There’s no doubt that several groups at Euro 2024 look extremely open and with the possibility for at least three, if not all four, nations to believe they can reach the knockouts – and Group A is a prime example of that.
While Scotland might be the outsiders and Germany the clear favourites, both the other two will feel they can absolutely claim second place – and why not, given recent form? The only problem might just be that they meet each other immediately.
Hungary and Switzerland both come into this clash knowing it might be the pivotal one which dictates coming second and guaranteeing a spot in the last 16, with no chance to ease themselves into the tournament. It might well be all or nothing, and that means it can go either way: cagey and careful, or all-out on-the-offensive, determined to make their mark and give themselves an enormous step towards a top-two finish.
Captained by Dominik Szoboszlai, supremely well organised, and with just one defeat in their last 16 dating back to late 2022, a third straight appearance at the European Championship makes this Hungary’s best side since their late 1960s/early 70s heyday by a large distance. Their optimism is well-founded, though they may rely on moments of magic from a few key faces, Szoboszlai among them and also Roland Sallai in attack.
As for the Swiss, it’s just one loss in 12 for them too, since the start of 2023, though goalscoring has been somewhat harder to come by for them. With Haris Seferovic finally ousted from the squad, the likes of Noah Okafor, Zeki Amdouni and Ruben Vargas need to take this as their chance to shine in attack. They have long been great in build-up and in terms of off-the-ball shape, but now need one of those approaching-prime-age forwards to really make their mark.
Still, Switzerland have pedigree here. In the last five World Cups, they’ve reached the last 16 on four occasions. At Euro 2020 it was the quarters. And while a few iconic names like Xherdan Shaqiri are still involved on reputation as much as anything, they come to Germany with genuine standouts at club level this season: Inter’s Yann Sommer, Leverkusen’s Granit Xhaka, Monaco’s Denis Zakaria.
Add in Manuel Akanji and Dan Ndoye, both enjoying great club years with Man City and Bologna, and they have a group packed with positivity and a culture of winning. They can upset a huge nation along the way – but first must navigate the lower-key, but just as testing, challenge of Hungary.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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That the pressure has been turned up a little under the England squad ahead of their opening Euro 2024 match against Serbia can only really be considered to be a combination of bad luck and self-infliction.
On the one hand, it is unfortunate to run up injuries to key defenders, especially when they were looking pretty threadbare on that front to start with. But on the other, the Iceland performance – so much toil for just the one shot on target all night – was worryingly stagnant, and not for the first time since beating Italy convincingly at Wembley last October. England may have primarily been playing friendlies since that night, but they’ve been doing so with little to show for them.
They were tepid in their last two Euro qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia – a 2-0 win and a 1-1 draw – disappointing against both Brazil and Belgium – a defeat and a scrambled draw, this time – mildly improved against Bosnia & Herzegovina and then lousy against Iceland. You can already feel the storm clouds forming in the distance. The question is, how much stronger might they be by the end of Sunday evening? England need a strong start to out-run them.
At least Serbia can’t do a great deal worse than they did at the last World Cup when, having already lost their opening match to Brazil, they threw away a two-goal lead against Cameroon to draw 3-3 and then lost to Switzerland to confirm their elimination from the tournament in bottom place in their group. They will arrive in Gelsenkirchen with little to lose, and with Aleksandar Mitrović still leading their front line they have the potential to strong-arm their way past England.
England have the muscle to be able to win this game with comfort. Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden were the players of the year in Spain and England respectively. Harry Kane may not have won any silverware in his first season at Bayern Munich, but it can hardly be said that Kane didn’t pull his weight, scoring 36 goals in 32 games in the Bundesliga and 45 goals in 44 games in all competitions. Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka were in outstanding form throughout the league season.
But English teams have ended up as less than the sum of their parts before, and if they want to progress in this tournament England may need to beat themselves first. Good times never felt so vulnerable.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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If a settled squad is a happy squad, then Slovenia should go out for this Group C clash with Denmark – the same group as England and Serbia – without a care in the world.
Benjamin Šeško had been the subject of increasing transfer speculation during the build-up to Euro 2024, but just days before their kick-off against Denmark he signed a new contract with RB Leipzig which should keep the wolves from the door for now.
Slovenia start their tournament as rank outsiders, and the historical record isn’t too pretty. They’ve only played Denmark six times before. In June 2023, they drew 1-1 in their qualifying group for this competition. Denmark have won the other five, including the return fixture to the draw, 2-1. Prior to these meetings, they hadn’t met since 2008.
Should Šeško show the sort of form that he showed in the Bundesliga last season for Leipzig, Slovenia may even fancy their chances of overcoming Denmark. With 14 goals in just 17 starts and 14 substitute appearances last season, small wonder Arsenal and Chelsea were sniffing around. He also became the youngest player since Rudi Völler in 1982/83 to score in seven consecutive Bundesliga appearances and the second Leipzig player ever to do so, equalling a club record set by Timo Werner in 2019/20.
But Šeško won’t be the only young striker on the pitch on Sunday evening. Rasmus Højlund has already made his big move, and scored ten goals in thirty appearances for Manchester United last season. But he’s scored a goal every other game throughout his 14 appearances for Denmark and may be just as much of a threat to Slovenia as Šeško is to Denmark.
Denmark came within a whisker of reaching the final of the Euros just four years ago. They took the de facto hosts England to extra-time in the semi-finals and only lost to a rebound from a penalty which looked slightly suspect in the first place. Their performance at the last World Cup, however, didn’t match expectations. With just a single point from a goalless draw with Tunisia, they finished bottom of their group.
England’s recent friendly implosion against Iceland will also set them thinking. If the top seeds can find a way of tripping up, and the Iceland game suggested that for all their talents they could, then this group might even be up for grabs; all of which makes a strong start more important than ever.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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Starting with a win would ease the Netherlands’ passage towards the knockout stages. With France to play next, three points may be essential if they’re to go into their final round of fixtures without any nerves hanging in the air.
A point from this game and a win against Austria five days later would almost certainly be enough to put Poland through with a game to spare themselves. Otherwise, they may find themselves having to take something from their final match against France to give themselves a chance.
Places in the next round are available for four of the six third-placed finishing teams this summer, but the chances of getting through diminish, the fewer points they have. In 2021, three of them had four points and one had three. In 2016, two had four points and two had three. Four points doesn’t guarantee a passage through but it does make it highly likely, while three makes it a crapshoot in which your goal difference will matter.
But how likely is a surprise from Poland? If a week is a long time in politics, then 45 years is definitely a long time in football. May 1979 was the last time that Poland beat the Netherlands, in a qualifier for the European Championships of 1980. The two sides have met twelve times since then, with seven Dutch wins and five draws.
Back in the 21st century, reports of the retirement of Robert Lewandowski turned out to be overstated, so hopefully he’ll be starting for, and captaining Poland, presuming the thigh injury he suffered in their final warm-up game is as insignificant as head coach Michał Probierz claimed after the match (there were mixed messages on that in the media). Matty Cash misses the tournament with the calf injury that overshadowed the end of his league season. Poland were dependent on their Nations League form to get this far, and will start as group outsiders.
The Dutch have also had injury concerns, with Frenkie De Jong out since March and the Liverpool-pursued Teun Koopmeiners also now ruled out by a late injury. Jurrien Timber didn’t make the cut after failing to recover in time from the ACL injury he picked on his Arsenal debut last August. The Netherlands will start as comfortable favourites to win but they’ve imploded in tournament finals before, haven’t they?
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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The 17th edition of the men’s European Championship will be the first time that the full tournament is held in a reunified Germany. Die Mannschaft are naturally involved in the opener, in which they face Scotland.
The hosts have won the men’s Euros on just three occasions, most recently in France in 1984 when Germany was still split between the West and East. Post-reunification, Die Mannschaft have reached three Euro finals, winning only in 1996. A second title is very much is the expectation this time, but their first target has to be getting three points on the board in Friday’s opener against Scotland.
The home team have only won six of the previous 16 men’s Euros openers, though that includes the last two in Italy and France. A success here would be a first on German soil as West Germany failed to win in 1988, though they did triumph three times as the antagonists previously.
Scotland Seeking To Spoil The Party
This will be Scotland’s first tournament opener and just their fourth ever appearance at the men’s Euros. They have not advanced past the group stage on all three previous occasions, including the last edition of the competition. This time, though, they have good reason to hope for a different outcome.
Regardless of the result of this game, they will have a fighting chance in Group A. Their direct and duel-heavy style of play helped them seal direct qualification from a tough group that included the likes of Spain, Norway and Georgia. Nothing epitomises it better than the fact that Scott McTominay was the group’s top-scorer with seven goals in as many starts.
Steve Clarke’s side certainly have the potential to cause an upset or two in this tournament.
Could Nagelsmann Be The Difference-Maker?
Especially in international tournaments, teams look to their star players to make the difference in big games. For Germany, though, head coach Julian Nagelsmann could hold the key to their success.
The 36-year-old tactician is renowned for his tactical nous and quick understanding of the game as it is being played, so his in-game tweaks could well give Germany the edge in potentially tight games such as this.
His approach to management is quite different to most of his peers too, as he has picked his squad with a much heavier emphasis on form and suitability to his style of play. It will be very interesting to see how that plays out both today and in the tournament overall.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
You can follow every game from Euro 2024 live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.
The 17th edition of the men’s European Championship will be the first time that the full tournament is held in a reunified Germany. Die Mannschaft are naturally involved in the opener, in which they face Scotland.
The hosts have won the men’s Euros on just three occasions, most recently in France in 1984 when Germany was still split between the West and East. Post-reunification, Die Mannschaft have reached three Euro finals, winning only in 1996. A second title is very much is the expectation this time, but their first target has to be getting three points on the board in Friday’s opener against Scotland.
The home team have only won six of the previous 16 men’s Euros openers, though that includes the last two in Italy and France. A success here would be a first on German soil as West Germany failed to win in 1988, though they did triumph three times as the antagonists previously.
Scotland Seeking To Spoil The Party
This will be Scotland’s first tournament opener and just their fourth ever appearance at the men’s Euros. They have not advanced past the group stage on all three previous occasions, including the last edition of the competition. This time, though, they have good reason to hope for a different outcome.
Regardless of the result of this game, they will have a fighting chance in Group A. Their direct and duel-heavy style of play helped them seal direct qualification from a tough group that included the likes of Spain, Norway and Georgia. Nothing epitomises it better than the fact that Scott McTominay was the group’s top-scorer with seven goals in as many starts.
Steve Clarke’s side certainly have the potential to cause an upset or two in this tournament.
Could Nagelsmann Be The Difference-Maker?
Especially in international tournaments, teams look to their star players to make the difference in big games. For Germany, though, head coach Julian Nagelsmann could hold the key to their success.
The 36-year-old tactician is renowned for his tactical nous and quick understanding of the game as it is being played, so his in-game tweaks could well give Germany the edge in potentially tight games such as this.
His approach to management is quite different to most of his peers too, as he has picked his squad with a much heavier emphasis on form and suitability to his style of play. It will be very interesting to see how that plays out both today and in the tournament overall.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
You can follow every game from Euro 2024 live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.
This Sunday, June 2nd, Selhurst Park in London will host a thrilling 11v11 Charity Match featuring two of the biggest internet creator groups: the UK’s Beta Squad and the American superstars from the AMP collective.
By FotMob
This highly anticipated event is set to be a spectacular clash, combining entertainment with a noble cause, as all proceeds will go to “The Water Project.”
Tickets for the match sold out instantly, with more than twice the stadium’s 25,000-seat capacity in the queue, eager to secure their spot. The excitement is palpable, and fans can expect an unforgettable experience.
The Beta Squad, led by immensely popular creators like Chunkz and Niko Omilana, has assembled a formidable team aimed at clinching the coveted trophy.
On the other side, the AMP team, featuring stars such as Kai Cenat and Duke Dennis, will travel from the U.S. with hopes of conquering the Europeans on their home turf and asserting the term “soccer” in the process.
Familiar faces will be aplenty on both teams, ensuring a unique and entertaining match. Adding to the excitement, FotMob is proud to sponsor the event.
Alongside partners Opta and Enetpulse, we will provide comprehensive coverage of the match, just like we do for professional games.
Expect FotMob ratings, xG stats, shot maps, and all the detailed analysis you’re used to — this time for your favorite creators! Don’t miss out on this epic showdown for a fantastic cause.
The football match, scheduled for Sunday, June 2nd, at 16:00 BST, will be a memorable day in online creator’s history. All profits from the event will support charitable The Water Project, ensuring that the impact of this event extends far beyond the football pitch.
While there are question marks over Arne Slot’s credentials as he prepares to take over from Jürgen Klopp, the need for fresh energy cannot be more apparent.
Whoever fills Jürgen Klopp’s shoes will face an almost-impossible job, with the charismatic German embodying the Reds on and off the pitch throughout his nine-year tenure.
Liverpool have become Klopp’s club. He was uniquely qualified for the position back in 2015, and the role has been moulded in his image in the years since. A man who represents not only the values of Liverpool FC, but also Liverpool as a city and a people.
Put simply, Klopp gets what it means to be part of the club – and he has embraced that.
Not only that, but he is of course one of the finest managers in world football. A purveyor of a relentless, attractive style of play that has endeared him to supporters and neutrals alike. It is not lip service when Pep Guardiola describes him as “the best rival I ever had in my life.”
It has been remarked that whoever replaces Klopp will need cajones.
They would need not only the skills, but also the stature to lead a club the size and expectation of Liverpool – but as has been made patently clear since Klopp’s resignation became public, the key attribute required is energy.
There should be no surprise, then, that those considered for the role have all been young, hungry managers with more to prove.
Xabi Alonso was arguably the perfect candidate, but he has since committed himself to Bayer Leverkusen. That has left Liverpool to reassess the situation at boardroom level, with a number of options across the Premier League and beyond mentioned as possible successors.
The collective will of supporters and journalists alike positioned Sporting CP manager Rúben Amorim as the most viable alternative – a must-hire, even – but the news that he instead held talks with West Ham laid clear the reality facing Liverpool.
With the likes of Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi, Wolves’ Gary O’Neil and Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola all linked with the job, there was a growing sense that the perfect appointment is not currently out there, and that Liverpool were erring closer to the territory they found themselves in when Brendan Rodgers was hired from Swansea in 2012.
That is, that the candidates on Liverpool’s shortlist seemed more suited to becoming the next Brighton manager, rather than leading the Reds out at Anfield.
Feyenoord’s Arne Slot, who is now poised to take over at the end of the season, would arguably fit that description; the 45-year-old has similar credentials to Amorim, as a title-winner outside of Europe’s top five leagues, but there are understandable concerns over whether he can step up.
Those within Liverpool’s boardroom clearly believe he is capable, with Slot impressing both in the data and in interviews with club hierarchy – which will include Fenway Sport Group’s CEO of football Michael Edwards.
His success with Feyenoord – winning the Eredivisie in his second season in charge and, as they settle into second place to earn a Champions League spot, lifting the KNVB Cup this time around – underpins that.
Slot appears capable of outperforming his resources, with Feyenoord a club whose record signing remains centre-back Dávid Hancko, who joined from Sparta Prague in 2022 for just €8.3 million. He has formed a cohesive unit with a defined style of play; intense, attractive, attacking football but perhaps with more control and conservatism than Klopp’s heavy metal.
But while he did reach the Europa Conference League final in 2022 – losing 1-0 to AS Roma – there remain question marks over how transferrable his skills will be to life at Liverpool, largely due to his entire career being spent in the Netherlands.
It is safe to label it a calculated risk by Edwards, who is supported by FSG president Mike Gordon, chief executive Billy Hogan, director of research Williams Spearman, sporting director Richard Hughes and assistant sporting director David Woodfine in a data-led recruitment process.
Whether or not Slot has the immediate gravitas to step into Klopp’s shoes, the events of the past month or so have shown that Liverpool is a club in need of a hard reset.
Any manager who holds the same job for almost a decade may struggle with the sense that his work is becoming stale, and losses to Manchester United, Atalanta, Crystal Palace and Everton highlight the ongoing flaws within the Liverpool squad.
Where before Klopp’s aura could drag the players through difficult times, the acceptance that he no longer has the fight, or even the willpower, to continue to do so has led to a desperate, complacent end to the campaign.
Off the pitch, Liverpool appear to be lacking ideas; on it, they are clearly lacking a cutting edge, with a misfiring attack one of their biggest concerns in this recent run of awful form.
Perhaps a summer of change will serve as the boost Liverpool need, allowing this season to be the building block it was initially viewed as before pre-season began – the belief in a title challenge, let alone a quadruple, only truly picked up steam upon the news of Klopp’s plan to leave.
A new manager, with new ideas and new methods, could be exactly what the Reds are asking for – it is the positive to cling to amid a poor stretch, when even finishing in the top four is not yet guaranteed.
(Cover Image from IMAGO)
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