2021/22 Soccer Thread: It's Euro 2020 until it becomes 2021

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With the Euros starting this weekend, transfers in club football starting to happen, and other stuff like the Gold Cup just a month away I figured we could do with a fresh thread.

I don't think we need a Euros thread? I couldn't find one from previous years and while there is more casual fan uptake it's not the big event casual fans jump completely into like the World Cup. If you disagree feel free to start a Euros thread and I'll change the title of this one to something more club-focused.

I couldn't help myself with the Arsenal fans age meme title, and well, *gestures at COVID and the year we're playing Euro 2020 in*.

That's gold.

The true answer though is Jackson Martinez is 34.

In respect to potential dark horses I really don't think it's possible outside the teams that are currently at roughly (9:1) or lower. Last two being Portugal + Italy at those odds.

The current format if anything helps a good team that starts slow? Or am I interpreting this wrong. I see the 3rd place spots as chances for teams like Portugal in 2016 to sneak out of a group stage they would of been eliminated from and staying alive.

Way I rationalize it. It gives opportunity to that slow starting team to essentially re-roll into the knock out phase and catch their form. If anything dark horses need these better teams to be eliminated early and the tournament to be shorter.

If there's a detailed analysis of this, I would read it.

Scotland will be there, at a Major Tournament, for the first time since France 1998. So of course we are going to win it!

Or... go out in the group stages with a single point after Heroic but tragically unlucky performances.

Either way, many, many beers will be consumed. Even if kick off is at 2pm on a Monday. It has been too long.

Scotland have never made it out of the group stage at a tournament. This is why my FIFA 17 career was giant Scottish forward Barry McGarry.

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/ySMoYoi.png)

1978 was the first world cup I watched and England didn't make it, so I latched on to Scotland. Their group was Peru, Iran and the Netherlands, so obviously they would lose to the Dutch and get at least a win and a draw against the other two to go through.

I say obviously because I didn't really understand "the full Scotland" at that point.

The Scots lost 3-1 to Peru, drew with Iran and then beat the Dutch with a wonder goal from Scottish Messi.

I can't root for Scotland because they're in England's group and one of my best friends is from Glasgow so will never let me hear the end of it if the Scots somehow bump England out of the tournament, but I'm also interested to see what entertaining exit they'll find.

Do they have enough Robbies to compete?

I think they have zero Robbies! Unless Andy Robertson volunteers to be a Robbie for the length of the tournament.

I'm sad they didn't pick Ryan Gauld, as they could then have put out Ryan Gauld, Ryan Christie and Ryan Fraser.

I'm also sad Iceland didn't make it as the 5 sub rule would have given them the chance to shatter their own record set against Austria in 2016 where they put 14 different players on the field whose names all ended in "son."

Previously they'd only managed 13 thanks to noted surname-rebel Eidur Gudjohnsen.

I made a fantasy league for GWJ if anyone feels like joining up: here's the link or use the code "95PXU9XM08", it's on the official euro 2020 website

Minor nitpick. Doesn't the Euro competition belong to the 20/21 season?

Exactly. This entire season is temporally displaced. I'd like Fulham's relegation to be canceled, as a result.

Kick off tonight, Italy v Turkey.

As a Saints supporter, I will absolutely be pulling for Scotland to score a truckload of goals.

I am totally not posting this just so the thread will be in my recent activity. Nope -- wouldn't dream of it.

Forza Azzurri!

Fedaykin98 wrote:

Forza Azzurri!

Did that come out before or after Horizons?

I have an unhealthy love for Giorgio Chiellini but how is Giorgio Chiellini still starting for Italy?

Mr Bismarck wrote:

I have an unhealthy love for Giorgio Chiellini but how is Giorgio Chiellini still starting for Italy?

I missed the lineups, and when I saw him on the field, I thought surely it must be someone with a similar head.

But I guess keeper and CB are the longest lived spots in soccer, generally.

I wonder if Bonucci calls him "Old Man."

Chiellini nearly netting there!

Italy all over the Turks here like a rash.

Cue Turkey in the lead by half time I reckon.

Is Christian Vieri busy? He can stand in the middle and they can bounce crosses off his head into the goal.

There were like 4 possible handballs for Italy. The last one seemed clear to me. Let's at least see if they keep consistent throughout the tournament.

slazev wrote:

There were like 4 possible handballs for Italy. The last one seemed clear to me. Let's at least see if they keep consistent throughout the tournament.

Clear by the rules, a little harsh to anyone with an ounce of common sense I’d say. VAR officiating in the Premier League has really ruined it for everyone if you ask me.

Edit: apparently UEFA/FIFA have changed the handball rules from ‘unnatural position’ to ‘expected position’ for next season, and they’ve been adopted for the Euros. Should mean that if your arms in the way but there’s not much the player can do about it then no penalty.

@_Zeets wrote:

The handball in football is like the self in philosophy. We can argue about it forever, and everyone has their own theories on what it is, but there will never be an agreement on it

Next time Insigne asks for a handball, the referee is going to say that since a valid handball is subjective, that it doesn't really exist

Turkey scored!

Hmmmm. Not sure that ranks amongst the best defensive manoeuvres I’ve seen if I’m honest.

Not sure what Turkey was doing on that especially Soyuncu. Who had OG as top scorer for the tournament?

Hard not to feel pleased for Immobile there

Edit. Ouch. Not sure what the Turkey goalkeeper was doing there. Nice finish by Insigne though.

Sorbicol wrote:
slazev wrote:

There were like 4 possible handballs for Italy. The last one seemed clear to me. Let's at least see if they keep consistent throughout the tournament.

Clear by the rules, a little harsh to anyone with an ounce of common sense I’d say. VAR officiating in the Premier League has really ruined it for everyone if you ask me.

I think you just called me crazy. I still think it's an handball, so I'll take it.

We’re on GWJ. We’re all a little crazy. Aren’t we?!?

Obligatory mention on my feed that these early games can be misleading and Portugal won by not winning in the group stage.

Not so hot take. Turkey isn't winning this thing.

jowner wrote:

Obligatory mention on my feed that these early games can be misleading and Portugal won by not winning in the group stage.

Prederick wrote:

So who do we think is gonna win Euro 2020? I would've said Belgium before the CL final. Now i'd actually put a sneaky bet on Italy.

DIAMOND HANDS BABY! I'M GOING STRAIGHT TO THE MOON!

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