Euro 2024, Day Two
Euro 2024, Day Two
Spain win big, Switzerland and Italy are good enough
Oh, thank god, teams are playing attacking football.
I really enjoyed the football today. All of the games we’ve seen at the tournament so far had a clear theme of lots of open spaces, and while that might not make the managers too happy, it’s been great to watch. That might change tomorrow, but let’s enjoy the good times while they last. Let’s get into it.
Don’t forget there’s still time to redeem the offer of 20% off a paid subscription for a year. The deal runs until the end of Sunday.
Hungary 0-2 Switzerland
As we expected, both teams played a sort of 3-4-3 shape that looked more like a back five at times. And as I hoped, that produced a really entertaining game. It felt like we got a lot of both sides being able to play straight through the middle before switching it out wide, where the space was. Entertaining stuff.
I’m already wondering if this is going to be a theme at the Euros: teams trying to play a higher line but, through fitness and lack of coaching time, lacking the coordinated press to make it work properly. Switzerland just sliced Hungary open in the first half time and again. The first goal is just abysmal from a defensive organisation perspective. Hungary are in a good shape, but they apply so little pressure that two passes that just pretty much go straight forward completely open the defence and get Kwadwo Duah straight through on goal. It’s so passive.
Hungary did have a period in the second half where they were getting more involved and causing problems. It did feel like in a fairly similar tactical matchup, it was about both teams getting their most talented players involved. Hungary only got Dominik Szoboszlai to really contribute to one big moment, the goal, while he otherwise looked adrift, while Switzerland got Granit Xhaka to dictate the game. Xhaka had the most passes of anyone on the pitch with 88, while ten players managed more than Szoboszlai (40). Yes, he was playing higher up the pitch, but he perhaps needed to drop deeper to get more involved at times.
The bookies have Switzerland at a 94-98% chance of qualifying for the knockout stage. One win really is enough to relax. Hungary are at 30-38%. Their next match is against Germany, which would obviously be a huge result, but winning against Scotland in the third game feels more realistic (even if it would make me sad). Scotland also play a similar shape, but if they continue to struggle with a mix of a high line and low intensity, Hungary could do something there.
Spain 3-0 Croatia
I wanted to know if Spain could be more dynamic and exciting if they started two genuine wingers. Luis de la Fuente started both Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal. Spain were very dynamic and exciting.