Reading the Game ⚽ Euro 2024 edition!

The Independent’s football newsletter ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     [The Independent](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoYU6qP0QvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvP2xpZD1iaXUzd2ZrZzdodmZXBXNwY2V1QgpmdKrJfmZ1Xmy8Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) Friday, June 28, 2024   ~/AAAHagA~/RgRoYU6qP0REaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXV0aG9yL21pZ3VlbC1kZWxhbmV5P2xpZD0xY28wdWRpdXh4MG5XBXNwY2V1QgpmdKrJfmZ1Xmy8Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~ ~/AAAHagA~/RgRoYU6qP0REaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXV0aG9yL21pZ3VlbC1kZWxhbmV5P2xpZD1majFuOTdyMm9lNTFXBXNwY2V1QgpmdKrJfmZ1Xmy8Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~ ~/AAAHagA~/RgRoYU6qP0Q-aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc3BvcnQvZm9vdGJhbGwvP2xpZD03MTdmNGgwZW1iaXVXBXNwY2V1QgpmdKrJfmZ1Xmy8Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~ ‘Right’ side of draw but huge potential for wrong turn The England team are set to be presented with analysis of Slovakia today, as Gareth Southgate assesses potential solutions for Sunday. It is currently expected that he will do more than just bring in Kobbie Mainoo to midfield, with his thinking influenced by the impact of Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon as subs against Slovenia. The caveat is that it has already been said before at this tournament that Southgate would make more changes for the previous game, only for the manager to prove more conservative. An increasing question is whether he will be influenced by so much external noise, since he and the players are talking about it so much. It was noted around the camp that Harry Kane was willing to do the media conference on Sunday after all the furore about the BBC pundit comments, even though the striker had already spoken to journalists during the week, and he wouldn’t usually do this type of media exercise. While Kane did follow up with a thorough point and one that sounded like he’d prepared his comments, it has become pronounced just how much Southgate and other players are themselves bringing up discussion of the team. It also makes this match against Slovakia more than a match against Slovakia. They are an awkward team, but this is still a notionally more forgiving fixture than it could have been. And yet it is to be played by an underperforming England who look to be carrying the weight of expectation, knowing they will be utterly castigated for any drop-off. It is exactly how “the right side of the draw” can go so wrong; how a favourable fixture can become loaded with pressure. It is also why this is a fork-in-the-road game for reasons beyond the fact this is the first knock-out. The players just need to finally make any point on the pitch. They are determined to do that, but the problem so far has been the gap between desire and outcome. France content despite consequences of goal record While England have been immersed in their own bubble, simmering in so much heat, there has been similar in other camps of major teams. Kevin De Bruyne had to publicly urge furious fans to support the team. Didier Deschamps has dismissed criticism of France’s play, telling people to “change the channel”. It has already had consequence, since these two teams are meeting in the last 16, on a much more congested side of the draw. Deschamps’s percentage football is now going to have to defeat the odds. For all that noise, however, the mood within the French camp is positive. They do not feel that the output - a mere two goals, one an own goal, another a penalty - is reflective of performance, and believe they have the numbers to prove it. The view is that the attack has just been unlucky, facing resolute goalkeepers, while unluckily missing good chances. It can happen. It is just more likely to happen when the manager is wilfully so minimalistic. Such knowledge nevertheless explains some of Deschamps’s defiance. That is what he is always like, of course, but he feels more emboldened. He’s going to need it. Even if France find form, they potentially face a series of gruelling games to make the final. A path of Belgium, Portugal and then Germany or Spain is currently possible. Portugal have a Ronaldo problem As regards Portugal, another contrast is striking. On one side, there is the seriousness of this team, who look one of the few at Euro 2024 close to elite level. On the other, there is the circus around Cristiano Ronaldo, who was even being started in inconsequential games where players that are over a decade younger were being rested. There are a number of levels to this, too. Most immediately, there is the question of why exactly manager Roberto Martinez played him. What does it serve, other than the mood of the biggest personality in the squad? Except, Ronaldo generally just came across as furious with everything. It certainly didn’t serve the team as the 29-year-old put in another performance where he barely moved, had minimal impact, and looked best used as an impact sub. There’s then the rest of it. Following on from the farce of six different pitch invaders in Saturday’s game against Turkey, Wednesday saw the more concerning scene of a fan literally jumping in front of Ronaldo. They were lucky there wasn’t injury. That is an extreme and Ronaldo obviously isn’t responsible for such behaviour. It’s still true that his presence creates this noise - very much a theme of this newsletter - and distraction around Portugal. The team should be in a state now where they're doing everything possible to win this tournament. They're that good, and it really just looks like it only requires fine details to be tuned - bar the most notable detail of all. Martinez would say managing Ronaldo is part of that, and he has dealt with the issue well up to now. Restoring the forward to the team after Fernando Santos dropped him didn’t have negative effect in qualifying. But qualifying is obviously very different to the stakes here. It is already looking like something that could develop into a defining storyline of Euro 2024. Sagnol as much a sensation as his team If that match was inconsequential for Portugal, it was anything but for Georgia. It was the greatest moment of Kvicha Kvaratshkelia’s life, as he said himself, and a truly national event. The 2-0 victory was enough of an experience in itself, a sensory overload. That came from the sound of the fans to the trilling play on the pitch. There was then another performance after the game, that helped explain how this team has qualified for the last 16. Manager Willy Sagnol was a captivating speaker, as he went into everything from what he said to the team to motivate them, the significance, and even infrastructure changes from 15 years and how they evoked Georgia’s expressive football culture. The applause for his entry and exist felt justified. A French international right-back who had previously been respected, he is now a manager who is increasingly sought after. Ireland had been hoping to appoint Sagnol, in a move that previously baffled people but now looks far-sighted. Irish Director of Football Marc Canham deserves praise for persisting with that, when many were simply confused. It was just maybe too far-sighted. Ireland haven’t yet closed a deal, and there are already European clubs interested. Sagnol’s very success in this tournament has also proved transformational for the resources of the Georgian federation due to the prize money, and they may now have the means to match any contract offer. For now, he is only concerned with ensuring his team match Spain, in the thrilling manner they should.   Key Euro 2024 bookmarks ~/AAAHagA~/RgRoYU6qP0RzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc3BvcnQvZm9vdGJhbGwvZXVyby0yMDI0LWZpeHR1cmVzLXNjaGVkdWxlLWRhdGVzLXRpbWVzLWIyNTYxOTc5Lmh0bWw_bGlkPXRibmk1bzg4MWRvaVcFc3BjZXVCCmZ0qsl-ZnVebLxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~ [Euro 2024 fixtures: TV schedule, dates and kick-off times at Euro 2024](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoYU6qP0RzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc3BvcnQvZm9vdGJhbGwvZXVyby0yMDI0LWZpeHR1cmVzLXNjaGVkdWxlLWRhdGVzLXRpbWVzLWIyNTYxOTc5Lmh0bWw_bGlkPXc5Nzk0bzdiZGhhM1cFc3BjZXVCCmZ0qsl-ZnVebLxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) ~/AAAHagA~/RgRoYU6qP0RuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc3BvcnQvZm9vdGJhbGwvZXVyby0yMDI0LWtpdHMtc2hpcnRzLXJhbmtlZC1yYXRlZC1iMjU2NDQ4My5odG1sP2xpZD14djZzd2VjOXRkeHVXBXNwY2V1QgpmdKrJfmZ1Xmy8Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~ [Euro 2024 kits: Every home and away shirt ranked and rated](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoYU6qP0RuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc3BvcnQvZm9vdGJhbGwvZXVyby0yMDI0LWtpdHMtc2hpcnRzLXJhbmtlZC1yYXRlZC1iMjU2NDQ4My5odG1sP2xpZD0zamlyZTAwcW1oMHZXBXNwY2V1QgpmdKrJfmZ1Xmy8Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~)~/AAAHagA~/RgRoYU6qP0R3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc3BvcnQvZm9vdGJhbGwvZmFudGFzeS1ldXJvLTIwMjQtdGlwcy1zY29yaW5nLWJlc3QtcGxheWVycy1iMjU2MTk1NC5odG1sP2xpZD0zeHZ3djZpcmxmcGpXBXNwY2V1QgpmdKrJfmZ1Xmy8Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~~/AAAHagA~/RgRoYU6qP0R3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc3BvcnQvZm9vdGJhbGwvZmFudGFzeS1ldXJvLTIwMjQtdGlwcy1zY29yaW5nLWJlc3QtcGxheWVycy1iMjU2MTk1NC5odG1sP2xpZD1yd2Fkd2xsemJkYnZXBXNwY2V1QgpmdKrJfmZ1Xmy8Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~   Miguel's Dispatches Before you read these next few sentences, I should stress this is not a complaint - and that will become clear! As undeniably enjoyable and a privilege that covering a European Championship is, it is this week of a tournament that is often referred to as the “hump”, predictably enough. It’s the mid-point, when the initial excitement has gone, and you’ve just going through the most intense period where you’ll do the most games and most travel. The latter has been an unexpectedly draining part of Euro 2024, because of dysfunctional logistics. I was with a number of fans complaining about the “greenhouse” of the slow trams en route to Schalke’s stadium that were needlessly stopping in sweltering heat… and then we got there and enjoyed maybe the event of the tournament so far. Georgia’s 2-0 victory over Portugal was certainly the best experience I have had of the nine games I’ve been to so far. It was uplifting and exhilarating, from the nature of a smaller country’s story to the thrilling nature of their football. Kvicha Kvaratshkelia, a lovely footballer, spoke so gleefully afterwards in describing it as the best moment of his life, “a dream”. Even his sentiments couldn’t compare to manager Willy Sagnol, though. My overriding thoughts on listening to him speak was this was a man you would play for and fight for. It all fed into the story of Euro 2024 so far, and what a tournament is supposed to be about, which is why we’re all here.   QUOTE OF THE WEEK     “The only responsibility we had was to make the Georgian nation proud of their players. And I think we've done it the best way” Willy Sagnol on his Georgia side’s qualification to the last 16 after beating Portugal 2-0   Reading the game quiz Nine players have scored for England in Euros knockout games. Name the nine. ([You can find out the answers here](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoYU6qP0RyaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc3BvcnQvZm9vdGJhbGwvbWlndWVsLWRlbGFuZXktbmV3c2xldHRlci1xdWl6LWFuc3dlcnMtYjIwNzc5NjguaHRtbD9saWQ9ZnppejJ6ejFvOThzVwVzcGNldUIKZnSqyX5mdV5svFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj). The answer page will be updated weekly and contains answers from previous newsletters, too) [INDYBEST](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoYU6qP0Q-aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZXh0cmFzL2luZHliZXN0P2xpZD02d2Rtc29vd3M2djdXBXNwY2V1QgpmdKrJfmZ1Xmy8Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) / [BEST BUYS](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoYU6qP0RPaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZXh0cmFzL2luZHliZXN0L291dGRvb3ItYWN0aXZpdHk_bGlkPWpycG96NTdrM3MzclcFc3BjZXVCCmZ0qsl-ZnVebLxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) [Where to buy England jacket](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoYU6qP0R_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZXh0cmFzL2luZHliZXN0L291dGRvb3ItYWN0aXZpdHkvZXVyb3MtMjAyNC1lbmdsYW5kLWFudGhlbS1qYWNrZXRzLWIyNTYzODMzLmh0bWw_bGlkPTNiY3dlZGdyb2V1NVcFc3BjZXVCCmZ0qsl-ZnVebLxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) Find out where to buy this year’s [Euros 2024 England anthem jackets](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoYU6qP0R_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZXh0cmFzL2luZHliZXN0L291dGRvb3ItYWN0aXZpdHkvZXVyb3MtMjAyNC1lbmdsYW5kLWFudGhlbS1qYWNrZXRzLWIyNTYzODMzLmh0bWw_bGlkPXFzOXowYTFhOWdqOFcFc3BjZXVCCmZ0qsl-ZnVebLxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) before they sell out.   [Protein mug cake](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoYU6qP0RqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZXh0cmFzL2luZHliZXN0L2Zvb2QtZHJpbmsvbXlwcm90ZWluLW11Zy1jYWtlLWIyNTY0NDk1Lmh0bWw_bGlkPWdyMDY2MmQ4dmpleFcFc3BjZXVCCmZ0qsl-ZnVebLxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) This [mug cake mix](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoYU6qP0RqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZXh0cmFzL2luZHliZXN0L2Zvb2QtZHJpbmsvbXlwcm90ZWluLW11Zy1jYWtlLWIyNTY0NDk1Lmh0bWw_bGlkPTQ0bmxvcWxvbWF5aVcFc3BjZXVCCmZ0qsl-ZnVebLxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) from Myprotein is the perfect way to satisfy your cravings – and it's reduced. ~/AAAHagA~/RgRoYU6qP0Q8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc3Vic2NyaWJlL2FwcD9saWQ9M2c4Y3Z4OTAyd2FyVwVzcGNldUIKZnSqyX5mdV5svFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj ~/AAAHagA~/RgRoYU6qP0Q9aHR0cHM6Ly9pbmRlcGVuZGVudC5vbmVsaW5rLm1lL25vNXgvZDI1ZTc0Y2M_bGlkPTV6MDJkdmo1bmVidFcFc3BjZXVCCmZ0qsl-ZnVebLxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~ Further Euros reading ~/AAAHagA~/RgRoYU6qP0R3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc3BvcnQvZm9vdGJhbGwvZ2FyZXRoLXNvdXRoZ2F0ZS1lbmdsYW5kLXNsb3Zha2lhLWV1cm8tMjAyNC1iMjU3MDQ5Ni5odG1sP2xpZD1kdDFqYWt6ZDV3aTJXBXNwY2V1QgpmdKrJfmZ1Xmy8Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~ [Gareth Southgate once freed England’s players – now he risks suffocating them](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoYU6qP0R3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc3BvcnQvZm9vdGJhbGwvZ2FyZXRoLXNvdXRoZ2F0ZS1lbmdsYW5kLXNsb3Zha2lhLWV1cm8tMjAyNC1iMjU3MDQ5Ni5odG1sP2xpZD1mcWZzaTBzOTgyMzlXBXNwY2V1QgpmdKrJfmZ1Xmy8Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) 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