Pleasant results of quartet battles.
Discoveries of Georgia and Slovenia
Historic results for these teams – for the first time in the European playoffs. The teams did not win their quartets, like Romania and Austria, but advanced further. The Kvaratskhelia team took advantage of the new victory over Portugal. Slovenia’s route is not as exhilarating and spectacular; in England they played in a boring group. But Drkusic and Bijol are experienced defenders RPLgave veteran goalkeeper Jan Oblak his first European playoffs. Small countries, but with local football traditions. Georgia and Slovenia played different football, but achieved the same success. Kvaratskhelia will compare forces with the Spanish defense, while Drkusic will play against Portugal. We found ourselves in a difficult part of the grid, but we certainly had a go each.
Incredible start to the tournament
The first round proved to be the best of the three. The teams didn’t think they would go any further. We didn’t count the options like in the last round. They weren’t sure who they would get in the playoffs. The sincere football of the national teams has enamored millions of fans around the world. I remember the defeat in the match between Germany and Scotland with the score 5:1. The fastest goal in the history of the Euro has arrived, Italy conceded a goal in the 23rd second by Albania. Spain also unexpectedly demolished Croatia 3:0, giving up the ball. The Slovaks beat Belgium 1:0 and for dessert there was Group F. There, Portugal and Turkey achieved brilliant and difficult victories. Czech Republic and Georgia played well, but lost in the first round.
Beautiful long shots
The weapon that the teams used continuously in the first matches. If last season nuclear submarine While only 11.5% of goals were scored from inside the penalty area, Euro 2024 started with a dozen long-range goals. During Euro 2020, only 19 out of 142 goals (13.4%) were scored from inside the penalty area. In the new tournament the figure should have been exceeded, because it is not only the new ball that flies insidiously for the goalkeepers, but also the tactics of the national teams. They allow long shots; not everyone plays strictly in the support zones. Only 14 of the 81 goals at Euro 2024 were scored from long range. The coaches have adapted to this method: there were fewer goals, but 17% of the goals were long-range shots: that’s a lot. We hope that in the playoffs the teams do not forget this Euro 2024 trend.
Impressive performance from the youngsters
The young 23-year-old goalkeeper Mamardshavili is responsible for Georgia’s entry into the playoffs. Without his 21 saves against Türkiye, Czech Republic and Portugal, the team’s success would not have been possible. Georgiy avoided 3.6 goals, the best group stage result of the new century at the European Championships. German Jamal Musiala has scored two goals and is only twenty-one years old. At the age of 16, Lamin Yamal has an assist for the Spanish national team. The 23-year-old Georgian striker Mikautadze occupies first place in the sniper ranking: he scored three goals and made one assist for Kvaratskhelia. Khvicha is also only 23 years old. The Turkish attacking midfielder Guler, the Spaniard Williams, the Italian Calafiori and another Spaniard Pedri did everything to ensure the success of their teams in the final part of the European Championship. The future of football has many young heroes.
Fantastic European fans
There were already enough arguments and conflicts. There have been bad incidents off the pitch involving the fans. But let’s focus on the positive aspects of this list. There were enough of them too. The friendly German saxophonist let loose with the crowd of fans. Andre Shnura was fired from the music school where he taught. I started playing right on the street. And now Andre is so popular that he could be invited to perform at the Euro 2024 finals. The fans without musical instruments also stand out. The Dutch are causing a stir, filling entire streets. They dance from side to side. And another celebrity was a Briton who fell asleep drunk in the stadium after an England match and woke up to an empty arena the next day at four in the morning. In Germany, a celebration of football life, fans see a huge difference compared to world Cup-2022, where extras played the roles of fans of different national teams.
Victories for Romania and Austria
Such leaders of the quartet were definitely not expected. In the Belgian group they did not see Romania in first place. In the France-Holland group they certainly didn’t think that Austria would prevail. But Euro 2024 holds surprises, even if most of the favorites have moved on. But Romania, thanks to the overwhelming victory over Ukraine 3:0 and the draw with the Slovaks after a controversial penalty – Hadji’s son faked it, finished first in a fantastic group. All teams scored four points, three advanced. Austria beat the Netherlands 3:2 and Poland 3:1. They only lost to the French, but thanks to an accidental own goal. Coach Ralf Rangnick was rewarded with victory in a difficult group and entered the part of the group where the most unexpected of the semifinalists will be determined. Romania will play against the Dutch, Austria against Turkey.
Decent football for veterans
The youngsters were praised, but the mature masters also had an incredibly successful group stage. The adult Spaniards, midfielder Ruiz and goalkeeper Simon, played well. The lateral Cucurella also liked it on the wing. De Bruyne, with varying degrees of success, turned Belgium’s game to his advantage. Ronaldo has an assist, although this is the first time in years that Cristiano has remained goalless since the group stage of a major tournament. Directors Bernard and Brun once again remembered their class. I would like to especially mention the German Kroos, since it is in the last matches of his career – he returned to the German national team as a farewell. At 34, Tony sets records for the number of accurate passes. Kimmich was also good, as were two other veterans. Eriksen scored for Denmark at the Euro, helping them exit the group, and Kante saved France, despite weak play.
Incredible playoff round
The main result of the group stage is the playoff round. And it didn’t go as we initially planned. Belgium wanted to take the place of Romania, but did not defeat the Ukrainian team. Now, among the four teams – Romania, Holland, Austria and Turkey, one of the semi-finalists has hidden. The rivals of this team will be Italy or England, if they overcome Switzerland and Slovakia respectively, and then Spalletti and Southgate will face each other. But the second part of the group brought together five elite teams: Spain and Germany can meet in one round, and Portugal will play the winner of the France-Belgium pair.
