Poland 1-1 France

Euro 2024/Group C/Round 3

Match Stats:

• xG: 2.43 - 1.32

• xThreat: 1.71 - 0.72

• Possession: 57.7% - 42.3%

• Field Tilt: 79% - 21%

• Penalty Box Shots: 12 - 5

• Deep Completions: 22 - 4

• PPDA: 7.2 - 9.3

• High Turnovers: 4 - 1

• 10+ Pass Sequences: 23 - 18

France Stumble into Round of 16

Poland were up against it without Lewandoski in the first two games and now had to face a France team that needed a win to top the group.

Here is how they both lined up.

Here is the passing map from both teams. You’ll notice just how threatening France are down the flank. Barcola was excellent on the left, supported by Hernandez and linked up with Mbappe.

We saw an aggressive press from France, which we don’t normally see, as they had a front three that could push up and be man-to-man on the three polish central defenders.

France have created chances during the tournament, Griezmann missing the biggest one but they haven’t scored from directly open play yet. Only own goals and penalties.

Kante had been outstanding in midfield and continued that form playing further ahead. Making runs and winning the ball. The defense is as always well organized and keeping the opposition locked out. It’s further forward they lack some creativity and a real cutting edge in the final third.

Next up for them is Belgium, a team that also have struggled to convert their chances. If Lukaku can find his scoring boots then this becomes a very tough tie for France.

Netherlands 2-3 Austria

Euro 2024/Group C/Round 3

MOTM: Marcel Sabitzer

Match Stats:

• xG: 2.05 - 0.99

• xThreat: 1.79 - 0.96

• Possession: 53.0% - 47.0%

• Field Tilt: 51.2% - 48.8%

• Penalty Box Shots: 9 - 5

• Deep Completions: 13 - 7

• PPDA: 8.1 - 8.1

• High Turnovers: 3 - 2

• 10+ Pass Sequences: 14 - 8

Austria Win the Group

Heading into the final game there was three different teams that could top the group and end up on the easier side of the draw. In the end it was Austria led by Ralf Rangnick. I could have named a number of players for MOTM but Sabitzer scored the game winner to top off a brilliant performance.

Here is how both teams lined up.

The Netherlands started without Xavi Simons and brought him on after 30 minutes for Veerman who had a poor game. The real problem wasn’t him bu that the whole team was struggling to find a way past Austria. Dealing with their press. Breaking them down.

Here is how they would setup out of possession to force the Netherlands to one side.

The midfielders were able to come across to support the pressing of their wide forwards and wingers on one side. The Netherlands struggled throughout the first half to deal with this but at half-time it was only 0-1.

When Austria had the ball they would always be looking to stretch the pitch and find players in the wide areas. The midfield of Netherlands didn’t know who to pick up and who to support.

Cody Gakpo and Depay both provided some individual brilliance for their goals whilst Austria built up to all of their goals. Very well worked.

The winning goal for Austria was a fantastic through ball to Sabitzer, played onside by Van Dijk. Slotting home to lead his nation into the knockout rounds.

One thing is clear, Rangnick is an excellent coach and he has all of Austria bought in to his style. He can change the whole line up and they all know exactly what to do, against any team. The fans go into every game believing their team can win.

They should absolutely fancy their chances against Turkey in the round of 16. A team poor at defending in their own box. After that they could face either Romania or the Netherlands for a spot in the Semi Finals. A monumental achievement for Austria if they pull that off.

The Netherlands as mentioned face Romania and that’s not going to be easy. We saw in this game the team couldn’t figure out Austria tactically and only managed to score from two brilliant individual moments by Gakpo and Depay. Romania will be bold in attack and it just might pay off.

For more on Austria and how they setup tactically I recommend following Carl Groiss Carpenter. Might see Austria go far this tournament!

England 0-0 Slovenia

Euro 2024/Group D/Round 3

Match Stats:

• xG: 0.87 - 0.14

• xThreat: 1.81 - 0.56

• Possession: 73.2% - 26.8%

• Field Tilt: 77.8% - 22.2%

• Penalty Box Shots: 4 - 1

• Deep Completions: 15 - 4

• PPDA: 8.4 - 31.9

• High Turnovers: 3 - 5

• 10+ Pass Sequences: 31 - 6

England Top the Group

This was a match that needed a performance for both fans and the media to settle down on. To reduce the pressure on the team. They got the result and are on the ideal side of the draw but it was through another mixed performance.

Connor Gallagher coming in for Alexander-Arnold was an expected and fine move to make. Providing a better base for England to press from and he occupied the right channel higher up to not take away space from the middle. Something most of the England front line have failed to do well during the tournament. His inclusion solving some issues for the team but not all.

Slovenia did a good job at shifting England to their left side, preventing Saka from getting isolated on the right side. Keeping Trippier occupied with his winger. Cerin would move across to plug the gaps by tracking the movement of Bellingham. Leaving space for Foden to come inside and Kane to drop into. England tried to expose this in the first half.

England were better at pressing on the whole but there was certainly issues in getting the timing right. Picking the right man. One example was when Foden was aggressive on the same CB as Bellingham, meaning the LB was free for a pass. The back line being occupied 4v4 meant that Trippier could not push up to support Foden.

England struggled to make moves like this graphic below work despite the space being there. Bellingham dropping to pass the ball into Rice who can then drive into the space in front. Instead you would see the pass go back to Guehi and moved across the back line.

There is a lot of talk about the way England are setup but there isn’t nearly enough discussion around the struggles players are having right now. It’s not clicking on the pitch and they are not consistently making the right decisions to progress the ball like you’d see from them all at club level. They are not brave enough on the ball. You can see it in moments and there was a couple moves in the game you’d like to see England attempt more often.

Mainoo coming on at half-time helped England in the final third with his movement across both sides, linking up with players and making runs to pull the opposition back-line around. Just like Gallagher he was looking to move into space and not drop into the way of other players.

As good as he was for the second half, I think it also showed how much of the problems England have are also on the pitch. Visible frustration during pressing, players jogging when they should be sprinting and getting in each others way.

Luke Shaw will make a difference for England on the left side. Mainoo, Bellingham or preferably Wharton (in my opinion) will make a difference next to Declan Rice in midfield. They can all help the team but they do not stop the other players from taking risks. Being aggressive. Not dropping deep to play safe passes. Getting on top of each other to reduce space in midfield. That all needs solving and one or two personal changes will not be a magic fix for it.

One positive to take away from England in the group stages is their defense.

England land themselves on the easier side of the draw, on paper. A round of 16 tie against Slovakia awaits them. A team that are well organised out of possession, difficult to break down and play out of press very well. Just struggle to score.

Slovenia move out of the group stages, a huge result for their country, and will face off against Portugal.

Denmark 0-0 Serbia

Euro 2024/Group D/Round 3

MOTM: Milenkovic

Match Stats:

• xG: 0.67 - 0.19

• xThreat: 1.11 - 0.99

• Possession: 53% - 47%

• Field Tilt: 66.3% - 33.7%

• Penalty Box Shots: 6 - 4

• Deep Completions: 5 - 7

• PPDA: 15.8 - 21.4

• High turnovers: 7 - 1

• 10+ Pass Sequences: 24 - 18

Serbia Are Out

I had mentioned with previous Serbia games that they wait until the second half before really turning on the pressure. Wasting their first half. This game was no different and it ended up being too little too late for them.

Here is how both team’s setup for the game with their back fives. No Tadic or Vlahovic in the starting line up for Serbia.

Here is the passing maps from the first half, of each team. Denmark had a lot of possession across their back line but were not able to get into enough threatening position’s out wide against Serbia.

Denmark with the 0-0 draw progress into the knockout rounds and will face Germany. One of the favorites to win and on the opposite side of the draw to England.

Serbia go back to the drawing board, without a coach that’s getting the best from their talented attackers they will always remain the team that fall below expectations.

LAST WORD👋

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