Topic: ⚽ UEFA Euro 2024 in Germany ⚽ - Qualifiers - page 234. (Read 46401 times)

God, we have to explain this again and over and over again? Guys DONT bet on friendlies, is imposible to know anything, you never know how much effort are putting the teams in the match, of is a coach decided to put only subs or prove something weird, because is a non sesnse or pointless match, so avoid it at all cost.

Indeed, agreed. Friendlies don't show the real strength of teams most of the time. Even if teams play with their main starting eleven we still see clearly that there isn't the same kind of determination. This is why I also don't prefer betting on such matches. Or if I'm planning to do it anyway then I just go for bigger odds to have fun. 

Otherwise it is really frustrating to lose with such low odds you mentioned. I can't wait for Euro 2024 to start. We would surely have really nice betting options there.

Friendly matches are not for betting, that's true. Often the coach in friendly matches wants to see what form the player is in and he may make too many substitutions, and the importance of winning is not so great. I rarely watch friendly matches, perhaps only if there are no other matches that I would like to watch. Today we can watch Portugal - Ireland, they may want to win after losing to Croatia, no one wants to start the tournament after several defeats.

You may be right but how I regard some of these friendlies is that players are given an opportunity to prove themselves to be selected for the team that will feature in the tournament.
It's not always predictable in friendlies because like you mentioned, some  players or teams will play half-heartedly, trying to avoid injuries and as such, betting on them can be frustrating as you may not get the desired results.
When I pick selections like this, I don't always go for goals since I might get disappointed, but I favor other options like corners or 2nd half most scoring and these options have more chances of entering than when you put in goals.
I remember when Belgium played against Montenegro, I'm sure considering the odds, many felt it will be a goal feast but we saw how they struggled badly. I doubt such a performance would have been seen if it were in the tournament.

That is because teams are just not caring. This is basically one of the reasons why that new tournament thing started, what was it called, nations league or something? That silly tournament started so that national teams would basically have a friendly, like during the season or so, in order to give them a chance. All in all, I think teams care more about the games that matter the most.

However, I still think that a lot of teams are looking like they are going to be bigger shocks than we expect, some good teams playing badly and some bad teams playing well is not out of question yet. This means that as long as they keep trusting who they have, then things may change and we could have results that are unexpected, it is not unheard of.

I don't find at all funny to watch friendly games because teams are not giving everything they got and it's just a waste of time in my opinion. They also want to avoid injuries and friendly games purpose are just to make sure you can put in practice what you learned in training because there is no real prize for actually winning a friendly game.

There is also the other side , where people chose to bet on friendly games and they end up losing on odds 1.05 or 1.10 out of nowhere so it's safer to stay out of betting on friendly games. 

This friendly match is just a trial and of course only used as research material for the coaches to be able to determine the right strategy when the actual competition starts (Euro). So it's true, we can't measure a team's ability just from friendly matches. The reason is, friendly matches can be used as an opportunity to trick your opponent into not being able to read his playing style. So it is not surprising that in friendly matches ahead of Euro 2024, there are leading countries that experience defeats or draws against countries that are not very strong. For example, England lost against Iceland and France drew against Canada.

In fact, as we know, England and France have many very great players at the moment. If you think about it logically, it doesn't make sense that England and France could lose or draw against a country that is not very strong. But as I said, all of this could be a strategy used to trick his opponents at the Euros. Because it is true, if we compare the countries currently entering the Euro, England and France have a very big chance compared to other countries to win this edition of the Euro.

But even so, the friendly match was still very interesting to watch. And today there are also several countries that will compete, and I think I will watch one of those matches.

Germany is the host nation and their country is going to host the Euro tournament this season so they will have a considerable advantage. France and the Netherlands will never be easy opponents for Germany. As you said this Germany is not the old Germany but the power of France is still the same as before but it is difficult to defeat them. Germany are in Group A and the other teams in Group A are Hungary, Switzerland and Scotland. Hungary, Scotland will be easy to overcome but Switzerland will not be easy for Germany. Switzerland and Germany are likely to secure the next round from Group A.

What kind of loss are you talking about when Perisic played in both friendly matches for a total of more than 90 minutes? Considering that he is 35 years old and that he was injured for some time, it is obvious that he is not in top shape, but I have no doubt that he will give his best in every minute that he spends on the field.

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It is true that Budimir is not the youngest, but it seems that he has reached top form and will be able to be our striker for at least another 2-3 years while some of the younger gems are sharpened and take on greater responsibility.


Perhaps we have too many of those on the forum who have been under the colonial boot of the English, French and similar nations for centuries - so they still act like their subjects and write that they are the best even when they can't beat Iceland or Canada. Our coach Dalic has emphasized several times that our team deserves more respect in the football community, but even the bookies do not respect us when we play against teams like Portugal or Spain because they give us minimal chances of winning.

Modric kinda said goodbye if you remember at the last WC but Messi suggested he's still having one final role in 2028 so his long term friend/enemy/foe/rival Ronaldo will not be able to resist. A few more seasons at Inter Miami playing 15% of games, why not right?

Ronaldo will never say no until he has a serious injury, that's the kinda guy he is.

I also think the same about these two players, namely C.Ronaldo and Modric. For them, perhaps Euro 2024 will be the last time they will defend their national team at the Euros. And maybe at Euro 2028 both of them will no longer be invited. Because I'm pretty sure both of them might even have retired as football players. Although I also know that both of them have the desire and ability to still be able to compete well with young players. but that's right now. And maybe in the next few years both of them will not be as good as they are now. Because age will still make a person weaker.

I don't think either Cristiano Ronaldo or Luka Modric will be invited or invited to play in next Euro 2028 competition by there various country considering the age the will both be by then, currently now Cristiano Ronaldo is 39 years of age while Luka Modric is 38 years of age in four years time Cristiano Ronaldo will be 43 years while Luka Modric will be 42 years by then don't you think inviting them for the Euro 2028 will be a total waist of number? Because I believe there are talented players who are very young and good fix in those positions and showcase there talent because even if they are been invited they won't be able to play due to there age so what's the need inviting them I believe this year Euro 2024 and next world cup will be there last international football dance.

Yes, the friendly event is just a test match that doesn't have a big target. Moreover, this match took place before the team's departure for Germany and I think all coaches will be very careful in fielding their full squad. So I would not be surprised at all if the friendly match produced a number of different results, meaning that the big teams were not able to achieve maximum results.

France and England are strong candidates, both teams have very complete squads. especially for the Three Lions, maybe this year's edition will be a big opportunity for them to make history as Euro winners. If we look at the players brought in by Southgate then it seems illegal for the team to return more crew in the four-yearly tournament

Maybe that's true and I might agree on this too. Namely, friendly matches cannot be the main reference for seeing which team will ultimately be the favorite. More serious matches will start at the start of the competition and not in friendlies. Friendly matches are sometimes made to test each other's strengths and test several strategies between each team. And usually some information will be gathered from friendly matches. But sometimes a team will not show their true quality in friendly matches. So the opposing team will not be able to analyze anything easily. France and England both have great squad depth. And I have no doubts about their quality either. But I probably can't say either of them is the closest to winning the title. Because this time I even saw that Portugal, which also has many quality players, could be one of the candidates. Or maybe it all depends on which team we like more.

I didn't say such thing, where did you get it from? If you mean the definition I shared for official match, it says national league cups are official matches not unofficial.

But if you mean my comment on the UEFA Nations League then I didn't say that there either. I just said teams don't take it as serious as a Euro or World Cup which is the obvious truth. 


I feel like we are going to watch a better Germany this time after having struggles for some years. I don't see them as the top favourite to win the trophy while there is France in the first place. But a semi final or even final qualification wouldn't make me surprised.

This friendly league is very important for players and coaches because they can try strategies and also strengthen the stamina of their players, especially since the Euro is only a few days away, it will have a big impact on a country to start the Euro with maximum potential for them.

Friendly matches are also very important for coaches in choosing their main squad, even though friendly matches are not the goal, they are very important in honing strategy and also maintaining the players' fitness before the Euros start.

In Qatar, Croatia had Perisic, Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic and Gvardiol. I knew about Gvardiol who grew up in Leipzig but Qatar World Cup 2022 is when he got bigger recognition with his excellent performances for Croatia.

In this Euro 2024, Croatia will not have Perisic who was important for them in World Cup 2022 from defense and attacking and his accurate and dangerous cross passes. He is an ace under sleeves in attacking for Croatia too, his absence in Euro 2024 is big loss for Croatia.

I wrote that Croatia can make surprise again because they did it many times. As a small nation, they have limited resource for football players but people, players there are so talented and in many tournaments, their national team outperformed many bigger countries and bigger national teams.

In World Cup 2022, I watched Lovro Majer because he was considered as a potential replacement for Luka Modric. I did not know him before World Cup 2022 but through Croatia matches, I heard that he was considered as one of best replacements for Modric and I paid attention on him when he was sent in. Frankly Majer did not show creativeness and good contributions for Croatia attacking system like Modric.

I don't know how Majer will grow up in coming years but I don't see good potential from this attacking midfielder. When Modric retires, Croatia will struggle to replace him because Majer looks not to be their solution.

Actually, Italy was not successful in the friendly matches. Their groups are very difficult. They should make very few mistakes in the matches they will play. They could only score 1 goal in the last 2 friendly matches, which is a problem. They should try to solve this problem. They are also in a group that I will follow carefully in Euro 2024. Italy is a country I enjoy watching. I hope they can show us more enjoyable matches.

Will Modric and Ronaldo be in the squad at Euro 2028? Are you seriously considering this? Such a thing is not possible. Both the Portuguese and the Croatian player may retire from football at the end of next year. Ronaldo had a great season, but now he is about to turn 40 and I am sure he will want to transition from these tiring times of football to the calmer coaching period. Euro 2024 may be the last opportunity to watch them.

You can say it with Kroos and Kante but I feel different with Ronaldo and Modric. They are players who are very energetic and ambitious so they will not easily to stop their career and retire like other players. With their skills, experience and reputation, if they continue, and if they play well, they will be given spots in their national teams for next Euro in 2028. It is more realistic to think that chances for them to be called in Euro 2028 might exist but opportunities for them to appear in the main squads for every match will be impossible.

Kroos will retire after this Euro and with Kante, even this Euro is a gift for him because France has many talented players for midfield positions. Deschamps gave Kante a great present by calling him for this Euro while the coach can call other midfielders for this tournament.