Official 2024 UEFA Euro Cup Thread

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Elkyiv

I would argue that Euro is better in quality of competition than the WC. Other than 2, 3 nations from Conmebol, no one else is a serious participant.

The World Cup is much better

I would argue that the European contenders in the World Cup are the same ones in the Euro Cup.

So instead of 24 European teams, you have 13 of the best European teams plus many more roadblocks such as those you mentioned (Brazil, Argentina) plus USA, Japan, Morocco etc...

Yeah there are minnows in the World Cup but lets not pretend a tournament with Scotland and Georgia is any better.

[lazypucker]

This 24-team version of the Euro is watered down, I remember 2004, 2008, and 2012 when most games were exciting with only 16 teams.

I fear the same for the 48-team World Cup in 2026

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

You have a point, It goes to show how specially Morocco's run was. or South Korea in 2002.

South Korea’s run was special due to the sheer amount of corruption and bribing that got them as far as they went. It’s likely the least deserved run in the history of the World Cup. They literally cheated their way to a semi final.

[lazypucker]

Holy crap!! 2 Belgian goals called back by VAR.

OK, one obvious offside but the second one is an accidental handball.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

What a farce if they call this back. Incidental and irrelevant contact with his hand while he’s jockeying with a defender.

[Locke]

Oh my God....that is such a soft, soft handball call. That is 10-ply. That is brutal.

Alright Slovakia...you'd better batten this nonsense down!

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Incidental contact with the hand but looks like the ball may have run through to the defender’s advantage if it didn’t touch the hand

[Locke]

Originally Posted by M*A*S*H 4077

Incidental contact with the hand but looks like the ball may have run through to the defender’s advantage if it didn’t touch the hand

Its SO incidental though...I cant imagine that really affected the outcome.

I'm not a fan of that call and I don't have a dog in this fight. I just think its bad.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Originally Posted by Locke

Its SO incidental though...I cant imagine that really affected the outcome.

I'm not a fan of that call and I don't have a dog in this fight. I just think its bad.

I don’t think it’s a great call either but the reverse camera angle does make it look like the ball changed directions so I can see how it was called a handball. I think there have been worse calls

Ultimately just don’t touch the ball with your hand? Or score one of the hundred other chances you’ve had and don’t put it in VAR’s hands

[SuperMatt18]

Yeah it was incidental but to me the ball clearly changes direction.

I think if it doesn't hit the hand it probably does land more favorably in the defenders advantage.

One of those things where you can argue if it's in the spirit of VAR but I'll take that in order to get the goal in the Switzerland game right

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Yeah it was incidental but to me the ball clearly changes direction.

I think if it doesn't hit the hand it probably does land more favorably in the defenders advantage.

One of those things where you can argue if it's in the spirit of VAR but I'll take that in order to get the goal in the Switzerland game right

Agree. We can argue that this is what VAR had become. They put a tool in to correct 'obvious' mistake but slow it down to judge fine lines.

I mean that's never handball, did they actually rule the touching of the ball took it further away from the defender 40 yards away from goal?

[M*A*S*H 4077]

I think the ref in the France - Austria match has had a pretty wretched game. Lots of bizarre yellow cards and missing corner kicks and instead calling goal kicks (one which led to the France goal).

N’Golo Kante has been all over the pitch for France, still got it

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Mbappe is a bloody mess.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

France with some of the worst time wasting seen in the sport! The hell was that Mbappe!

[lazypucker]

I thought France was touted as the favorite to win the whole thing, but they have to limp to a win against Austria?

[devo22]

Originally Posted by M*A*S*H 4077

I think the ref in the France - Austria match has had a pretty wretched game. Lots of bizarre yellow cards and missing corner kicks and instead calling goal kicks (one which led to the France goal).

unless my lip reading fails me, Sabitzer clearly told him "you're ####" in German just now

Mbappe just constantly pisses me off with his antics. I guess being teammates with Neymar for so many years just rubs off.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Pretty sure Didier Deschamps is French for Gareth Southgate.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

I hope UEFA gives the French team a pretty hefty fine and bans the physio who sent Mbappe back on the pitch from the touch line the rest of the tournament. You can’t mess around with head injuries and I feel those antics are detrimental to sport and pretty disgusting and disrespectful to those who are trying to advocate for better health and head injury/concussion prevention.

[devo22]

whole thing was on the ref though. France wanted to change and he just ignored it?! That's why they sent on Mbappe to lay down. Just a complete mess all around.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Yeah and he should’ve let them do the sub and never restarted play when Mbappe came off the first time, but you still can’t mess around with head injuries like that