Euro 2024

[cymro]

Got the same feeling about this as I did for World Cup 2018. Hard to get excited, weird feeling being spoilt now that we've been getting to tournaments more often than not!

I won't watch religiously but will pick out the more interesting games to make a point of watching. Interested to see how teams like Scotland, Albania, Ukraine and Georgia get on. At least there's 2pm football on weekdays for the next week!

[rushy]

The crucial difference with these teams is that they have a structure and system in place that works for them, we didn't and that's why we're not there.

[dai]

Not going to lie, Im really looking forward to it now. International football as something special about it compared to club.

And at the risk of pi55ing a lot on here off, Im relieved we’re not there. Didnt fancy being a laughing stock again.

[cymro]

Jun 11, 2024 11:24:29 GMT dai said:

Not going to lie, Im really looking forward to it now. International football as something special about it compared to club.

And at the risk of pi55ing a lot on here off, Im relieved we’re not there. Didnt fancy being a laughing stock again.

In all honesty when it was in our hands with 2 games to go and we couldn't get the job done out in Armenia, I knew it was over. I couldn't see how we'd get through 2 playoff games in a matter of days.

This will be a good tournament for the culture of it, sense of tradition about this one with a real footballing country as a single host, first time since 2016 really, and possibly the last for a long time, if not ever.

[quetzal]

Jun 11, 2024 11:24:29 GMT dai said:

Not going to lie, Im really looking forward to it now. International football as something special about it compared to club.

And at the risk of pi55ing a lot on here off, Im relieved we’re not there. Didnt fancy being a laughing stock again.

I had a good time in Qatar. Germany would have been a blast. I see where where you are coming from though. You look at Holland and France and its hide behind the sofa stuff but to sing the Welsh national anthem on the world stage really is something. I’m gutted.

[garynysmon]

Being glad we're not there and getting embarrassed is the fallback option we take in order to make us all feel better, but deep down I and most others would have loved to be there.

Jun 11, 2024 10:07:14 GMT rushy said:

The crucial difference with these teams is that they have a structure and system in place that works for them, we didn't and that's why we're not there.

I'll bang on until I'm blue in the face about what a dreadful setup we have. Our FA has next to no control over player development.

Our four professional clubs play under another country's jurisdiction and act in exactly the same manner and sign the same players as every other Football League club, we have an unloved, semi-professional under developed and largely ignored domestic setup and on the international scene are almost wholly dependant on finding grannies for players deemed not good enough to play for their birth nations.

The number of Welsh born players even in our under age groups is shockingly low.

[dai]

Jun 11, 2024 14:08:58 GMT garynysmon said:

Being glad we're not there and getting embarrassed is the fallback option we take in order to make us all feel better, but deep down I and most others would have loved to be there.

Jun 11, 2024 10:07:14 GMT rushy said:

The crucial difference with these teams is that they have a structure and system in place that works for them, we didn't and that's why we're not there.

I'll bang on until I'm blue in the face about what a dreadful setup we have. Our FA has next to no control over player development.

Our four professional clubs play under another country's jurisdiction and act in exactly the same manner and sign the same players as every other Football League club, we have an unloved, semi-professional under developed and largely ignored domestic setup and on the international scene are almost wholly dependant on finding grannies for players deemed not good enough to play for their birth nations.

The number of Welsh born players even in our under age groups is shockingly low.

Its incredible that 2016 hasnt had a knock on effect on Welsh player development.

I thought we’d see a reasonable increase in our player pool.

The town have been holding scouting sessions recently and there’s absolutely loads of kids involved locally at grass roots level now. Why these numbers dont translate to professional regulars I have no idea.

[surge]

Jun 11, 2024 15:14:18 GMT dai said:

Jun 11, 2024 14:08:58 GMT garynysmon said:

Being glad we're not there and getting embarrassed is the fallback option we take in order to make us all feel better, but deep down I and most others would have loved to be there.

I'll bang on until I'm blue in the face about what a dreadful setup we have. Our FA has next to no control over player development.

Our four professional clubs play under another country's jurisdiction and act in exactly the same manner and sign the same players as every other Football League club, we have an unloved, semi-professional under developed and largely ignored domestic setup and on the international scene are almost wholly dependant on finding grannies for players deemed not good enough to play for their birth nations.

The number of Welsh born players even in our under age groups is shockingly low.

Its incredible that 2016 hasnt had a knock on effect on Welsh player development.

I thought we’d see a reasonable increase in our player pool.

The town have been holding scouting sessions recently and there’s absolutely loads of kids involved locally at grass roots level now. Why these numbers dont translate to professional regulars I have no idea.

Success at Euros 2016 led(?) to Toulon Tournament invite in 2017 for the under 20's tournament. Those players are 25-27 now and therefore what should be the bulk of our playing squad now but probably had got through most of their development before seeing us in a semi-final.

Any increase to playing pool from recent success would be seen, I think, in generations after this.

Don't forget financial repercussions of not making the tournament and how Germany is arguably one of the last proper football tournaments before impact of Saudi/Qatar sportswashing money and USA venture-capitalist influence over global game really kicks in. I am gutted to be missing out on this one.

[allezlesrouges]

Shall we get a little prediction post going?

Winner: Portugal
Golden boot: Mbappe
Biggest overachiever: Georgia
Biggest underachiever: England

[saturn9]

Jun 11, 2024 21:10:46 GMT allezlesrouges said:

Shall we get a little prediction post going?

Winner: Portugal
Golden boot: Mbappe
Biggest overachiever: Georgia
Biggest underachiever: England

So much talent in that Portugal squad. Still haven't the foggiest why Pepe and Cristiano are involved though.

If Deschamps takes the handbrake off, the French could be Euro champions.

[fiveattheback]

Jun 11, 2024 15:14:18 GMT dai said:

Jun 11, 2024 14:08:58 GMT garynysmon said:

Being glad we're not there and getting embarrassed is the fallback option we take in order to make us all feel better, but deep down I and most others would have loved to be there.

I'll bang on until I'm blue in the face about what a dreadful setup we have. Our FA has next to no control over player development.

Our four professional clubs play under another country's jurisdiction and act in exactly the same manner and sign the same players as every other Football League club, we have an unloved, semi-professional under developed and largely ignored domestic setup and on the international scene are almost wholly dependant on finding grannies for players deemed not good enough to play for their birth nations.

The number of Welsh born players even in our under age groups is shockingly low.

Its incredible that 2016 hasnt had a knock on effect on Welsh player development.

I thought we’d see a reasonable increase in our player pool.

The town have been holding scouting sessions recently and there’s absolutely loads of kids involved locally at grass roots level now. Why these numbers dont translate to professional regulars I have no idea.

It wasn't really long ago enough to see an impact on player development, if you're 24 now you were 16 then so well on your way development wise, even a younger player like Fin Stevens would have been 13 by then.  I'd argue it's only starting to be seen now - back to back u17 Euros qualifiers, those lads would have been about 10 in 2016, hopefully we see more success after that as a legacy of 2016

[allezlesrouges]

Jun 11, 2024 21:20:01 GMT saturn9 said:

Jun 11, 2024 21:10:46 GMT allezlesrouges said:

Shall we get a little prediction post going?

Winner: Portugal
Golden boot: Mbappe
Biggest overachiever: Georgia
Biggest underachiever: England

So much talent in that Portugal squad. Still haven't the foggiest why Pepe and Cristiano are involved though.

If Deschamps takes the handbrake off, the French could be Euro champions.

Pepe captained Porto to the CL knockouts this year, came very close to knocking out Arsenal. I think he's still going strong despite his age. Adds invaluable experience

Ronaldo definitely past his best but is still a poacher who can grab important goals. Given his career I can't see Portugal dropping him until he retires, at a minimum he'll continue to be an impact player off the bench

[welshrover]

Jun 12, 2024 10:24:58 GMT allezlesrouges said:

Jun 11, 2024 21:20:01 GMT saturn9 said:

So much talent in that Portugal squad. Still haven't the foggiest why Pepe and Cristiano are involved though.

If Deschamps takes the handbrake off, the French could be Euro champions.

Pepe captained Porto to the CL knockouts this year, came very close to knocking out Arsenal. I think he's still going strong despite his age. Adds invaluable experience

Ronaldo definitely past his best but is still a poacher who can grab important goals. Given his career I can't see Portugal dropping him until he retires, at a minimum he'll continue to be an impact player off the bench

Christiano now up to 130 goals for Portugal. I think he would be their next manager when the situation arises, he practically managed them in the 2016 Final when he was out injured. He was certainly more vocal than the then manager.

[iot]

Jun 12, 2024 15:04:58 GMT welshrover said:

Jun 12, 2024 10:24:58 GMT allezlesrouges said:

Pepe captained Porto to the CL knockouts this year, came very close to knocking out Arsenal. I think he's still going strong despite his age. Adds invaluable experience

Ronaldo definitely past his best but is still a poacher who can grab important goals. Given his career I can't see Portugal dropping him until he retires, at a minimum he'll continue to be an impact player off the bench

Christiano now up to 130 goals for Portugal. I think he would be their next manager when the situation arises, he practically managed them in the 2016 Final when he was out injured. He was certainly more vocal than the then manager.

Fantastic players very rarely make fantastic managers - quite the opposite in fact! I really can’t see Ronaldo having the right temperament or tactical astuteness for management. There’s a big difference between screaming your head off from the sideline to actually managing a team - wasn’t their 2016 Manager the same guy that won Euro 04 with Greece? Seems like he knows what he’s doing

[walesgolfmadrid]

Jun 12, 2024 15:04:58 GMT welshrover said:

Jun 12, 2024 10:24:58 GMT allezlesrouges said:

Pepe captained Porto to the CL knockouts this year, came very close to knocking out Arsenal. I think he's still going strong despite his age. Adds invaluable experience

Ronaldo definitely past his best but is still a poacher who can grab important goals. Given his career I can't see Portugal dropping him until he retires, at a minimum he'll continue to be an impact player off the bench

Christiano now up to 130 goals for Portugal. I think he would be their next manager when the situation arises, he practically managed them in the 2016 Final when he was out injured. He was certainly more vocal than the then manager.

He was shouting on the sidelines late on when they were winning the game, I don't know what good that would have done and it's very different from actually managing a team and setting up the team through months of drilling shape. 

I'd be surprised if he went into management. Firstly, there's very little reason for him to given the sort of money he's earning now as a player, and how little he'd be on comparatively to manage. 

Roberto Martinez as Portugal manager earns £1.5 million per year after tax. Ronaldo earns £3.4 million a week after tax. He could earn what he would in a career of management ten times over, just by extending his contract to play in Saudi for an additional session. Sure he will have motives to get into something for more than just money, but management is an incredibly stressful route to go down, which could go badly wrong, compared to any other options he'll have to go down. 

Secondly, I don't think he'd be a good manager. I don't perceive him to be what you would consider 'a thinker', in the way that Xavi, Pep Guardiola, Xabi Alonso have always come across of and I don't think he's got the temperament for it. 

[saturn9]

It would be nice to see the Dutch win something finally after 88. But with Koeman in charge, getting out of that group, may prove difficult against the Austrians and the French.

[spiritof16]

I feel physically sick every time I think about this tournament.
So gutted

Anyone else?

[jbt95]

Jun 14, 2024 7:10:08 GMT spiritof16 said:

I feel physically sick every time I think about this tournament.
So gutted

Anyone else?

The only good thing is it’s not costing a penny!

[underwood]

After being humiliated by the Danes in Amsterdam, then being a total embarrassment in Qatar, we would have lost all three games at this one & our reputation as tournament whipping boys would be well & truly secured.

I’m glad we are not there.

2016 was our time, it’s never happening ever again.

[quetzal]

Jun 13, 2024 16:05:55 GMT saturn9 said:

It would be nice to see the Dutch win something finally after 88. But with Koeman in charge, getting out of that group, may prove difficult against the Austrians and the French.

Don’t three teams from a group go through?

[quetzal]

Jun 14, 2024 7:57:32 GMT underwood said:

After being humiliated by the Danes in Amsterdam, then being a total embarrassment in Qatar, we would have lost all three games at this one & our reputation as tournament whipping boys would be well & truly secured.

I’m glad we are not there.

2016 was our time, it’s never happening ever again.

I think we’ll qualify for tournaments because nearly everyone does. But no 2016 repeat. That team had a lovely balance.

[mrpicton79]

Jun 11, 2024 10:07:14 GMT rushy said:

The crucial difference with these teams is that they have a structure and system in place that works for them, we didn't and that's why we're not there.

Let's be honest personnel is a huge factor too. Realistically how many of our players would even make the Scotland team? Probably none, no point even mentioning England/France/Holland etc in that question. Not to be too defeatist but it's just indicative of where we really belong in world football right now.

[talyfan]

Jun 14, 2024 15:49:47 GMT mrpicton79 said:

Jun 11, 2024 10:07:14 GMT rushy said:

The crucial difference with these teams is that they have a structure and system in place that works for them, we didn't and that's why we're not there.

Let's be honest personnel is a huge factor too. Realistically how many of our players would even make the Scotland team? Probably none, no point even mentioning England/France/Holland etc in that question. Not to be too defeatist but it's just indicative of where we really belong in world football right now.

Can think of a few. Rodon, Mepham and Ampadu definitely get ahead of the likes of Grant Hanley, Jack Hendry, Liam Cooper, Ross McRorie, Scott McKenna, Ryan Porteuos

Neco and Connor would get ahead of Anthony Ralston whose second choice at Celtic.

They don't really play with wide players but if we take Harry Wilson, Brooks, Dan James, Brennan and Kieffer. Compare that to this lot

Forwards: Che Adams (Southampton), Tommy Conway (Bristol City), James Forrest (Celtic), Lewis Morgan (New York Red Bulls), Lawrence Shankland (Hearts)

I'd say they'd probably get in over some of them. Argue tit for tat. But definitely our starting XI minus the keeper gets into that Scotland squad easily.

[mrpicton79]

Jun 14, 2024 16:08:34 GMT talyfan said:

Jun 14, 2024 15:49:47 GMT mrpicton79 said:

Let's be honest personnel is a huge factor too. Realistically how many of our players would even make the Scotland team? Probably none, no point even mentioning England/France/Holland etc in that question. Not to be too defeatist but it's just indicative of where we really belong in world football right now.

Can think of a few. Rodon, Mepham and Ampadu definitely get ahead of the likes of Grant Hanley, Jack Hendry, Liam Cooper, Ross McRorie, Scott McKenna, Ryan Porteuos

Neco and Connor would get ahead of Anthony Ralston whose second choice at Celtic.

They don't really play with wide players but if we take Harry Wilson, Brooks, Dan James, Brennan and Kieffer. Compare that to this lot

Forwards: Che Adams (Southampton), Tommy Conway (Bristol City), James Forrest (Celtic), Lewis Morgan (New York Red Bulls), Lawrence Shankland (Hearts)

I'd say they'd probably get in over some of them. Argue tit for tat. But definitely our starting XI minus the keeper gets into that Scotland squad easily.

Tbf you're forgetting quite a few of their players there. McTominay definitely starts ahead of Amps. They've played Kieran Tierney at right-back and centre-back, surely an upgrade on most if not all of Neco/Connor/Rodon/Mepham. McGinn and Billy Gilmour def get midfield spots ahead of any of our options.

Think it's time with Brennan where we have to admit he just doesn't have the impact we'd anticipate in games. He's out of the tournament with injury but someone like Lewis Ferguson (Serie A midfielder of the year) is arguably better at this point.

Don't think Che Adams is a downgrade on any of our strikers.

[talyfan]

Jun 14, 2024 16:35:03 GMT mrpicton79 said:

Jun 14, 2024 16:08:34 GMT talyfan said:

Can think of a few. Rodon, Mepham and Ampadu definitely get ahead of the likes of Grant Hanley, Jack Hendry, Liam Cooper, Ross McRorie, Scott McKenna, Ryan Porteuos

Neco and Connor would get ahead of Anthony Ralston whose second choice at Celtic.

They don't really play with wide players but if we take Harry Wilson, Brooks, Dan James, Brennan and Kieffer. Compare that to this lot

Forwards: Che Adams (Southampton), Tommy Conway (Bristol City), James Forrest (Celtic), Lewis Morgan (New York Red Bulls), Lawrence Shankland (Hearts)

I'd say they'd probably get in over some of them. Argue tit for tat. But definitely our starting XI minus the keeper gets into that Scotland squad easily.

Tbf you're forgetting quite a few of their players there. McTominay definitely starts ahead of Amps. They've played Kieran Tierney at right-back and centre-back, surely an upgrade on most if not all of Neco/Connor/Rodon/Mepham. McGinn and Billy Gilmour def get midfield spots ahead of any of our options.

Think it's time with Brennan where we have to admit he just doesn't have the impact we'd anticipate in games. He's out of the tournament with injury but someone like Lewis Ferguson (Serie A midfielder of the year) is arguably better at this point.

Don't think Che Adams is a downgrade on any of our strikers.

Certain Scottish players definitely do. But we definitely get Welsh lads in that starting XI no problem

[garynysmon]

Second seeds in our group and also having the backup of the playoffs and still not qualifying…. Sorry, that was poor.

[welrus]

Jun 14, 2024 7:10:08 GMT spiritof16 said:

I feel physically sick every time I think about this tournament.
So gutted

Anyone else?

Yep, watching the build up now and very much feeling I’d love to be there. Just one kick away.

[garynysmon]

It feels worse as we were robbed of Euro 2020 (well 2021) and Qatar was a difficult/expensive place to get to. Yes I had a great time at the WC but you always knew it could/should have been better.

[surge]

I really hate that we're not there. Not excited for this tournament at all.

[rushy]

I would say I prefer quite a few of our lads to those in the Scottish team but ultimately it's a manager in Clark getting the best out of their players whereas we have been let down by poor tactics and the wrong motivation.