Michael Cox

just seen an article giving *half-time player ratings* for a *pre-season friendly*

Yeah. Same with Italy 2021 and Argentina 2022 really. Always feels a bit much when teams need *two* shootouts in a tournament.

Haha. That was an experience! Can see why you live in Zurich by the way, loved it.

Five tactical themes that defined Women’s Euro 2025: More systemised, less individualistic It was impossible to watch this Euros and not marvel at how far the women’s game has come - it’s exactly what top-level football should be

a Euro 2025 tactical review. A(nother) tournament where star individuals didn't make the difference. Goal kicks played extremely short compared to past tournaments. A huge number of goals.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/651...

Five tactical themes that defined Women’s Euro 2025: More systemised, less individualistic It was impossible to watch this Euros and not marvel at how far the women’s game has come - it’s exactly what top-level football should be

a Euro 2025 tactical review. A(nother) tournament where star individuals didn't make the difference. Goal kicks played extremely short compared to past tournaments. A huge number of goals.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/651...

How England nullified Spain: The Wiegman tactics that shut down the world champions Breaking down the approach that enabled the Lionesses to take the Euro 2025 final to a penalty shootout, which they won

Incredible that England have won Euro 2025 having trailed in all three knockout games. But the performance against Spain was good. Wiegman made some very big calls, which helped to close the gap to a Spain side who were clearly the most talented at the tournament.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/651...

...and lots of WWC games in NZ that just weren't ever gonna be full. And it does take something away from it. So it's not just about women's football. If football can't fill stadiums for these tournaments then something - location, cost, quality of football - has gone wrong. This one has been great.

Every game I've been to has been at capacity. I know some in women's football are bored of focus on attendances (which I do get) but in recent years I've been to: Afcon with 2000-odd in a 75,000 stadium, Qatar WC with freebies handed out to fill empty seats, reduced-capacity Wembley for Euro 2020...

it's also the perfect distance for people to have made slightly mad rail/road decisions at late notice having a ticket in the last couple of days. And people who have been here for longer periods have made a really great effort considering how bloody expensive Switzerland is.

must be said, there's an incredible number of England fans in Basel today. Feels different to what we've seen before: 2022 was at home, 2023 was obviously too far for most. 2025 feels like classic England Away

How England can defeat Spain: Balls in behind, beat the counter-press and set pieces How the defending champions can defeat the World Cup holders in the Euro 2025 final on Sunday evening

compared to two years ago, Spain are better in attack but more open in defence. Opponents have caused them problems by attacking behind Paredes, breaking the counter-press, and sometimes at set-pieces. It's an uphill task but England are likely to have a good gameplan
www.nytimes.com/athletic/651...

I don’t think she can be held accountable for the errors in the Sweden game, and her changes fixed the issue. (Also think in a combined XI it’s about 6-5 either way so not huge difference in talent.) v Italy they weren’t good but still much the better side, 1-0 Italy would have been a freak result

Really tough to avoid with the Spotify interface!

Sarina Wiegman: The England manager is football’s ultimate tournament specialist Few managers in the game think outside the box like Wiegman – five successive finals is an achievement that may not be matched

5 finals in 5 attempts for Wiegman. Pretty good. England have started matches poorly at Euro 2025 and there’s a question about the balance of the starting XI. But she has consistently made unconventional and decisive changes during her England tenure.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/art...

cheers!

Thanks!

Spotify allowing comments on podcasts has made the experience of actually being on podcasts a lot more depressing, but the positive is you can click on the names and go “oh he’s a massive Stereophonics fan, who cares what he thinks”. Should probably find a different podcast platform to listen on.

Will Patri Guijarro be the next Spain midfielder to win the Ballon d’Or? In both the men’s and women’s game, Spanish midfielders have a hold over the award. Guijarro could be next in line

Forgot to post this the other day...a profile of Patri Guijarro, probably the most consistent player at Euro 2025. With @laiacervello.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/650...

More decisive substitutions and another second-half surge help England reach Euros final So often, Sarina Wiegman’s England look like they will be eliminated before a final. Somehow, they never are

Well I've no idea how England made that so difficult for themselves. Italy were awful and offered nothing. England weren't any good for most of it, but they do have strength in depth, and so often that proves enough - not just here but in 2022 too.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/650...

hahaha

1.6 now. Maybe I'm missing something. I'd be really surprised if England didn't win with ease tonight.

P27, W0, D1, L26: Why England v Italy offers that rarest of prospects – a ‘big six’ Euros upset There have been no genuine upsets at the past two Euros - the tournament favourites consistently make light work of beating the underdogs

England v Italy is the final chance at Euro 2025 for a proper shock. There's a big six these days - England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden - and they don't lose to anyone else. The others are P27 W0 D1 L26 against them in 2022/2025. Can Italy do it?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/650...

#amnotabettingman and first time I've looked at odds during Euro 2025 but think England at around 1.5 tomorrow to win (in 90mins) is very good value. Italy are improved but they'd struggle to get a single player in England's XI, and unlike Norway there's no organisational problem with England

Since I did a best XI for each round of the groups (in articles) here’s one for the QFs:
Berger
Bronze Bjorn Minge Kett
Cantore Zigiotti Bonmati Pina
Girelli Hoffman

Down to 10 players for over 100 minutes, Germany produced their best Euro 2025 performance The Germans beat France with one of the most impressive displays you will see from a side reduced to 10 players for most of a game

Laughably bad from
France, but fair play to Germany for possibly the most impressive performance I’ve seen from a side down to ten (for 105 minutes!)
www.nytimes.com/athletic/650...

Honestly would have been better. Atrocious.

if this is 1-1 at the end of extra time France should concede the tie, no dignity in winning this on a shootout. Go home

again, I am absolutely not having this France side at all. Even if they win from here, a pathetic display. No creativity, no passing quality, no invention

Unbelievable centre-forward display from Hoffman in the circumstances. Just won so many free-kicks. It's boring but that's so useful when down to 10

Battison-Schumacher role-reversal!