Right then, enough from me. We’ll be back with more of the same tomorrow, and live action too for what is going to be a bumper day. Spain v Germany and Portugal v France. It’ll be fun, pinky-promise.
Forgive the self-indulgence. Here’s my Euro Daily, previewing Spain 2-3 Germany (aet).
“Hello Taha.” Hello, krishnamoorthy v. “Spain Portugal Netherlands Swiss. Do you agree?”
Respect to you for putting it out there. Let me have a think … I’m actually going to go the other way on three of them. I’m not backing England. I’ve got a feeling about Germany, despite Spain’s excellence. France to nick it 1-0 against Portugal, with Turkey on for another upset because why not. Switzerland win in the shootout against England.
Ultimately, this is how I feel:
Wayne Rooney’s back in management at Plymouth and he’s been speaking at a press conference as he tries to bounce back from a pretty nightmarish spell at Birmingham City, where he was sacked after just 15 matches.
“I took a lot of time to reflect on what happened at Birmingham,” he’s quoted as saying by PA. “Sometimes things happen for a reason. The good thing which came out of it means that I’m here now, and I’m here to go and be successful. I really believe in that. I’m a confident person and I back myself to do that. I’m just looking forward to getting started.
“Of course I’m not going to come out and say we’re looking to get Premier League in a year’s time. We think we need to be realistic and what we’re trying to do is build on where the club has been over the last five years, which has been rising and getting better over time.”
John Stones speaks to the media.
I thought we were going home after 60 minutes of the game.
I said after the game that now we’ve got to go to the training pitch as we have done this week and brush up on a few things and try and get ourselves playing back to where we were, fluid football, exciting football, create more chances which is what we all want as players and I’m sure what everyone at home and in the stands does as well. To get through to another quarter-final is something I’m extremely proud of. Over the years I don’t think we’ve been that successful in our history of doing that. So in my time here to do it repeatedly every tournament, be there, is a big thing for us. We’ve got to grasp it with two hands and get to the next stage.
Some transfer fun for you. David Raya is now a full-time Gunner and Maximilian Kilman could be a Hammer pretty soon.
So … three at the back for England? Takes me back to 2018, a proper summer, and Ashley Young as left wing-back. If that is the way England go on Saturday, with Kyle Walker moving central, it could open up rather well for Trent Alexander-Arnold. Or perhaps Kieran Trippier just moves to the other flank. Feel free to write in and tell me if I’ve got that right/wrong and share your thoughts on why three at the back is genius/madness.
Michael’s off, and I’ll be filling in from here. Hi, everyone. Here’s a story on a diplomatic incident caused by a goal celebration.
Going to hand this blog over to Taha Hashim now. Enjoy!
This isn’t going to read itself.
Not sure how happy I’d be if I was a Plymouth fan. While most Championship managers have spent the summer preparing for pre-season, Rooney has been on a couch in Germany as a BBC pundit talking about how bad England have been. Anyway, pre-season started yesterday for the Pilgrims and the former England striker is in back in Devon.
👊 "You've all got an opportunity, so take it, enjoy it - and let's win"
— Plymouth Argyle FC (@Argyle) July 3, 2024
🗣️ @WayneRooney#pafc pic.twitter.com/q3QaFssnIn
The bookmakers have England down as the favourites to beat Switzerland, although I’m not convinced that should be true. Here are a few Swiss stats, courtesy of PA Media, to really get your Thursday fired up.
Switzerland’s seven goals at Euro 2024 have come from different players, they are not reliant on an individual who can be contained, but spread the workload across the team, whether in attack or defence.
The Swiss are second bottom for number of tackles made (36) at the finals, but have conceded only three goals, which shows how they use their organisation and press to subdue opponents.
Goalkeeper Yann Sommer has been forced to make only six saves in more than six hours of football, so well has he been protected by his defence. No keeper has been less busy at Euro 2024.
The Swiss are one of four teams at the tournament to have scored two goals from outside the box, along with Germany, Turkey and Romania.
They have had more shots on target (18) than off target (15) at these finals, a claim only a handful of sides can make, and don’t mind not having the ball with 48% possession spread across their games.
They do not use width much and are last of the 24 teams for crosses completed with five in four games, keeping their play compact in central positions.
Tactics and team news for Spain v Germany, Portugal v France, England v Switzerland and Netherlands v Turkey, with the latter nation welcoming back captain Hakan Calhanoglu and centre-back Samet Akaydin after both were suspended for the win over Austria. Turkey manager Vincenzo Montella will have to cope without the suspended Orkun Kokcu and Ismail Yuksek, though.
Niall has gone for a well-earned bite to eat. Michael Butler here to guide you through the next little bit. We’ll start with some bits and bobs around England v Switzerland, scheduled for 5pm BST on Saturday. This is from Reuters:
Gareth Southgate has been criticised for not making many changes to his team but that could be about to change as they practised a back three in training, with Kyle Walker moved to the right of centre three and Bukayo Saka potentially playing as wing-back.
Of concern to Southgate is the fact that defender Marc Guehi, who has been solid on his major tournament debut, is suspended for Saturday’s match, John Stones has been training with his leg heavily bandaged and Luke Shaw has not played since February due to injury.
While England have not played with three at the back since finishing runners-up to Italy at Euro 2020, it would allow Southgate to employ his wing-backs higher up the pitch.
Switzerland manager Murat Yakin, meanwhile, will rely on the experience of Manchester City’s Manuel Akanji and Newcastle United’s Fabian Schar to anchor the back line, with Granit Xhaka acting as the midfield playmaker.
Xhaka, who played a pivotal role in Bayer Leverkusen’s Bundesliga victory last season, was delighted by Switzerland’s win over Italy which was sweet revenge for their 3-0 thrashing by them at Euro 2020.
“I have never seen the Azzurri in such difficulty on the field as against us,” Xhaka said. “We won even before going on the pitch, just as they did with us three years ago. They were scared.”
England are bidding for their first European Championship title in 11 appearances while a Swiss victory would put Yakin’s team into the semi-finals for the first time. The winners will face Turkey or the Netherlands in the semis.
Philip Lahm picks Spain as his team of the tournament so far in a weekly column that also features the word Nachwuchsleistungszentren.
Here’s Ben McAleer of stat boffins WhoScored, making his predictions for the quarter-finals:
Italy were the best-represented nation in terms of managers, with five starting the tournament. Marco Rossi (Hungary) went home after the group stage, with Domenico Tedesco (Belgium), Francesco Calzona (Slovakia) and Luciano Spalletti (…Italy) all exiting in the last 16.
Only one Italian remains: Turkey’s Vincenzo Montella, who has become a hero to fans after leading the team to the last eight. “Montella has become one of us now. He hugs and kisses everyone. He hugged me tightly and said ‘We dedicate this victory to the Turkish nation and especially to you’,” said the Turkish FA president, Mehmet Buyukeksi.
“At the beginning of the tournament, I told the players, “[World Cup] 2002, [Euro] 2008 have been talked about for years. You should have a story to tell your children in this tournament’,” Buyukeksi added. “These kids are writing history and will continue to do so. We will go as far as we can in this tournament.”
Updated
Spain v Germany pits the two strongest sides against each other in the quarter-finals – the winner will be the tournament favourite, and there’s a record up for grabs with both nations having won the Euros three times before.
Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams and Fabián Ruiz all missed Spain’s training session on Tuesday, while Aymeric Laporte only jogged once around the field. All are expected to be fit for Friday’s match, while Germany have no new injury concerns. Centre-back Jonathan Tah returns from suspension and is likely to replace Nico Schlotterbeck.
“I don’t know if Spain are all that happy having to face Germany; likewise, there could have been easier opponents for us. If you want to win this tournament, you have to go through Spain,” said Joshua Kimmich. Teammate Toni Kroos, who is retiring after the Euros, insisted: “I don’t feel like this will be my last-ever match.”
Spain striker Joselu, Kroos’ teammate at Real Madrid last season, said: “We’re aiming for the trophy and even though it’s been a pleasure playing with Toni Kroos — because he’s been a teammate and a friend — I’d still like to ‘retire’ him on Friday!”
Ivan Toney came off the bench against Slovakia with two minutes to go, and has admitted to being less than impressed with his late introduction – “I think my face said it all,” he joked yesterday. Still, the forward made a big impact, drawing defenders to create space for Jude Bellingham’s leveller, and then teeing up Harry Kane’s extra-time winner.
There are plenty of observers (myself included, tbh) who think Toney should start against Switzerland, but he may have to make an impact off the bench again. Let’s hope he gets a bit longer this time.
Speaking of Greece, they kick off Louise Taylor’s roundup of how to win a major tournament. Basically, you should be defensively ruthless like they were. Or control the ball like Spain did from 2008 to 2012. Or, be good at penalties like Italy and Argentina.
Also, the ‘King Otto’ documentary on Greece’s victory in 2004 is on iPlayer, and well worth a watch in these football-starved hours. It was all so nearly a total disaster.
Ten Hag extends Manchester United contract
Some breaking news away from Euro 2024: Erik ten Hag has extended his Manchester United contract until June 2026.
For Toni Kroos, each game could be his last – he’s retiring from football altogether after this tournament, and Spain are hoping to hasten him into his recliner tomorrow night. As Nick Ames explains, it won’t be an easy task.
Preamble
Another rest day? Yes, it’s a disgrace. But fear not – two absolutely huge games are coming up on Friday, as the tournament’s two most in-form sides, Germany and Spain, collide in a quarter-final that could, maybe should, have been the final.
Neither France nor Portugal have looked quite so fluent, but both will feel like a semi-final place is well within their grasp. Then there’s the other half of the draw, where England face Switzerland and the Netherlands face Turkey on Saturday. One of those four teams is going to be in the final.
Stay tuned for press conferences, team news and analysis – and, as it’s the 20th anniversary of Greece winning the Euros today, let me know where that ranks for you in terms of football’s greatest-ever upsets.
