Premier League

5 takeaways as Group A concludes at Euro 2020

One year later, Euro 2020 is finally underway. At the end of every matchday, we’ll be dissecting the biggest talking points from all the action. Below, we look back on Sunday’s games.

Teams in earlier groups at disadvantage

The teams in Group F will know what’s required to qualify by the time their finale rolls around this Wednesday. Portugal, which is currently in third, will know whether a slender defeat to France will be enough to advance to the knockout rounds on three points, or whether it needs to hit four or six points to be assured of qualification.

The countries in the earlier groups at this tournament aren’t afforded that luxury. Switzerland entered halftime 2-0 up against Turkey, a result which would boost its points tally to four but still leave it in third place in Group A due to an inferior goal difference to Wales, which was 1-0 down to Italy.

In that scenario, should Switzerland go for a landslide win over Turkey in a bid to leapfrog Wales into second place? Or, given that four points was easily enough for a third-place team to advance at Euro 2016, should it not risk pouring bodies forward and simply see out the victory?

Third-place finishers at Euro 2016

#	Team	GD	Points
1	Slovakia	0	4
2	Republic of Ireland	-2	4
3	Portugal	0	3
4	Northern Ireland	0	3
5	Turkey*	-2	3
6	Albania*	-2	3

* Turkey and Albania didn’t qualify for knockout rounds.

Wales and Switzerland were effectively in no-man’s land at the break. They thought they had enough, so there was no sense in chasing a better result. It was simply a case of seeing how the next few days play out and hoping for the best.

And that meant Sunday’s fixtures lacked tension. UEFA needs to rethink its 24-team format, and either reduce the number of competitors back to 16 or boost it to 32. Four-team groups with two progressing and two falling out of the competition usually set up dramatic group finales across the board.

Shaqiri, Zuber stir Switzerland’s drink

Switzerland has a chance at nabbing one of four knockout stage spots for third-place finishers courtesy of a 3-1 victory over Turkey in Baku, Azerbaijan, and they owe it all to two stellar individual performances.

Xherdan Shaqiri and Steven Zuber were the difference against a defensively dysfunctional Turkey side in one of the tournament’s better attacking showings.

For the first time in seven years, Liverpool’s Shaqiri recorded a brace for his country. First, Shaqiri drilled a deft curling strike from outside of the area on his second-choice right foot, then the barrel-chested attacker potted his second when he got on the end of an incisive ball from Zuber.

It was Zuber’s third assist on the day following his involvement on Haris Seferovic’s opener, making him just one of three players since 1980 to register three or more assists in a game at the European Championship. Over the course of 85 minutes, Zuber has 69 touches, five key passes, and completed four of five dribbles and eight of 14 duels.

Zuber’s delicately weighted pass on Shaqiri’s second was the highlight of a dominant outing on the left flank, and one that should bode well for the Swiss going forward should they secure a round of 16 place.

Turkey ill-prepared for Euro 2020 task

Turkey swiftly went from dark horse darling to tournament afterthought in the span of three matches. As the youngest of 24 sides at the tournament, their naivete can in part be excused.

Senol Gunes’ side arrived at Euro 2020 having conceded the fewest goals in qualifiers (three), with none from open play, perhaps explaining why the only discernible tactic employed in Group A play was to defend.

They didn’t do a particularly good job of that, conceding eight goals to Italy, Wales, and Switzerland – and Gunes’ tinkering at the back didn’t help. Central defender Merih Demiral was harshly dropped for the 2-0 defeat to Wales after scoring an own goal in the opener as Gunes decided to pair Kaan Ayhan with Caglar Soyuncu against the Dragons. The call to drop Turkey’s tallest center-back for a game against Wales’ 6-foot-5 striker Kieffer Moore was a peculiar decision, and one that hinted perhaps Gunes was out of his element.

Turkey looked well off the pace at Euro 2020 and that contributed to a shockingly porous rear guard. Many players appeared knackered in the wake of congested domestic campaigns; Gunes’ entire team have performed at levels somewhere between limp and lethargic. Even with the extra intent displayed in the opening stages of Sunday’s 3-1 with the Swiss, Turkey was far too easy to break down.

Gunes – who led the nation to the 2002 World Cup semifinals in his first stint in charge – deserves a lot of the blame. With Turkey’s core constructed of young and emerging talents, the Turkish football federation may fancy hiring a manager who’s ascendancy matches that of the team.

Mancini’s team management should be commended

There were plenty on social media who scoffed when Salvatore Sirigu emerged for a late cameo. Some believed bringing on a backup goalkeeper in the 89th minute was an insult to 10-man Wales, while others viewed it as further evidence that the tournament lacked competitiveness.

But Italy manager Roberto Mancini won’t care for the outside noise. His priority right now is to keep his team focused on going deep at the European Championship, and that job is made easier when there’s good morale in the dressing room. Introducing Sirigu wasn’t meant to be a sneering poke at the ribs of Wales boss Rob Page, nor was it meant to be a putdown of Euro 2020’s format. It was merely a move to let Sirigu feel involved and appreciated.

Mancini even sending Sirigu on for a few minutes in goal. His approach with this squad speaks to his own regrets as a footballer. Went to a World Cup in 1990 and didn’t play. Says it’s still his greatest regret that he never got to play in one.

— Nicky Bandini (@NickyBandini) June 20, 2021

Sirigu is unlikely to unsettle Gianluigi Donnarumma in Mancini’s starting XI, but the squad rotation elsewhere in the lineup will boost competition – and that can only be a good thing.

Marco Verratti logged the most touches, created the most chances, and attempted the most tackles on an impressive return from injury. Matteo Pessina replaced Nicolo Barella in midfield and became the youngest Italian to score in his first start at a major tournament since Antonio Cassano in 2004. Andrea Belotti held up the ball well in attack and Federico Chiesa, who can count himself unlucky to have not started in Italy’s two matches to begin the tournament, dizzied Welsh defenders with his rhythmic footwork and pace.

Mancini is keeping his team fresh as it reaches the knockout phase, and indicated after the match he trusts each squad member to understand his role when called upon.

“It’s important that the identity of the team remains the same, as changing three or four players shouldn’t make any difference,” Mancini said, according to Football Italia. “They all know what to do and the end product does not change.”

Wales should target another semifinal

Five years after its remarkable run to the semifinals at Euro 2016, Wales should look to repeat the feat in this summer’s rescheduled tournament.

Page’s men will take on the runner-up from Group B in the round of 16, and Russia is currently on course to take second in that quartet ahead of its final game against Denmark. Wales should view Russia – or Finland and Demark if there’s a surprise on Monday – as beatable opposition.

Group B

#	Team	GD	Points
1	Belgium	+4	6
2	Russia	-2	3
3	Finland	0	3
4	Denmark	-2	0

Wales is the classic case of a team that’s greater than the sum of its parts. The starting lineup is awash with players who struggle to get minutes for clubs in England’s top two tiers, yet the Dragons have revived the team spirit that fueled its last European Championship campaign.

It’s not rocket science. They always work harder than the other team, and that was no clearer at this tournament than the club’s thrilling 2-0 win over Turkey in their second outing at the Euros.

We’re getting ahead of ourselves a little here but, if Wales squeezed through the round of 16, another winnable fixture could lie in wait. The quarterfinal would be staged in Baku – the setting for that famous defeat of Turkey – and would be against either the Dutch, who weren’t too convincing in their recent wins over Austria and Ukraine, or one of the best third-placed teams.

Premier League

Breaking down thrilling EPL title race with 10 games left

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One of the most intoxicating title races in Premier League history is, mercifully, ready to resume.

The quirks of the calendar – an FA Cup weekend succeeded by an agonizing international window – means the titanic tussle between Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City will have been on hiatus for a full three weeks before it gets back underway on Sunday.

But there are no more impending interruptions. With 10 matches remaining for each title contender, we’re barreling toward a resolution to the type of three-way battle that’s exceedingly rare in England’s top flight. There’s never been a season in the Premier League era where three teams went into the final day with a chance to hoist the trophy. This could be it. The last time it happened was the 1971-72 campaign, when Derby County won an incredible four-team fight, narrowly beating Leeds United and, ominously, Liverpool and Man City to the crown. We’re overdue for that kind of drama.

That three sides have converged this way at all is, frankly, remarkable.

These are the three best teams in the country by an enormous margin. They’re the only ones with an expected goal difference per game of plus-1.0 or greater this season. The next best mark, surprisingly, belongs to Mauricio Pochettino’s erratic Chelsea team at plus-0.36. So, yeah, it’s not close.

The three of them are also on a tear and show no signs of slowing down. Arsenal have won all eight of their league games in 2024, scoring 33 goals in the process; Liverpool have collected 22 of a possible 27 points in that time; reigning champions Manchester City have racked up 23 of 27 points. They’ve combined for just one loss since the calendar flipped – Liverpool’s 3-1 defeat against Arsenal in early February.

The only sides that look capable of halting their progress are each other, which makes this weekend’s clash between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad all the more significant.

Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Premier League

Euro 2024 playoffs: Miraculous Ukraine comeback, big result for Wales

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Wales, Greece, and Poland registered statement wins Thursday, joining three other teams in next Tuesday’s playoff finals for the three remaining places at Euro 2024.

Ukraine staged an incredible late comeback against Bosnia and Herzegovina in its semifinal to keep its Euro dream alive.

The highest-placed team in FIFA’s rankings that’s no longer in contention to reach the tournament in Germany is 60th-placed Finland.

Here’s how the playoff semifinals across Path A, B, and C played out.

Path A

Mateusz Slodkowski / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Poland 5-1 Estonia

Estonia barely stood a chance. Down to 10 men as early as the 27th minute, the northern Europeans could only muster a consolation goal in a 5-1 loss to Poland. The Polish achieved the rout without Robert Lewandowski getting on the scoresheet and remain unbeaten in 21 Euro qualifiers at home, a magnificent run dating back to September 2006. Poland is trying to make up for a poor qualifying campaign in which it finished third in Group E, four points behind the Czech Republic and Albania. The country hasn’t missed the Euros since 2004.

Wales 4-1 Finland

The Red Wall might descend on Germany this summer. Wales’ raucous supporters have legitimate hopes of traveling to another major tournament after the Dragons scorched Finland without the retired Gareth Bale and with Aaron Ramsey, 33, on the bench after more injury problems. Teemu Pukki gave the visiting team some hope just before halftime following well-taken finishes from David Brooks and Neco Williams. But Wales needed just 73 seconds of the second period to restore its two-goal cushion via Brennan Johnson’s tap-in. Daniel James took advantage of a defensive error before rounding the goalkeeper in the 86th minute to give the host a resounding victory.

Playoff final: Wales vs. Poland, Tuesday 3:45 p.m. ET

Path B

Israel 1-4 Iceland

Iceland’s Albert Gudmundsson stole the show with an emphatic hat-trick against Israel on Thursday. His stunning free-kick into the top right corner canceled out Eran Zahavi’s opening goal for Israel, and he created a nice cushion for his country with a pair of markers in the final 10 minutes. Just before that, Zahavi blew an incredible opportunity to equalize the match at 2-2, missing a penalty awarded for handball against Iceland’s Gudmundur Thorarinsson. A red card to Israel’s Haim Revivo didn’t help the trailing side. Iceland is now a game away from making only its second-ever appearance at the Euros following its quarterfinal run in 2016.

Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-2 Ukraine

Ukraine scored twice with just minutes remaining in regulation to snatch what seemed to be a sure victory from Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday. Bosnia controlled play for most of the match and took the lead in the 56th minute when Mykola Matviyenko turned in Amar Dedic’s shot into his own net. But a colossal defensive lapse cost the Bosnians a chance to make it a record four countries from the former Yugoslavia at Euro 2024. Roman Yaremchuk came off the bench to equalize in the 85th minute and teed up Artem Dovbyk’s sensational winning header three minutes later to turn the playoff semifinal on its head. Ukraine now faces Iceland with a third consecutive Euro appearance at stake.

Playoff final: Ukraine vs. Iceland, Tuesday 3:45 p.m. ET

Path C

Georgia 2-0 Luxembourg

Two clever finishes from Budu Zivzivadze in Tbilisi assured Georgia of a place in Path C’s final – and all without the help of suspended talisman Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. But it wasn’t that simple for the host. Luxembourg thought it equalized during the second half, only for the goal to be eventually snatched away due to Maxime Chanot’s apparent foul 45 seconds earlier. Luxembourg’s Chanot was controversially sent off for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity, and Zivzivadze effectively ended the match six minutes later with his second strike. Kvaratskhelia is available for the final.

Greece 5-0 Kazakhstan

Anastasios Bakasetas lashed home a penalty, Dimitrios Pelkas headed into the net’s roof, Fotis Ioannidis tapped in from close range, and Dimitrios Kourbelis added another header. And that was all before halftime. Kazakhstan’s impressive 2022-23 Nations League campaign and notable Euro 2024 qualifying wins over Denmark, Northern Ireland (twice), and Finland suddenly seemed ages ago, as Greece recorded its biggest halftime lead since October 1978 (5-0 against Finland). Aleksandr Marochkin’s embarrassing own goal in the 85th minute made Kazakhstan’s day even worse.

Playoff final: Georgia vs. Greece, Tuesday 1:00 p.m. ET

Premier League

Look: Nike unveils beautiful kit selection for Euro 2024, Copa America

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Nike released a stunning batch of threads ahead of Euro 2024 and Copa America on Monday.

Days after Adidas launched its lineup for the summer’s top two tournaments, Nike followed suit with an array of colorful designs.

The U.S. manufacturer also announced redesigns for Canada and Poland, even though they’ve yet to qualify for their respective tournaments. The Canucks face Trinidad and Tobago in a one-off Copa America qualifier on Saturday, while Poland must navigate a four-team playoff to reach Euro 2024.

(All images courtesy of Nike)