Group of Death (F) - France, Germany, Portugal and Hungary | Took it too literally

Demyanenko_square_jaw

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Hungary were enjoyable to watch in the nations league. They played a well coached, collective and balanced style in the 4 games i watched, with some good skill from Szoboslai and a few others i wasn't familiar with too. It did well against the inconsistency of Russia, Serbia and Turkey who all have stronger squads. However there was a lot of back and forth in their games and times where they would be dominated, the opposition just couldn't fully capitalise on it.

If they manage to play to that level i think they will make for entertaining games even if they lose all of them.
 

Solskjær's Red Army

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Portugal will finish in the last place in this group. Mark my words.
 

Luke1995

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I can totally see Hungary going through

You never know what you're going to get with Portugal. They had a poor 2010 group stage. A poor 2014 group stage. A poor 2016 group stage. In 2018 they did slightly better.
 

Demyanenko_square_jaw

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I can totally see Hungary going through

You never know what you're going to get with Portugal. They had a poor 2010 group stage. A poor 2014 group stage. A poor 2016 group stage. In 2018 they did slightly better.
In the Euro's they usually get the result they need. They've been one of the most consistent teams in the tournament this century.
 

Samid

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Yes, have you got a problem with people living under rocks? Reported

Shite rule, rewarding average-ness.
:lol:

It's awful. The whole group stage in 2016 was so cagey and dull because every team knew that even if you lost the first two games by the narrowest of margin you'd still have a realistic chance of progressing as long as you won the final game. Suspect more of the same this time.
 

Luke1995

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In the Euro's they usually get the result they need. They've been one of the most consistent teams in the tournament this century.
Sure, and they actually look to have a great team this time

But not sure if they have been in this kind of situation before, in a ''group of death'' ?

Maybe it helps that their players are all over europe instead of just in the portuguese league
 

do.ob

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I can totally see Hungary going through

You never know what you're going to get with Portugal. They had a poor 2010 group stage. A poor 2014 group stage. A poor 2016 group stage. In 2018 they did slightly better.
They also lost their last four tournament games against Germany, Ronaldo not scoring in any of them. But this year Germany is leaky at the back and blunt up top, teams with high quality attackers, such as France and Portugal should be able to exploit that.
 

SCP

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Sure, and they actually look to have a great team this time

But not sure if they have been in this kind of situation before, in a ''group of death'' ?

Maybe it helps that their players are all over europe instead of just in the portuguese league
Actually don’t agree, some of Portugal best National teams came from Domestic League club blocks. Euro 2004 Mourinho Porto, Euro 84 a mix between Porto and Benfica or 66 majority Benfica with a couple of Sporting players.

And to correct you on just 1 point, Portugal performances at World Cups aren’t great but between Euro 96 and 2016 easily a top 5 European team, it’s the official rankings who tell that.

Group of Death? Euro 2000, England/Germany/Romania.
 

Luke1995

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They also lost their last four tournament games against Germany, Ronaldo not scoring in any of them. But this year Germany is leaky at the back and blunt up top, teams with high quality attackers, such as France and Portugal should be able to exploit that.
Yeah... Fernandes and B.Silva are just entering their prime aswell. It will be interesting to see what they can do against Germany.
 

Luke1995

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Actually don’t agree, some of Portugal best National teams came from Domestic League club blocks. Euro 2004 Mourinho Porto, Euro 84 a mix between Porto and Benfica or 66 majority Benfica with a couple of Sporting players.

And to correct you on just 1 point, Portugal performances at World Cups aren’t great but between Euro 96 and 2016 easily a top 5 European team, it’s the official rankings who tell that.

Group of Death? Euro 2000, England/Germany/Romania.
In 2006 Portugal was amazing but I suppose Ronaldo is the only player from that squad still there...

Actually, it could be argued that the current squad is as good as the 2006 one... interesting.
 

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In 2006 Portugal was amazing but I suppose Ronaldo is the only player from that squad still there...

Actually, it could be argued that the current squad is as good as the 2006 one... interesting.
The 2006 squad had a prime Ricardo Carvalho who IMHO was a far better player than Dias (people seem to forget this days how good Carvalho and Terry were for Chelsea, complete nonsense reading things like comparing Dias with Van Dijk tbh).

I think people are overrating a bit this squad because they play on top leagues, but if you want my opinion playing as a team they are way bellow to the Euro 2000 team, and the block from 2004/2006 who were coached by Mourinho at Porto (Carvalho,Valente, Costinha, Deco, Maniche) were more strong mentally, so I wouldn't be surprised if we don't qualify on the group stage.

Also the team doesn't play to their full potential because imo the coach isn't taking the best from the players he has. Time will tell.
 

Berbaclass

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The 2006 squad had a prime Ricardo Carvalho who IMHO was a far better player than Dias (people seem to forget this days how good Carvalho and Terry were for Chelsea, complete nonsense reading things like comparing Dias with Van Dijk tbh).

I think people are overrating a bit this squad because they play on top leagues, but if you want my opinion playing as a team they are way bellow to the Euro 2000 team, and the block from 2004/2006 who were coached by Mourinho at Porto (Carvalho,Valente, Costinha, Deco, Maniche) were more strong mentally, so I wouldn't be surprised if we don't qualify on the group stage.

Also the team doesn't play to their full potential because imo the coach isn't taking the best from the players he has. Time will tell.
Which players do you think should have been in the team but aren’t? Genuinely curious.
 

SCP

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Which players do you think should have been in the team but aren’t? Genuinely curious.
Tbh I don't see he was unfair on the players he called, maybe should have called one more CB, but it's true we are lacking real top level players on that area.

Would like personally to have someone coaching the team who played with a 3x5x2 system, never changed the system regardless of the opponents, maybe some small adaptations if the opponents were stronger or no, would love to see a Cancelo/Guerreiro or Nuno Mendes on this type of system with less defensive responsabilities (wingbacks), also having a type of number 10 (could be Fernandes) with always a front 2 and in the future would like to see a Jota/Andre Silva partnership or if Felix improves Jota/Felix.

Also to add 1 or 2 younger players to the CB role, nevertheless think it's time to change the dynamic of the team regardless of the level of the opponents, and when they play us they must fear us, with all the respect I already know that tomorrow on a friendly vs Spain we will have a pathetic display (if not a clear defeat), and I doubt we will be agressive against Germany or France, we should respect them, not play with fear of losing.
 

Mr Smith

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Germany are poor defensively, I think they could be in danger. They also have a conundrum on where to play Kimmich given the lack of depth at fullback, but if they don't play him in midfield I feel they'll struggle to control games. As has been pointed out by others, Hungary are actually no mugs either.
 

barros

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Did you live under a rock in 2016? That's how the eventual winners qualified. They failed to win a single game in their group and only won one game in 90 minutes throughout the tournament.

Large parts of that tournament was dull as dishwater thanks to the change in format.
With that coach Portugal will play again boring football trying to not suffer goals and besides he's on Mendes payroll - William who basically didn't play that much this year called to the team and Joao Mario who was one of the best players for Sporting stays home. We can't get a manager/coach that's under the payroll of Mendes/Benfica/Porto.
 

barros

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They also lost their last four tournament games against Germany, Ronaldo not scoring in any of them. But this year Germany is leaky at the back and blunt up top, teams with high quality attackers, such as France and Portugal should be able to exploit that.
Ronaldo was always burned out when he was playing for RM and 1 year I thing in 2014 he was playing with an injury and the idiot of the coach played him friendlies before the WC. Anyway I think Portugal actually plays better without him.
 

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Expect that with Fernando Santos
This is my code to say he needs to go. Wouldn´t mind 0 points this Euros if that meant he would go, but knowing the President of the Federation doesn't have a clue about what being the right coach for this team means I fear he would go for Rui Jorge, or even worse, a former unemployed ex Porto coach or whatever.
 

SCP

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With that coach Portugal will play again boring football trying to not suffer goals and besides he's on Mendes payroll - William who basically didn't play that much this year called to the team and Joao Mario who was one of the best players for Sporting stays home. We can't get a manager/coach that's under the payroll of Mendes/Benfica/Porto.
Tbh setting aside the game against France even playing badly don't remember Iceland, Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Poland, let alone Wales being better than us or dominating the games, on the Austria game we missed a penalty and had 2 balls hitting the post. France yes, we were lucky to win, maybe Croatia.

While I don't like Santos, he doesn't always picks the players associated with Mendes. Or Benfica for that matter.
 

Peyroteo

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Group of Death? Euro 2000, England/Germany/Romania.
Euro 2012 with Germany/Holland/Denmark was also as tough as it gets. 2016 aside our luck with draws has been horrendous, got Brazil in 2010, Germany in 2014 and Spain in 2018 at the world cups too for example.

This year is the toughest of all of them though since we play away in the first two games against Hungary and Germany, could easily get knocked out. 3 points was enough to go through in 2016 but it might not be enough this time. Even if we do well and end up in second place we’ll most likely have an awful draw in the knockouts too...

We have a good team but we’re never going to win the Euros after having to play France/Germany/England/Spain/Belgium and then the final which looks like a very possible scenario so it’s impossible to be very hopeful after this draw. It looks worse for us every time I look at it.
 

Peyroteo

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Would like personally to have someone coaching the team who played with a 3x5x2 system, never changed the system regardless of the opponents, maybe some small adaptations if the opponents were stronger or no, would love to see a Cancelo/Guerreiro or Nuno Mendes on this type of system with less defensive responsabilities (wingbacks), also having a type of number 10 (could be Fernandes) with always a front 2 and in the future would like to see a Jota/Andre Silva partnership or if Felix improves Jota/Felix.
Playing with 3 CBs would suit our fullbacks and midfield but we simply do not have 3 CBs to play... Pepe is 38, Fonte is 37, wouldn’t be surprised if there are injuries/suspensions and we end up playing Danilo at centreback at some point.

Also, I think the biggest question mark for this team is the midfield. Bruno will start but who would you play in the other two places? Between Danilo, Palhinha, William, Neves, Renato, Oliveira and Moutinho two will start, I have no idea what combination we’ll end up going with.
 
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I can't say I know a great deal about him but Hungary are missing Szoboszlai, who is one of their only 'top level' players. Home advantage could help them against France or Portugal but I can't see it making much of a difference.
Szoboszlai is out? That’s a big big shame.
 

Luke1995

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The 2006 squad had a prime Ricardo Carvalho who IMHO was a far better player than Dias (people seem to forget this days how good Carvalho and Terry were for Chelsea, complete nonsense reading things like comparing Dias with Van Dijk tbh).

I think people are overrating a bit this squad because they play on top leagues, but if you want my opinion playing as a team they are way bellow to the Euro 2000 team, and the block from 2004/2006 who were coached by Mourinho at Porto (Carvalho,Valente, Costinha, Deco, Maniche) were more strong mentally, so I wouldn't be surprised if we don't qualify on the group stage.

Also the team doesn't play to their full potential because imo the coach isn't taking the best from the players he has. Time will tell.
Sure man, and Renato Sanches is in the squad, isn't he ? He was highly regarded on the Cafe a few years ago...wonder what impact he'll have.
 

Siorac

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Szoboszlai is out? That’s a big big shame.
It was touch and go until the last moment and he got called up to the squad's training camp but according to the coach and the doctors, it was clear that he's nowhere near the physical state required to compete in a competitive game after his injury.
 

SCP

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Playing with 3 CBs would suit our fullbacks and midfield but we simply do not have 3 CBs to play... Pepe is 38, Fonte is 37, wouldn’t be surprised if there are injuries/suspensions and we end up playing Danilo at centreback at some point.

Also, I think the biggest question mark for this team is the midfield. Bruno will start but who would you play in the other two places? Between Danilo, Palhinha, William, Neves, Renato, Oliveira and Moutinho two will start, I have no idea what combination we’ll end up going with.
Regarding the 3 at the back, I wasn’t thinking exactly on a Fonte/Pepe/Dias scenario for this tournament. More a transition to the next WC in Qatar (on a post Pepe scenario), something like Fonte/Dias/Danilo, where Danilo would have a similar role like Coates.

At the same time would prepare Leite or Inácio to succeed Fonte after Qatar (hopefully the rumours of Leite going into the Bundesliga are true, he has to play).

Let’s see if Eduardo Quaresma on the medium term can be also a prospect. Regarding the midfield it’s other issue, but Moutinho, William, Oliveira, Sanches, Neves, etc, none of them is stuff of dreams.

And if I see Danilo playing on a 3 at the back system is precisely because I don’t think he is nothing special. As it was seen at PSG, only in Portugal this days the fans and the press think number 6 like Danilo are top midfielders.

At best he is a good midfielder, nothing special. And don’t ask me what I think about current Bernardo Silva. Or how the hell has Semedo been a Barcelona player ( feck me, Mendes yes, that 1 is the real special one).

We don’t have world class midfielders to play behind Bruno, but would try to see if Palhinha and Oliveira could play together. Sincerely doubt. Not a fan of Neves.
 

RoyH1

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Life is tough for a Hungary fan. What a beastly group.

I think they can squeeze a point out of Portugal. Germany is not looking as good as other vintages, but central european sides always seem to get whalloped by Germany for some reason.
 

Acrobat7

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Spain has a covid case (Busquets) and just played Portugal. Let’s see if this has any impact on this group...
 

SirReginald

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Portugal will finish in the last place in this group. Mark my words.
People are definitely over rating Portugal but I’d be surprised if they were bottom. Most likely to finish 3rd. Germany may be lackluster compared to years gone but theyll likely finish 2nd. Werner might not have a shooting radar but there’s no defense he couldn’t unsettle with sheer pace.

What’s the path for whoever finishes third in this? I have Portugal as my dark horses (have to represent the status) but I could easily see them finishing third in this group.
How can you call the holders a dark horse? A dark horse is a team that could potentially win if everything goes in there favour. A Denmark for example. Portugal could well win it again, therefore, not a dark horse.
 

Sayros

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Germany is our easiest game in this group, even Hungary will be more challenging.
Based on recent form and their current tactical set up, I can see that but things can still change between now and then and Germany is still a sleeping giant that can wake up at any point against a European powerhouse. This being said, I wouldn't mind seeing Germany getting ousted in the group stages in two major competitions in a row.
 

DWelbz19

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People are definitely over rating Portugal but I’d be surprised if they were bottom. Most likely to finish 3rd. Germany may be lackluster compared to years gone but theyll likely finish 2nd. Werner might not have a shooting radar but there’s no defense he couldn’t unsettle with sheer pace.



How can you call the holders a dark horse? A dark horse is a team that could potentially win if everything goes in there favour. A Denmark for example. Portugal could well win it again, therefore, not a dark horse.
Sorry, Reginald. I’ve just had a quick Google across the bookies, and Portugal appear to be about the 7th best in the odds. If you don’t like the term ‘dark horse’ — how about outsiders? Them being the current holder means nothing. They won the thing 5 years ago. That’s a damn long time in football.
 

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Beside the level of the opponent’s we play 2 games at Hungary and Germany, I guess Hungary will have support on the stadium, didn’t even remembered that. Yep, on this group if you’re not at your best you can go home with 0 points.