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start unfurling from Munich to Berlin today we bring you a special preview show talking up the teams that could be uber ales Germany England Spain France and Italy maybe the contenders for the continental crown in this totally the euros preview special.
Unclaublich unclaublich das Listener it's not a moment to lose we only got 10 days from the opening of euro 2024 thank goodness you've joined us just in time to preview who's on our panel today for preview number one well we've got Daniel story up on the big screen right Daniel hello James here in the studio there's Julian LaRons Alvaro Romeo Olehemis and for a limited time only James Horn Castle good eye later on we got Seb Stafford Blore talking to him Germany a bit more Michele Jonsmer
on those Netherlands fellows and also Jose Delgado who's going to be briefing us on Portugal because they sound like a lot of fun frankly hmm everything sounds like a lot of fun for a tournament eh what you can think about is just the raw delights ahead eh James
yes even in Germany yeah yeah for sure all right so many teams so many contenders Alvaro you feeling confident I am yeah but I think that there's going to be a super open tournament really one yeah because I was checking the the final ending of euro 2021 and four of the last seven games in the
Dinedro and for the last time in 20 years there is no World Cup champion defending champion playing the euro so I don't think that apart from France or the half-killion there is not such a thing that I will say is overwhelmed well mainly in favor it and there is another narrative that maybe it's interesting the fact that there will be a ball on door fight here between Mbappe, Bellingham and Vinicius this summer and depending on how well they do in their respective tournaments maybe the
ball on door winner is combinado to an international tournament right we're going to be keeping an account on how many times you say ball on door today Alvaro but you mentioned the final of euro 2020 played in brackets 2021 let's start with the end of the game this is totally at the euros from
the athletic that's right this is not the final of the last European champion italy crowned European champions how did they follow that James Horn Castle by missing out on the World Cup all together and then losing their manager to Saudi Arabia now who they are at a brand new euros with Luchana
Spaletti in charge how's he getting on James well it's too early to judge he hasn't been in the job a year and so given the international calendar where you qualify a team between September and December and then nothing happens for three months and then nothing happens for another couple of
months you know he is still working things out with this national team working out which system to play they played with a back three in the March internationals over in the United States and so you look at the squad that he's called up I think there are 11 defenders and wingbacks so it
would indicate that he is minded to at least have the flexibility to play with a back three but already in the last week they've lost centerbacks yeah a chair to be their most experienced center back is Keelian Imbuncci no longer there will miss the tournament because he's on the concertary
Georgia-Skalvini youngest player in the squad a place center back Tories ACL in the final game of the city as season so it's a work in progress Jimperol all right have they those sorted out their problems at the other end of the field goal scoring such an issue for Italy in the qualifying
with the great form that's come back as in yeah although he was dropped for the March internationals Spaletti wanted to get a reaction out of him Spaletti left the impression that there were some players whose attitude he didn't like he thought that they were in the international camp a more
interested winning call of duty than the euros and that they were always on their phones on the massage tables and that sort of thing so he left Schemacher out of those March friendlies Schemacher responded to that by scoring practically in every game was excellent in Atholantes
run to winning their first European trophy scored in every knockout stage game apart from the final which was Leucman's final and so he's made this case to be the number nine for the nationality the euros even though in March because Ritegi scored in both games you know if you
go back to then feeling was okay it's Ritegi's shirt to lose Ritegi the player who was scouting in Argentina was playing in Argentina when Mancini first called him up didn't speak a word of Italian and yet you know has shown himself to have a very prolific record at international level on a
very small sample size of games you have four goals in six caps I think but you know I mean you talk about Italy's problems scoring goals at front james you could say that's been a problem for the last 12 years and yet it didn't stop them reaching the final in 2012 even though they had
baller telly in Casano in euros 2016 when they were scraping the barrel and had a grati on a baller and the ed air they were probably the best team in that tournament their performance against Spain in Paris was astonishing on the content and then with Mancini last last time around it was
immobile at front or belotti and yet they still not only reached the final but they won the tournament so right and with those goalscores how did they do at the last 12 years yeah no but the point james is that it's very easy to say I don't see a inzaggy or a thorium knee or a del piedo and yes you
don't see strikers that caliber but it hasn't stopped it actually been really successful in european championships in this century because final in 2000 which they lost but they got to the final final 2012 which they lost but they got to you know they should have gone all the way in 2016
even though it's supposedly the worst Italy squad in decades and in 2021 they went all the way and won it and won it but I'd have to raise that mention the World Cup it was just to say which kind of Italy do you think we're going to be seeing this time well as I mentioned they have this better than expected track record in the euros this century it's almost like become more of their tournament than the World Cup has just because they haven't qualified for the World Cup since Brazil
I think it's very early for Spiletti I don't doubt that in a fortnight leading up to the tournament he can really drill this team and accelerate the implementation of his ideas and style and all that sort of thing but you know even if there were to go all the way and reach the final in Berlin on
July 1415 whenever it is he still won't have been in the job for a year well he will be judged like a guy who's been in the job for four years but I think at the front of everyone's minds when they're thinking about Italy is this guy has had what eight games in charge yeah which is not a lot
no eight games five wins two draws with the with Ukraine and just one defeat which of course came to England back to back defeats in the qualifying against England should there be a question over the keeper do you think Donoruma still sure of his place any chance of I mean that was the first
big decision that Spiletti had to make when he took over from from Mancini it was they played North Macedonia North Macedonia who the team responsible for Italy not going to the World Cup in 2018 they beat them in the playoff semi-final in Palermo and they got a point in Spiletti's first
game with a free kick late that Donoruma kind of flapped out and so immediately Spiletti was told you need to drop in play Vicario because Italy are playing Ukraine at San Siro where Donoruma's hated because he walked out when they see Melanthico and joined PSG and he stood by Donoruma and
Donoruma delivered in that game and Vicario went out and celebrated with him in the 90th minute Donoruma is the captain of the national team Jules yeah I agree there's some mistake that we keep seeing especially on set PCs and especially on corners where despite his size seems to be quite
reluctant to come up for the ball which is something that might be an issue here in this competition but overall on his line and over seven games which is what you need for a euro to go all the way like he did in 2021 I think there's there's enough talent in him to carry this team for sure
I mean I bet it's you people forget he was the player of the tournament are you a 2021 and you know you can you can quibble at how they came to that decision but in the shootout against England at Wembley and also in the shootout against Spain
in the semi-final you know he he came up big so you know I think the issues for Italy elsewhere case isn't not been the same player that he showed in those two games against Austria and Spain at the euros he's had a big injury in in between the midfield is completely different and the
midfield was the big difference for Italy with Verati and Giugigno Verati is playing in Qatar even knows 31 spinatole was more of an X factor than any of the players because he would overlap on the left hand side within senior it meant they drew so many attacking players to that defensive
play so that side that case was always one V1 on the right spinatole is not there so there are bigger issues than the number nine and the goalkeeper for Italy that's there that's there that's there that would be my argument fair enough fair enough do you know there are four Italian managers
are they the euros now listen four mentioned that yeah very nice that's an eight and eight all the managers there Italians Italy in a group of course with Spain Croatia and Albania a little bit of precedence there alvaro with with with Spain and Italy knocked out by the
Italians in the last one victorious against them in 2012 how how a Spain looking what kind of Spain are we heading towards I think that Spain is a rather reliable team they've been like this for a while now they qualify for every tournament since 1992 which is I think that only only Germany
Europe has such a record they have lost in 90 minutes in the last three major tournaments when they were eliminated they lost in a penalty suit out in Russia against Italy and then against Morocco so that's why I was so infuriating for me that Luis de la Fuente did a call Lucas Vazquez for the
euros because I think that in a penalty suit out here good a happy in a very good tool because he's not in the squad I believe that Spain is in I think with the same identity that they had four five years ago I'm in the style leading the possession rankings of the qualifiers also the passinacuras
and rankings in that way Spain is very very recognizable as well we've had a manager of the club Luis de la Fuente and mandat let me give you a little bit of a human profile he considers himself proud of being a spanish catholic and a bull fighting lover okay so this is Luis de la
Fuente a rather traditionalist man so don't expect him hosting a twitch show during the euro as Luis Enrique did during the World Cup basically before the games he was having a conversation with his followers online Luis de la Fuente is not a man like this but on the other hand I think
that during World Cup 2021 the Luis Enrique Spain was and the players were very inhibited because they have too much or too many tactical instructions to the point that I remember against Morocco just la port sending a long ball the ball went out and automatically he turned
back and he applauded just to the event to Luis Enrique because Spain wasn't doing those things but at the end they became very predictable with the the La Fuente spain is a little bit faster if they have to send the long ball they will do it and I will say that in a way they are slightly
more orthodox than they were with Luis Enrique in the sense that they are doing what you would consider the basics is lightly better they defend better if they have to play in a certain way different deeper they will do it with Luis Enrique there was no plan B really with the
La Fuente I think that the team is a little bit more flexible okay some exciting young players in there like some Nika Williams and Levin Yamal also Pao Cabrassi yeah right maybe this time we will end up marking him back let's see I will I will love that because that would mean that
finally they will have a proper encounter right yeah because I think that he has a chance to play in fact Luis De La Fuente may put together in the same lineup Pedri Nika Williams Cabrassi and Lamin Yamal and that will be playing with four players who are under 22
two of them will be 17 Lamin Yamal as soon as he plays one minute in this Euro he is one of the youngest ever player to play in the Euro right so this is Spain right now the mix of youth and experience and how De La Fuente blends that is going to be very important okay we decided they like
the Spainer before but with the likes of Williams Yamal it does sound quite an exciting attacking a little bit more speed to them than there was before and then you got Rodri they never loses again famously and accept once or twice with with with he not in the Scotland they they take up finals
is the last game kiloost which is very annoying because kiloost again finally literally before the Euros yeah but I think that you know that mix is going to be very important I agree with you there are some exciting players Yamal and Nika Williams they are going to be creative and fun to watch
and I'm not that negative about the Spain because I think that there are two very good players per line and the goalkeeper has clinched the Zamora Trophy in La Liga which is the trophy to the best goalkeeper on one I see one so you're not negative because there are so many kind of
bass players that's right there's this one I see one Niko Williams La Port will play yeah but I don't know if he will play really and next to him the guy from the rest of the day Roman Le Normand well that's French okay well yeah but it plays in the bass country so claiming Niko Williams
not very very very no actually can start as well well Alex Cromaldo will he get to play I think I will tell you 99% yes okay because the other the other left back is Cucurella what are you not positive about then about this team the bullfighting that that if the which the
La Port could have said something about bullfighting that would have been incredible but he says something in favor of bullfighting but anyway this is my message here but I wouldn't be positive about the fact that we don't have any biggest star in an influential position to wing-ends because
Rodri in my opinion is probably the best holding midfielder in the world right now but up front spend us in half a player of that caliber is to early still for the Minja Mal for Niko Williams and when he comes to the number nine is Morata or José Luis so we are not exactly spoiled because
Morata had a bad ending of the season and José Luis has been really good for Real Madrid but he still belongs to Espanol because he's on loan at Real Madrid so that tells you a little bit what the story of this player has been okay but contenders right a lot of optimism is there in Spain
the thing is that I don't think that playing against Spain is easy it's not an easy experience because normally they take the ball off you then they've got good wingers who put many crosses in the box and on top of that they've got a very set of the style that has been with them for 16 17
years and they perform it quite well as he said before in the qualification they were the leaders in possession and normally they tend to win more games than they lose that's for sure so to eliminate them it's not going to be easy okay the group then Spain, Italy, Croatia and Albania
the top two automatically goes through then four of the third place teams from the six groups so four at a six third place sides will also make it through jewels then maybe the weakest link in Spain is the La Fuente in the end because for Spaletti we can mention the lack of experience as
an international coach, international level but at least a club level he's got plenty the La Fuente has neither of the two and you can have the best squad in the world you can have top players if as a manager on the bench you're not really sure how to handle pressure, match scenario, a lot of
things then maybe that's where there could be a problem for Spain and maybe to Italy to a certain point but compared to you know even just Southgate and Decian for the sake of it because we're going to talk about England and France after but we've been there before in those kind of tournaments it's not the case for Spaletti in the La Fuente. Okay Daniel who do you think from this group?
Albania. I think Spain will probably win the group. I understand the issues about about goal scoring with Spain but the reality is that exactly the same as two of their other likely rivals for the group so I think so much in the knockout stages is obviously going to depend on Marata's ability to finish chances. I can't believe he's still only 31. He's coming out of her I know he's coming off the back of his joint most prolific lead season of his career
which seems very strange. He only scored 15 but that's a peak from Marata. If he fires and leads the team as captain then yeah they can go deep but the problem with this group is whoever finishes second is likely to play England in a quarter final and that's a huge game. Well the thing with Alvaro Morata is that he's in record with Spain is really good as well. If you look at it the numbers the rating the scoring rating with the national side is really
good. He's been performing for Spain we can say that and Spain is also I don't know if this counts or not but they won the nation's league a year ago and they were in the same tournament with Croatia, Italy and the Netherlands. You know as I said before there is a certain reliability about them they don't have massive stars to win against for you but on the other hand
they know what they are doing believe me. I think the kind of overarching theme of this tournament because I don't think there is a standout candidate and even including France is that I think those quarter final on was game they're going to be decided by one or two moments just toss up matches just exactly the same as Quattaro was quite frankly. All right well let's talk next up about what England are capable of that these euros.
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Visit directtv.com requires high-speed internet connected Gemini device and separate paid subscription to watch Netflix on direct TV terms and restrictions apply. This is the totally thought-bush out at the euros with James Richardson. Daniel was mentioning penalties such a key thing in recent tolerance we heard Wembley had finished for England that was Harry Kane against France. What's it? I can't remember against France. So good. Quarter finals in Qatar. Quarter finals.
It was the quarter finals. It's not bad quarter finals. It's not but you know there have been that progression every tournament with Gareth Southgate semi-finals of the World Cup against Croatia taking them a extra time and then taking it all the way to penalties against Italy and Wembley in 2021 and then World Cup. I don't know Daniel's story. Where do you see England coming into this tournament under Gareth Southgate?
I think they're in a very strange position in that my personal view is that they are weaker than they were in Qatar and yet they have the top scorer in the Bundesliga by a mile and their record goal scorer they have the best player voted in Spain and the best player voted in in the Premier League 2. So how are they worse? They're weaker than we think. Because I think the defence is a mess. I think it's a mess in terms of availability. How are you going to get it isn't fit? Luke Shaw isn't fit.
Reeves James hasn't gone because he isn't fit. Karl Walker will definitely play right back but I have to do so much more than that. John Stones I don't think he's fully fit. He was brought back in for the FA Cup final and it didn't work out. I think there are so many question marks.
If England win this tournament forget Foden, Belly Minkane, Declan Rice will be playing with the tournament because he has so much work to do in that midfield and now we know he's probably going to be paired with someone either who isn't ideal for that role in Connagaliga or is incredibly young in Cobb E minor or Adam Warton. Who would your 11 be? I think it would be as close as you can to the last tournament. I don't want too much change.
I think I would start with Pickford, Walker, McGuire and Stones, If fit, Shaw, If fit. If it's not going to be sure I think it will probably be here in Trippie or Plain Leftback which seems incredible given all that stuff about the depth of England fullbacks in the last couple of years.
I would start Cobb E minor alongside Declan Rice because I think it would allow Saka, Belly Minkane and Foden to stay high at the pitch behind Kane and it will be a case of Foden and Bellingham both drifting left and hoping to avoid what we've seen in recent friendlies which is sort of them getting in each other's way.
The idea when they both go out there is that you create that kind of real Madrid situation with Videan Bellingham where you're doubling up on a fullback but actually England get a little bit messy in that area. The passes become a little bit predictable and the switch out to Saka doesn't happen often enough but yeah it's Declan Rice's team I honestly believe that if they're going to go deep into competition I think that we find in the groups and then there's going to be a
series of huge games from quarter finals onwards probably Spain, France and a another or Spain and Italy, France and another and those games are going to be incredibly tight and England are going to have to be able to cope with being counted out and that's going to be Rice doing that. Good Lord Slovenia, Denmark and Serbia, the other teams in the group they've got a friendly coming up this Monday night so probably happened by the time you hear this.
Listen that's against Bosnia to St. James's Park. So we'll be interested to see how Gara Sathaket uses that. What role then for Cold Palmer do you think the revelation of this last Premier League season Daniel? I think he is the first attacking option off the bench simply because unlike other nations, Harry Kane isn't going to be withdrawn.
There's a kind of light for light striker and I don't think Kane works as well in a front two so I don't think they'll bring on Watkins for example with Kane so it will be Cold Palmer on for one of Foden or Bakaio Sacka is the attacking change he can play in any of those roles
he can be that you know Gara Sathaket likes to talk about starters and finishes rather than starters and substitutes he thinks Cold Palmer is a player who can impact the game right the way through but you can't get everybody in the same team and you would probably have to drop
one of Foden or belling him to get him in that team which is not going to happen so yeah I think he is the the first cab off the rank the interesting thing is whether Southgate goes for the dependables in in Jack Reelish as one of his game changes he's done that
repeatedly off the bench he's already left out Marcus Rashford who is one of those right him Sterling was one of those who's been discarded as well so it does feel like a new England I've sounded a bit negative there but it feels like an England in transition with the young players
coming through but that is happening at the same time where the expectation around Southgate himself means I think people are saying well you have to win this tournament even though when you actually look at the strength of the team in the strength of the defence I don't think it's the best squad
in other countries how are England viewed as one of the absolute favorites yeah yeah certainly in France as well because of the result that you mentioned finally some of the final quarter finals in the last three tournament is important because if I agree with Dianne on some of the defensive issues they've also been being improvement individually with a lot of those players. Syka is a better player than than in Katar it in month ago. Rice is a better player,
Bellingham is a better player. You've got Cobie Mino, is a better player for the Nizabella player. You can even look at Antoni Gordon, is a better player so I think there's also been that kind of improvement individually the problem for me is Southgate and has always been Southgate and we always be Southgate so this is where for me the limit is me even more
maybe than the defensive issues and struggles. I think in Spain they are considered one of the favorites they've got all the elements to win a tournament they've got the greatest quarter Bellingham, field fold and players of the year in Spain and England respectively
they have negotiated the group stage with these so well I mean I remember they were out of two to two thousand eight so there was a time when it wasn't even that England was going to be in an international tournament they also missed the World Cup two thousand sorry World Cup 1994.
Now they are there you know that they are very reliable as well but I don't know if you agree with this guys but it's the premier league peak years right now but every time England has been eliminated from a major tournament from 2018 onwards I never had the feeling that the best
team had been eliminated you know what I mean they are very good but they haven't left the proper print in the tournaments yet they've been there up there just play in important games but I don't know I think that when they got eliminated I can't go further study it I thought that there were better teams and then. I'm possibly because of the limitation that
Jules mentioned change where you stand on this. Well in Italy they are revered still and you know you look at what happened post-wembley England have beaten Italy twice you know Daniel referenced it earlier they beat them in Naples they hadn't beaten Italy on home saw for decades
and then at Wembley more recently this season they showed that they could up the tempo in a way that at that moment you know it was only Spaletti's third game the team Italy weren't ready for it but I share the same reservations as Jules you know I think
ultimately Southgate has had more success than any England national team coach than Sir Al Framese and some of that is down to him the environment the culture that he's been able to build into the national team setup how different it was for example when there was the
other gold in generation when all the other players didn't really seem to like each other but I do think he's limited tactically and I think that that came to the fore in that final in 2021 when Italy could not believe that he did not go to his bench earlier considering
the talent they had on that bench and you could say that belling and sack agreement that sort of thing were at different stages they career they were younger and that sort of thing but I think there was a feeling on the Italy bench it's like he could kill us if he goes for these guys and he didn't
until it's too late and so yeah to lose a final at home in which you take the leading with everything that the atmosphere that game was so hostile to anyone who was not English and to lose it I mean that's unless they win this tournament that will echo
in the history it's like they haven't been able to understand what what to do when they get the one-neil advantage I think that this has been one of the England's main problems the fact that when they were one-neil leading the game they didn't go for the second and that has costed them
Daniel I think one interesting factor that has maybe been slightly overlooked in England is England played all of that tournament other than the Ukraine game in the last year's at Wembley and that brought with it particularly on the day of the final this kind of
fervent like thick atmosphere around the country around the game itself it felt everything felt incredibly on edge one that the great things that South Git has done is that in the past England squads were really poor travellers all of the cleaks within the squad all of the fractures within
the team dynamic seemed to be amplified when they went away from home I think that's changed now you know we mentioned the winning Naples there does seem to be a stealing us to England away from home which when now playing a complete tournament away from Wembley I think that will help them I think
there'll be a dynamic it also really helps that there are two best players at the moment Harry Kane and Drew Bellingham have you know are fairly at home in Germany so there is a comfort to that and yeah I just think that I think they will be happier playing these games in
Germany than actually bizarrely than they were playing some of those games at Wembley that group stage in year in year 2020 was like a fee bar a fee bar atmosphere within supporters kind of booing the team because they were slow starting and you'll see that again in the pre-tournament
friendly to England don't play very well there'll be groans in the crowd I actually think they'll be pretty pleased to get to Germany interesting all right that's England next up and we're talking about the team that very nearly brought home the World Cup trophy last December France
you're listening to Totten at the Euros with James Richardson from the athletic should we play in the penalties from the not playing in the penalty from the World Cup okay again it was it was it was I mean just because penalties so so
dominant yeah such a big theme no it's not a dominant it is let's talk about France Jules heart-breaking Qatar yeah losing the biggest game of all on penalties yeah now you're back in Germany where oh wait you also lost to World Cup on penalties that's right last time yeah but what a squad you've
brought to this tournament yeah against Italy as well that remember in Rotterdam in 2000 oh yeah they got them go I'm all for the Golden Gold to come back that's pretty nice would you need it you never know we might okay what a squad you've brought along yes is it the best squad of the tournament
I mean that's been the narrative before every tournament three last three or four two no two old notes best squad you've opened the 2014 Google Doc from Italy can't score yeah okay it is the best squad I mean me Portugal in terms of depth
yeah I have something quite similar or in every line I mean I've already mentioned you know two or three Spanish players as well that but yeah it's it is a really good squad there's been a few injuries before so just before you go like a few doubts in Mike manual didn't play the end of
the season with Kingsley Common as well but they seem to be all there all happy all fit now so it's just down to the preparation and then getting into it what about the return of the Golden Candy nobody saw that coming well you're your rendition of that song yeah we could
play the real song like the way the plays the plays seem better than I do but that was obviously the song in 2018 you know he's more he beats Leo Messi stops Leo Messi Valera what kind of condition is he in it looks great so now they've been a week at Clafontein a week tomorrow
a week tomorrow and when we record the show and to be fair it's look great I know he's 32 and it's obviously a season in Saudi Arabia which is not the same although he's been injury free he's played 42 games I think so far this season and again we don't know we we can see my training doing well
until we saw him in we see him in games and proper games not just the friendly that are going to come that you know are two friendly that are pretty pointless I think in terms of a position we won't know until that first game against Austria and then the Dutch especially in the second game so we see
but he's happy to be there everybody's happy to to have him there they shan't kept that one quiet because we've been briefed on who was going to be there etc etc and we all kind of rode the same things but the one name they kept private and secret was in Golokante coming back so nobody saw that one coming and I guess he's also the experience and we go back to experience which I think is something very big you can have through a minion can I have in gap playing in midfield
with Griezmann can't it brings you something else he's been there many many times obviously Griezmann who was such a force at the world cup in Qatar and then up top you got him back as well with players like that you could have chance in any game jewels where are the issues though for France where are the concerns I don't know I look we could look you know we did it with England you could look at the starting eleven and I don't see sincerely honestly with all my modesty as you
know I don't see any weakestling there maybe a right back whether it's Kunde Paver or close to plays but in the other position we are pretty loaded and it sounds bad I know it sounds bad it's true so why might you not win because we're going to take this for granted as we do often 2021 or 2020 to give it it's official title you got knocked out by Switzerland and again it was a similarly loaded team so yeah yeah and we were three one up with 10 minutes to go
and the player thought this is it we are in the quarter finals they're already starting thinking about the quarter finals where we would be staying how the family would get there because it was still a a covid you know euros almost and I think they took the out of the ball for 10 minutes and Switzerland scored two goals he went to penalties and then yeah in the penalty shoot out the end summer was better than Hugo Lioris so it was down to that but really there was in the 80
minutes that they played there was no magic and Switzerland went no much to them so this is where I feel a little bit is that kind of attitude coming back but if you look out front three of them belly to ram and and back here with the season that they've had it's pretty great in midfield if Conte is really at the level that we hope he is we him and whoever plays with Griezmann and Conte the third one Habio Camarvinger Tremeni whoever is still pretty impressive
and defensively Saliba Konate Konate up a mecano are the two question marks that people have because they haven't played well and haven't played merch in the end second half of the season but really it's a really good team so I there was a very interesting debate last week because we saw
Griezmann in the press conference and he said we know what we have to do to go find this competition is to be very good defensively so then we go back to the old debate and we cannot this debate we start get an England as well because they show double double the next day when we asked him the question he said yeah you win these tournaments by being the best in defensively this is where you win hence the reserve that Daniel has on England which are completely
understand well maybe you can have yeah with Italy with the injuries maybe you can have with Spain if it's La Port who plays Saudi Arabia or L'Honorma or even Cubassia 17 and L'Honorma whoever plays and I think both Griezmann and Deshon are right the problem is that raises is that the players that
France have in this course should not already be talking and thinking about how strong defensively we would be which would be very pragmatic we would be very happy to let the ball to the opposition even Austria even Poland and then hit them on the counter and just be very solid defensively like in
2018 for example and I think there's a lot of people in front who know really to happy with this kind of style of play and mindset just very quickly how important is Camabinga here because honestly I don't think that French fans expected to be that do that this stage but you know he's running the show in Spain in many games as well how important is he now is he gonna play with Kanté and Trameni and Rabil?
No so Griezmann and Kanté would be the two sons to start and then the third man in the three midfielders would be either Camabinga Rabil or Trameni one of the three depending on fitness depending on the opposition maybe I think
Camabinga will come off the bench more than start because Rabil I think he's ahead of him in the picking order and Trameni probably as well so we see but he was a wonder kid in France when he made his debut around when he was 16 so people love him and I think he's a big part of that squad maybe not as a starter Daniel?
I was going yeah I mean George mentions his defence if obviously he conceded twice in each of the last three games against Greece and Germany home defeat which felt maybe more significant for Germany than France but still and then kind of scratchy friendly win over Chile 3-2 is there different centre-back combinations in each time Premier League watches would say it would be Celebra and one more but is that nailed on?
Yeah the nail is on Upa Mechano and Konate which again I think a lot of people struggle a little bit with they show love them both together he thinks they're the best pair they complement each other the best and as he said in the March International break there's something about
Celebra that is just not completely fully convinced with or fully happy with which I struggle a little bit to understand and agree with but I think Konate and Upa Mechano will start against Austria and then if things don't go well there because like you said that has been a
bit of a recurring problem that and again if you want to win the euros by being strong defensively you can't concede to goals every game it's not possible so we'll have to see I think Celebra could come into the team very quickly if Upa Mechano and Konate are a bit wobbly in that first game
well the other teams in the group are Poland and Raffa and Ex Austria and a little cycle the Netherlands so of course you faced in qualifying with a couple of big wins indeed the braces in both for Killian and Bappi how are the Dutch shaping up for this euros and a repeat encounter with France so let's find out with our old friend Michele Jungsberg The buzz in the country around this tournament has not really been there yet I think everyone is still just very much in weight and
sea mode and I think the Dutch are kind of on probably finishing second in that group France is the obvious favorite overall it's I mean it's it's not that controversial of a squad and that's Ronald Kumann as a coach for you he trusts the players that he knows well that he's worked with before
Genevine Alderman prime example of that type of player but also Memphis De Pai who's who's hardly played this season compared to some of the competition and he thrives as a manager on occasions rather than being really great as a as a club coach I would say he has the respect of his
of his team has to respect from the media there's been quite a bit of surprise that a player like Matsunu played a Champions League final just now or Joshua Azzerk say who's made a big impression at Bologna how they have been
kept out of the squad I mean all of the defensive players and many in other positions as well are playing for really good teams and can really make an impact and the only real problem position is probably the forward position where at the moment there's a bit of a of a draw of
really really impact for talent the player like Jeremy Frimpong has been basically frozen out of the squad for a long long time and there was even the fright within the Netherlands that he would actually pick England because I
think he's eligible to play for he was eligible to play for England as well but Frimpong is an interesting player as is Saby Simons in that in that sense like you've got a few players that have done really well in the Bundesliga that are not seen as like fully established stars but that have
had some real impactful moments for their clubs in an attacking sense and that's going to be the really interesting thing this summer like can can those type of players galvanize this there's otherwise somewhat pedestrian yet solid Dutch national team Michael Jungsmer
the France looking forward to facing the Netherlands again yeah I think so because they're always good games and I think there was you mentioned yeah in qualifiers and the two-killings braces but also we play them internationally before where we lost in Amsterdam I think it was so it's not
always straightforward and you know how much I love the Dutch guy on that bench and how great I think is so there's just something usually that happens with Dishon this team where when the competition starts when we go back to those
friendly against Chile and against Germany and the game before that against Greece where they get that ruthlessness back on and yeah this team is maybe not as experienced as the one in 2018 for example because there's no lures there's no Pogba there's no matriety those kind of guys have gone
as you always till days really the last of the Mohican still in that squad but you can explain them to turn something on and I think the Austrae game is going to be tough to start with but then it's all on that Dutch game in the second game James you're about to leave us what do you think
about France come on I think they're very good talented sides James I think they'll no doubt be able to draw upon all of those Paris ball and bread players 12 I think I have 25 wow could have a a full Paris team yeah by the way can I say something about
25 plays or 26 plays in your squad please allow 26 right there's three good keepers that's 23 if you want a training to play an 11 aside game to get ready for a game that leaves you one play out so for all the people who say why did they only call 25
or not 26 when you can go up to 26 the reason is very often that then he leaves you the perfect number for three goalkeepers and then 11 V 11 in your outfield players to be able to play and also it's 22 outfield players for your drills at training this is yet another uneven number at 23
there you go James there you go I every day is a school there certainly is well listen classes over for you many thanks for being with us today we're going to be speaking to you during the euros from Germany so I'm looking forward to that have a great trip out there
magnificent James Horn Castle next up hey let's talk about some other people are going to be in Germany Germany this is the totally football show at the euros from the athletic opening game of the tournament sees Germany taking on Scotland Germany of course
three time European champions they've got Hungary and Switzerland alongside the scots in their group they are the home side to fill us in on their prospects his Seb Stafford Bluhr if you'd gone back six months it was very negative almost to the point of
disinterest people were greatly disillusioned with last couple of years of tournament results and they're kind of the succession of humiliations and also some of the political issues however the international break back in the spring against Netherlands and France when Germany 91 both games but
played with the real verb played with a kind of a erby dutchland vibe it was really the first time that I think the German public had seen it the team acquire some of Nugelsmann's characteristics and I think also like it's it's working them up to some of
the potential on the side flaring vets in Germain, the Ciala Alexander Pavlovich there's some real interest around that Tony Cruz coming back from from a time and I wouldn't quite call it you for it this is not 2006 yet but it's optimistic and people are
people are hopeful of something you know maybe a course final semi-final run and some interesting games and you know suddenly something to restore a little bit of national ego I think there's been about three months of surprises I think the big one is probably Maxi Mitalstad from Stuttgart who
now looks certain to play the left-back role just because he's such a good fit for for Nugelsmann's system everyone knows Matt's Hummels is not included and that was because in Nugelsmann's opinion Hummels was unlikely to start and Hummels who's not starting isn't necessarily going to be great for
squad atmosphere that's Nugelsmann's perspective no Leon Gerretzka a little bit of a surprise because I think Gerretzka had quite a good end to the season he was pretty good in their last few Champions League games certainly against Röhm und Dread
Nugelsmann I mean it is a little bit of a new era but Nugelsmann has some bad results under his belt as well the last game they played of any real tension even though it was outside of competition was against Turkey and Berlin which is because of the demographics of Germany and you know I
pretty fierce it's played under sort of quasi tournament conditions got well beaten Missiola, Vertz and most likely I have it so players of Force 9 that little triumvir at the top of the pitch is producing really interesting tactical results and there's a kind of originality to the way those those players play together which I think a lot of the teams who they face will have trouble with and and as long as you carry a punch in the European Championship I think you can get away with some flaws.
What an open earth it's going to be a Germany against Scotland Daniel you're
looking forward to that? Yeah I am I think the really interesting thing about Germany is I was looking a couple of months ago at kind of uh so odds on top goal score for each country a Nicholas Falkrug was the clear favorite for Germany and Kajavits was like way out at like eight or nine to one and then have it started scoring for Arsenal Falkrug stopped scoring so much for Dortmund or those still very effective and that's can basically completely flip and Havitz is now the favorite to be
top Germany goal scorer. It does feel like he's going to have to have a very very good tournament if Germany are going to go deep because I know they have that counter attacking threat with you know with Sane and Ginalbri and Missiola but you do need someone to finish off those moves
that that felt like the issue at previous tournaments and yeah I think Havitz is going to play as that central striker then it's going to be a really fluid interesting front three I think that we really watchable but certainly we're watchful under Nogers moment they seem to get it together a bit those friendly victories against France and Netherlands and March I think for me the key is Tony Cross and he's returned to this team obviously
he makes a massive difference. Missiola and Verts are super talented and super good and they will be for the next 15 years there's no problem whoever plays as a nine probably Cai Havitz okay I think for me the key is Tony Cross with the ball without the ball I think for him to come back in that
team when he did as well in March only a few weeks before the the euros changed everything changed the whole dynamic for Nogersman himself for for the whole team to have someone like him and Nada he's won the championship Nada he's announced a retirement as well after this is his last
ever few games to a three for sure what two at least then if they through he might be rested for the third one and then after that who knows how many more but for me Cross is not just the most important player in that team but also the fact that he returns has changed the whole
dynamic. Shout out the perfect finale to exactly really headbutting some of the kind of wanting to win do you see what I mean yeah not really because we don't want Germany to win but we kind of do yeah there are a little bit of a Thin Edin Cidan vibes in 2006 we knew that
it was the end for him and he did a very good tournament up till that moment but yeah Germany has got a lot a lot of technical players the technical ability of their midfield is very impressive because he's not only Tony Cruz but Ilka Gundogan has been clearly clearly the
best player of Barcelona this season and he's still the best player or one of the best players in the world between the lines when he gets the ball he can play one one that's football one truth so I think that Germany will probably depend a lot on the technical ability
of termite fielders we are not going to see the Kimi Kuretska axis anymore because Kuretska is not in the squad so that plus the input that the Bayern Le Berkuss and players can put in Germany will be very interesting because Florian Verts, Andriets, even Taa I think that they are bringing something very positive to the team that Nagens man can benefit from. Excellent.
Sounds like there's going to be loads of teams who are going to be fun to watch Germany Spain were we're saying before France certainly sound like the they should be in England too amongst all of them though possibly the team who sound the easiest on the eye are this
Roberto Martinez Portugal side they're talent in their ranks but Cristiano Ronaldo, Leo, Bernardo Silva, Jaffa Felix, Diego Jota, Gonzalo Ramós it's crazy how many how many options Martinez has and they've you've received that used to be pretty stultified to watch
boy if they changed. Yeah and you didn't even mention Bruno Fernandez there is a kind of evidence of exactly what you're saying in that that chance creation from widen central areas is going to be phenomenal for Portugal and it's going to be everything because we're not going to expect Cristiano Ronaldo to do an awful lot of movement outside of where he wants to be in between the
frame of the goal. Yeah I think Portugal might win it that might kind of yeah I think I'd say no reason other than what we've talked about with managers with with Roberto Martinez's experience in international football he is a lovely man he is a kind of optimistic football manager both tactically and personality wise but there is a question mark about his kind of I don't know maybe stomach for the fight in those the biggest games that's going to be the question I think whether they can
whether Portugal can kind of win ugly as well as being beautiful on the edge of the penalty area. They did finish qualifying with a 100% record the only team to do so it is the best qualifying campaign that Portugal have ever had what do you think? Portugal win it is that crazy talk Alvaro?
No no it's not a crazy talk I think that they are going to be extra competitive maybe tells you a little bit about the short population of the country the fact that three players of the Portugal squad are playing in San Diego Arabia one of them being Cristiano Ronaldo
Q was always going to be there but maybe the pool of players they got is not as endless as in some other countries but still they got every possible asset really because they've got the experience the youth the technique Vitina we have in mentioned Vitina kiss games against well in the
Champions League this season happy and phenomenal and I would like to sing a loud one man Pepe 41 years old he's gonna be commanding that defense most likely it's incredible it is choose yeah yeah the only question mark really and as much as Alvaro Bertamartina's too is that with Belgium with
Grez Quartz it never did it either so things will have to change it will have to be better suddenly personally I think you would agree to that to lead this team all the way okay well let's get the view now in Portugal is which over the former Benfica goalkeeper José de Gado
first of all thank you so much for joining us today how is the mood in Lisbon ahead of these finals well after Portugal won the euros in 2016 the expectations are very very high and of course we have a good team and I can say that if we want to win the
euros it will be a disappointment but really and looking at the reality Portugal is between the four or five teams that can win the competition I think it's as good as as we are right now but for for the supporters you know the expectations are very high Christian Ronaldo be making his sick
appearance in a European championship is he going to be the big name again this summer what kind of form is he in after a season in Saudi or do you think other people now are taking the reins of this team well Christiano is a solution and is also a problem is a solution because
in a in Al-Nasser in Saudi Arabia in 51 games this scored 50 goals so for that he is a solution for sure is a problem because at this point of his career he doesn't defend as much as used to and the coach must prepare the team for this
circumcision the other 10 players the goalkeeper and the other nine have to work for him so far Christiano has paid in goals all this effort but it is it is it is what it is I think that he will be in the starting eleven and if you remember in the World Cup the best game of Portugal
he didn't play he it was Gonzalo Ramos from Paris Saint-Germain at the time at Panfica that was in the starting eleven and Portugal defeated Switzerland with many many many many goals and the best best game but I think that Christian will play at least the first games he will start in
in the in the eleven and the team must adapt to defend for him and that is always difficult because when you get to the big games if you play Germany or England or France everybody must attack and everybody must defend if you want to win and that may be a problem when we get there
but for sure you made a good season in Saudi Arabia from the individual point of view and he is physically fit so you will arrive and I'm sure you'll be the captain in the first game of Portugal against Czechia okay 10 goals in qualifying for Christiano Ronaldo still clearly got it
what do you think then we've got people here saying that they have Portugal favorites to win these euros do you agree what do you and what do you think beyond using Christiano or not is the biggest issue for Martinez Robert Martinez has 26 very good players and this time this is the
difference from the national team of Portugal from some years ago we could make one good team maybe one and a half and now we can make easily two great teams to play in the international international stage I think that the team if there is no injuries
for the first game will be you coach the from porto then in the defense cancel from Barcelona pep from porto Rubenbied from Man City and Nune Manvige from Paris and Germain then in front of the defenders Palighe from Fulham and in front of him Brun Fernandes from many United and Vitini from PSG
then Bernardo Silva from City Christiano from Alsnastra and a doubt in the left because we have three players that can play there they are Rafael Leon from AC Milan Jean-Felix from Barcelona and Jogue Jota from Liverpool so I think that it will be around this the the starting eleven and then we have for each position we have another good player another very good player so the problem will be not the players you know that when we we get to the competition like this at this time the players
have already 60 or 70 games in the legs and is also very important the way the team grows during the competition so let's let's see how it flows because I remember that in 2016 Portugal didn't win any of the three first games in the qualification and then it was it was always better and
better and better until the final against France so the physical condition is important the way the team grows during the competition is important we have the players let's see how Martinez deals with Christiano his position and the
tactic that will be around him and let's hope for for the better for Portugal we're going to be doing a second pretty shine a week's time listen to detailing some of the other teams and stories that are going to be unfolding in in Germany but let's just finish off them with with your pick
for champions come July 14th in Berlin Alvaro who do you think I'm going to be very boring here I'm going to go for France you don't think penalties have been involved in this one then whatever he does yeah okay Jules what about you England all the way guys
you're just saying that no I'm not I'm not I'm not so I'd get all the way finally and then he can then he can retire and leave the national team this is their year but it's really it's them I promise you it's them is their turn Daniel I probably think France but I've
touted Portugal now so I'll stick with them the kind of Christiano Ronaldo is inevitable factor all right excellent listen to hope you'll be joining us in a week's time then as we as a say follow up this with all the latest news just ahead of the big kickoff in Germany for now it's many many
thanks to Seb and Michele and James Horn Castle Jose and Alvaro and Jules and Daniel's story and Rachel and producer Charlie in the booth see you in a week's time for now from all of us here it's goodbye you've been listening to the totally football show part of the athletic podcast network discover bonus video content by searching for the totally football show on YouTube and see the very latest subscription offers at theathletic.com slash total for the athlete