Innholdsfortegnelse for Euro 2024 Special i World Soccer

“I am very proud to be a Ukrainian, to be of the same blood as those who are now giving their lives for our freedom. We need to talk about it, shout about it every day. This is the only way we can win”Ukraine midfielder Oleksandr Zinchenko on his war-torn country after they sealed their place at Euro 2024 History, they say, doesn’t repeat itself but it often rhymes. And football is no different. Three years ago, in our preview of Euro 2020, we admired France’s extraordinary strength in depth, and doubted whether anyone could stop their wily manager Didier Deschamps from leading Kylian Mbappe and co. to victory; we questioned if Gareth Southgate was the right man to lead such a talented England squad to silverware; we wondered if…

EURO 1984 By Aidan Williams (Pitch Publishing, £16.99) Euro1984: The Greatest Tournament You Never Saw tells the fascinating story of perhaps the greatest European Championship. Largely ignored in the UK due to none of the home nations qualifying, it was a thrilling competition full of attacking football – France’s Michel Platini scored a tournament record nine goals – and featured iconic matches, teams and players who contributed to one of the greatest major international tournaments in history. EURO 88 By Steven Scragg (Pitch Publishing, £18.99) Euro 88: The Football Purists’ European Championship delves into the last major international tournament on European soil before Italia ’90. It was a finals of rancour and drama blessed by the presence of Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit, Gianluca Vialli, Igor Belanov, Oleh Protasov, Jurgen…

Belgium will head to Germany with subdued expectations. The 2022 World Cup proved a step too far for a generation of players that perhaps never delivered on its potential. The hype that surrounded the national team in the past decade has been replaced by a more mundane reality: it is a time of transition with a new manager and a younger squad seeking to step out of the shadows of the so-called “Golden Generation.” In Qatar, the Belgians failed to get out of a group with Canada and two eventual semi-finalists, Croatia and Morocco. It was a major indictment of both Roberto Martinez, who overstayed, and a fractured, old team. In many ways, Euro 2020 and a quarter-final exit to Italy should have prompted change, but it didn’t and so…

You can never be quite sure with Denmark. They dazzle their way to the semi-finals in one tournament and then flop horribly at the next. Once upon a time at Euro ’92 they were even fairy-tale winners. Write them off at your peril, but at the same time fear the worst. There are reasons for optimism at this European Championship, not least the emergence of Rasmus Hojlund as an international class striker to give the Danes a cutting edge they have sorely lacked for many years. A strong team spirit fostered by head coach Kasper Hjulmand and a core of experienced players who understand the dynamics of tournament football are also positive factors. Expectations among Danish fans, however, are not high. It’s clear that the careers of several key stars…

For Georgia, victory over Greece in the Euro 2024 play-off final had been almost four years in the making. Back in November 2020, the country was just one game away from qualifying for Euro 2020 – all they had to do was beat North Macedonia in the play-offs on home soil in Tbilisi. On that occasion, however, it was their opponents who made history, with North Macedonia captain Goran Pandev striking a famous winner to break Georgian hearts. But rather than sulking in defeat, that setback only spurred Georgia to become stronger. During the 2022-23 Nations League campaign they earned promotion to League B for the first time, beating their old foes North Macedonia home and away, including 2-0 back in Tbilisi, to finish nine points above them in the…

It is difficult to be as confident about Italy’s chances ahead of the upcoming European Championship as on the eve of Euro 2020. That team arrived at the last finals on the back of a sparkling qualifying campaign, with consistency in selection and formation, and solid preparation, all of which carried them to the trophy. This current side comes into Euro 2024 on the back of a traumatic and turbulent three years, which have seen the Azzurri fail to qualify for the Qatar World Cup, lose their coach Roberto Mancini to Saudi Arabia after just two games of their European Championship qualifying campaign, and then finish a clear second best to old rivals England in their group. England not only finished a comfortable six points clear of Italy, beating them…

The reaction to the appointment of Roberto Martinez as Portugal head coach in January 2023 was lukewarm at best, many concluding that the Spaniard was chosen as a stopgap until Jose Mourinho became available. If Martinez continues as he has started, the Special One may have a considerable wait on his hands. It would have been impossible for Martinez to do any better in his first year in charge. For the first time, Portugal won every one of their qualification games for a major tournament, and did so in style. The Selecao scored more goals (36) and conceded fewer (two) than any other nation. Nevertheless, the outstanding campaign has to be put in the context of an easy group. Against the only team that put up a fight, Portugal edged…

After a painful 24-year absence, Serbia have finally made it again to the European Championship. Officially, this will be Serbia’s first Euro participation but, given that back at Euro 2000 the squad of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia – as a matter of fact, Serbia and Montenegro – was made up of 90 per cent Serbian players, Serbia’s appearance in Germany this summer should be considered a comeback rather than a debut. However, instead of celebrating the successful qualification and looking forward to being part of this football festival, Serbian fans and media are rather pessimistic regarding the team’s chances after a series of disappointing performances and results in qualifying. Even national team coach Dragan Stojkovic, nicknamed “Piksi” in his homeland, admitted that he was not pleased with the performances…

Eleven years and five major tournaments later, with all but one of those winners, Jesus Navas, now gone and the days when they dominated everyone disappearing into the distance, Spain at last lifted a trophy again. It was only the Nations League, sure, but victory over Croatia last summer reconnected the Seleccion with the feeling of triumph. Having reached the final in the previous edition, where they were unfortunate to lose to France, and having beaten Italy en route both times, it also brought back the belief that maybe they can compete again. These have been difficult years. Three tournament wins in a row – world champions in 2010, either side of Euros successes – were a weight upon them and were followed by failure. In 2014, 2016 and 2018,…

Ukraine have qualified for their fourth European Championship in a row, but this time the feat is particularly remarkable as it was achieved after more than two years of enduring a full-scale war unleashed by Russia. The path to Euro 2024 was strewn with obstacles. The team began qualifying with confusion after the contract of ex-coach Oleksandr Petrakov was not renewed. Under the guidance of Under-21 boss Ruslan Rotan, Ukraine lost their first qualifier away to England. Despite this, the question of who would lead the team was never in doubt. The Ukrainian Football Association (UAF) was simply waiting for Serhiy Rebrov to sign a three-year deal after completing his work with Emirati club Al Ain. Ukraine’s chances of qualifying directly for Euro 2024 always looked slim after being paired…

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There are two views on Albania’s draw for Euro 2024. The first is that the Eagles have been placed in the group of death amongst three European giants – Italy, Spain and Croatia – and that they have slim prospects of qualifying at best. The alternative view, which has been taken by many, is that Albania are not major tournament regulars and the players and fans will savour these three great occasions, in particular the romantic tie against Italy which is home to a lot of the Albanian diaspora. Albania themselves will arrive at the tournament with a relatively unknown pedigree. The Red and Blacks find themselves in the strange position of qualifying for only their second-ever major international tournament without having exceeded any expectations of them. Sylvinho’s side made…

There is probably no other national team in Europe that treats its players like saints in the way that Croatia does. And, after their heroics over the last six years, they deserve it: finishing runners-up at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and third in Qatar four years later, as well as reaching the final of the 2022-23 Nations League when they were denied by Spain on penalties. During that six-year spell, the only tournament in which they did not excel was Euro 2020. After a couple of turgid group-stage displays, they beat Scotland 3-1 to progress to the last16 where, foreshadowing that Nations League final defeat, they lost to Spain. To date, Croatia have never particularly excelled at a European Championship, with that defeat extending their winless run in…

Ahead of Gareth Southgate’s fourth and possibly final tournament as England manager, it is remarkable just how little the discourse around him has changed in the past six years. Ever since the dust settled on an unlikely fourth-place finish at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the 53-year-old has been maligned as overly cautious in his tactics and selection, excessively loyal to underperforming players, and incapable of the kind of in-game tactical tweaks that is needed at the business end of tournaments. In short, Southgate’s critics say that he is holding back the most talented generation that the country has ever produced, and nothing short of bringing the trophy home will convince them that he is the right man for the job. No excuses, no ifs or buts, and no…

Julian Nagelsmann is about to join a select band of Bundestrainers: those who have taken charge of the Germany national team in a major finals on home soil. To date, only three other managers – Helmut Schon, Franz Beckenbauer and Jurgen Klinsmann – have had that honour and all either grasped glory or came very close to it, with Schon’s West Germany winning the1974 World Cup, Beckenbauer’s side falling at the semi-final hurdle of Euro1988 and Klinsmann masterminding a bronze medal at the 2006 World Cup. It is an exceedingly high bar for Nagelsmann and company to aim for and the fans are wary of overdosing on optimism, their hopes ground down by the team’s poor performances in each of the last three major international tournaments. For a football nation…

For the Netherlands, there is something special about tournaments in neighbouring Germany. The defeat to the hosts in the1974 World Cup final caused a national trauma, but it did gift to the world the famous Total Football played by Johan Cruyff and co. Then, at Euro1988, the Dutch got their revenge when, with Rinus Michels again at the helm, Oranje won their only major trophy to date with a team containing superstar players like Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit. And finally, at the 2006 World Cup – the last time Germany hosted a major international tournament – we saw the notorious “Battle of Nuremberg” with the Netherlands’ clash against Portugal featuring no fewer than 16 yellow cards and four reds. Could this be yet another tournament to remember for…

Romania are back at a major tournament after missing out on Euro 2020 and both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. In fact, Romania’s Euro 2024 campaign will be only their third appearance on football’s main stage since the retirement of iconic leader Gheorghe Hagi in 2000. Led by Hagi, Romania’s so-called “Golden Generation” of the1990s – which also included the likes of Gheorghe Popescu, Miodrag Belodedici, Florin Raducioiu, Dorinel Munteanu, Dan Petrescu, Ilie Dumitrescu and Viorel Moldovan – impressed with their skill, grit and hunger for success, beating the likes of England, Argentina and Colombia in memorable World Cup clashes. Today’s team is far from that level of quality – although one of the main players is Hagi’s son, Ianis, who hit the goal that sealed Romania’s Euro 2024…

In a bizarre job-share arrangement, Slovakia’s Italian coach Francesco Calzona currently divides his time between Bratislava and Naples. The situation came about in February, when the former coffee trader agreed to oversee 2022-23 Italian champions Napoli for the rest of the Serie A season, while also preparing the Slovakia national team for Euro 2024. Considering the national job is Calzona’s first as head coach, the results have been impressive so far. Slovakia only lost twice in ten games in 2023, both by the odd goal to Euro qualifying group favourites Portugal. The other eight matches involved modest opposition, but you can only beat what’s in front of you, as they say. For both parties, the relationship has been a steep learning curve. Slovakia’s first foreign coach (discounting the Czech Pavel…

Switzerland’s recent appearances at major tournaments – they have qualified for the last five World Cups and now three successive European Championships – have usually been preceded by talk of a golden generation and taking the team to new heights. This time, however, there seems to be more trepidation than optimism. As before, there is no doubting the quality of the Swiss squad. Nearly all the players are based in the top five European leagues and most are enjoying regular first-team football, something that was not always the case in the past. Yet recent performances, which include just two wins from their last nine internationals, have ranged from unconvincing to dismal. Memories are still fresh of their humiliating exit from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with a 6-1 pummeling…

Denmark 0 Finland 1 Euro 2020 group stage, June 2021, Copenhagen “This was the moment that Finnish football fans had been waiting for. It was a dream come true – the first time that the men’s national team had played in a major tournament. The game was memorable for so many reasons. I started representing Finland at Under-15 level, so it was a huge part of my identity. Captaining the senior side was a great honour and I thrived on the responsibility. Walking out at Parken, where I’d played many times with Midtjylland, and lining up alongside my team-mates was something to cherish. This was the pinnacle of my career and the build-up was stressful. I was playing for a Greek club called AEL and everything was a mess. We’d…

UEFA Euro 2024 is European by name and worldwide by reach. Other continents may baulk at a popular assessment that Germany is hosting the “World Cup without Brazil and Argentina” but the TV stream is so extensive that some South American officials fear for the pull of even their own Copa America, which is running simultaneously. The stars of Euro 2024 will be building on foundations laid down over the years by the likes of Lev Yashin, Gigi Riva, Franz Beckenbauer, Michel Platini, Marco van Basten, Xavi and Cristiano Ronaldo No doubt Aleksander Ceferin, in what he claims will be his last term as UEFA president, privately believes and hopes to see this simplistic view borne out by events in June and July. Meanwhile, Germany’s DFB dreams fervently of recreating…

Both Ralf Rangnick and the Austria national team were at low ebbs when, in April 2022, the German was announced as national team head coach, to take charge later that June. Rangnick was enduring a difficult time as caretaker manager of Manchester United while Austria were in a rut after a dismal campaign in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, which included a 5-2 defeat to Israel and 4-0 thrashing at home to Denmark. But the marriage has proved a happy one for both parties. Rangnick has revitalised Austria and, even when results have not gone their way, their high-energy performances, always taking the initiative, have won back the public. In many ways, the Austria role was perfect for Rangnick. Rather like Marcelo Bielsa, Rangnick’s career has been notable for the…

Immediately after sealing qualification for Euro 2024 with a 3-0 win over ten-man Moldova in November, Jaroslav Silhavy announced that he was stepping down as head coach of the Czech Republic, citing the enormous pressure of the job. It was an unusual move but not a complete shock. In October, a 3-0 loss in Albania and a laboured1-0 home win over the Faroe Islands cast Silhavy’s future into doubt. Ultimately the Czech FA opted to spare him, but shortened his contract – with an option to continue if the national team qualified for Euro 2024 – hardly a ringing endorsement. Alongside disappointing results, Silhavy’s team selection was criticised as too conservative, and the mood within the squad seemed to have soured. Last year, Silhavy had a mysterious falling-out with Antonin…

In the late 1800s, French impressionist Claude Monet was at the peak of his output but far from lauded as he is today. His paintings were deemed ugly and unrefined; only decades later were they acclaimed as masterpieces. Over a century on, haughty critics scoff at another subtly artful Frenchman. Despite unprecedented success, Didier Deschamps will also only be truly appreciated when he’s gone. When Deschamps was appointed as head coach, Les Bleus were only ever between crises. The calamitous 2010 World Cup under eccentric manager Raymond Domenech preceded Laurent Blanc’s bumpy two-year spell. However, since a narrow 2014 World Cup quarter-final defeat to eventual champions Germany, Deschamps’ France have made three of four major finals. Although blessed with talent, French success is down to Deschamps’ astute navigation of the…

Such is the significant progress made by Hungary under popular Italian coach Marco Rossi, few would now consider the Magyars as underdogs at Euro 2024. Unbeaten in all ten games in 2023, surprisingly easy conquerors of England and Germany in the Nations League the year before, Hungary are currently blessed with key players in form in Europe’s major leagues. Top of the class of 2024, of course, is Dominik Szoboszlai. Still only 23, his move to Liverpool last summer has been an unqualified success, making him the first Hungarian to star at an elite club since Ferenc Puskas at Real Madrid six decades ago, with the attacking midfielder bouncing back from injury in March and rejoining the Reds for the closing stages of the season as they looked to give…

Looking back now, and from a realistic perspective, progress from a group that included Argentina, Mexico and Saudi Arabia at the World Cup in Qatar should have been considered a success for Poland. But immediately after their elimination at the hands of France in the last 16, fans and media were lamenting the defensive style of play and decrying the early exit. Morale was not improved by a misunderstanding within the team around a bonus payment reportedly promised by then-prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki, which the players ultimately did not receive after a public backlash. Amid the disastrous atmosphere, the Polish FA chose not to extend coach Czeslaw Michniewicz’s contract. He was replaced by the Portuguese Fernando Santos, but this did not sit well with supporters who craved a more offensive…

It was symbolic that John McGinn and Scott McTominay were chosen for the video to unveil Scotland’s new kit for the Euro 2024 finals. The duo have undergone quiet makeovers in the English Premier League over the past two seasons, with Scotland offering a further platform for the talented pair as they helped secure successive European Championship qualifications for manager Steve Clarke’s impressive squad. McTominay was the poster boy of Scotland’s campaign with seven goals, which reignited the midfielder’s value at Manchester United. Only strikers Romelu Lukaku, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane scored more in qualifying than the midfielder, who has also added Champions League goals for United to his CV. In March, he was named Scotland’s international Player of the Year and given the award by former…

It was 24 summers ago that Slovenia took on their former compatriots of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia at Euro 2000 and took a shock 3-0 lead. If you’re going to make your debut on the world stage, sweeping aside a host of Serie A stars and your recent political masters is a pretty good intro. But Savo Milosevic and co. hit back to draw 3-3 and Slovenia, a small nation independent from Belgrade since1991, had to settle for a point. A defeat to Spain and a goalless draw with Norway followed, and they haven’t graced the Euros since. A fractious World Cup appearance in 2002, one win and a draw in 2010, and that’s it in terms of major international tournament action. Despite a spirited showing in a relatively…

Turkey booked their place at this summer’s Euros after impressively topping their qualifying group, but recent friendlies have raised questions ahead of the upcoming tournament. Coach Vincenzo Montella replaced Stefan Kuntz in September; the German was unpopular and most had lost faith that he could lead Turkey to the finals. Montella, who had cut his teeth in Turkish football with an impressive managerial stint at Adana Demirspor, rejuvenated the team with immediate effect. The transformation stemmed from a strong tactical foundation, while skipper Hakan Calhanoglu emerged as the creative maestro and Montella showed his willingness to blood young talent. Real Madrid attacking midfielder Arda Guler andJuventus forward Kenan Yildiz have been introduced to the team with impressive effect. Nuremberg attacker Can Uzun got his debut recently and Besiktas forward Semih…