The UEFA Euro competition is one adored by many fans of international fútbol. The tournament features the best of the European national teams as they compete to be crowned the champions of the continent. This year’s tournament was supposed to be held during 2020, as the competition occurs every four years with the last being won by Portugal in 2016. The tournament, which retains its title as Euro 2020, has twenty-four nations competing, with old favorites and exciting new youngsters taking part. This tournament could be anyone’s game, but who has the best pieces to make a deep run?
French Favorites
The winners of the 2018 FIFA World Cup pose as strong favorites to win this tournament. The French national team sees a familiar face rejoin in Karim Benzema, as he has not played a game with the French national team since October of 2015, prior to this year’s Euro competition. The team is lead by world-class players the likes of Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante, the latter of which is a likely contender for this year’s Ballon d’Or trophy. The two showed out in their first match of the tournament in their win against rivals Germany. When asked about N’Golo’s performance, teammate Benjamin Pavard stated “N’Golo is N’Golo. The guy has six lungs. He never stops. I hope we will win the Euro to allow him to win the Ballon d’Or”. This star midfield, along with the new connection up top with Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, and Karim Benzema may be the team to beat this tournament.
Don’t forget about the home team
No one can forget about the Italian giants. This year, the UEFA Euro competition is being held in Italy. The home team opened up the tournament with a win against the promising Turkish national team. They began the tournament with a loud bang, shutting out Turkey in a 3-0 showing of dominant Italian fútbol. There was a wave of excitement as well as jitters, as fans of Italian soccer are familiar with the world-class playstyle the team has showcased throughout history, while also being aware that their team failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. Nonetheless, the Italians have bulldozed their way through their first two games, winning one against Turkey and the other against Switzerland in another 3-0 match. Lead by new manager Roberto Mancini, who took office after the country failed to qualify for the World Cup in 2018, the team could very well make a strong running to the end.
The Defending Champs
The winners of the previous Euro competition in 2016, Portugal, have an ever so strong team filled with talent. Headlined by five-time Ballon d’Or winner and the leading goalscorer in the history of the Euro tournament, Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal is an attacking force. Ronaldo is supported by some other world-class talent, including Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes, Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, Manchester City starter Bernardo Silva, and Atletico Madrid wonderkid João Felix. Don’t let this attacking lineup deter you from the power Portugal has in the back, with Premier League player of the season and defender Ruben Dias manning the Portuguese defense. The Portugee had an easy run of Hungary in their first match of the tournament, crushing the team 3-0 with two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo. Fans will watch the Portuguese on Saturday as they take on the strong-willed Germans. If they beat Germany on Saturday, June 19, I believe this team has the talent to repeat back-to-back championships.
The creators of ‘Tiki Taka’
The Spanish national team has been a favorite for quite some time, dating back to even before their World Cup win in 2010. The team is known for its slow play style of passing the ball from player to player. The concept where everyone touches the ball and it gets passed up repeatedly all the way upfield until it reaches the opposing team’s net is called ‘Tiki Taka’. This playstyle is credited to Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola, as he became infamous for the tactic as a part of his days at FC Barcelona. This tactic was evident in Spain’s draw against Sweden in their opening match of the tournament. The Spaniards combined for a total of 917 passes and held 86% of possession, as opposed to Sweden’s 162 and 14%. This Spanish dominance is one soccer fans are used to. However, the failure to accumulate the points in the Sweden fixture adds on to Spain’s national team troubles, as they have struggled in major international competitions since their 2010 win. If they can get it together and put the ball in the back of the net in their match against Poland on Saturday, then they may have a shot at this tournament.
The Belgians
Belgium is a powerhouse and has been for quite some time. Despite not winning any major international competitions, the team was ranked the FIFA Team of the Year in 2015, 2018, 2019, and 2020. These awards showcase the talent and dominance of the team, but their history precedes them. They have not won any major competitions, and their squad is getting old. This could be their year, as Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne has come back to inspire the team in their 2-1 defeat of Denmark. The team now has two wins in the groups stage, and are looking good for the tournament. Could this be their year, finally?
Is Football coming home?
The English national soccer team is filled with youngsters and promising talent, headlined by Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Phil Foden. With the veteran leadership of Harry Kane, England may very well have a shot at the title. Their victory over the 2018 World Cup runers-up Croatia showcased what they are capable of on the pitch. Can this young team provide an upset down the line and take the European championship trophy with them back to England?
Whichever team you choose to support, the UEFA Euro 2020 competition is sure to be an entertaining one to watch. The world is slowly recovering from a global pandemic that restricted access to soccer games and competitions for quite a while. No matter the outcome, this summer will be a beautiful showcasing of the world most beloved sport.
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