Opinion Piece: Will Euro 2020 live up to the expectations?

In the summer months, football fans as well as pundits always seek to find ways to fill up their time dues to the lack of football action.

After a totally unusual season; little or no time to actually charge or recharge your batteries; Europe’s top football players gather across the European landscape for an unusual European Championships. Postponed last year due to the pandemic and now held under almost unusual of circumstances with little or no fans presence at UEFA’s showpiece tournament for its member nations.

UEFA have faced a tough last few months especially with the club tournaments; from Champions League host issues to the proposed breakaway European Super League; a break from club football shenanigans is a welcome development.

For the Aleksander Ceferin led UEFA; this tournament has to live up to the hype and produce a spectacle for the entire football world to enjoy; nothing more would be acceptable from the watching public. However, for me I have my worries and my doubts on how much of a spectacle this would be. I strongly feel these footballers have had to put in so much within the last few months with very few enjoying a break of any kind. Fatigue may play a big role in the kind of competition we experience starting from the opening game on Friday.

Fatigue, tiredness and the physical exertions aside; for this tournament to produce the desired level of excitement and spectacle; some questions must be answered on the pitch.

Are Belgium ready?

The Red Devils over the last few years have carried the tag of dark horses; at this Euros that tag is no longer applicable for they have been the number one ranked team in the world for such a long time. The FIFA ranking love it or hate it; I probably will go with the latter just isn’t reflective enough of the state of football globally and just seems like someone’s way of keeping busy at FIFA Headquarters; that aside, this is Belgium’s big chance for their so called Golden generation to live up to the hype.

Talent wise, the Belgians are equal to many of the so called heavyweights; tournament experience; they also have it in abundance; trophy winning ability; their squad is filled with champions everywhere you look. So are Belgian able to harness all these qualities? Do they have the mentality to take that extra step to be crowned European Champions? This Euros needs a Belgian uprising and there is no better time than now for this Golden generation to finally fulfill it’s potential.

Can the Holders repeat?

Portugal won the European Championships in France with an unusual record; making it into the knockout rounds with three points and no win as one of the best placed 3rd placed teams. An Eder goal in extra time meant the Iberian nation were crowned champions of Europe at the expense of host; France. Cristiano Ronaldo remains the major goal threat of the Portuguese; however four years on; they have added goals from other areas of the pitch especially in midfield.

This time around, Bruno Fernandes is a major goal scoring option from midfield and his numbers continue  to be impressive with each passing day. Portugal, also have more options upfront with Andre Silva and Diogo Jota ready to deliver the goals as well; question marks for Portugal has to be their aging defense with Pepe and Jose Fonte expected to play a pivotal role and their participation in the competition’s group of death. If 2016’s triumph is anything to go by; Portugal might just navigate the competition the same way this time around.

Can England be taken seriously?

The Three Lions are on the match again; for all the attention and hype of the Premier League, the national team just can’t seem to match the success of the league with laurels at the International level. Every time I look at the English team’s squad list to this Euros; my first question is always where is the balance? The composition of Three Lions squad is very similar to that which Nigeria’s Super Eagles handler Gernot Rohr rolls out; a lack of balance is always so evident.

Every team needs to possess some shock elements; but Southgate went with the notion of trying to satisfy all stakeholders at the expense of picking a team that embraces all that epitomizes the true essence of English football. The manager has gone for aesthetic fits and football’s political correctness; this is why I believe the Three Lions will have another nearly competition.

Can the Young guns stake a claim?

This Euros would have a number of youngsters seeking to make an impression on the International stage. Now when we speak about youngsters; we have to exclude Kylian Mbappe as he is already established with a World Cup title and coming of age performance under his belt. So for this Euros; these are the youngsters to look out for:

• Phil Foden (Manchester City & England)
• Federico Chiesa (Juventus & Italy)
• Dejan Kulusevski (Juventus & Sweden)
• Jules Kounde (Sevilla & France)
• Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid & Portugal)

Which of the old guard is worthy?

The experienced campaigners on the European championship stage will be seeking a seat back at the table of Champions. Teams such as Italy, Germany, Spain and to some extent France are without an European Championship trophy for at least a decade; these teams would view this Euros as an opportunity to reclaim their much heralded position.

This French team for instance would keen to follow in the footsteps of the most successful Le Blues team in history; the World and European champions of 1998 and 2000; that would not only put this team in the history books but so also would it grant Didier Deschamps coaching immortality.

Germany are a confusing lot; at the back of your mind you don’t want to write them off but their last showing at the World Cup and Nations League series remains a reason to dampen expectations. Italy are duly a trophy since their exploits at the World Cup in 2006 and been finalist at the 2012 Euros and they look like one of the clear favourites this time around.

Roberto Mancini’s Italian side looks like the most balanced heading to this tournament; Spain on the other hand are one that I have strong doubts about; their squad just doesn’t excite me and that’s very unlike La Roja heading to any major tournament.

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