Euro 2024

FANS of a certain vintage will never forget the original “Panenka” penalty that sealed the 1976 European Championships final win over West Germany.Nearly half a century on, and now representing only half the old Czechoslovakia, much travelled former 55-capped midfielder Ivan Hasek has returned for a second spell at the helm.The Czechs made the quarter-final of Euro 2020Credit: EPAThe Czechs finished behind Albania and forced Poland into the play-offs in qualifying. West Ham fans have seen plenty of Vladimir Coufal and Tomas Soucek over the past few years and there non-stop hard work will be on show at the Euros.Three years ago, they eliminated Scotland at Hampden Park and stunned Holland before being edged out by Denmark in the last eight. Repeating that run might be a stretch but they love the big occasion. read more on the eurosManager: Ivan HasekOnly appointed in January, he played for Czechoslovakia at the 1990 World Cup and is also a lawyer.Key man: Patrick SchickFormer Sampdoria, Roma and RB Leipzig striker has seen his role at German champions Leverkusen reduced a tad this season under Xabi Alonso – mainly being used off the bench. But he remains a massive threat and an excellent target man. Plus who can forget his goal from the halfway line at the last Euros against Scotland, which helped him share the Golden Boot with Cristiano Ronaldo.EURO 2024 FREE BETS AND OFFERSLikely line-upInside the ten stunning Euro 2024 stadiums including historic final venueHow they attackThe Czech Republic will be playing in their seventh consecutive Euros this coming summer.Most read in FootballAnd having reached the quarter final stage in two of the last versions of the competition they will have high hopes in Germany. They have been drawn in one of the more even groups with Portugal as the favourites to qualify along with Turkey and Georgia.In qualification and in recent friendly matches the Czech’s have been versatile tactically moving between a 3-4-3and a 4-2-3-1 system. While they have technical players that are comfortable in possession of the ball they will not typically overplay or take chances with the ball on their first line. If the opposition press high then expect to see them play in a more direct manner.The opposition look to press high the Czech side are not going to overplay. Instead they are willing to go long to attack the space behind the opposition pressAs they move into the more established attacking phase they are not possession orientated and they are more likely to attack through quick attacking transitions. When playing in their 3-4-2-1 shape especially the two advanced midfielders behind the striker will make regular runs to attack space in the opposition half.The goal is to play quick and direct passes to release players into space behind the opposition defensive lineThe aim for the Czech Republic is to play forward to attack space behind the opposition defensive line. If the opposition do drop back to take this space away, though then expect to see them look to push players forward to occupy space and force the opposition even deeper.The opposition have been forced back and into a deep defensive block by the CzechsHow they defendTypically the Czech Republic will be flexible with the way that they defend in this summer’s tournament. They press forward and chase and engage the ball but they do so with one or two players while others hold a deeper position to defend space and make it difficult for the opposition to play out from the back.The Norway goalkeeper is in possession deep and the Czech forward bends his run to block the clearance. There are three players in a relatively high position but they are not pressing and are waiting to react to the short pass should it comeThe aim out of possession from the Czech side is to force the opposition into playing a longer pass to play through the first line of the defensive structure. The Czech midfield will then react to these long passes and press the ball centrally.Poland have been forced to play long as the Czech defensive structure pushes high and forces them to go longer away from the pressWhen the opposition do break into their half we can expect to see the Czech defensive structure drop back to take away space and to defend the area. When they play in their 3-4-2-1 shape then the wide midfielders drop back in to form a block of five.And then at least two of the midfielders will stay deep to defend the central areas.Poland have pushed on and attack high into the Czech half and the defensive line has dropped into a five. They are willing to defend deep and allow the opposition to have the ball in wide areasPredictionPortugal and Turkey are tipped to progress from Group F.READ MORE SUN STORIESBut with all three likely to pick up three points against Georgia, the Czechs will be hopeful they can sneak through as third-place or even runners-up.Latest oddsWilliam Hill have got them as 150/1 outsiders to go all the way and lift the trophy in Berlin and they’re 11/10 to finish inside Group F’s top two.PLAY DREAM TEAM EUROS NOW!The best fantasy football game for this summer’s tournament. More

ROBERTO MARTINEZ’S 100 per cent record as boss came to an unexpected end in Slovenia in March – but they will travel to Germany as realistic contenders.One player, of course, stands out despite spending the past 18 months in Saudi Arabia – Cristiano Ronaldo.Portugal could go all the wayCredit: EPACR7 is still the face of Portuguese football – even at the ripe old age of 39.But Manchester City duo Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva head a host of familiar Premier League faces, which also includes Man Utd’s Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Jota of Liverpool.If Portugal turn up with the right attitude, they have a real chance.But they were miles off it in Qatar in 2022, before being sent packing by Morocco in the last eight.read more on the eurosMartinez has attempted to bring a more attacking approach to a team that became increasingly dull as the Fernando Santos reign ebbed away.Yet it remains unclear if the former Everton and Belgium boss will be able to call the shots and truly put his stamp on the side or remain the latest prisoner to Ronaldo’s whims.Of course, Portugal won the title in 2016 despite finishing third in their group and with Ronaldo limping off in the final. Can they do it again?Manager: Roberto MartinezSpaniard has come a long way since becoming one of the ‘Three Amigos’ when he first arrived at Wigan.Most read in FootballMartinez has been in the international game since 2016 when he began his six-year stint as Belguim’s head coach.He guided them to a third place finish at the 2018 World Cup, their best-ever position in the competition.Martinez resigned from the Belgium job after the 2022 World Cup – and became the head coach of Portugal in January 2023.Since taking over from Fernando Santos, the Spaniard has won 12 of his 13 matches at the helm, and he will be hoping his side can replicate that form at Euro 2024.Roberto Martinez has been head coach of Portugal since January 2023Credit: GETTYEURO 2024 FREE BETS AND OFFERSKey man: Cristiano RonaldoHis 128 international goals is astonishing and despite young talent, Ronaldo is still expected to lead his side out in Germany.Likely line-upMeet the ten Wags ready to stun at Euro 2024How they attackPortugal are are one of the best teams in the competition when it comes to building attacks from the defence.United transfer target Goncalo Inacio and Dias at centre- back are both comfortable in possession.And deepest midfielder, Joao Palhinha of Fulham, drops back to help.Ruben Dias steps out in possession and as he does so it is Pahlinha who rotates back in to provide defensive coveFurther up the pitch, Portugal have an abundance of highly technical players who can find space to receive the ball.The likes of Fernandes, Silva and Joao Felix all find areas to hurt the opposition defence.Fernandes is positioned between the lines of the Iceland midfield and defence to receive the ball with Joao Felix also coming into this zoneIn the final third, Portugal carry a real goal threat with Fernandes and Felix joining Rafael Leao, and, either Goncalo Ramos or Ronaldo.As they break into the final third they pin the opposition back by positioning players on the last line to attack the ball.Portugal like to get players in the box, to overload the opposition who might leave one player unmarked.Three Portuguese players, Leao, Ramos and Ronaldo, are positioned on the opposition defenders. This overload allows Ramos to get a free run to attack the crossHow they defendAs with many of the top teams at the tournament this coming summer we can expect to see Portugal defend in a medium to high defensive block as they look to regain possession quickly.Portugal work against the ball as the opposition are looking to build their attack in a man-to-man system with some zonal marking mixed through.They are flexible and aggressive against the ball with players working to support Ronaldo, who clearly tends to do less work defensively.Portugal are marking man to man and they have cut off all options so Slovakia are forced to play longBy pressing aggressively, Portugal effectively look to force the opposition down one half of the pitch.They then move collectively across to pin them in and force mistakes.Portugal are adept at squeezing the space, and here they force Bosnia to play back wardsThe forward players for Portugal will work to apply pressure to the ball deep and try to force a mistake from the opposition.The press is supported by their man-to-man structure in midfield to make it difficult for the opposition to play out.The Portuguese striker moves to engage and the rest of the press shifts across and pins the opposition to one side to force a mistakePredictionPortugal are serious contenders this summer. In Georgia, Turkey and Czech Republic, they have a great group and should win it with ease.A best third-placed side would then be waiting in the last-16 before a potential quarter-final clash with two nations who finished the group as runners-up.READ MORE SUN STORIESPortugal should be making the semi-finals and could go all the way.Latest oddsWilliam Hill have them as fifth favourites to win it at 8/1.PLAY DREAM TEAM EUROS NOW!The best fantasy football game for this summer’s tournament. More