Racing Post

URO 2020

TOP TIPS & EXPERT ANALYSIS FOR TODAY’S ACTION

GERMANY were taught a lesson by France in Munich on Tuesday night and if you can still find anything close to 4-1 about Les Bleus lifting the trophy, I’d get stuck in.

This France team are only going to get better and better and the statement they sent out against the Germans was massively impressive.

I expect France to take care of Hungary and go through as Group F winners and they will only grow stronger as we go through the knockout rounds.

France versus Germany shouldn’t be a mismatch, but that’s what happened. And scarily, I reckon the world champions had at least one, maybe two or three, more gears to slip into.

Defensively they looked so comfortable with balls coming into the box and then would walk the ball out into midfield. They were in such control. N’Golo Kante and Adrien Rabiot were far too strong for the German midfield – which as I said, Joachim Low shouldn’t have picked – and as for Paul Pogba (right). Unreal. Just outstanding. He was toying with us.

Low needs to make changes against Portugal but the word I’m getting is that he won’t do that.

For example, he needs to break up that KroosGundogan midfield duo

– it simply doesn’t work against stronger midfields. Leon Goretzka is fit, has trained and surely has to come in alongside Kroos.

I’d revert to four at the back with Josh Kimmich at rightback and maybe bring Leroy Sane in to add some pace out wide. Our attacking options aren’t great anyway – we managed just one shot on target and five shots overall against France, which is pretty poor.

If Low plays the same team and the same formation I cannot see us beating Portugal – and if we don’t get something out of the game then three points against Hungary in our last game might not be enough for one of the third places.

I’d back the draw against Portugal and I think we can get it although I do like the Portuguese.

There was some criticism flying around because they failed to land earlier blows against the Hungarians – the same stuff c was said about Spain not breaking down Sweden. But these teams are well organised, well disciplined, and don’t make it easy.

But Portugal got there eventually, Ronaldo’s second goal was a stunner, a wonderful team move which shows what they can do if you let them have the ball. That front four is formidable, although I did spot a moment when Diogo Jota didn’t pass to Ronaldo and the legend was livid – those sorts of things can linger but of course it was all forgotten.

Ruben Dias at the back makes them a tough unit to break down. They are an excellent team who I’ve liked from the off. This will not be easy for Germany, who should never be favourites.

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I expect France to take care of Hungary and go through as Group F winners and they will grow stronger as we go through the knockout rounds.

SPORT

en-ie

2021-06-19T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-06-19T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://racingpost.pressreader.com/article/282497186620571

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