Spain won Euro 2008 - World Cup 2010 - Euro 2012 though.
And why would you leave Spain out? They performed better than England to me. Denmark was solid too.
France - Euro 2021 Discussion
- Thread starter BusbyMalone
- Start date
And why would you leave Spain out? They performed better than England to me. Denmark was solid too.
Having that squad and being knocked out by Switzerland is on Deschamps. Terrible game management throughout these Euros.
Kudos to the Swiss. They’ll be a thorn in the side of whoever plays them.
Kudos to the Swiss. They’ll be a thorn in the side of whoever plays them.
Not sure. I thought being solid and hitting teams on the break suited the likes if Kante, Pobga, Griezmann and Mbappe very well. The problem in this tournament was how poor the backline were, and Mbappe's bad form. The CB shouldn't be conceding 3 goals against Switzerland FFS.
Surprised no one blaming Pogba yet!
It is always Pogba's fault. No matter how many chances he created for France. It is always his fault.
Spot on.
He was France's outstanding player, he did not deserve to go out. He's looked fecking sublime for most of the tournament.
Just look at the Pogba thread. The usual haters are back in force. Sad to think they’re i
Utd fans
No idea why they didn’t go with the system which ended the last game as they played really well. Switching to a back 5 just invited pressure.
It's mainly on the players and their blatant arrogance. They probably thought the only ones capable of beating them were themselves, and so they did. Turning up for 20-30mins in a game doesn't cut it. Glad they got punished for it.
He cost them the game by going 3 at the back and let Zuber tear that left side to shreds. That was some of the dumbest decision making in a big tournament I've seen from a manager. Any manager worth his salt would have recognised his blunder, made a substitution at the 20 minute mark and changed shape.
The third goal for Switzerland is more or less on the players. Deschamps even brought on Sissoko to shore up the game and yet they parted like the red sea before Moses.
The third goal for Switzerland is more or less on the players. Deschamps even brought on Sissoko to shore up the game and yet they parted like the red sea before Moses.
Pogba must be still dancing:
Agree 100%. The only reason I wanted France to win was to see more of Pogba playing this way.
Vintage France. Came from 1 goal down. Lloris saved a penalty in the second half.
Then France orchestrated a comeback with Benzema scoring two and Pogba scoring a sublime goal to seal the win (till 80 min)
Then France orchestrated a comeback with Benzema scoring two and Pogba scoring a sublime goal to seal the win (till 80 min)
One win in four games, courtesy of a German own goal. Worst tournament finish since the 2010 WC. Quite the implosion for the world champions.
You should work for the BBC
I wonder how much player fatigue is playing a role in the tournament as a whole. The top crop of French players like Varane, Kante, Griezmann, Benz have all been playing non-stop football ever since the restart. Same with Portugal.
YupSuch a weird team. You just felt, they can win any match when they want. And then they scored three absolutely brilliant goals in a short period of time against a GOOD Switzerland. What the hell happened? Why do they look so bloody uninterested? What's the talk in France right now?
Surely the same goes for the other top countries? I agree that we might see more injuries because of the heavy schedule but it's not specific to one or two teams imo. Most players are tired.
Yes, other than Italy, none of the top sides or stars have gelled together or performed as expected. Some of it also has to do with the short turnaround time from the end of the season to the start of the Euros, so the training camps were shorter and without all players.
Against Germany they were pinned back for the second half, it wasn't an impressive win by an own goal but they did manage to hold out the Germen onslaught.
I heard the commentator something like the alleged game plan of France was to grow into the tournament fitness wise so they could peak near the end. When you see France on the ropes they suddenly explode into life in attack but they've always looked easy to play through, I think they lacked a pressing defensive game, probably trying to conserve energy which is understandable. It was amazing how much time the Swiss and others had on the ball.
I heard the commentator something like the alleged game plan of France was to grow into the tournament fitness wise so they could peak near the end. When you see France on the ropes they suddenly explode into life in attack but they've always looked easy to play through, I think they lacked a pressing defensive game, probably trying to conserve energy which is understandable. It was amazing how much time the Swiss and others had on the ball.
If they'd subbed Pogba off after his goal, France would've won. You just can't trust this guy to do defensive work in such an important game. He'll either kick someone in the penalty box or lose the ball in a dangerous area.
The centre circle is a dangerous area?
when there's an enormous gap behind you - yes?
Did he kick someone in the box or lose the ball that resulted in Swiss scoring?
Playing Rabiot at left back/wing back was a really bad shout. Watch him for Switzerland's second goal, it summed up his effort, enthusiasm and knowledge for the position. No closing down, no marking, just in no man's land and completely useless. He was guilty of letting opponents passed him without chasing back a few times too.
Surely France had a defender they could have used? Even a centre back would have been better, or if DD insisted on a midfielder, at least use someone diligent like Kante there.
Overall though, Switzerland beat them with effort levels. France cruised for about 70 mins of the 90, only turning up the intensity for 20 when they scored their 3 goals.
Surely France had a defender they could have used? Even a centre back would have been better, or if DD insisted on a midfielder, at least use someone diligent like Kante there.
Overall though, Switzerland beat them with effort levels. France cruised for about 70 mins of the 90, only turning up the intensity for 20 when they scored their 3 goals.
Yes, he lost the ball like he always does - unaware of his surroundings and trying to control it instead of passing it.
And the Italians didn't look that great either, against Austria. The Germans have been all over the place, results-wise. England has been solid but stolid, and haven't yet shown the level they'll have to show to push through the elimination rounds. Maybe it will come. The Spanish look way too chaotic to be considered a plausible tournament winner. I suppose it's Belgium really - if you can succeed by trying to play risk-free football and banking on one of your superb individuals putting away at least one of the few chances that happen to come your way.
Or maybe it's a year for the underdogs. Wouldn't be the first, after all. If so, then my money's on Denmark.
This aged well
They should have closed out the game when they went 3-1 up.
Shame they got knocked out,was a great game.
Shame they got knocked out,was a great game.
Well, they did went defensively...Not possible to close out completely since Switzerland was practically on an 'all-out attack' mode now.
Can't pin this DD, he threw everything he got. Playing Lenglet is a risky move but he didn't have any other choice but to go with three defenders. Rabiot is pretty good going forward but lacked that final ball and expecting him to defend is a big ask. Mbappe failed to pick his shots throughout the tournament. imo losing Hernandez is the biggest loss for France..
France simply did not have enough depth. They are still depending on Griezman who did not done well domestically since moving to Barca.
And his replacement Sissoko scored 2 goals in 69 caps. Guess he's afraid to sub out his attackers because he has no more attacks in subs other than Giroud. He should have bought Martial or Lacazette along, premier league bias haha instead of injury prone Dembele. Then Sissoko can be played early (sub Griezmann) in the second half, after Pogba's goal.
And in case anything happen (draw), DD can then bring out another attacker like Martial to get a goal.
And his replacement Sissoko scored 2 goals in 69 caps. Guess he's afraid to sub out his attackers because he has no more attacks in subs other than Giroud. He should have bought Martial or Lacazette along, premier league bias haha instead of injury prone Dembele. Then Sissoko can be played early (sub Griezmann) in the second half, after Pogba's goal.
And in case anything happen (draw), DD can then bring out another attacker like Martial to get a goal.
I'm always amazed by this way of thinking. Don't get this personal as it is not my intention, but who is responsible for playing style if not the manager, coach, call it whatever you want. In Switzerland game, he may not have been responsible for single tactical mistakes, but football today is much more about playing philosophy which is harder to instill into the team, than the single and simple tactical tweaks here and there. That's why you have likes of Klopp and Guardiola on one side, and then on the other you have washed-up faces like Mourinho and Ancelotti. It's more than obvious what category Deschamps falls into.
Fully deserved to go out. They didn't have one good performance in this tournament, IMO. That performance against Germany was way overhyped as I thought Germany played alright in that game. They had moments where their extremely talented players clicked, but they never put that together over a 90 minute period. Or even 45 minute period, quite frankly.
Seen them being accused of arrogance in this game, but I'm not sure if that's the case. This slow, ponderous and disjointed football has been a regular fixture in their short time here.
Seen them being accused of arrogance in this game, but I'm not sure if that's the case. This slow, ponderous and disjointed football has been a regular fixture in their short time here.
Who's worse current Griezmann or Sanchez' stint at United? the guy is complete dog shit. Coman should have started alongside Benzema and Mbappe.
Amazed at the lack of squad depth as well, there go to player off the bench was Sissoko ffs. They need to get rid of Deshamps there's so much politics going on in French football its unreal.
Amazed at the lack of squad depth as well, there go to player off the bench was Sissoko ffs. They need to get rid of Deshamps there's so much politics going on in French football its unreal.
Considering he got them to the final in the previous two tournaments they had very little incentive to remove him to be honest.
He's a decisive manager who when is winning looks like a genius but when it fails he looks like a complete mug. I personal think he's gone too far the other way this time, his squad selection was ridiculous to the point I can only put it down to over confidence or like I initially said some sort of political choice in the players he selected.
France must have the best pool of players to chose from in the world half of those player who made it are questionable at best.
He went back to what worked for him in the past and the players he trusts, which is what I see a lot of international managers do. I think his choice of players were okay-ish, it's just the way he set them up and made them play that didn't work (anymore) imo.