EURO 2024 and Copa America 2024 Championships

These two games had my attention... not wanting England to play Holland hahah... And so they've been "saved"... will play Slovakia instead. Prediction time (not who I want, just who I think will win):

Round of 16:
Spain over Georgia 3-1
Germany over Denmark 2-0
Portugal over Slovenia 2-1
France over Belgium 1-0
Netherlands over Romania 1-1 on penalties
Austria over Turkey 3-2
England over Slovakia 1-0 (in typical England fashion)
Switzerland over Italy 2-1

Quarterfinals:
Spain over Germany 2-2 on Penalties
Portugal over France 2-1
(I mean the above two games should be the semifinals)
Austria over Netherlands 2-0
Switzerland over England 2-2 losing on penalties, typical England

Semifinals:
Spain over Portugal 2-1
Austria over Switzerland 1-0

Final:
Spain over Austria 2-0

 

it's probably not going to matter

 

they are going to struggle vs Slovakia, so it could happen there. Southgate has absolutely picked his team incorrectly and the players don't respect him (as a whole). He should have been axed after the last World Cup, just to change things up. You've got Foden, Bellingham, Kane all wanting the ball centrally... there's no width, particularly on the left... Trippier wants to cut inside too... and when you have that, defenses can figure you out. They've looked their best when guys like Bowen and Palmer have provided some width. But it doesn't matter who you put out there if the players aren't into it (if they aren't respecting the manager).

 

i reckon it'll be a decent game. Panama is probably the 3rd best CONCACAF team right now, behind US and Mexico. Jamaica have not been good at all and Costa Rica are in a bit of a transition IMO. Canada would be 4th BTW. But Panama can beat you on the counter and are hard to breakdown. US need to be a little careful. I could see a draw honestly.

 

well, that's terrible from the US to go down a man. Tim Weah (who by the way was singing the national anthem the loudest) gets a red card. they end up losing to Panama 2-1. But they scored 4 minutes after the red to go up 1-0. Couldn't hold it, gave up two goals. Referee didn't help. It was a red, but there were players on Panama that should have gotten yellows. Two times. In the first half, the hit on the US keeper, not even a yellow. It's poor from the ref. And only 4 minutes of added time. now the US need to win against Uruguay (assuming Bolivia loses tonight and against Panama).

I still hate Alexei Lalas. God he's such an a hole. Why is he yelling? He was yelling before the game started.

On the bright side, Balogun, good player. Growing in confidence. A Robinson, the best player on the pitch for me. Certainly the best athlete. And i'm not surprised by this. He's played for Fulham very well against LFC and Mo Salah the last few years. A declining Salah for sure, but Robinson locks him down. The only negative he has in his game is his decision making in the final third. It's why he's playing for Fulham and not a bigger club IMO.

 

Uruguay are virtually thru, they have a massive GD now that they beat Bolivia 5-0 (It's at 7). The battle in group C is for 2nd place. US on 3 points with a GD of 1, Panama also on 3 points with a GD of -1. I'd be surprised if Panama didn't beat Bolivia so they will be on 6 points at the end of the day. US need to beat Uruguay, who are really already thru, and keep GD over Panama. Panama have scored 4 goals and US are at 2, so that will be the next tie breaker if they finish level on GD. A 1-0 US victory over Uruguay may not be enough, they could need to beat Uruguay by 2. It'll be interesting to see how many players Marcel Bielsa rests then. I haven't checked, i wonder if Weah is out due to the red card or not? That will be a massive loss if that's the case.

 

speaking of young players, Enciso for Paraguay... incredible player. Brighton got their hands on him early. Something tells me a bigger club will be trying to acquire him ASAP.

 

I mean I'll let one of the Italian fans who post here explain what just happened in greater detail. But they've been off it since this tournament started. No heart... no desire... reminds me of a certain team that will be playing tomorrow morning (my time). yeah, almost had the scoreline... The Swiss have been pretty good, deserve to be quarterfinalists, that is for sure. If England somehow manage to beat Slovakia (that just sounds funny)... well, they will have their hands full with Switzerland. Vargas and Ndoye are no slouches offensively. And they are very structured defensively. Freuler was fantastic today, not bad for someone on the wrong side of 30.

 

that's a very good end to the first half there by Denmark, coming oh so close on the break there, fantastic save by Neuer. 0-0... at the half. I didn't see this being so close. I expect Germany to pull it out in the 2nd half, but it's all there for Denmark. Two top goal keepers. Gonna take a set play or something special to get a goal today. Maybe this goes into Extra Time!

 

I don't know how Berhalter is still the manager of the US side. His contract ran out and then they rehired him several months later. It's pretty wild.

 

Rough couple of minutes for Andersen

 

Never in doubt, right England? I found myself in the first half accepting the defeat. Saying, we haven't been good enough this whole tourney. Losing is inevitable and just speeds up the process to get Southgate out... And then the second half started... I really was rooting and yelling and screaming with every touch of the ball. Bellingham going all Pele at the end might be the way the curse breaks? I don't know. Pele and Brazil win the WC of 1958, 1962, 1970... England of course 1966, the one year Brazil didn't win it. I know I know.. it's the Euro's not the WC... but still

Going a goal down and coming back to win it... maybe just maybe it sparks something to go forward. I know... I'm falling for them again... ahahaha... I've said it really doesn't matter the formation... but having Toney in the game with Kane up top, seemed to give us an aerial advantage (both goals set up thru the air/headers). Do you change to a 3-5-2 with both Kane/Toney up front? Guehi is out due to YC accumulation. Maybe Konsa starts in his place at LCB. conceivably go something like this:

Kane/Toney
Foden/Manoo/Rice/Bellingham/Palmer
Konsa/Stones/Walker

who am i kidding? SG will keep the same 11, or just make a slight tweak

Georgia taking the 1-0 lead was fun while it lasted... almost went 2-0 up on that long goal attempt (England were lucky not to go down 0-2 on a similar attempt) in that first half! Spain just too good. I picked them to win when the elims started, nothing changing my mind there.

 

expecting Mexico vs Ecuador to be a war... LOL

 

Loved that movie. Rocky in goal

 

France vs Belgium on paper should be a fantastic matchup. Both teams have struggled at times this tournament. So lets just hope it's a good game.

 

Well, it was a pretty good game, could have/should have been better. Fantastic individual matchups. Kante at his age playing like that? I'll have what he's having please. Interesting tactics by Tedesco the Belgium manager. I don't know that I fault them really. KDB playing as a holding MF for the majority of the match. Tough way to lose though on the own goal. And I just hate that Doku plays for Man Cheaty. He's amazing. Lukaku was poor. Just didn't link up for most of the game. Should have gone to Lukebakio earlier. France have essentially moved on from Giroud, even though he's on the team. England/Belgium have not moved on from their aging strikers. Which is maybe a topic for another day.

1-0 France. Who would have predicted that? I wonder if I put money on these games and scorelines how much I'd return on the Germany/France scores? Probably not very much... 2 out of 5 so far... and the other 3 all correct in terms of victors, just off on goals. Course, now that i've said that, I'll lose every game from here on out.

 

haven't had a shock yet... is this the one? Slovenia over Portugal???

 

Ronaldo is probably the most hated footballer by English fans (EDIT... it was Maradona, but he's dead now ), unless you're a ManU supporter Anyway, Slovenia have been great. It's 0-0 heading to extra time now. If this goes penalties, I kind of like Slovenia's chances with Oblak in goal. Though I don't know his record as a pen saver. He's been fantastic all tournament.