Euro 2024 - Off Topics Debate and Prediction thread

[AdahnGorion]

Hi everybody and welcome to the European Championship in Football.

Its coming home... to Madrid
The tournement is now over and Spain won the championship against England with a 2-1 vicotry. Spain have been the best team in the tournement playing some wonderful colourful football.

Big Congratulations to SPAIN! Enjoy your victory


This thread will showcase all groups, matches and so forth and they will be updated now a then when matches have been played. Before we move into predictions, I will showcase all groups and scheduled matches.


EURO2024 will start Friday 14 June and end 14 July
Germany will host this competition and there are 10 host cities (these will include ie. Allianz Arena, Olympiastadion, Westfalenstadion, and more)

The opening match (Match 1) will be 21:00 CEST the 14th of June and it will feature
Germany against Scotland.

Lets look at the qualified countries and their groups.

Link to groups here and showcased below.
https://www.uefa.com/euro2024/standings/

(Edit, simplified groups, since steam is tricky. Will simplfy more once the tournement starts.)

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L Pts Qualification
1 Germany (H) 3 2 1 0 7 Advance to knockout stage
2 Switzerland 3 1 2 0 5
3 Hungary 3 1 0 2 3 Possible knockout stage
4 Scotland 3 0 1 2 1 Eliminated

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L Pts Qualification
1 Spain 3 3 0 0 9 Advance to knockout stage
2 Italy 3 1 1 1 4
3 Croatia 3 0 2 1 2 Possible knockout stage
4 Albania 3 0 1 2 1 Eliminated

Group C

Pos Team Pld W D L Pts Qualification
1 England 2 1 2 0 5 Advance to knockout stage
2 Denmark 2 0 3 0 3
3 Slovenia 2 0 2 1 3 Possible knockout stage
4 Serbia 2 0 2 1 2 Eliminated

Group D

Pos Team Pld W D L Pts Qualification
1 Austria 3 2 0 1 6 Advance to knockout stage
2 France 3 1 2 0 5
3 Netherland 3 1 1 1 4 Possible knockout stage
4 Poland 3 0 0 3 0 Eliminated

Group E

Pos Team Pld W D L Pts Qualification
1 Romania 3 1 1 1 4 Advance to knockout stage
2 Belgium 3 1 1 1 4
3 Slovakia 3 1 1 1 4 Possible knockout stage
4 Ukraine 3 1 1 1 4 Eliminated

Group F

Pos Team Pld W D L Pts Qualification
1 Portugal 3 2 0 1 6 Advance to knockout stage
2 Turkey 3 2 0 1 6
3 Goergia 3 1 1 1 4 Possible knockout stage
4 Czech Rep 3 0 1 2 1 Eliminated


This years group stage is abit different and that is becasue that the 4 best 3rd places gets to go into the knockout phase. The knockout phase will consist of a Round of 16, then Quarter-finals, then Semi-finals and at last, the Final.


Round of 16

Swi vs. Ita - Saturday - ended 2-0
Ger vs. Den - ended 2-0

Eng vs. Svk - Sunday ended 2-1 (OT)
Esp vs. Geo ended 4-1

Fra vs. Bel - Monday ended 1-0
Por vs. Svn Ended in a tie, Por won 3-0 on PS

Rom vs. Ned - Tuesday 3 - 0
Aut vs. Tur 2 - 1

Quarter-finals
(Matches are played at 18:00 and 21:00 CEST)

5 July 2024

Spain vs Germany Ended 2-1 after ET

Portugal vs France - France on penalty shootout

6 July 2024

England vs Switzerland - England won on penalty 6-4

Netherlands vs Turkey - Netherlands won 2-1



Now lets talk abit about the favourites for the title, outsiders and dark horses.

Favourites

England is the overall favourite to win EURO2024 and they do feature a very strong team.
They never won the EC and last time the championship did not come home in the final, instead it went to Rome.. Will this be the year?

France is right after and another favourite. They won the tournement twice, back in 1984 and 2020. They feature a very strong team just like England and often do very well at tournements.

Another Favourite is Germany, they are playing at home and this will give them a huge boost for sure, despite having some trouble during the last few tournements, they still feature a very strong team. They won the tournement 3 times (same as Spain and the most wins of all) Last win was 1996

Outsiders

Portugal, always a strong team and won the tournement back in 2016, but not as strong as it was in its golden period.

Spain, another strong contender and like Germany the most winning of the tournement, they won latest in 2012.

Italy, the current reigning champions from winning in 2020 (against England) they still have a strong team, but is not counted amongs the favourites, but never rule them out!

Belgium & Netherlands could be counted in here as well, both have strong teams, only Netherlands have won the tournement, they did so back in 1988 in one of their golden periods.

Dark Horses

Croatia and Denmark. Both teams have a decent squad and have made good results. Croatia was knocked out in round of 16 in 2020 and Denmark lost to England in the Semi final. Denmark have won the tournement once, back in 1992.


Now lets get on with a few rules here before we get to the prediction

Rules:

Be friendly towards everybody
Respect that we cheer for different teams
Remember this is a place to have fun with the tournement, so try to keep politics out if you can

Rules for predictions:

Make only one guess in each category and if we have any, the daily predictions that might come.

First prediction: Predict the Winner
Secound prediction: Predict the Group winners
Thrid prediction: Predict the Golden Shoe (most goals from a player)


You are free to come with other predictions, but these will be our main prediction focuses.



I will do try to pick some funny predictions here to leave room for some of yours (its never fun to pick the biggest favourites all the time)

Winner of the Tournement: Spain

Group winners - Germany, Spain, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, Turkey

Golden Shoe - Romelu Lukaku



Have a wonderful EURO2024 everybody and a wonderful day.

[Triple G]

Originally posted by AdahnGorion:

In my opinion this is to large.. but change happens all the time and more countries (the smaller) will get a chance.

When more teams participate there will be more matches, and more viewers on the screen -> more opportunities to place ads and to earn money.

All the changes about the European cups are about that. I´m unaware of a change which drastically reduced the teams, to decrease the possible income.

[BOBTOMAS]

One-sided game for Germany

[GunsForBucks]

Rather watch curling.


SWEEP!!!

[AdahnGorion]

Originally posted by Triple G:

Originally posted by AdahnGorion:

In my opinion this is to large.. but change happens all the time and more countries (the smaller) will get a chance.

When more teams participate there will be more matches, and more viewers on the screen -> more opportunities to place ads and to earn money.

All the changes about the European cups are about that. I´m unaware of a change which drastically reduced the teams, to decrease the possible income.

That is indeed true.
European tournements (clubs) are now a league system (to get more matches)

Originally posted by EFFE:

One-sided game for Germany

Very. But lets be honest, without that fast first goal and the red card, we might have seen more nerve. But way to one sided to be really entertaining (despite nice goals and a well playing Germany team)

It will be interesting to see how Germany do against some of the best.


5-1 Final result.

See you all tomorrow!

[Hobbit XIII]

Originally posted by AdahnGorion:

Originally posted by Triple G:

When more teams participate there will be more matches, and more viewers on the screen -> more opportunities to place ads and to earn money.

All the changes about the European cups are about that. I´m unaware of a change which drastically reduced the teams, to decrease the possible income.

That is indeed true.
European tournements (clubs) are now a league system (to get more matches)

Originally posted by EFFE:

One-sided game for Germany

Very. But lets be honest, without that fast first goal and the red card, we might have seen more nerve. But way to one sided to be really entertaining (despite nice goals and a well playing Germany team)

It will be interesting to see how Germany do against some of the best.


5-1 Final result.

See you all tomorrow!

Keep this thread going and can you make a forum group for the Euro2024.
So there can be bigger discussions on individual teams and expanded things that are here.
And matches in hindsight etc stuff.

[Triple G]

Originally posted by AdahnGorion:

Well not ancient Germany (albeit they were something)

Yes - but You said "scary", and it´s more the effort of the ancient German play style that Germany is the country which played the most finals, despite them participating in it only since 1972, when they also first won it. They actually also participated in 1968, but weren´t qualified for the actual EC. Which is also the only time it wasn´t qualified, while they participated in 6 finals, and 8 semi finals, which is why Germany leads any table in Europe, be it group stage, or overall. If it´s about WC Germany is second to Brasil, while still having played the most finals and semi finals...

[N3tRunn3r]

Originally posted by AdahnGorion:

Penalty for Germany and :redcard: for Scotland (now its over for Scotland)

off into VARcation
^^

[AdahnGorion]

Originally posted by N3tRunn3r:

Originally posted by AdahnGorion:

Penalty for Germany and for Scotland (now its over for Scotland)

off into VARcation
^^

Rofl indeed.
Hopefully they wont end the tournement with zero points

[AdahnGorion]

Todays Matches

Group A

Starting 15:00 CEST

Hungary vs Switzerland

Group B

Starting 18:00 CEST

Spain vs Croatia

Starting 21:00 CEST

Italy vs Albania


Prediction contest for today.
Guess the results of all three matches (if you are daring, try to make the results too)

My guess

Switzerland to win by 2-1
Spain and Croatie to tie 2-2
Italy to win 3-0

[Xautos]

Originally posted by AdahnGorion:

Will be interesting with tomorrow.
Hungary vs Switzerland (might be even)
Spain vs Croatia (this one interest me the most)
Itay vs Albania (might be high scoring)

Hungary are a strong underdog capable of upsets, they been a little unlucky at times but then again so are the Swiss team. That could be as interesting as the Spain vs. Croatia match.

Italy has this in the bag if they get it right. Albania is lucky to have gotten as far as they have. It's a very tough opening draw for them.

Not going to get carried away on establish teams though, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia came out of nowhere in the WC a few years back and almost caused the greatest ever upsets.

People back then said "it's only Saudi Arabia" and got the shock of their lives. So Albania could very much cause a famous upset still.

Don't want to call it on Hun vs. Swi and Spa vs. Cro, it's too close to call there.

[AdahnGorion]

Originally posted by Xautos:

Originally posted by AdahnGorion:

Will be interesting with tomorrow.
Hungary vs Switzerland (might be even)
Spain vs Croatia (this one interest me the most)
Itay vs Albania (might be high scoring)

Hungary are a strong underdog capable of upsets, they been a little unlucky at times but then again so are the Swiss team. That could be as interesting as the Spain vs. Croatia match.

Italy has this in the bag if they get it right. Albania is lucky to have gotten as far as they have. It's a very tough opening draw for them.

Not going to get carried away on establish teams though, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia came out of nowhere in the WC a few years back and almost caused the greatest ever upsets.

People back then said "it's only Saudi Arabia" and got the shock of their lives. So Albania could very much cause a famous upset still.

Don't want to call it on Hun vs. Swi and Spa vs. Cro, it's too close to call there.

Indeed they are both teams that can upset larger ones, but I think Switzerland is a better quality time looking at players.
Its still 0-0
The team that wins this might already be secured for a round of 16

Switzerland infront 1-0 now

[AdahnGorion]

2-0 Switzerland
Seems like the favourites are winning the first two games.
It will be interesting to see if Hungary can make a comeback in secound half.

[AdahnGorion]

Hungary on 1-2 now. This could end up interesting during the last 20 mins + extra.
I still think Switzerland will win (hopefully it ends 2-1 so my prediction is right on)

[AdahnGorion]

Switzerland won 3-1
I will update the thread soon.

Next match will be very interesting, as it wil be Spain vs Croatia starting in a abit over an hour.

[AdahnGorion]

Spain vs Croatia starting soon.
This will be the match of the day. It will be interesting to see if Croatia can annoy Spain.