Arn Does Euro 2024 Day 8 

 

Only two matches to cover but we’re into the final round of group matches. We kicked things off with Group A. The hosts, Germany, have dominated this group and coming into the final match day, they were coasting at the top.  

 

SWITZERLAND 1 GERMANY 1 

While the performance levels were clearly lower from Germany here, I don’t think the camp will be too worried. Germany had a higher xG and way more possession plus a whole shit load of goal attempts. Plus, they were unlucky to get a goal ruled out, from Andrich, for a foul.  

 

For Switzerland, there are encouraging signs that they can hang with more powerful nations. In the knock out round this performance would have been enough to force extra time and they’ll be optimistic about their chances. Although, in general, their group performance was middling. Both teams through. A draw between two German speaking nations on the final group game where a draw is enough for both to progress. Why does that sound familiar?  

 

SCOTLAND 0 HUNGARY 1 

Despite finishing dead last there were encouraging signs for Scotland in this tournament. After they rolled over and played dead against Germany that is. The performances against Switzerland and Hungary were encouraging. True, they only managed four goal attempts and lost here, they did manage a lot of possession and a lot of pressure.  

 

For Hungary, the win is somewhat fortunate. A breakaway deep into stoppage time. Csoboth netting on 90+10’ after a long stoppage for a head injury to Varga. They really only had that opening because Scotland had pushed so many players forward in search of a victory.  

 

ELIMINATED: SCOTLAND (assessment) 

Angus Gunn had the stuffing knocked out of him on MD1 and took a game and a half to recover. A series of minor mistakes made him look shaky. He did pull together his best performance for Hungary though. 

 

The back line looked at its most effective when Kieran Tierney was in there and playing well, against Switzerland. That said McKenna, his replacement, performed ok and the Scottish back line generally did alright in this tournament. Most of their issues against Germany were caused by players in front of them dropping too deep and conceding the ball. 

 

Midfield wasn’t good. McGinn played maybe 45 minutes of decent football all tournament. McTominay drifted in and out of games and didn’t have the kind of impact as he did in qualifying. He needed to be more central, and Steve Clarke kept on with a flat midfield four despite it costing them performances from their better players. A midfield diamond or square would have better utilised their players. The lines were also shaky as hell.  

 

Up front Scotland were dire. Offering little to no threat. Hardly any midfield runners got past Che Adams. Adams himself was completely ineffective and barely good enough to make the squad, let alone start every game. His hold up play wasn’t good. His passing wasn’t good, and he couldn’t cope under pressure. He was Scotland’s worst player and Scotland has Anthony Ralston playing for them. Clarke again seemed reluctant to change what had worked for him in qualifying.  

 

Team of the Tournament (Match Day 3)  

GK: Gunn  

RB: Kimmich  

LB: Mittelstadt  

CB: Botka  

CB: Rudiger 

MF: Kroos  

MF: Andrich 

MF: Szoboszlai 

LW: Wirtz  

RW: Musiala 

ST: Embolo  

 

NEXT  

 

ALBANIA vs. SPAIN 

Plucky Albania are still in this after a dramatic late draw with Croatia. One that has torpedoed Croatia’s qualification chances. Spain have been flawless so far. They’ve outplayed two very good teams in Croatia and Italy and should have beaten the latter by a larger margin. Head-to-head doesn’t make good reading for Albania either. Although this is a much better team than the one Spain stuffed 9-0 back in 1990.  

 

The wrinkle in proceedings could be a weakened Spanish line up, which could give Albania a chance. However, there are bound to be players included for Spain who will want to impress and increase their chances of playing time in this tournament as Spain could progress quite far. Prediction: 1-3 

 

CROATIA vs. ITALY 

Croatia come into this with one singular, solitary point. It’s not what I expected, as I had them down to WIN this group. A reliable, consistent midfield (Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic) may be just too fucking old now. They certainly got pulled this way and that by runners against Spain and Albania. That might be less apparent against Italy, but the Italians have more legs than skill this tournament and could cause Croatia the same issues. 

 

Italy come in knowing a point will do and could even progress with a loss as it would leave them in third, with 3 points, as long as Albania lose. Italy’s tactic, historically, is to just do enough. A draw would be fine for them so that’s how I see it playing out. Croatia haven’t been good at breaking strong defences down in this tournament. I don’t see them doing so here. Prediction: 1-1 (or even 0-0)