England are somehow one game away from the Euro 2024 final – Football Daily podcast
Digest
The podcast delves into England's unexpected journey to the Euro 2024 semi-finals, highlighting the contrasting opinions on Gareth Southgate's management style and the team's performance. The panelists discuss the team's strengths and weaknesses, particularly the left side, and debate whether Southgate's tactics are holding the team back. They also analyze Spain's impressive form, acknowledging their dominance but questioning their ability to convert chances. France's performance is described as underwhelming, despite their progress to the semi-finals. The podcast concludes with a reflection on the tournament's overall experience, including the impact of the expanded format and the fan behavior. The panelists also discuss the upcoming semi-finals and offer predictions for the final. The podcast concludes with a discussion of the Copa America, highlighting the contrasting styles of play between Canada and Argentina, and Marcelo Bielso's thought-provoking speech about the future of football.
Outlines
![](https://s3.castbox.fm/webstatic/images/book.5d108c35.png)
England's Euro 2024 Semi-Final Run
This Chapter discusses England's journey to the Euro 2024 semi-finals, highlighting the contrasting opinions on Gareth Southgate's management style and the team's performance. The panelists debate whether Southgate's tactics are holding the team back and analyze the team's strengths and weaknesses, particularly the left side.
![](https://s3.castbox.fm/webstatic/images/book.5d108c35.png)
Spain vs. France: Semi-Final Preview
This Chapter delves into the upcoming semi-final match between Spain and France. The panelists analyze Spain's impressive form, acknowledging their dominance but questioning their ability to convert chances. They also discuss France's underwhelming performance, despite their progress to the semi-finals.
![](https://s3.castbox.fm/webstatic/images/book.5d108c35.png)
Tournament Reflections and Fan Behavior
This Chapter reflects on the overall experience of the Euro 2024 tournament, including the impact of the expanded format and the fan behavior. The panelists discuss the pros and cons of the 24-team format and share their observations on the fan atmosphere and any incidents of trouble.
![](https://s3.castbox.fm/webstatic/images/book.5d108c35.png)
Copa America: Canada vs. Argentina
This Chapter shifts focus to the Copa America, highlighting the contrasting styles of play between Canada and Argentina. The panelists discuss the semi-final match between Canada and Argentina, and Marcelo Bielso's thought-provoking speech about the future of football.
Keywords
Gareth Southgate
Gareth Southgate is the current manager of the England national football team. He has been in charge since 2016 and has led the team to the semi-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the final of the UEFA Euro 2020. Southgate is known for his cautious and pragmatic approach to management, which has been both praised and criticized.
Euro 2024
Euro 2024 is the 17th edition of the UEFA European Championship, a football tournament contested by the men's national teams of the member associations of UEFA. The tournament is being held in Germany from June 14 to July 14, 2024. It is the second time that Germany has hosted the tournament, after previously hosting it in 1988.
Spain National Football Team
The Spain national football team, nicknamed La Roja (The Red One), represents Spain in men's international football. It is governed by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). Spain is one of the most successful national teams in the world, having won the FIFA World Cup in 2010 and the UEFA European Championship in 1964, 2008, and 2012. The team is known for its possession-based style of play, which has been influenced by the success of Barcelona and Real Madrid in recent years.
France National Football Team
The France national football team, nicknamed Les Bleus (The Blues), represents France in men's international football. It is governed by the French Football Federation (FFF). France is one of the most successful national teams in the world, having won the FIFA World Cup in 1998 and 2018, and the UEFA European Championship in 1984 and 2000. The team is known for its attacking style of play, which has been influenced by the presence of some of the world's best players, such as Kylian Mbappé, Karim Benzema, and Antoine Griezmann.
Copa America
The Copa América is the oldest continental football championship in the world, contested by the men's national teams of South American countries and invited guest teams. It is organized by the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL). The tournament is held every four years, with the most recent edition taking place in 2021. Argentina is the most successful team in the tournament's history, having won the title 15 times.
Marcelo Bielsa
Marcelo Bielsa is an Argentine professional football manager. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and innovative managers in the world. Bielsa is known for his intense and demanding style of management, which emphasizes high-pressing and attacking football. He has managed several clubs, including Athletic Bilbao, Marseille, and Leeds United, and has also coached the Argentina and Chile national teams. Bielsa is a controversial figure, but he is also deeply respected for his commitment to his philosophy and his ability to develop players.
Jesse Marsch
Jesse Marsch is an American professional football manager. He is currently the head coach of the United States men's national soccer team. Marsch is known for his high-pressing and attacking style of management, which he developed during his time as head coach of Red Bull Salzburg and RB Leipzig. He has also managed the New York Red Bulls and Leeds United. Marsch is a rising star in the world of football management, and he is considered to be one of the most exciting young coaches in the game.
Q&A
What are the main arguments for and against Gareth Southgate's management style?
Supporters of Southgate praise his cautious and pragmatic approach, highlighting his success in leading England to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and the final of Euro 2020. Critics argue that his tactics are too conservative and that he is holding the team back from reaching its full potential. They point to England's underwhelming performances in recent tournaments, particularly their struggles to break down teams with a strong defense.
How has Spain's performance in Euro 2024 been different from previous tournaments?
Spain has been praised for their dominance in Euro 2024, but some question whether they have truly shed their reputation for being good but unable to score goals. The panelists note that Spain's midfield has been rebooted, with a more vertical and energetic approach, and that they have been the best team in a largely disappointing group of favorites.
What are the key factors that will determine the outcome of the Spain vs. France semi-final?
The panelists believe that Spain's ability to convert chances will be crucial, as they have been dominant in possession but have struggled to score goals. France's defensive solidity will also be a key factor, as they have been difficult to break down. The panelists also discuss the impact of key players, such as Kylian Mbappé and Pedri, on the outcome of the match.
What are the main concerns about the expanded format of Euro 2024?
The panelists express concerns about the 24-team format, arguing that it has led to a less focused and engaging tournament. They believe that the expanded format has resulted in a wider range of experiences for teams, with some already qualified and others for whom the tournament is everything. This disparity has made it difficult for fans to experience the tournament collectively.
What are the key takeaways from Marcelo Bielsa's speech about the future of football?
Bielsa argues that football, while more popular than ever, is losing the things that made it the world's greatest sport. He believes that the focus on short-term gains and entertainment has led to a decline in the quality of play and the expression of cultural identity. He also criticizes the obsession with controversies and blaming individuals.