Hey guys, totally forgot it but at it's some kind of tradition of our forum, I think it's time to have a topic for the biggest tournament of this year
Your thoughts on favorites, matches and players - everything can be posted here.
Regarding our match yesterday: Finally a good start in a tournement again and even more important -finally the team showed the efficiency that has made our NT a force for decades. Musiala and Wirtz proved again why they're arguably the most talented duo in this competition, if they continue to play like that we could really play a big role in the EC. Maybe I overestimated Scotland but from what I've seen yesterday, I was pretty disappointed since the team lacked both creativity and also mentality.
Regarding the current match of Spain vs Croatia: Another good example why it's so important to convert your chances. The result should be 3:2 but since both Gvardiol and Majer didn't convert their chances, Spain will rather end up trashing Croatia then having a tough game until the last minute..

This was probably the best game in the Euros so far and I missed it...
At least I will get to watch Portugal.

Lucky Portugal, two gifted goals and even in rugby that's a foul by Semedo.

Except for a certain country in the north of Great Britain
Anyway you're right, Croatia vs Albania belonged to the same category of match. And what can already said: It's good to have football back in the heart of Europe, this EC is already so much better than the last two WCs and also the EC before (although the latter could/would have been better without Covid for sure).

We didn't play it safe because we chose not to play at all But actually after today's results I feel quite confident, Hungary aren't very good and if we beat them, 4 points should be enough to go through. But since this is Scotland, we'll probably beat Hungary and still go out on goal difference lol.



I was going to say exactly the same thing, Germany are the perfect hosts for the Euros. A central location easily accessible to fans from every country, beautiful stadiums, great fan culture which allows the supporters more freedom in expressing themselves, lots and lots of beer etc. This feels like a proper celebration of European football.

One more thing, I was skeptical about the expansion to 24 teams in Euro 2021, but I think it has been great in this tournament. It's nice to see teams like Georgia, Albania, Romania, even Scotland (maybe I'm biased) bring their unique cultures to the big stage instead of just seeing the same teams that go to the World Cup every time.

I'd be massively surprised if England get past the Quarter finals, they're absolutely terrible considering the talent we have. The team looks so unbalanced and lacks invention. Makes me sad to think how different it could be under a quality manager...

What a performance by Donnarumma! Spain could've scored 3 or 4 goals. We suffered too much on the sides, especially on Di Lorenzo's.

Di Lorenzo's side was exploited so much by tricky Spanish forwards. Donnarumma had a perfect performance just for a guy cosplaying Cannavaro to ruin it.

I can't believe Italy escaped that game with only a 1-0. Di Lorenzo will have nightmares for the rest of his life after that one. IMO Spain really showed they are among the top contenders, in the "group of death" they won the group easily. And Italy showed so far that they are very far away from the top European teams. They just don't produce the same talent that France, Spain, Germany, England, even Portugal do. It's sad to see the country that produced Baggio, Del Piero, Totti etc. have their best creative option be Lorenzo Pellegrini. Even somebody like Montolivo would be by far the best Italian playmaker right now.

England and Serbia were beyond terrible, I think they just wanted to make me look stupid for saying they'd easily get through over Slovenia and Denmark. I don't even know how England can improve, they have the same problem as the Golden Generation where having all their best players on the pitch causes tactical problems. They looked more threatening with Watkins playing but can you really drop Kane? At least you can say their defence looks quite solid.

Darmian>>Di Lorenzo, no idea why he isn't playing on the right

England need to stop picking names over tactics. Trippier and Foden make the left-side completely redundant, Trippier only ever passes backwards and Foden has nobody to overlap him. Gordon needs to start on the left and Foden either needs to play 10 or right wing.

Luke Shaw fixes a lot of these problems but he isn't fit, it was a big mistake not to take another left-footed left-back like Chilwell or Mitchell.

The midfield lacks solidity and cohesion, its clear that Bellingham and Foden cant play unless Foden is on the right side. Mainoo, Wharton or Gallagher need to start next to Rice preferably Mainoo.

Kane has had no service, hes the wrong striker for Trent to be playing with because he doesn't make the runs in behind. We need quick wingers who cross to get the best out of Kane and Foden doesnt do that, Saka and Gordon do.

I would go for Pickford, Walker, Stones, Guéhi, Trippier, Rice, Mainoo, Saka, Bellingham, Gordon, Kane

With Watkins and Trent coming on if we need to stretch the game more

One question for all non-Serbian members, have you ever seen that a team captain of your country, the one who should be a role model for all other players, steps up in front of the journalist and say - I'm the best player here and I'm in the best physical condition of all players in our team and I think I should have played from the start.

And then, the next game he played from the start and played like shit.

It's just impossible for our team to have good atmosphere at some big tournament, there always has to be some affair, some controversy or a few dissatisfied individuals...

It reminds Bobo Vieri in 2004 "sono più uomo io di tutti voi messi insieme" and the day after he jumped 1cm on the line trying to save Zlatan magic heel kick

Not from my country but I am 100% sure that Cristiano could have done that if any Portuguese manager would have dared to bench him



I'd also say that your country once again suffers from the same problem that Yugoslavia also had before: 15 chances, 1 goal. I didn't think that your NT played that bad against England for example but in those games you need to be more efficient. Same goes for Slovenia btw who are a positive suprise in general (of course I knew that Sesko is a baller but I also like Janza, Karnicnik and Elsnik) but could have made more from their chances.



Fully agree with this. For me this is what an EC should be: A celebration of European football but not just from some elite teams (like it was with the 4/8 teams editions in the past).
Btw, with all criticicism towards the Nations League: The opportunity to qualify via playoffs is really nice, otherwise Georgia for example wouldn't have made it to the tournament.

Scotland is truly the most cursed national team, 12 group stage exits and 0 knockout stages, always going out in the most dramatic way possible. 70 years now of only going out in the groups, ready for another 70

I got Switzerland v Italy right and I might get England v Italy right as well. But this Italy isn't very good.