The Official 14/15 Various National Soccer Team News Thread

[Locke]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

Keepers want contentious pass backs to one side of the net. Can't befall Ozcan there.

Completely agree, but at the same time you've got an attacker at the top of your 18 yard box, dont make cute, short passes to your last man just put your goddamn foot through it!

[GirlySports]

What's a Tom Heaton?

[polak]

Originally Posted by M*A*S*H 4077

Reus is out for Germany with an injury. Really feel for the guy

That's two major tournaments he's missed in his career. Has he played in any yet?

[devo22]

Originally Posted by polak

That's two major tournaments he's missed in his career. Has he played in any yet?

Euro 2012. Only played 2 games though.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by polak

That's two major tournaments he's missed in his career. Has he played in any yet?

Only Euro 2012. He's missed 3 out of 4 tournaments (2010, 2014 and 2016)

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Only Euro 2012. He's missed 3 out of 4 tournaments (2010, 2014 and 2016)

Arguably Germany's best attacking player and he will have played 2 matches in 4 tournaments. Poor guy

[devo22]

sorry for Diarra, but: Schneiderlin! Yay!!!

Sky Sports News HQ ✔ @SkySportsNewsHQ
BREAKING: Lassana Diarra is OUT of France's Euro 2016 squad. Replaced by #MUFC's Morgan Schneiderlin. #SSNHQ

[cam_wmh]

Man, all that talk about France's firepower. Then they got Kante and Pogba in the middle.
No Varane hurts, but playing at home, they're my sleeper winner.

[cam_wmh]

Can someone please explain why Belgium is a favourite?

My pick for fdisappointing flop. Too many fragile or shattered egos, with no real winners; Courteous, Hazard, Alderweild, Vermelean, Vertonghen.. Heck even Fellaini if he starts

[d_phaneuf]

the issue is they are likely going to play their 2 best CBs, who were one of the best partnerships in Europe this season, at RB and LB for some reason

maybe with no Kompany they at least play Toby at CB, Witsel has played RB in a few friendlys lately

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

Can someone please explain why Belgium is a favourite?

My pick for fdisappointing flop. Too many fragile or shattered egos, with no real winners; Courteous, Hazard, Alderweild, Vermelean, Vertonghen.. Heck even Fellaini if he starts

Can't even beat Suomi.

[SuperMatt18]

Here are the full squads for all 24 teams:

http://www.espnfc.us/european-champi...ll-squad-lists

IMO Germany and France should be favorites. France specifically has a bunch of players who are in great form heading into the tournament.

Portgual is a dark horse IMO - they actually seem to have a cohesive team around Ronaldo for once and he is probably the best individual player in the tournament still.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Here are the full squads for all 24 teams:

http://www.espnfc.us/european-champi...ll-squad-lists

IMO Germany and France should be favorites. France specifically has a bunch of players who are in great form heading into the tournament.

Portgual is a dark horse IMO - they actually seem to have a cohesive team around Ronaldo for once and he is probably the best individual player in the tournament still.

Germany worries me. The back line isnt what it used to be but if Hummels, Howedes and Boateng are fit thats a boost, but we dont have Lahm back there.

Further, I'm worried about where the goals will come from. The midfield is going to have to step up bigtime in terms of contribution. Thats Germany's strength. That midfield.

[devo22]

Germany always amazes me. How you can have so many quality goalkeepers, central defenders and central midfielders and at the same time completely suck at developing even average full backs and strikers is incredible. If Jonas Hector is your only "real" full back and you still have to take Podolski to a major tournament, you're in trouble. Of course they make up for it in other areas, but still, crazy stuff.

My money would be on France this year. Ridiculous depth and quality in all areas, plus a home tournament. Germany and Spain are the other two "big ones" IMO ... obviously Spain was disappointing two years ago, but their depth is still unbelievable. Just look at their snubs:



that's still an amazing team.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by devo22

Germany always amazes me. How you can have so many quality goalkeepers, central defenders and central midfielders and at the same time completely suck at developing even average full backs and strikers is incredible. If Jonas Hector is your only "real" full back and you still have to take Podolski to a major tournament, you're in trouble. Of course they make up for it in other areas, but still, crazy stuff.

My money would be on France this year. Ridiculous depth and quality in all areas, plus a home tournament. Germany and Spain are the other two "big ones" IMO ... obviously Spain was disappointing two years ago, but their depth is still unbelievable. Just look at their snubs:



that's still an amazing team.

Agreed on Germany, but for some reason they have terrible players (Podolski) that somehow always turn up for major tournaments. If Podolski didnt play club football but only International he'd be amazing! He never should have left Germany though.

France is France. They've got an amazing team but someone will sleep with a hooker or blackmail a teammate or unionize the squad and go on strike or something. It's France. Something batcrap crazy is going to happen. Paul Pogba is going to get drafted into the French Foreign Legion and shipped to Libya or something equally insane.

Spain's issue is that they're a one-trick pony. Hold the ball, dont concede and pray for a goal. One of the single most unwatchable teams of the past decade. Just a complete Snoozefest.

[polak]

Poland just lost to Holland.

Lame. Seemed pretty close though. Poland was pressing hard for the equalizer. Still lost 2-1.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Originally Posted by Locke

Germany worries me. The back line isnt what it used to be but if Hummels, Howedes and Boateng are fit thats a boost, but we dont have Lahm back there.

Further, I'm worried about where the goals will come from. The midfield is going to have to step up bigtime in terms of contribution. Thats Germany's strength. That midfield.

Weren't you wondering where the goals were going to come from at the World Cup too? Worked out OK

But yeah, goal scoring will be an issue. Maybe Gomez turns back the clock 10 years although personally I hope they start the tournament with Draxler or Schurrle up top.

France is my pick to win. So much depth to that squad. They don't have the question marks Germany has at a couple positions

[Locke]

Originally Posted by M*A*S*H 4077

Weren't you wondering where the goals were going to come from at the World Cup too? Worked out OK

But yeah, goal scoring will be an issue. Maybe Gomez turns back the clock 10 years although personally I hope they start the tournament with Draxler or Schurrle up top.

France is my pick to win. So much depth to that squad. They don't have the question marks Germany has at a couple positions

Yes I was and again, Klose, the ageless wonder, came through. Muller is also always up there.

But Germany doesnt have a legitimate 'Top Man' up there. I hope Gomez winds the clock back too, that would be fantastic as I think he got a bit of a raw deal.

[cam_wmh]

I think Muller can be that legitimate top scoring striker.

[d_phaneuf]

the German Harry Kane can play up top or they just use Gotze as a false 9