Euro 2020 Thread

[Ebo]

The strongest squad in the tournament by far are France. They have an unbelievable depth to their squad and an embarrassment of riches.

Belgium are my second favourites, very strong squad but have that mental block in the knockout stages where they tend to either bottle it or suffer some really bad luck.

Germany - can never be written off in any tournament. They always turn up.

Spain - Even though a strong team, they are nowhere near the team that won 2 European Championships and a World Cup in-between. Suffering from a lack of finishing lately, Morata is having a torrid time up front and Luis Enrique's refusal to start Moreno and name a very small squad shy on strikers could see an early exit for La Furia Roja.

Italy - dark horses

England - Bottlers

Again, maybe I am putting too much emphasis on it, but the format of the tournament doesn't help France, not to mention that group is an absolute nightmare, with Hungary probably getting at least a point against one of them.

When you have their quality, it probably doesn't matter, but they have to hit the ground running, as they play Germany in Munich in the opener, and then Hungary in Budapest, which they will be fired up for

If they come 2nd behind Germany (as is my prediction), then they play the winner of Englands group (probably England, in Wembley)

I think they will win the group.

 

[Fireboy]

Again, maybe I am putting too much emphasis on it, but the format of the tournament doesn't help France, not to mention that group is an absolute nightmare, with Hungary probably getting at least a point against one of them.

When you have their quality, it probably doesn't matter, but they have to hit the ground running, as they play Germany in Munich in the opener, and then Hungary in Budapest, which they will be fired up for

If they come 2nd behind Germany (as is my prediction), then they play the winner of Englands group (probably England, in Wembley)

I think they will win the group.

I agree.

 

[Ebo]

I think they will win the group.

I agree.

They are pretty much trying to emulate that great Spanish team under Vicente del Bosque, albeit just a back to back World Cup/Euro's double.

If they win this then there is nothing stopping them from winning next years EC as well. I hope not though as I want either Spain or the Argentinians to win that.

 

[sainthelens]

Belgium for me. Now or never for them. France undoubtedly strong favs, but Belgium @6/1 too good to miss.

 

[Longlostjack]

Germany are a competition team but are notoriously slow starters. Up against France in the first game. I’ll stick my neck out and say they’ll struggle.

 

[JustJack]

Germany are a competition team but are notoriously slow starters. Up against France in the first game. I’ll stick my neck out and say they’ll struggle.

Quite the opposite in fact, yes they crapped the bed at the last world cup, but in the majority of tournaments before that, they've finished top of the group comfortably.

I can't see them losing in Munich.

 

[Longlostjack]

Jogi’s given up on renewing the team and has brought Müller back who he discarded before. His last tournament as manager. Should have gone after the WC.

 

[Badlands]

Can you imagine the consequences of England winning a tournament!
Millennia of boasting.

 

[sainthelens]

Can you imagine the consequences of England winning a tournament!
Millennia of boasting.

Can't happen, their defence nowhere near good enough.

 

[Skippyjack]

Our Group A game tonight, Turkey vs Italy, a draw is the best outcome for Wales, I think Turkey can pull off an upset though

 

[CygnusX1]

Hopefully Italy to beat Turkey and Switzerland
Turkey and Switzerland to draw with each other.
I think we win the 1st game we go through. Lose it we’ll be struggling

 

[JBT95]

Our Group A game tonight, Turkey vs Italy, a draw is the best outcome for Wales, I think Turkey can pull off an upset though

I don't think Turkey winning would benefit Wales at all. It'll be what it'll be.

 

[K23]

If Wales are to have any hope then they have to beat Switzerland in their opener

Dont think they are good enough to beat Turkey, who are defensively very strong, and one of my dark horses.

In normal times, the support Turkey would have in Baku would also have been a huge factor, not sure how that will play out now

And of course it will already be over if they have to travel to Rome, needing a win against Italy

Im confident Italy have never lost competitively in Rome.

Elsewhere, with the nature of the tournament, you have to look at one of the main host nations as winning it

Unfortunately, with the Semis and Final in Wembley, that rightly leaves England as favorites

Again they dont lose often at Wembley, and should they win the group they may have to negotiate a tricky game in Rome against the runners up of the group concerning Portugal/France/Germany, but other than that it is Wembley all the way.

Spain and Italys squads are not ready to win this tournament

Belgium have to travel to two host countries in the group, Denmark and Russia, but they should be ok, its now or never for that squad really

France/Germany/Portugal may knock one another out of the competiton, directly or indirectly

Netherlands far too inconsistent to win it

Croatia squad may have one last run to the latter stages in them

Denmark join Turkey as main dark horses

Should be a cracker of a tournament anyway

I think Belgium are in a similar position to the
Netherlands golden generation team of the mid-70s when they reached 2 WC finals and you felt that it was now or never for them as they'd never previously had a better squad and you couldn't see them having a better one again. They lost to Germany in 74 and Argentina in 78 and then went downhill. They did get to another final in 2010 when they lost to Spain but they've never quite had a squad like that mid-70s one. With the players they've got at the moment, you can't see Belgium ever getting a better chance to win a major tournament.

 

[BrynCartwright]

Those jammy jocks getting 2 home games in their pool group.... Jammy jammy jammy jocks!!!!

Is it down to Covid, or have the sweaties bunged someone somewhere?

 

[Longlostjack]

Can’t see us scoring against this Turkish defence. Must win game tomorrow.