UEFA Euros Draft R1- 2mufc0 vs prolifik

Who would win this match based on Euros performances?

  • Total voters
    9
  • Poll closed .

harms

Shining Star of Paektu Mountain
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Players should be judged on Euros performances only

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--------------------------------------------- Team 2mufc0 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team prolifik -------------------------------------------




Team 2mufc0

Player profiles and Euros CV

Andreas Kopke - Team of the tournament 1996, winner in 1996 including 3 clean sheets and wiining a shoot out in the semis. Won goalkeeper of the year this year too.

Gianluca Zambrotta - Team of the tournament 2004, runner up in 2000, quarter finalist in 2008.

Gieuseppe Bergomi - Team of the tournament 1988 , key part of one of the best defensive units of all time.

Ronald Koeman - Team of the tournament 1988, winner in the same tournament. Dutch footballer of the year of the back of this.

Paolo Maldini - Team of the tournament 1988, 1996, 2000, runner up in 2000. No need to sell this guy, simply the best defender of all time and consistently delivered at the Euros.

Stefen Effenberg - Team of the tournament 1992 and runner up.

Frank Rijkaard - Team of the tournament 1988, winner in the same year, semi finalist in 1992.

Amancio - Team of the tournament and winner in 1964 scoring a extra time winner in the semis.

Lukas Podolski - Runner up and team of the tournament 2008 scoring 3 goals

Dennis Bergkamp - Team of the tournament 1992 and semi finalist.

Fernando Torres - Winner and team of the tournament 2008 as well as man of the match in the final scoring the winning goal. Golden boot in 2012.

All players are proven at the Euros, a solid defensive base which allows the pacey front line and versatile midfield to attack with freedom. A proven Dutch synergy runs through the spine of the team marshalled by Maldini and Bergomi at the back who were part of the meanest international defenses in Euros history. It should be noted this is the version of Torres is before his dramatic physical decline, before this he was a menace, pacey, hard working and aggressive and probably the best striker in the world at that moment in time.

Team prolifik

A fairly straightforward 4-2-3-1, with the crucial element being the incredible level of technical ability we boast in the middle of the park. Zidane at his Euro 2000 peak was as good a creative force as we've seen at this level; Modric operates as a more deep-lying orchestrator; Davids is more renowned for his "pitbull" antics but is one of the more skilled players of his archetype you're likely to find; and on the flanks Yamal and Laudrup combine pace, close control, and ingenuity to devastating effect. Yamal will operate as more of the classic inverted winger, while Laudrup has a bit more freedom to roam infield and combine with others as he is wont to do. With this much quality on the ball, we will be able to monopolise possession while being confident of creating openings against even the stingiest defences. Schick showed at Euro 2020 how deadly he could be leading the line, both with his finishing and his combination play, and he'll have an insane amount of service here. Out of possession, not only are Modric and Davids hard-working and tactically astute midfielders, but Zidane is also known for his willingness to help out on the defensive side.

The defence is rock solid with Zoff between the posts, Kohler as the old-fashioned stopper, Akanji (for my money the best defender at Euro 2024) as more of the "ball-playing CB" type, and two world-class full-backs in Gerets and Cole who excel at both ends of the pitch. Gerets in particular is one of the more aggressive attacking full-backs of his era, and his directness and verticality will open up space for Yamal on the right. Both are also strong defensively, which is where Cole in particular shines as his 2004 performance against a young Cristiano Ronaldo helped burnish his reputation.

A brief summary of my players' stats and accolades if anyone cares:
Dino Zoff (1968, 1980)
- 7 games (2 goals conceded)
- Champion: 1968
- TOTT: 1968, 1980

Eric Gerets (1980)
- 4 games (1 goals)
- Runner-up: 1980

Jürgen Kohler (1988, 1992, 1996)
- 10 games (0 goals)
- Champion: 1996; Runner-up: 1992
- TOTT: 1992

Manuel Akanji (2020, 2024)
- 10 games (0 goals)

Ashley Cole (2004, 2012)
- 8 games
- TOTT: 2004

Luka Modrić (2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024)
- 16 games (4 goals)
- TOTT: 2008

Edgar Davids (1996, 2000, 2004)
- 12 games (0 goals)
- TOTT: 2000

Lamine Yamal (2024)
- 7 games (1 goal)
- Champion: 2024
- YPOTT: 2024

Zinedine Zidane (1996, 2000, 2004)
- 14 games (5 goals)
- Champion: 2000
- TOTT: 2000, 2004
- POTT: 2000

Brian Laudrup (1992, 1996)
- 8 games (3 goals)
- Champion: 1992
- TOTT: 1992

Patrik Schick (2020, 2024)
- 7 games (6 goals)
- Silver Boot: 2020
 
Davids at the tail end of his prime helped turn Barca's season around playing as a DM. I don't see why that area would be a problem.
 
modric cant play in midfield two and his euro credentials are a bit shaky, that tott he got was based on one great game against spain

other then that i like the look of both teams, shame some prolifik gems will end up underated because of shiny greats with tott award
 
Šjor Bepo said:
modric cant play in midfield two and his euro credentials are a bit shaky, that tott he got was based on one great game against spain
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What was it about a midfield two that made him poor in a 2? Lacking passing options, not defensively good enough?
 
Physiocrat said:
What was it about a midfield two that made him poor in a 2? Lacking passing options, not defensively good enough?
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no idea didnt go that deep into it....people will mention spurs probably where he played decent amount in a 442 but i dont rate spurs version. That is the part i actually admire and respect the most about Modric, not many go to Real Madrid and actually learn and improve so much(not counting young players as they improve naturally).

for croatia its even more visible, prior to brozovic you had a player that looks great and once in a blue moon plays great and with broz you finally got the elite all time great he become at madrid.
 
Edgar Allan Pillow said:
Prime Torres was a beast. Giving this to 2mufc.

Both midfields need work.
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In what sense? I think mine works without issue, two defensively solid players with excellent distribution and can also join in the attack when needed. I tend to agree with Sjor on Modric always played his best football in a midfield 3.
 
Disappointing low turnout here, @Physiocrat only tagging as you have posted but not voted, is there anything you need clarification/selling to vote?
 
Maldini on that '88 team of the tournament and especially the '96 squad looks like lazy star player name recognition stuff to me.

He was good in the groups at 88, but not enough to make up for being one of Italy's lesser performers against Soviet Union and subbed off circa 65 minutes after being undone by Protasov's run for the 2nd goal. Van Tiggelen or Rats should have been picked ahead of him. To be honest that TotT having 4 Italians in it and no ussr players at all is just indefensible. Baresi is the only Italian that has a strong claim to be there.

At Euro 96 Maldini had an under-par tournament. By far Italy's worst player along with Del Piero in the first half against Russia and lost his flank against the Kanchelskis/Tetradze combo (tbf having Del Piero in front of him in a 4-4-2 didn't help). Sacchi bringing on Donadoni at half time to give him more support was a big factor in Italy turning the game around to get a close win. Against the Czechs he then struggled with Poborsky and was arguably at fault for not closing down either assist...the first could be excused as a quick-thinking great play by Poborsky before he could really react, but the second was inexcusably lax. He's totally out of place in that tournament squad as one of only two players from teams that didn't make it out of the group (Stoichkov the other did play well at least) when there must have been better choices even from other teams that were eliminated at the same time.

Even at Euro 2000 I have a distinct memory of thinking he was obviously slowing down now as a FB. tbf, unlike the others, I haven't watched any of those games outside of the final since they took place so maybe i'm selling him short there. He's far more of a great World Cup player than Euro one imo, with 90 and 94 being his peak.
 
Demyanenko_square_jaw said:
Maldini on that '88 team of the tournament and especially the '96 squad looks like lazy star player name recognition stuff to me.

He was good in the groups at 88, but not enough to make up for being one of Italy's lesser performers against Soviet Union and subbed off circa 65 minutes after being undone by Protasov's run for the 2nd goal. Van Tiggelen or Rats should have been picked ahead of him. To be honest that TotT having 4 Italians in it and no ussr players at all is just indefensible. Baresi is the only Italian that has a strong claim to be there.

At Euro 96 Maldini had an under-par tournament. By far Italy's worst player along with Del Piero in the first half against Russia and lost his flank against the Kanchelskis/Tetradze combo (tbf having Del Piero in front of him in a 4-4-2 didn't help). Sacchi bringing on Donadoni at half time to give him more support was a big factor in Italy turning the game around to get a close win. Against the Czechs he then struggled with Poborsky and was arguably at fault for not closing down either assist...the first could be excused as a quick-thinking great play by Poborsky before he could really react, but the second was inexcusably lax. He's totally out of place in that tournament squad as one of only two players from teams that didn't make it out of the group (Stoichkov the other did play well at least) when there must have been better choices even from other teams that were eliminated at the same time.

Even at Euro 2000 I have a distinct memory of thinking he was obviously slowing down now as a FB. tbf, unlike the others, I haven't watched any of those games outside of the final since they took place so maybe i'm selling him short there. He's far more of a great World Cup player than Euro one imo, with 90 and 94 being his peak.
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I have nothing against Maldini specifically in that tournament, but Rats definitely deserved some recognition. Did find it odd no Soviets made the team as well.
 
Demyanenko_square_jaw said:
Maldini on that '88 team of the tournament and especially the '96 squad looks like lazy star player name recognition stuff to me.

He was good in the groups at 88, but not enough to make up for being one of Italy's lesser performers against Soviet Union and subbed off circa 65 minutes after being undone by Protasov's run for the 2nd goal. Van Tiggelen or Rats should have been picked ahead of him. To be honest that TotT having 4 Italians in it and no ussr players at all is just indefensible. Baresi is the only Italian that has a strong claim to be there.

At Euro 96 Maldini had an under-par tournament. By far Italy's worst player along with Del Piero in the first half against Russia and lost his flank against the Kanchelskis/Tetradze combo (tbf having Del Piero in front of him in a 4-4-2 didn't help). Sacchi bringing on Donadoni at half time to give him more support was a big factor in Italy turning the game around to get a close win. Against the Czechs he then struggled with Poborsky and was arguably at fault for not closing down either assist...the first could be excused as a quick-thinking great play by Poborsky before he could really react, but the second was inexcusably lax. He's totally out of place in that tournament squad as one of only two players from teams that didn't make it out of the group (Stoichkov the other did play well at least) when there must have been better choices even from other teams that were eliminated at the same time.

Even at Euro 2000 I have a distinct memory of thinking he was obviously slowing down now as a FB. tbf, unlike the others, I haven't watched any of those games outside of the final since they took place so maybe i'm selling him short there. He's far more of a great World Cup player than Euro one imo, with 90 and 94 being his peak.
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I'll have to go back and watch some replays but from my memory he was pretty good, whilst individual errors can happen it shouldn't ditract from the overall performance. For example, i recall Sammer in 96 vs Italy carelessly giving the ball away to Casiraghi resulting in a penalty for Italy (although it was saved in the end), yet he still won the golden ball and contributed to his Balon'dor.

Anyhow, congrats @prolifik and good luck.
 
2mufc0 said:
I'll have to go back and watch some replays but from my memory he was pretty good, whilst individual errors can happen it shouldn't ditract from the overall performance. For example, i recall Sammer in 96 vs Italy carelessly giving the ball away to Casiraghi resulting in a penalty for Italy (although it was saved in the end), yet he still won the golden ball and contributed to his Balon'dor.

Anyhow, congrats @prolifik and good luck.
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Cheers, was a tough tie to come through
 
2mufc0 said:
Disappointing low turnout here, @Physiocrat only tagging as you have posted but not voted, is there anything you need clarification/selling to vote?
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I was out so couldn't vote, would probably have gone for Prof. Not convinced on the Effenberg and Rijkaard duo.
 
Demyanenko_square_jaw said:
Maldini on that '88 team of the tournament and especially the '96 squad looks like lazy star player name recognition stuff to me.

He was good in the groups at 88, but not enough to make up for being one of Italy's lesser performers against Soviet Union and subbed off circa 65 minutes after being undone by Protasov's run for the 2nd goal. Van Tiggelen or Rats should have been picked ahead of him. To be honest that TotT having 4 Italians in it and no ussr players at all is just indefensible. Baresi is the only Italian that has a strong claim to be there.

At Euro 96 Maldini had an under-par tournament. By far Italy's worst player along with Del Piero in the first half against Russia and lost his flank against the Kanchelskis/Tetradze combo (tbf having Del Piero in front of him in a 4-4-2 didn't help). Sacchi bringing on Donadoni at half time to give him more support was a big factor in Italy turning the game around to get a close win. Against the Czechs he then struggled with Poborsky and was arguably at fault for not closing down either assist...the first could be excused as a quick-thinking great play by Poborsky before he could really react, but the second was inexcusably lax. He's totally out of place in that tournament squad as one of only two players from teams that didn't make it out of the group (Stoichkov the other did play well at least) when there must have been better choices even from other teams that were eliminated at the same time.

Even at Euro 2000 I have a distinct memory of thinking he was obviously slowing down now as a FB. tbf, unlike the others, I haven't watched any of those games outside of the final since they took place so maybe i'm selling him short there. He's far more of a great World Cup player than Euro one imo, with 90 and 94 being his peak.
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As an AC Milan fan, I somewhat agree with your statements.

In Euro 1988, during the opening match, he did well in handling Littbarski of Germany and Michel, the top winger from Spain. He had a decent performance against Denmark. As for the match against the Soviet Union, how can I say it? The collective play of the Soviets was outstanding, but it’s true that Maldini didn’t play particularly well. Overall, I don’t think he had a standout campaign.

In Euro 1996, everyone knows that in the match against Russia, especially in the first half, as you mentioned, he couldn’t handle Russia’s flanks. He was probably the worst defender for Italy in that match. In the match against the Czech Republic, as you noted, he couldn’t handle Poborsky and failed to close him down effectively. I consider his performance in this tournament to be a lot below his usual standards (and I dare say he had a tough time adjusting to a different phase of his career between 1996-1998).

In Euro 2000, well, how should I put it? Yes, he had slowed down, but I think he played his best in Euro 2000 compared to other Euros. He might not have been at the top of his form like in the World Cups of 1994 or 1998, but he performed better than in 1996. He contributed significantly to the team in this Euro.

I agree entirely that he played better in the World Cups than in the Euros. There’s a slight resemblance to Mbappe in this regard.

Edit: 1996 not 1998
 
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Don't get me wrong, even a slowed down Maldini is a top player and I wouldn't say he had a below-par Euro 2000 considering where he was in his career at the time (ready to transition more fully to CB), or is a genuinely bad pick for the theme of this draft, but I don't remember him being one of their best performers in the way he used to be whereas at 98 he was still a physically dominant wall of a player.

At '88 it's just the team of the tournament selection I have issues with. Hardly any player went through that tournament without any poor games, but Rats and Van Tiggelen were two of them; maybe Rats playing the first two games at Left-Midfield went against finding him a place. imo Gullit should be at forward in place of Vialli, with Vanenburg, Mikhailichenko and Erwin Koeman/Lytovchenko in the midfield 4. I see the tournaments pre-96 were retroactively awarded...I wonder how much effort they really put into them.
 
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