A poignant rendition of Nessun Dorma set the scene for EURO 2020, evoking memories of fabled Italian teams past. But back in the here and now, the Azzurri made sure that they did not disappoint. Their 3-2-4-1 shape on the ball, along with a dogged rearguard, ground down the Turks, rolling back the years to […]
The last few years will go down as a bleak chapter in the history of the German national team. New talents and old heroes offer pieces to solving the puzzle, but awkward approaches to putting them together have blighted chances of success. This preview puts forward a brief appraisal of the country’s plight and the […]
The Netherlands going into Euro 2020 with Frank de Boer as national manager, who’d have thought that about a year ago? After Koeman’s sudden departure, Frank de Boer’s appointment raised more than a few eyebrows, and initial results only added to the national skepticism. Now, we’re entering a partially home-fielded Euro 2020 with the interesting […]
On and off the pitch, Luis Enrique has tried to mold a systematic outfit in his tenure as Spain manager. Retaining the core of the style of years past, but still able to stand out from the crowd of his predecessors. This preview explores how this development has taken place and where the identity he […]
England enter EURO 2020 with the weight of expectation behind them once again, as they boast one of the most talented attacks at the tournament. However, much of their success hinges on whether Gareth Southgate will be able to find the right tactical balance. Written by Josh Manley. England’s semi-final exit in the 2018 World […]
Roberto Mancini, tasked with rebuilding the Azzurri after their disastrous World Cup qualification failure, leads his men to challenge for the European crown. In contrast to the usual ways of an Italian side, they will look to harness the midfield and creative attacking talents at their disposal via a measured, possession-based approach. This may need […]
For the past decade, success has been an expectation for Belgium, as their greatest set of players assembled at the same time. Having suffered just one defeat in three years, Roberto Martínez must prop up an ageing defense to be the launchpad for an attack that is well into its peak. Written by Joel Parker. […]