Round of 16 | Switzerland vs Italy | Germany vs Denmark

I used to this Xhaka was very average/below average player but in the last couple of years he has definitely been a later bloomer.

It's also the first time i didn't know a single world class italian player in the first 11 maybe except Donnuruma.
 
Stadjer said:
Didnt Xhaka leave for free? Cant blame him for leaving with Arsenal fans booing him over the years.

Shaqiri is just resurrected for tournaments to put in some great performances. He is like that short Mexican goalkeeper. Average/okay club careers but stand outs at Euros and World Cups.
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Xhaka was about £20m. In isolation, not bad for someone his age with not long left on their contract.

But we didn’t really need the money and his availability is absolutely unreal. He is an ever present leader who had matured out his biggest weakness of being rash at times to become an amazingly consistent performed. Whereas Partey barely played and was a little ropey at times.

I think Xhaka staying would have brought us the title last season. A big error to let him go, but Xhaka wanted to play for Alonso at Bayer… and who can blame him.
 
In 2016 this was our squad:

Buffon
Marchetti
Sirigu

Bonucci
Chiellini
Barzagli
Ogbonna
Darmian
De Sciglio

Candreva
Florenzi
Giaccherini
El Sharaawy

De Rossi
Thiago Motta
Parolo
Sturaro

Pellé
Eder
Bernardeschi
Insigne
Immobile
Zaza

We played this team against Spain the R16:

Buffon
Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini,
De Sciglio, Parolo, Giaccherini, De Rossi, Florenzi
Èder, Pellé.

Off the bench came 34 year old, barely fit Thiago Motta, then Darmian and Insigne in the last 10 minutes

We won that game 2-0
 
Not really comfortable with Delaney starting. He’s well past it. But good with a bit more pace up front with Skov Olsen.

Nothing to lose here for Denmark, and I expect us to be well beaten.
 
Midrich said:
I used to this Xhaka was very average/below average player but in the last couple of years he has definitely been a later bloomer.

It's also the first time i didn't know a single world class italian player in the first 11 maybe except Donnuruma.
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People were comparing him to Carrick before he went to Arsenal. I never saw the hype but in a game like this, you see why.
 
Italian football is DONE.

Not only are there no world class players in their team but generations coming up are even WORSE in terms of talent.

In the future, it will be a success for Italy to even qualify on the Euros and WC.
 
giorno said:
Conte did
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That does kinda show how much better club managers are than international managers.

Conte plays boring football and will have a meltdown but he is an elite club manager to get results. Put him in an international tournament against trash like Southgate and Koeman and he will 'cook' (i believe that is how the young people say it)
 
do.ob said:
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Incredible is one way of describing it.
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We have your leagues top goalscorer, so maybe that says something about your league?
 
Wirtz on the bench for Sané. What an idiot
 
Stadjer said:
Conte plays boring football and will have a meltdown but he is an elite club manager to get results. Put him in an international tournament against trash like Southgate and Koeman and he will 'cook' (i believe that is how the young people say it)
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No he wouldn't because a manager like him would get in conflict with entire Italian FA and half of the players. Even Mancini got in trouble and had to leave, his resignation ended with a lawsuit. It's a volatile situation.

Being a national team manager is not just about coaching but also about politics and keeping your mouth shut.

The reason why the English FA loves Southgate so much is because he is a non-conflict yes man. There's a reason why every successful international manager fits this same profile.

You have to get along with everyone as there's less opportunity to make changes than in clubs. This is why I think managers like Mourinho, Conte, Tuchel etc. would be TERRIBLE.
 
Wednesday at Stoke said:
People were comparing him to Carrick before he went to Arsenal. I never saw the hype but in a game like this, you see why.
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To be fair in his early years at Arse he was played out of position. Arteta moved him slightly and he performed. He's always been decent for the hospital as far as I can remember.
 
The Swiss always seem to have a genuine goal threat but Manuel Akanji makes such a huge difference at the other end. Guy is immense.

Schar complements him pretty well and then there's Xhaka who's basically a new player.

It's not such a surprise to see how well they've performed because they basically have the best defender around right now.
 
LA BOMBA said:
Italian football is DONE.

Not only are there no world class players in their team but generations coming up are even WORSE in terms of talent.

In the future, it will be a success for Italy to even qualify on the Euros and WC.
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Aren't they reigning u-17 and u-19 champions?
 
Not scared by Denmark. Half of their players play in Bundesliga, I know their value and they are not that good..

In a combined XI Germany would be present with almost all of their players:
Neuer > Schmeichel
Kimmich > Bah
Rüdiger > Andersen
Schlotterbeck > Vestergaard
Raum > Maehle
Andrich > Christiansen
Kroos < Hojbjerg
Sane > Skov Olsen
Gündogan > Delaney
Musiala > Eriksen
Havertz > Hojlund
 
do.ob said:
Not scared by Denmark. Half of their players play in Bundesliga, I know their value and they are not that good..

In a combined XI Germany would be present with almost all of their players:
Neuer > Schmeichel
Kimmich > Bah
Rüdiger > Andersen
Schlotterbeck > Vestergaard
Raum > Maehle
Andrich > Christiansen
Kroos < Hojbjerg
Sane > Skov Olsen
Gündogan > Delaney
Musiala > Eriksen
Havertz > Hojlund
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:lol:
 
do.ob said:
Not scared by Denmark. Half of their players play in Bundesliga, I know their value and they are not that good..

In a combined XI Germany would be present with almost all of their players:
Neuer > Schmeichel
Kimmich > Bah
Rüdiger > Andersen
Schlotterbeck > Vestergaard
Raum > Maehle
Andrich > Christiansen
Kroos < Hojbjerg
Sane > Skov Olsen
Gündogan > Delaney
Musiala > Eriksen
Havertz > Hojlund
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:lol:
 
padr81 said:
Aren't they reigning u-17 and u-19 champions?
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Yes they are… and they also reached U-20 WC final, but I don’t believe any of the youngsters winning these trophies are close to being starters in Serie A…
 
do.ob said:
Not scared by Denmark. Half of their players play in Bundesliga, I know their value and they are not that good..

In a combined XI Germany would be present with almost all of their players:
Neuer > Schmeichel
Kimmich > Bah
Rüdiger > Andersen
Schlotterbeck > Vestergaard
Raum > Maehle
Andrich > Christiansen
Kroos < Hojbjerg
Sane > Skov Olsen
Gündogan > Delaney
Musiala > Eriksen
Havertz > Hojlund
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You brilliant prick! :lol: :lol:
 
Stadjer said:
I was looking forward to see Wirtz play this tournament but his club form doesnt seem to have translated to the Euros
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Was the best attacker in the last match, actually. But no, he seems to be overplayed but Sané has been absolutely awful in all of his cameos
 
LA BOMBA said:
Italian football is DONE.

Not only are there no world class players in their team but generations coming up are even WORSE in terms of talent.

In the future, it will be a success for Italy to even qualify on the Euros and WC.
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You have to wonder if the quality of the international player is directly influenced by the quality of the league.

Spain won the league when it was predominantly Barcelona and Real Madrid's rise from Guardiola's influence on Barcelona and La Liga. Players like Xavi, Iniesta, Villa, Puyol, Pique all coached in a system alongside Xabi Alonso, Ramos etc

Then there's alot of hype around the England squad pre-tournament & i have wondered whilst this may not be better than Englands golden generation, they do have much more technically capable players than ever before because of the rise of the PL's quality of gameplay.

Italy was a next level beast when Serie A was the best league in the world & whilst they do win tournaments like last euros - the quality of their team has been going down in line with the quality of the Serie A.
 
giorno said:
In 2016 this was our squad:

Buffon
Marchetti
Sirigu

Bonucci
Chiellini
Barzagli
Ogbonna
Darmian
De Sciglio

Candreva
Florenzi
Giaccherini
El Sharaawy

De Rossi
Thiago Motta
Parolo
Sturaro

Pellé
Eder
Bernardeschi
Insigne
Immobile
Zaza

We played this team against Spain the R16:

Buffon
Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini,
De Sciglio, Parolo, Giaccherini, De Rossi, Florenzi
Èder, Pellé.

Off the bench came 34 year old, barely fit Thiago Motta, then Darmian and Insigne in the last 10 minutes

We won that game 2-0
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Oh dear, I forgot how average you were at the time. The Euro 2020 win was a bit of a fluke wasn't it?
 
Fairplay to the Swiss, they played some great football but the game eventually became such a non-contest I was bored by it in the end. Italy were tragic.
 
do.ob said:
Not scared by Denmark. Half of their players play in Bundesliga, I know their value and they are not that good..

In a combined XI Germany would be present with almost all of their players:
Neuer > Schmeichel
Kimmich > Bah
Rüdiger > Andersen
Schlotterbeck > Vestergaard
Raum > Maehle
Andrich > Christiansen
Kroos < Hojbjerg
Sane > Skov Olsen
Gündogan > Delaney
Musiala > Eriksen
Havertz > Hojlund
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:lol::lol::lol:
 
Pintu said:
Yes they are… and they also reached U-20 WC final, but I don’t believe any of the youngsters winning these trophies are close to being starters in Serie A…
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That's fair but they have a lot of potential, they might be in the doldrums for another 3-4 years but hardly gonna become a team who are lucky to qualify for tournies anymore as the op suggested.
 
do.ob said:
Not scared by Denmark. Half of their players play in Bundesliga, I know their value and they are not that good..

In a combined XI Germany would be present with almost all of their players:
Neuer > Schmeichel
Kimmich > Bah
Rüdiger > Andersen
Schlotterbeck > Vestergaard
Raum > Maehle
Andrich > Christiansen
Kroos < Hojbjerg
Sane > Skov Olsen
Gündogan > Delaney
Musiala > Eriksen
Havertz > Hojlund
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I know you are making fun of this:
Markolan said:
Not scared by Suisse. Half of their players play in Serie A, I know their value and they are not that good..

In a combined XI Italy would be present with almost all their players:

Donnarumma > Sommer
Di Lorenzo > Stergiou
Mancini < Akanji
Bastoni > Rodriguez
Darmian > Schar
Barella > Xhaka
Cristante < Freuler
Fagioli > Aebischer
El Shaarawy > Rieder
Chiesa > Ndoye
Scamacca > Embolo

+ we have Spalletti who is a top coach.

I expect to win honestly.
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But in what World is Kroos inferior to Hojberg?
 
Midrich said:
You have to wonder if the quality of the international player is directly influenced by the quality of the league.

Spain won the league when it was predominantly Barcelona and Real Madrid's rise from Guardiola's influence on Barcelona and La Liga. Players like Xavi, Iniesta, Villa, Puyol, Pique all coached in a system alongside Xabi Alonso, Ramos etc

Then there's alot of hype around the England squad pre-tournament & i have wondered whilst this may not be better than Englands golden generation, they do have much more technically capable players than ever before because of the rise of the PL's quality of gameplay.

Italy was a next level beast when Serie A was the best league in the world & whilst they do win tournaments like last euros - the quality of their team has been going down in line with the quality of the Serie A.
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Explain France
 
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