My thoughts on the group stage.
Group A
Germany won the group as expected, great performance in the first game, not so much in the rest, but still I consider them as one of the main favorites. Hungary is a disappointment, I expected much more, although they were close to qualify, but deservedly they are out. Switzerland did its job, even more than I expected at the beginning. Scotland do not play well in major tournaments, did not impress with anything this time either.
Group B
Spain predictably won, Croatia was a big disappointment, I expected them to go far, I believed they could beat Italy, but it was their own fault that they couldn't concentrate until the end. Italy was very lucky with a last minute goal. They can improve their game in the playoffs, but I don't believe in their success yet. A good fight for Albania, but the group was too strong, at least they got a point.
Group C
Serbia was the easiest to predict in last place, they have many problems and everything they did was wrong. I expected Slovenia to go further and they did, Oblak is great, also a good team play. I was hoping that Denmark would be in 1st place, unfortunately they couldn't score against Serbia. Bright game in some parts, but overall more disappointing. And now, unfortunately, they have to play against my main pick for the title - Germany. Rooting for Denmark further too as they are my favorite team in the tournament, but it will be difficult. I don't expect much from England, but their opponents allowed them to win the group.
Group D
My biggest mistake was underestimating Austria in my last prediction. Before that, I believed and was sure that there would be at least the second, but the injuries of some leaders and the fact that sometimes the dark horses called by many fail made me rank them last. But already after the first game against France, despite losing I was sure that they would win the remaining games. Now hope they will go far. I'm not a fan of France, but I fear that they will improve their performance in the playoffs. Poland's quick exit is no surprise. The Netherlands, although they now entered a rather handy bracket, I don't really believe that they will achieve much.
Group E
Ukraine is one of the biggest disappointments. I thought they would be the first, but they came last, although with the same number of points. There was something wrong with the team. I believed they could beat Belgium in the last game but unfortunately... Glad for Romania and Slovakia, didn't expect much from them. I still think that Belgium is overrated and I don't think they will go far, but in the round of 16 I will probably cheer for them against the French.
Group F
When predicting, I forgot about the pattern that Czechia gets out of the group only every other tournament (1996 did, 2000 not, 2004 did, 2008 not, 2012 did, 2016 not, 2020 did, 2024 not). My mistake. I'm happy for Georgia, I didn't expect much from them, but they proved otherwise. I think they have the best goalkeeper in the tournament Mamardashvili and maybe even the best forward duo (Mikautadze + Kvaratskhelia). Turkey is very talented but plays a bit stupidly. Portugal did their job and all important games for them are just waiting for them.
So conclusion:
The biggest shock for me: Croatia and Ukraine out, the biggest pleasant surprise - Georgia... and also Romania. But I think it is the same for many...
Group A
Germany won the group as expected, great performance in the first game, not so much in the rest, but still I consider them as one of the main favorites. Hungary is a disappointment, I expected much more, although they were close to qualify, but deservedly they are out. Switzerland did its job, even more than I expected at the beginning. Scotland do not play well in major tournaments, did not impress with anything this time either.
Group B
Spain predictably won, Croatia was a big disappointment, I expected them to go far, I believed they could beat Italy, but it was their own fault that they couldn't concentrate until the end. Italy was very lucky with a last minute goal. They can improve their game in the playoffs, but I don't believe in their success yet. A good fight for Albania, but the group was too strong, at least they got a point.
Group C
Serbia was the easiest to predict in last place, they have many problems and everything they did was wrong. I expected Slovenia to go further and they did, Oblak is great, also a good team play. I was hoping that Denmark would be in 1st place, unfortunately they couldn't score against Serbia. Bright game in some parts, but overall more disappointing. And now, unfortunately, they have to play against my main pick for the title - Germany. Rooting for Denmark further too as they are my favorite team in the tournament, but it will be difficult. I don't expect much from England, but their opponents allowed them to win the group.
Group D
My biggest mistake was underestimating Austria in my last prediction. Before that, I believed and was sure that there would be at least the second, but the injuries of some leaders and the fact that sometimes the dark horses called by many fail made me rank them last. But already after the first game against France, despite losing I was sure that they would win the remaining games. Now hope they will go far. I'm not a fan of France, but I fear that they will improve their performance in the playoffs. Poland's quick exit is no surprise. The Netherlands, although they now entered a rather handy bracket, I don't really believe that they will achieve much.
Group E
Ukraine is one of the biggest disappointments. I thought they would be the first, but they came last, although with the same number of points. There was something wrong with the team. I believed they could beat Belgium in the last game but unfortunately... Glad for Romania and Slovakia, didn't expect much from them. I still think that Belgium is overrated and I don't think they will go far, but in the round of 16 I will probably cheer for them against the French.
Group F
When predicting, I forgot about the pattern that Czechia gets out of the group only every other tournament (1996 did, 2000 not, 2004 did, 2008 not, 2012 did, 2016 not, 2020 did, 2024 not). My mistake. I'm happy for Georgia, I didn't expect much from them, but they proved otherwise. I think they have the best goalkeeper in the tournament Mamardashvili and maybe even the best forward duo (Mikautadze + Kvaratskhelia). Turkey is very talented but plays a bit stupidly. Portugal did their job and all important games for them are just waiting for them.
So conclusion:
The biggest shock for me: Croatia and Ukraine out, the biggest pleasant surprise - Georgia... and also Romania. But I think it is the same for many...
, reached with a very biased refereeing meter; the second with a laser on Shmeicheal's eyes. Ok, they have developed the concept of modern football (because football already existed at the time of the ancient Greeks), ok between the end of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries they were the best (because they were the only ones to play football), ok in club competitions they are strong and prepared and ok I also add that they have had some good generations (that of '86, that of Beckham and the current one) but they have never collected anything but embarrassing moments. Their football is athletic like that of Denmark but with a more cumbersome defense than the second. A football that terribly suffers from ball possession (Spanish style) or tactics/physicality (Italian style). Their path in Euro 2024 was to put 11 players on the pitch and make them run. It can be good but not with the top players you have! I expect more from Kane, Saka, Bellingham etc in a group with Slovenia and Serbia and Denmark. Putting England aside, I was disappointed by Denmark who reached second place thanks to one less yellow card (the yellow cards on the pitch were identical to Slovenia - the yellow card that allowed the second place was one received by the technical staff...). Slovenia achieved a historic result. They managed to play as a team making up for the missing technique. However, it was painful to see England - Slovenia the snooze-game par excellence. Serbia terrible. Great champions, 0 ideas.
I remember in 2016, Germany world champions vs the ugliest Italian national team ever. It was resolved only thanks to one of the Italian curses: penalty kicks. The match was so trying that the German national team subsequently lost to France, out of breath.
national team.
