they get Twellman and pay him by the word, because he just can't bring himself to STFU for even a second.

Why is ESPN even bothering with football, if they're going to mail it in this bad. The Hispanic guy from the Wales game is just slightly less bad

saw the highly comedic Tukey OG (was he, uh, trying to chest it to his keeper?) but otherwise not missing much it seems

Turkish league gotta get some money again. They used to have some solid players

Rest was great

Embolo looked good. Can’t say I’ve watched monchengladbach, maybe he’s been good all year?

He did look dangerous. See how he looks v. Italy though.

They’re trying to revive him there

I wasn't paying attention, came back to the team shielding what was going on. Definitely tough to watch, something like that happened at a work fundraising soccer tourney I was playing in once, just...ugh

And he was non responsive. Super fucking scary.

Hope the limited clapping i just heard is a good sign, but where the fuck is the ambulance?!?!?!?!
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you think we playing chess, but i'm playing mad-making. Basaglia

>Hope the limited clapping i just heard is a good sign, but
>where the fuck is the ambulance?!?!?!?!

I really, really hope I'm wrong...

as they kept on for 10 or so minutes smh

They're doing chest compressions this is scary
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you think we playing chess, but i'm playing mad-making. Basaglia

chest compressions on the field

fuck

This is similar (though praying Erikssen can still make it obvious), just shocking and horrible to watch

But the last thing I feel like rn is watching a game tbh. Gonna head to the park to celebrate my daughter’s 1st bday later, hope everyone has a good Saturday. Stay healthy and enjoy your families y’all

Thank god
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you think we playing chess, but i'm playing mad-making. Basaglia

That was something else. Seeing the chest compressions live, you couldn't help but think the worse

https://twitter.com/sportscenter/status/1403769846932852749?s=21

https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1403775657570623493

Croatia hanging tough though.

Sterling shitting on the doubters. ...Mount was productive with great runs
and tracking back.

And Jack Grealish?

Sitting on bench with an arse full of splinters...send this man back to queen!

While Reece James didn’t do shit from the bench.

I know. Grealish just along for the cheerleading, with his Cindy Brady
headband.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teSXcJlpMl8

missed header at point blank range at the far post notwithstanding.

I had no idea he was a right back at club level.

He would look great as the new Arsenal right back (yeah, I know, it won't happen)

he can certainly do a few things offensively but hes a hell of a defender

if PSV had better CBs he might be encouraged to do more offensively, but they need to be supervised at all times :/

https://twitter.com/i/events/1392081594257604611?s=20

super jarring to watch these dystopian Copa America games after enjoying the start of the Euros with boisterous fans

such a beautiful place and people. sad to see more turmoil.

Gotta figure out who everybody is.

that doesn't seem like trying to win to me.

that seems like a domestic league reach-around, but that doesnt account for morata over iago aspas so who tf knows.

also...no room on the bench even for Saul?

and will be key to the next 4-5 tourneys. Luis Alberto might be a little better (i don't watch lazio much) right now, but the gap can't be big and pedri's going to be a regular for the next 10 years+ for the country. plus, in a tourney with limited time to practice, having someone who already plays in the style with a teammate in the midfield with him (who knew busi would get covid) was a bonus.

i am surprise Saul isn't on the bench. but over whom at midfield (don't say pedri, lol)? I could see him replacing one of the many wingers, but there's also need to find a forward to score goals.
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you think we playing chess, but i'm playing mad-making. Basaglia

that still gives you 4 bodies for two winger spots.

and to be totally honest...i really dont see it with Koke. i must be missing something there.

regarding Pedri and Luis Alberto, Lazio struggled with the burden of condensed league play + CL play, but to my admittedly uneducated eyes, Luis Alberto has been one of the best attacking midfielders in the world over the last few years. like, a half tier below De Bruyne and Bruno, but only that much.

then that's a miss, but as you mentioned, lazio underperformed and likely luis enrique didn't see him much (lack of spanish players in serie a).

Koke was pretty impressive this year. rock solid and fits how enrique wants to play really well

it's hard to leave either of those guys out. and again, i suspect luis enrique's got half of an eye toward the world cup and olmo should be a star for that squad. maybe enrique wanted someone with a little more experience at winger. honestly, adama's the guy i'm surprised to see there but he does offer a different style more than anyone else.

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you think we playing chess, but i'm playing mad-making. Basaglia

I think it might be connected to Spain's inability to put one in.

cmon Sweden, keep playing like a League 2 team facing City in an FA Cup Round of 32

and Sweden almost stole it but that dude completely missed his kick in the final 15 minutes.

and how obnoxious it is? How did it get drawn?

I know Germany aren't what they used to be, but they're still a big nation that can be dangerous working towards a goal in recovery. Then to have France and Portugal, last World Cup Champs, last Euro Champ and Finalist, in the same group, just seems off. I don't see how one of these three teams wouldn't have made more sense switched with virtually any other group almost.

made slightly less exciting by the fact the 3rd placed team will likely go through

not because I'd rather have a doormat as the 4th team in our group but I've enjoyed seeing the autocratic countries (Poland, Russia) losing so far and Hungary would make a nice 3/3

>I've enjoyed seeing the autocratic countries
>(Poland, Russia) losing so far and Hungary would make a nice
>3/3

That, mixed with irrational personal biases.

lol I am a Portugal fan and was at their game last Euro (one of two I got to attend), I'm mostly hoping it's smoother sailing for Matchday one for us at least, they can give France and Germany trouble later!

but also I assume this group is going to provide at least 2/3rds of the decent group stage matches

...but what is it that you want, really? A four team tourney with just France and Spain or Germany playing over and over?

There are mismatches in the group stages. So what? What's wrong with a smaller nation working hard for a result? Sweden yesterday, Hungary today...is like y'all say "if every player on the pitch isn't absolutely world class the match is beneath me."

But you know, I'm just trying to enjoy the matches for what they are. Nice to have international football.

mostly I was making fun of the Turkeys of the world, who against Italy looked like they didn't even want to be playing soccer.

Upsets are great. The Sweden game was wild.

Also I'm going to make fun of the lesser teams like Scotland.

It's international futbol.

Lots of stripes. Big stripes.

would probably be even better if they didn't have to force feed CRonaldo all the time.

You heard it here first.

silly me.

Dominant defensive performance by France, but Kimmich, Muller and Havertz didn't exactly dazzle.

Pogba-Kante-Rabiot controlled everything.

a 352 with no real ST seems beyond unorthodox

if/when Chelsea get a striker I can see him relegated to bench duty

actually maybe not since tuchel seems to love pulisic as a sub. it'll be interesting to see if "pace" and "work rate" is enough for a 25 year old entering his prime to continue to hold down a starting spot week in and week out.

soccer players are weird

but damn this Turkey team is b a d

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/16/gianluigi-donnarumma-joins-psg-as-gianluigi-buffon-goes-back-to-parma

Also, Buffon back at Parma is a nice story.

I guess we're doing this to replace Navas in 2 years? Rich clubs are weird

don't know if seeing him at another club will feel as weird as when Raul went to Schalke, but it'll be up there

I will say this is actually a fun side to watch, which is unusual.

wonder if Locatelli just played himself into the starting XI ahead of Verratti

Dude just wins.

Free transfer after winning the scudetto.

...to Premier League glory.

he did more at Inter than I expected. I was kinda impressed.

How will the Danes come out today? With extra fire, or emotionally drained?

Hoping it's the former, but Belgium will probably still win handily.

in any case their tribute to Erikssen at the 10th minute is gonna be an emotional moment for both teams

Not sure it'll hold up into the 2nd half, but this is great so far.

10th minute thing was nice.

>Not sure it'll hold up into the 2nd half, but this is great
>so far.

yeah that's a tough pace to hold up and red devils will surely show more but should make for a fun 2d half. Lukaku hasn't been that contained in a while

to look at the charred husk Daniel Levy is offering before saying thanks but no thanks.

KDB was MOTM of course.

Eden Hazard supplied KDB with a beautiful assist.... Thorgan sets up Hazard
and Hazard unselfishly feeds a dime to KDB for the second
goal. They looked like Chelsea during the time of Hazard, Oscar
Mata on that play. Shit was magical.

He should be in prime form come the knockout stages.

I already don't expect much from these announcers but they somehow under-deliver still. Alejandro Moreno could talk for 6 months straight and I don't know if he'd say a single enlightening thing

apart from him Sweden is a total offensive desert

...that one of them does something cool.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=32x5jx_0Y7VPmQx00

As always, it's your typical 'cagey' affair

Lautero Martinez was none too happy being subbed

some poor pigeon landed on the field and had to keep moving away, that's how open play has been

Doesn't seem like a sound defensive strategy.

Germany even scored, was to KEEP leaving Gosens unmarked?

Okay, interesting tactic. Wonder how that ended up working out?

...to grease some Italian palms, that time is now.

Are there any Welsh billionaires?

Because that's what people want to see. More Turkey.