England Must Go Positive with a Front 2 Proper for Last-16 Clash with Iceland

It is often said teams need to feel their way into a major tournament such as Euro 2016, getting better as they go along. There is no fixed pattern to this, but there is logic to at least trying not to show all your cards too early. Nobody is going to pretend England planned to begin the European Championship in the frustrating fashion they have—two draws sandwiching an uninspiring win over Wales. Beginning with Monday’s last-16 clash with Iceland, they will hope to show they have learned from their group-stage experiences. Captain Wayne Rooney is of the belief the less-than-thrilling... 

Why Underdog Status Will Help Portugal in Euro 2016 Clash with Croatia

Eight have exited. Sixteen remain, but Portugal’s continued presence at Euro 2016 hasn’t got much to do with any intelligence they’ve displayed so far. It’s almost like they don’t know what they’re doing. Three draws from three matches was enough to take them through, though, thanks primarily to the fact Turkey and Albania were only able to get the same amount of points from tougher groups with an inferior goal difference. But they’re still fighting, and when Cristiano Ronaldo is around to pack some of your punches, then you are going to hit pretty... 

Going for Gold: Mexico Focus on Rio Olympics as They Aim for Repeat of 2012

The 2012 London Olympics were full of sporting highlights. American swimmer Michael Phelps took his career medal tally to an astonishing 22, Jamaican Usain Bolt did the sprint double and Britain’s Mo Farah thrilled the home crowd by winning both the 5,000 and 10,000 metres. Mexico finished the Games with seven medals. Their solitary gold didn’t come on the track or in the pool, but instead on the football field. Despite being denied the services of Javier Hernandez—who was blocked from playing for his country by Manchester United—El Tri upset the odds to beat Brazil... 

Michel Sablon: The Man Who Re-Engineered Belgian Football

Belgian football is thriving and has lifted the mood of a nation. A small country with a population of only 11.2 million heads into Sunday’s Euro 2016 round-of-16 match with Hungary as fourth favourites to win the tournament. The Red Devils have unified and helped a new word come into vogue: “Belgitude” is a confluence between Belgium and attitude, exemplifying the surrealistic desire for a homogeneous country. Michel Sablon is responsible for much of the renewed 90-minute patriotism: In the early 2000s, the clairvoyant technical director uprooted Belgian football’s prolonged... 

Poland vs. Switzerland Betting Odds Preview, Euro 2016 Round-of-16 Prediction

Two second-place teams from Groups A and C will meet in the first round-of-16 match of Euro 2016 on Saturday when Switzerland takes on Poland in Saint-Etienne, France. The Swiss finished second behind host team France in Group A with five points while the Poles tied Germany in Group C with seven points but had a smaller goal difference. Poland has been pegged as the slight betting favorite at sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark. Poland is also at +2500 on the updated Euro 2016 odds, with Switzerland set at +4000.   Match Odds: Poland +138, Switzerland +240, Draw +190 (Matchup Report) Poland... 

Wales vs Northern Ireland Betting Odds Preview, Euro 2016 Round-of-16 Prediction

Two teams participating in their first UEFA Euro tournament will get an opportunity to advance to the quarterfinals when they square off Saturday in Paris, as Group B winner Wales takes on Group C third-place finisher Northern Ireland. Wales took part in the qualifying round of the 1976 Euro tourney but did not make it to the championships and enters this round-of-16 matchup as the clear betting favorite at sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark.   Match Odds: Wales +104, Northern Ireland +394, Draw +206 (Matchup Report) Wales may not have been able to defeat England in Group B play, but the... 

Portugal vs. Croatia Betting Odds Preview, Euro 2016 Round-of-16 Prediction

Riding high after handing defending champions Spain their first defeat at the European Championship since 2004, Croatia will be looking to extend their current unbeaten streak to 11 games when they face Portugal in the round of 16 Saturday as small betting favorites at sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark.   Match Odds: Portugal +220, Croatia +164, Draw +205 (Matchup Report) Fresh off a first-place finish on the Group D table, Croatia will be gunning for their first-ever victory in Euros knockout stage action as they take on Portugal. The Croatians sit at +900 on the updated odds to win Euro... 

England Must Not Take a United Iceland Lightly in Euro 2016 Knockout Stage

England braced themselves for a reckoning with the past on Wednesday as they waited to find out their opponents in the Euro 2016 round of 16. From Group F came the possibility of a reunion with Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal, their tournament foes of Euro 2004 and World Cup 2006, respectively. Meeting Hungary would have meant unwanted reminisces of Nandor Hidegkuti, Ferenc Puskas and the prospect of another reputation-damaging clash to hark back to their classic mid-1950s meetings. Austria would have been stretching it for significance, but history buffs would have appreciated the links to distant... 

Why Hungary Proved Portugal Boss Fernando Santos Needs to Make Defensive Changes

Portugal survived, and Cristiano Ronaldo was the man who saved them—no change there, then—but after escaping from what was supposed to be a fairly simple Group F, the questions for manager Fernando Santos are multiplying. The failure to beat any one of Iceland, Austria or Hungary is an alarming one for a nation that always comes into these tournaments considering itself among the elite. Ronaldo’s presence means they usually feature in the blockbusting commercials that get everyone hyped up, but this has been a clear failure to live up to that hype from this Portuguese vintage. Much... 

3 Issues Mexico Must Resolve Following Their Copa America Centenario Exit

It may still be a little raw, but Mexico must quickly move on from their Copa America Centenario disappointment. El Tri travelled to the United States with high hopes of winning the tournament for the first time. They returned home after receiving a footballing lesson from Chile in the quarter-finals. The 2015 Copa champions thrashed Mexico 7-0 in California on Saturday. Seven to nil. Such heavy defeats always lead to calls for change. Coach Juan Carlos Osorio accepted responsibility in the aftermath. Per Reuters (h/t the Daily Mail), he said: “I got it all wrong, I erred in my choices for... 

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