Mesut Ozil Will Be Germany’s Key to Breaking Down Northern Ireland

Germany could be through to the knockout stages of Euro 2016 before they take the field at the Parc des Princes for their match against Northern Ireland on Tuesday. If England beat Slovakia on Monday, the four points the world champions won against Ukraine and Poland will guarantee them a finish among the four best third-placed teams. Of course, the team will hardly recognise the result from Saint-Etienne. Anything other than a resounding win over one of the biggest underdogs in the tournament would have to be considered a disappointment and a big blow to the German hopes of winning the trophy. A... 

France Top Group a with Swiss Draw but Didier Deschamps Still Lacks Strongest XI

Hosts France moved into the latter stages of the 2016 UEFA European Championship as the winners of Group A after a dull 0-0 draw with Switzerland at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille on Sunday. Didier Deschamps’ men enjoyed a good spell of dominance in the first half but were unable to take their chances, and the second half quickly petered out for both sides. As a result, Les Bleus will face a third-placed team from Group C, D or E, which could present opponents as varied as Germany, Poland, Northern Ireland, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Sweden or the Republic of Ireland. Deschamps... 

Neymar’s Copa No Show: Should Clubs Be Dictating When Players Do and Don’t Play?

During Dunga’s failed Copa America Centenario mission that ultimately cost the then-Brazil manager his job, there was one glaring omission from his 23-man squad: Neymar. The player missed the tournament, his club, Barcelona, only agreeing to release him for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August, as per Globo Esporte. Brazil were insipid for much of the tournament, springing into life briefly to hit Haiti for seven. But against both Ecuador and Peru—who, with the greatest will in the world, are hardly heavyweights of South American football—Brazil failed to score. Willian,... 

Mario Gotze, Thomas Muller Respond to Germany Criticism at Euro 2016

Germany stars Mario Gotze and Thomas Muller have both shrugged off criticism of their performances at the UEFA European Championship ahead of their clash with Northern Ireland on Tuesday. The world champions were well below their best in attack against Poland in their most recent outing, drawing 0-0, with the aforementioned duo struggling. Gotze seemed unfazed when asked about his poor form, though, choosing an intriguing analogy to sum up the situation. “That’s how it is in football,” said the 24-year-old, per the Associated Press (h/t MailOnline). “Sometimes... 

Portugal and Fernando Santos Are Still Searching for a Euro 2016 Breakthrough

As Portugal are finding out, the very nature of this extended European Championship is that it isn’t always about how you start but how you finish. There have been a huge number of matches in which teams plugging away have finally got their rewards in the closing moments: France against Romania and Albania, Spain against the Czech Republic and England against Wales are among those that come to mind. In those cases, pressure has built and built until goals have become almost inevitable, and the fact the four best third-placed teams qualify for the knockout rounds has given a similar feel... 

Italy’s Emanuele Giaccherini Is the Embodiment of Antonio Conte’s Coaching Ethos

Much has been made of the choices Italy manager Antonio Conte made when he finalized his 23-man roster for the 2016 UEFA European Championship earlier this month. The general consensus was that it was one of the weakest groups the Italians have put together for a major tournament.  Part of that couldn’t be helped.  Injuries to Juventus‘ Claudio Marchisio (torn ACL) and Paris Saint-Germain’s Marco Verratti (sports hernia) gutted the midfield.  Even one of his primary backups, Riccardo Montolivo, had to withdraw from the tournament with a calf injury. Conte was faced... 

Chile’s Sharp Improvement Gives Them Huge Chance of Winning Copa America Again

Last year Chile won the Copa America for the first time in their history. Now La Roja are starting to believe they can do it again. However, roll back to the evening of June 10—when they were drawing 1-1 with Bolivia in the 99th minute of a gritty clash—and the wave of confidence they are currently riding wasn’t even a speck on the horizon. Having been beaten by Argentina in the tournament’s first game, going down 2-1 in Santa Clara, California, Chile had travelled from the south-west to the north-east, and touched down in Foxborough, Massachusetts. They had fought and scrapped... 

Slovakia vs. England Betting Odds Preview, Euro 2016 Prediction

England can extend their current unbeaten streak to six games and clinch first place on the Group B table with a win when they hit the pitch against Slovakia on Monday as strong -165 betting favorites (wager $165 to win $100) at sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark. Slovakia is also looking to advance to the knockout stage in their first tournament appearance, but trail on the odds as underdogs.   Match Odds: England -165, Slovakia +400, Draw +270 (Matchup Report) England will be looking to follow up on a thrilling 2-1 win over Wales in their last outing when they wrap up their group stage... 

State of Spain: Purring La Roja Ideally Placed to Defend Crown at Euro 2016

The cover of Marca said it all: “That is how champions play.” It was the morning after the most dazzling display of Euro 2016 to date, a proper fiesta of football, and a familiar realisation was setting in: They’re the favourites. Yeah, them. Again. The night before, after a week of largely unconvincing performances from Europe’s heavyweights, Spain had sparkled at the Stade de Nice, emphatically dispatching Turkey 3-0 with the most uplifting grace and mastery. Suddenly, Spain have that look about them once more. On Sunday, Marca added that people are falling in love with... 

Examining Roy Hodgson’s Stick-or-Twist Choices Ahead of England vs. Slovakia

England’s national team is a living, breathing example of the personnel and related tactical challenges posed by international tournament football. On Monday, the Three Lions will attempt to seal their progression from Euro 2016 Group B with a win over Marek Hamsik-inspired Slovakia. For England manager Roy Hodgson, a good deal of his pre-match thinking will involve deciding whether to stick or twist with several areas of his team. Be consistent or be adaptable. Be consistent to changes already experimented with or try something new altogether. The thinking—in-house and publicly—can... 

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