Arn Does Euro 2024 SF Recap 

 

Holy shit, I’ve been so busy at work this week. Hence, the delay to this piece on the semi-finals of the Euros. It’s so delayed, it’s coming out on Final Day. Let’s get it done so we can get on with our day. Plans for the end of this tournament are a wrap up of the final, a final (dreaded) England player ratings, an average of my ratings of all England players during the tournament and a ranking of every team and how they’ve done based on expectations plus each team’s best and worst player. Hell, yes.  

 

SPAIN 2 FRANCE 1 

You can never tell how these big tournament games will go. I was hoping for the Spain dub as Spain have clearly been the best team at this tournament. What we got was a sensational comeback win with France taking an early lead and then Lamine Yamal doing incredible things. Dani Olmo too. Or is it Dani Golmo?  

 

The only disappointment from Spain’s POV is that they could have created more in the second half and chose to do game management instead. That could have backfired in spectacular fashion, but they also had the bulk of second half possession.  

 

An issue for Spain was missing Dani Carvajal, who has been very reliable. Jesus Navas, who isn’t a right back, filled in back there and got cooked by Mbappe. They gave up on him and switched Nacho to right back and Mbappe cooked him too. In all honesty, France should have exploited that right back situation better.  

 

The final could present issues elsewhere as Alvaro Morata was injured by a security guard (oh, the irony) after the match finished. We’ll get to that later. Good news for Spain was that both their opening tactic (go at France with the pacey wingers) and their back up tactic (control possession) both worked, and they’ve gotten past another very strong team.  

 

NETHERLANDS 1 ENGLAND 2 

Not only did England win, but they also won in normal time. (Just). It was an odd game of football with Netherlands scoring a banger very early on. I was still eating my dinner, having gotten home about 10 minutes before KO. Xavi Simons scored a wonder goal. An incredible strike. One it’s felt he’s been building up to all tournament. This may have caused an issue for the Dutch though, as they didn’t come forward as much and capitalise on England’s sluggish start. A second goal could have killed it off.  

 

Instead, England took over the game, winning all the midfield duels and they dominated a big chunk of the first half. True, the Harry Kane penalty was very soft. Even ITV’s resident officiating expert Christina Unkel was shocked. It was a poor use of VAR and Holland can consider themselves hard done by. However, England were all over the Dutch towards the end of the half and deserved parity on the scoreboard.  

 

The second half was a chance for one of the teams to seize control of the game with savvy substitutions. Step forward Ronald Koeman and Gareth Southgate to do no such thing. Both made early changes. Southgate putting on his preferred left back and Koeman swapping out Malen for target forward Weghorst. Neither of these subs really did anything to change the game.  

 

Southgate however, did save some ballsy changes for near the end of the game. Removing a laboured Kane and replacing him with pacey forward Ollie Watkins, along with Palmer on for Foden, are the kind of changes that can lose you a game. So, for once, they were big decisions that Southgate got right. Watkins running in behind for the late, late winner. For the first time in this tournament, I can say that England deserved to win. They’ve been crap, let’s face it, but they deserved to beat the Dutch.  

 

Team of the Tournament (Semi-Final round) 

GK: Simon 

RB: Walker 

LB: Cucurella 

CB: Laporte 

CB: Stones 

MF: Ruiz 

MF: Olmo 

MF: Rodri 

LW: Williams 

RW: Yamal 

ST: Watkins 

 

THE DREADED ENGLAND PLAYER RATINGS 

Jordan Pickford: It wasn’t the best of games for Pickford, but he could do nothing about the goal. His distribution was slightly better than usual. **½ 

 

Kyle Walker: I’ve started to question whether he’s reaching the end of his usefulness at this level. Maybe the pace is just starting to fade a little. He was solid here. No complaints. *** 

 

John Stones: Johnny Bones moved up into midfield a couple of times and the progressive passing was there. Not as much as you’d hope for but an improvement on his general play. ***½ 

 

Marc Guehi: Guehi has looked calm and composed all tournament. *** 

 

Kieran Trippier: Had his best game of the tournament on the left of midfield and even crossed one in with his left peg. True, he got hooked at half time but, for once, he was unlucky. **½ 

 

Bukayo Saka: Playing off the right flank he caused a few problems but looked tired and didn’t have his best game. **½ 

 

Kobbie Mainoo: Seems to have cemented that central midfield spot. Fair play to him. ***½ 

 

Declan Rice: Made a few horrible mistakes around the edge of the box and never seems to look as good in an England jersey as he does for Arsenal, where he gets a bit more freedom on the ball. **½ 

 

Phil Foden: Looked explosive in the early going and the crowd were chanting his name to “Dancing in the Dark”. Couldn’t maintain that early promise and faded badly in the second half. *** 

 

Jude Bellingham: Not an outstanding performance but as a ball carrier he helped to keep pressure on the Dutch defence. *** 

 

Harry Kane: Scored a pen that he, just about, won himself. Looked composed and went about his link up play to good effect. ***½ 

 

Subs: 

Luke Shaw: Gave England natural balance with his contributions down the left side. Has been sorely missed at left back all tournament. *** 

 

Cole Palmer: Only got 10 minutes but slotted into the Foden role effectively. *** 

 

Ollie Watkins: Brilliant finish from a difficult angle to win the game. Surely England’s best striking option off the bench to change a game with his pace and smart runs. ***½ 

 

Konsa and Gallagher also came on but at 90+3’ so no rating.  

 

THE FINAL 

SPAIN vs. ENGLAND 

 

Spain have been the best team in this tournament. There’s no argument about that. None whatsoever. They came out of a tough group, besting Croatia and Italy in the process. They’ve knocked Germany and France out. Their attacking options down the flanks have defences terrified. They’re the only ‘big’ team that’s employed players to run at defenders. Something a lot of smaller nations did to great effect. Yamal and Williams have both been sensational.  

 

England have not been good during the tournament. Arguably, they’ve only been the better team in one game. But it was the semi-final, so maybe they’re gelling together and peaking at the right time. It is tough to see a game play out where England are the better team against Spain. It seems highly unlikely. They’ll give up a lot of possession against top midfield talent in Rodri and Ruiz. The threat of Olmo, Williams and Yamal is going to cause havoc in England’s defence.  

 

Alvaro Morata is potentially missing after a freak injury after the semi and if he is, they’ll lose a lot of high energy pressing from the front. Morata has been a team player this tournament and has been overlooked as to how effective he’s been in creating space for the wingers. He does occasionally get in the way by coming short and he’s not been brilliant, but a replacement player (Oyazarbal perhaps) would give Spain a similar player to Olmo and cause similar problems as Morata regarding coming short for the ball.  

 

While Spain haven’t changed their starting line up much, they’ve also only gone to extra time once. England have twice. I’m sure England will be thrilled they managed to get past the Netherlands without having a third straight 120’ outing.  

 

England won the last time these two clashed, back in 2018, but that Spain team is unrecognisable. De Gea, Jonny, Alonso, Ramos, Busquets, Thiago, Aspas, Niguez, Asensio and Rodrigo all started. Literally the only survivor is Nacho. Even looking at the bench, only Rodri and Morata are involved now. It’s a complete overhaul. England has changed a lot since that game too. The England midfield was Winks, Dier and Barclay!  

 

It is worth noting that the match before that one, Southgate employed his back three/five and Spain won. But England’s central midfield was Henderson, Alli and Lingard. So, take that with a pinch of salt.  

 

At the end of the day, tournament football is wild, and the finals aren’t always won by the best team. Italy won Euro 2020 because England stopped playing after scoring early. When Portugal won Euro 2016, they limped into the final with a penalties win over Poland on route. They didn’t beat anyone in 90 minutes until Wales in the semi. Let’s not forget Greece won the Euros back in 2004 by shithousing their way past Portugal. Denmark won the Euros back in 1992 despite not qualifying.  

 

Anyone can win over 90 minutes. It could go either way. England need to stay in the game for as long as they can because Spain’s bench doesn’t boast the same attacking verve as their starting wingers. If England can stop Spain for an hour, they have a shot at winning. If Spain score early, it could be a wipe out. They could overrun England and win 3-0. Lots of ifs and maybes here.  

 

I think England will aim to stifle and obfuscate and drag it on as long as possible at 0-0. It’s their best chance at winning. Where England do have strength is from the bench, where they have tricky attacking options.  

 

MAKE A PREDICTION THEN, COME ON! 

 

Ok, here we go. Prediction: 1-0. Sorry, England fans. The heartache continues for at least two more years (and probably longer).