4 weeks ago
1) France
This was not a vintage model for Didier Deschamps’ broadside pinch a location conclusion against Germany followed up by a shaky 3-2 triumph against Chile successful Marseille. The captain, Kylian Mbappé, had a difficult fewer days and nan absence of Antoine Griezmann, who missed his first France games for 7 years because of injury, was intelligibly felt. There were positives, however, pinch nan 18-year-old Warren Zaïre-Emery having a bully crippled against Germany and Randal Kolo Muani scoring and assisting against Chile. Deschamps made 9 changes for nan 2nd crippled pinch William Saliba getting a uncommon commencement successful Marseille, moreover though nan coach had said beforehand that nan Arsenal subordinate “does things he doesn’t like”. Still nan squad to beat. Marcus Christenson
2) England
The results successful these friendlies will not matter travel nan commencement of nan Euros yet England’s celebrations aft Jude Bellingham’s 95th-minute equaliser against Belgium connected Tuesday nighttime showed they did not want different defeat. “We knew nan rubbish we would get,” said nan goalscorer. Having mislaid to Brazil connected Saturday, location was a much-improved capacity against nan Red Devils pinch nan 18-year-old midfielder Kobbie Mainoo nan standout performer. The 2 games, though, showed that Gareth Southgate will request Harry Kane fresh successful Germany to beryllium capable to frighten nan best. MC
3) Germany
Crisis, what crisis? The Euro 2024 hosts, who looked successful disarray only 4 months ago, will attack nan tourney pinch an almighty outpouring successful their measurement pursuing victories against France (away) and nan Netherlands (home). The 2-0 triumph successful Lyon was peculiarly impressive, Florian Wirtz scoring a awesome extremity aft 7 seconds, arsenic nan winning separator could person been moreover bigger. Toni Kroos was backmost dictating things successful cardinal midfield, wherever Bayer Leverkusen’s Robert Andrich impressed adjacent to nan Real Madrid veteran. Julian Nagelsmann made nary changes betwixt nan 2 games, which meant 2 starts for Stuttgart’s 27-year-old left-back Maximilian Mittelstädt, who was connected nan chair for Hertha Berlin arsenic they were relegated past play but now looks for illustration a definite starter for nan Euros. MC
4) Spain
“A crippled against Brazil is ne'er a friendly,” Dani Olmo said aft the tempestuous 3-3 tie astatine nan Bernabéu connected Tuesday night, a crippled that had it all: awesome goals, feisty challenges and calamitous mistakes. Tempers threatened to boil complete aft Brazil’s precocious equaliser and consequent celebrations and nan Spain coach, Luis de la Fuente, was dismayed that a conception of nan crowd had booed nan Atlético Madrid striker Álvaro Morata. Spain were superb successful nan first half and would apt person tally distant pinch nan crippled but for an Unai Simón correction aft 40 minutes pinch Spain 2-0 up. The 16-year-old Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal was outstanding connected nan correct helping and looks group to beryllium 1 of nan astir breathtaking players astatine this summer’s Euros. The fireworks astatine nan Bernabéu made up for nan disappointing capacity successful the 1-0 conclusion against Colombia successful London connected Friday and, arsenic De la Fuente said: “We study much from defeats than from victories.” MC
5) Portugal
And so, successful nan 12th crippled of Roberto Martínez’s Portugal reign came nan first defeat. After an immaculate qualifying campaign, pinch 10 wins successful 10 games and a extremity quality of +34, arsenic good arsenic an awesome 5-2 triumph against Sweden connected Thursday, Portugal slumped to a 2-0 conclusion successful Slovenia aft a lacklustre performance. It should enactment arsenic a wake-up telephone but nary request to property immoderate panic buttons yet. The crippled did, however, supply much evidence, if needed, of nan value of Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva, some of whom did not play successful Ljubljana. “The nonsubjective of these fixtures was not to win,” said Martínez earlier adding “although we ne'er for illustration to lose”. The Spaniard called up much than 30 players for nan 2 games and gave astir of them a chance. Nuno Travassos
6) Netherlands
Games against Scotland and Germany produced a mixed container of results, performances and moreover formations for Ronald Koeman’s side. They beat nan Scots 4-0 successful Amsterdam having being lined up by Koeman successful a 4-3-3 formation, and while nan scoreline whitethorn propose it was a cakewalk for nan Oranje it was visitors who mostly dominated proceedings, creating a big of chances but failing to return immoderate and subsequently being punished by 3 Dutch goals successful nan past 18 minutes of nan game, scored by Georginio Wijnaldum, Wout Weghorst and Donyell Malen, pursuing Tijjani Reijnders’ onslaught 5 minutes earlier half-time. It was an awesome show of ruthlessness by nan Dutch that was again connected show 4 minutes into Tuesday’s crippled against Germany erstwhile Joey Veerman gave nan visitors nan lead successful Frankfurt pinch a well-taken volley. The Netherlands, backmost successful a much accustomed 3-5-2 formation, continued to frighten connected nan counterattack but grounded to people again while allowing Germany to do truthful twice, done Mittelstädt and Niclas Füllkrug. Koeman’s broadside look vulnerable but will request tightening up defensively if they are to make advancement erstwhile backmost successful Germany this summer. Sachin Nakrani
7) Belgium
Belgium ended nan world model unbeaten successful 12 games nether their caput coach, Domenico Tedesco, but that was mostly wherever nan encouragement started and ended. The world’s fourth-best squad looked thing but successful a goalless tie pinch Republic of Ireland successful Dublin connected Saturday, a crippled that could good person ended successful conclusion had Evan Ferguson not missed an early punishment for nan hosts, and while a stronger lineup were amended against England connected Tuesday, they were besides beautiful fortunate to flight Wembley pinch a 2-2 draw, pinch Tedesco admitting afterwards that he could not bemoan Jude Bellingham’s 95th-minute equaliser fixed really overmuch nan hosts had dominated nan play. Belgium enjoyed only 37% possession and only scored doubly done Youri Tielemans because of protect errors by their opponents. Kevin De Bruyne is to travel backmost into nan squad but, successful general, nan Red Devils don’t look to beryllium superior contenders for nan eventual prize successful Germany this summer. SN
8) Italy
Luciano Spalletti took his squad to nan United States for 2 games, against Ecuador and Venezuela, and returned location pinch 2 wins, 4 goals scored and 1 cleanable sheet. It was not beautiful astatine times but Gli Azzurri group nan reside pinch their pressing arsenic good arsenic activity ethic and Nicolò Barella and Lorenzo Pellegrini showed again that they are astatine nan apical of their game. Genoa’s Mateo Retegui scored doubly against Venezuela to corroborate his position arsenic nan first-choice No 9 (although nan options successful that position are truthful fewer that it is 1 of Spalletti’s awesome concerns going into nan Euros). “A very affirmative tour,” said a pleased Spalletti, “very good organised by nan federation and nan squad played 2 bully games.” MC
9) Croatia
After 174 caps and 18 years pinch nan nationalist squad Luka Modric yet lifted an world trophy. It whitethorn person been “only” nan ACUD Cup – a friends tourney organised successful Cairo – but nan image was striking nevertheless. Croatia played 2 very different games. The semi-final against Tunisia was a tedious matter successful beforehand of astir 1,000 group that went to penalties aft fewer existent chances, but nan final, against nan hosts, who were without Mohamed Salah, saw an attendance of 83,350 astatine nan Misr Stadium. The Vatreni looked overmuch amended successful nan latter, switching to a 4-2-3-1 statement from their accustomed 4-3-3 and exploring immoderate different back-up options specified arsenic Josko Gvardiol astatine left-back (rather than centre-back) to triumph 4-2. Aleksandar Holiga
10) Austria
It is adjacent to opportunity that Ralf Rangnick’s broadside were not slow disconnected nan blocks this fortnight and they followed up Christoph Baumgartner’s world-record (for internationals) goal aft six seconds against Slovakia by taking nan lead against Turkey aft 103 seconds. Despite missing cardinal players specified arsenic David Alaba, Marko Arnautovic and Marcel Sabitzer, who fell sick earlier nan game, they went connected to triumph 6-1, playing carefree, attacking shot successful beforehand of 38,000 fans astatine nan Ernst-Happel Stadium. It was a 5th consecutive triumph for Austria and Michael Gregoritsch sewage a hat-trick. “The 2nd half was adjacent to perfection,” beamed Rangnick. Andreas Hagenauer
11) Denmark
“I don’t deliberation I americium much affirmative aliases antagonistic to our chances astatine nan Euros aft these 2 games,” said an honorable Pierre-Emile Højbjerg aft Denmark had drawn 0-0 against Switzerland and beaten nan Faroe Islands 2-0. The coach, Kasper Hjulmand, tried different systems and players successful nan 2 games but has travel successful for immoderate uncommon disapproval recently. The truth that Christian Eriksen made nan squad contempt deficiency of playing clip astatine Manchester United was highlighted arsenic a motion of weakness and nan erstwhile Denmark world Thomas Gravesen moreover wondered whether Hjulmand was still nan correct personification for nan job. “If personification really thinks that I don’t prime nan champion subordinate I deliberation we person to triumph games … well, it is my backside connected nan statement present too,” Hjulmand responded. MC
12) Hungary
Two wins from 2 during this world break is simply a existent affirmative for Hungary, pinch a hard-fought 1-0 triumph complete Turkey connected Friday followed by a workmanlike 2-0 triumph complete Kosovo connected Tuesday. Marco Rossi’s much-changed broadside looked retired of sorts successful nan first 45 minutes of nan astir caller title and could easy person fallen behind, but 3 changes astatine half-time lit a occurrence nether nan hosts and nan strength that has travel to specify this squad re-emerged. Right now, only Colombia person a longer unbeaten tally successful world shot than Hungary, who haven’t mislaid since Dominik Szoboszlai took complete arsenic captain. Instrumental again connected Tuesday, nan Liverpool midfielder has 5 goals and 2 assists successful his past 5 world appearances and will beryllium astatine nan bosom of everything Hungary purpose to execute this summer. Tom Mortimer
13) Switzerland
“The stats don’t lie,” Xherdan Shaqiri said aft starting connected nan chair for Switzerland successful nan 0-0 tie against Denmark. Four days later he was backmost successful nan starting XI and scored nan only extremity of nan crippled against Ireland successful nan 1-0 triumph successful Dublin. It was not only nan goal, coming from a free-kick, that made nan difference. The 32-year-old besides introduced immoderate unpredictability to nan Swiss side, thing that was missing against Denmark. In nan end, nan coach, Murat Yakin, could beryllium reasonably pleased pinch nan team. Vincent Sierro and Dereck Kutesa made their debuts against Ireland and did not look retired of spot while Dan Ndoye impressed connected his ninth cap. It was a invited occurrence for Yakin aft 5 winless games, a tally stretching backmost to past September. MC
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14) Romania
Romania drew 1-1 pinch Northern Ireland and mislaid 3-2 Colombia during nan world break. Both performances were mostly mean successful quality, highlighting nan team’s weaknesses successful defence and shortage of ideas successful attack. Saying that, location were moments against Colombia wherever Romania showed flashes of aged and, successful that regard, it was fitting that Ianis Hagi, boy of nan awesome Gheorghe, scored having travel connected arsenic a substitute. Overall, however, location is overmuch for Edward Iordanescu’s broadside to amended upon earlier they compete astatine Euro 2024. Emanuel Rosu
15) Poland
What a week it has been for Poland, pinch 2 playoff wins, against Estonia and Wales, securing their spot astatine this summer’s European Championships. Each crippled showed different strengths of Michal Probierz’s men; ruthlessness and domination successful nan 5-1 thrashing of Estonia successful Warsaw past Thursday followed by determination and togetherness successful the punishment shootout triumph complete Wales successful Cardiff connected Tuesday. The second triumph was acold from beautiful – Poland did not grounds a changeable connected target until nan shootout – but it besides showed really acold they person travel aft their mediocre group run nether Fernando Santos. They were a postulation of individuals then; now they are a squad and for Robert Lewandowski comes nan chance to play astatine what will astir apt beryllium nan striker’s past ever awesome tournament. Maciej Slominski
16) Serbia
There was immoderate consternation successful Serbia from group who saw this world model arsenic a missed opportunity, that nan fixture against Russia was politically motivated alternatively than giving Dragan Stojkovic nan champion chance to fine-tune his Euro plans. They mislaid 4-0 successful Moscow aft an early reddish paper for nan defender Milan Gajic, 1 of 3 players successful nan starting XI who ply their waste and acquisition successful nan Russian Premier League. They past hit Cyprus 1-0 aft an early Sergej Milinkovic-Savic extremity but they were not astatine their fluent best. MC
17) Czech Republic
A brace of 2 2-1 wins, distant to Norway connected Friday and location to Armenia connected Tuesday, made this an encouraging world model for Ivan Hasek’s side. It is now 5 games without conclusion for Czech Republic pinch Hasek overseeing a 100% grounds successful complaint having returned to nan station of caput coach successful January. The erstwhile Czechoslovakia skipper antecedently led nan nationalist squad for a little spell successful 2009 and will consciousness his squad tin make a people successful Germany this summertime fixed they’re successful a group pinch Portugal, Turkey and Georgia and person a squad that contains nan likes of Tomas Soucek and Patrik Schick, some of whom featured successful their 2 astir caller victories. SN
18) Scotland
Steve Clarke denied he is concerned astir his team’s shape and prospects pursuing their 4-0 trouncing by nan Netherlands successful Amsterdam connected Friday and subsequent 1-0 nonaccomplishment to Northern Ireland astatine Hampden Park connected Tuesday but he really should be. Scotland person now mislaid 5 and drawn 2 of their past 7 matches and, overall, look shaky astatine nan backmost and toothless successful attack. Against Michael O’Neill’s men they were particularly lacking successful imagination, which is simply a interest fixed location are only nan June friendlies against Gibraltar and Finland to travel successful regards to rediscovering a bounce earlier taking connected Germany successful Munich successful nan opening crippled of nan summertime tournament. Jamie Jackson
19) Slovenia
“This triumph feels phenomenal,” said nan adjunct coach, Bostjan Cesar, aft Slovenia had defeated Portugal 2-0 astatine nan Stozice Stadium. Cesar, who stepped successful aft caput coach Matjaz Kek’s begetter died past week, added that they had learned their lessons from nan disappointing tie against Malta 5 days earlier. Against Portugal everyone stepped up, from nan composed Jan Oblak successful goal, to an organised defence and an energy-filled attack, led superbly by Benjamin Sesko, and they deserved nan win, keeping Cristiano Ronaldo and co astatine arm’s length. The visitors had chances but Slovenia took theirs, Adam Gnezda Cerin and Timi Max Elsnik getting nan second-half goals. There was praise aft nan crippled from nan Portugal manager, Roberto Martínez, who backed Slovenia to origin problems for Group C opponents England, Serbia and Denmark astatine nan Euros. Miran Zore
20) Turkey
Turkey were adjacent to heading into Euro 2024 arsenic acheronian horses aft topping their qualification group, but back-to-back defeats – including a humiliating 6-1 conclusion to Austria – has raised questions astir Vincenzo Montella’s side. In fairness they delivered a beautiful bully show against Hungary successful Budapest connected Friday and were somewhat unlucky to suffer 1-0, but their inability to move chances into goals was glaring. Bournemouth’s Enes Unal performed poorly arsenic nan lone striker successful a 4-2-3-1 statement and nan interest is Montella does not person galore alternatives. Things sewage overmuch worse for Turkey astatine nan Ernst Happel Stadium connected Tuesday, pinch Austria dominating proceedings from commencement to finish, and it was somewhat telling that Turkey’s goal, scored by Hakan Calhanoglu, came from nan punishment spot. These defeats will travel arsenic a rustle to Montella, who was asked if he would resign aft nan Austria game, but he has time, astatine least, to resoluteness Turkey’s weaknesses betwixt now and nan summer. Emre Sarigul
21) Ukraine
Quite isolated from nan geopolitical value of their triumph complete Iceland connected Tuesday nighttime – and frankly, who doesn’t emotion a small schadenfreude astatine nan disbursal of Vladimir Putin? – connected a purely sporting level it would person been a crashing shame if nan Euros had been deprived of this richly talented Ukraine side, stuffed pinch committedness each complete nan pitch. Not 1 but 2 world-class goalkeepers successful Andriy Lunin and Anatoliy Trubin; nan superb young playmaker Georgiy Sudakov; much acquainted faces successful Oleksandr Zinchenko and Mykhailo Mudryk, whose winning extremity could beryllium a formative infinitesimal successful a still-developing world career. Sergiy Rebrov has proven a shrewd assignment arsenic coach and if he tin robust retired immoderate of this team’s inconsistencies, they could do immoderate existent harm this summer. Jonathan Liew
22) Slovakia
It’s been a difficult world model for Slovakia’s caput coach, Francesco Calzona. In games against Austria and Norway, he had to improvise fixed nan absence of cardinal players owed to injury, astir notably skipper Milan Skriniar. The absences gave fringe players nan opportunity to radiance but they surely did not do that successful Friday’s 2-0 nonaccomplishment to Austria. The capacity successful nan 1-1 tie distant to Norway connected Tuesday was overmuch improved, however. Calzona, who is combining his duties arsenic Slovakia coach pinch being caretaker head of Napoli until nan extremity of nan season, has overmuch activity to do but tin astatine slightest return bosom from nan displays of nan young centre-back Adam Obert, who impressed successful some games. Lukas Vrablik
23) Albania
Albania, who topped qualifying Group E up of nan Czech Republic and Poland, suffered 2 defeats, pinch nan 3-0 reverse to Chile successful Italy peculiarly painful. However, nan caput coach, Sylvinho, tried to put a affirmative rotation connected nan performance. “We did create a batch of chances,” he said. “We created six aliases 7 decent chances and that is not bad against a squad specified arsenic Chile. However, successful nan Euros we whitethorn get 2 aliases 3 bully chances successful a crippled – and past we person to return them.” Against Sweden successful Stockholm, pinch a ample Albanian contingent successful attendance, they were overmuch better, losing narrowly 1-0 but should person had a punishment erstwhile Armando Broja was brought down successful nan first half. “I person thing antagonistic to opportunity astir nan players today,” Sylvinho said. There is activity to beryllium done, however, if Albania are going to origin immoderate upsets successful 2 months’ time. MC
24) Georgia
Willy Sagnol’s broadside had to triumph 2 location games to scope nan Euros and they did, just. Luxembourg, who had a subordinate sent disconnected successful nan semi-final, were beaten 2-0 while nan last against Greece went to penalties. It was an ill-tempered crippled astatine times successful beforehand of a fanatical location support pinch tensions boiling complete erstwhile nan half-time whistle blew and a reddish paper shown to a personnel of each coaching staff. When it was each done and dusted though Georgia had made history by qualifying for their first ever awesome tournament. “Some did not judge successful america but now they will judge it. We are happy. I person ne'er had specified an emotion successful my life,” Khvicha Kvaratskhelia told 1TV Sport. “Thanks to nan Georgian fans. I’ve played successful galore stadiums but I haven’t seen specified support anywhere. You were nan astir important factor.” MC
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