July 13th 2014 - July 13th 2024 10th Anniversary of the World Cup Final 2014 in Brazil: Germany vs Argentina 1-0 10 years ago. Not a cracker like the 7-1 win against Brazil in the semi-finals but hey, it's a final and often not being good as too much is at stake. Anyway, a win is a win .... I've already mentioned here the 1974 WC Final which had its 50th anniversary at July7th and totally forgot the 70th anniversary of the WC Final 1954 at July4th. 1954-1974-2014 (only 1990 was 4 years too soon ). the 4th year of a decade was often good for German Football. Not this time, though. Although losing in the quarterfinals due to a last minute goal in extra time is nothing to be ashamed of, especially when Spain was the best team in the tournament and even the first ever who came into a Euro final with 6 consecutive wins, it hurts a bit to see tomorrow 2 teams in the Qlympiastadion to whom I don't have special feelings for. Neither "hate" nor love just idk Of course I'll watch the final, haven't missed a Euro final since the Euro 1972 and I hope it will be a cracker and may the best team win. As we have no Spain members here (ok Frannie as a half one but he isn't much interested at it I learned) so I can't wish them good luck but I'll wish the English members here good luck for tomorrow!
It appears that UEFA changed their rules around the golden boot so only goals count (it has previously been decided by assists if tied on goals). Consequently six players have won the golden boot after Kane and Olmo failed to score tonight. Harry Kane: England striker shares Euro 2024 Golden Boot award with three goals
Too bad, England. If only the triple header attempt at the end had succeeded I'm sure you would get them in extra time and penalty shootout. But maybe luck was running out this time? Anyway, no Schadenfreude from me (I'm not a Scot) because I know all too well how some of you must feel after losing a 2nd final in a row. I've endured this, too, in 1982 and 1986 at the World Cup. After the loss to Italy in the 1982 final I had not much time to feel sorry because I was still in the Army but after the 1986 loss to Argentina (with "Hand of God" Maradona) I was already a student and had way too much time afterwards to feel sorry I know you have a phrase "Third time lucky". Maybe it helps you a bit to know that it worked for us in 1990 and maybe also for your team in 2028? edit: Just remembered that the next Euro is in UK. So what could go wrong for you guys? Final already secured
Spain manager Luis de la Fuente isn’t challenged enough, apparently: he is reportedly interested in the USA national team open manager (head coach, as we say) job. So much for him wanting the WC 2026 feather added to his cap. (Had his fill with Euro ‘24 ?!) I’ve said elsewhere that we don’t have many truly key talented players in Europe (Pulisic the exception) so “good luck with that”. But I hope the Bilbao/Sevilla Man gets the job! Let’s see what a more talented leader can do with our questionable bunch. Olé!
Anyway, I didn't have the opportunity to travel this summer but I feel like Germany is the best place to host the Euros. Very comfortable to reach from every part of Europe, great stadiums, great organization (from what I read/see) and great weather for playing football. Maybe the only think that could work better is public transportation (@Dirk correct me if I'm wrong) based on my (little) experience in Germany as a tourist and based on what a lot of people that went there told me. That's the only thing I found that worked worse than in Italy (yeah maybe also food ). We have a lot of criticism here for Trenitalia but compared to DB Bahn I think we are a lot better. But yeah in general I think for these reasons it's the best solution.
Seems to have been a lot of criticism of the trains? Which coming from Brits, is the pot calling the kettle black given our trains. But maybe the expectation of Germany would be a flawless train network.
Every train, tube and tram we got in Germany was excellent. Maybe we got lucky, but I've been there five times for different reasons now and never had any issues on that front. Think any country would have problems with that many fans trying to move around at once.
Is this true or just a wet dream of you? Why should de la Fuente give up a job he loves so much to become manager of the USNT? I mean coaching in the World Cup he will surely with Spain, too, plus he has a way better chance to win it with his actual team than with the US. This Spain team is maybe at the beginning of another good run like in 2008-2012. They have exciting youngsters and experienced oldies. It's funny, Spain was for decades an "also ran" in international tournaments (not in club football). Yes, they've won the "inaugural" Euro (can't be compared, though, with it nowadays) in 1964 but that's it. They had always great players but prior to 2008 they won nothing. But then it made click in 2008 when great players also gave them final wins and since then they've won every final they were in. (During the match on Sunday a commentator meant that even in Club football the last loss of a spanish club was in 2001 when Valencia lost the CL final against Bayern (and this had to go to penalty shootout). Real wins everything in finals and the others, too when they reach it. Astonishing)
“It’s complicated” and “Of Course!” Yesterday’s article I read did not state what this article from today: Spain manager Luis de la Fuente 'contacted US Soccer about men's job' stated…that he’d signed up, last month, to continue with Span through 2026 OK…damn…but then why would his representatives contact USA about the job? He got one! Maybe they think one of his assistants would be a good fit; dunno. Something is either lost in translation or the reporting confused or incomplete. Crap, you know what they say about news sounding too good to be true…
This Opta Team of the Tournament looks more reasonable than the official UEFA TOTT. Not having Gakpo and Mamardashvili on the UEFA one is my main objection.
Every single train I saw, or actually used was delayed. Never saw a single one run on time. That said, their trains are much nicer than ours and the staff are much more professional than the 'guards' you see on our trains...
Seems that Morata and Rodri are "under investigation" by UEFA about the provoking "Gibraltar is Spanish" UEFA ermittelt gegen Morata und Rodri wegen provokanten Gesängen Why can't these twats just simply celebrate their success without such crap? (Same for the Argies after their Copa Ameria win)
Well next time if we beat Spain in the final we should sing Catalonia liberation songs...only fair. politics and sport ffs, hate it.
