Digest

The Guardian Football Weekly podcast dives into the upcoming Euros, focusing on Group C and D. The panel, including Barney Ronny, Barry Glandenni, Philippe O'Claire, and Lars, analyzes England's chances, highlighting their strong attacking force but acknowledging weaknesses in defense and midfield. They discuss the potential for Gareth Southgate to take risks with his squad selection, particularly in midfield, and debate whether England's attacking talent can overcome their defensive vulnerabilities. The podcast then moves on to England's group opponents, Serbia, Denmark, and Slovenia, assessing their strengths and weaknesses. They highlight Serbia's dangerous attacking potential, Denmark's solid core, and Slovenia's ability to pull off surprises. The podcast concludes with a discussion of Group D, focusing on France's impressive squad and their potential to win the tournament. They also analyze the Netherlands, Austria, and Poland, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses and predicting their chances in the group stage. The podcast provides a comprehensive preview of the Euros, offering insights and analysis on the key teams and players to watch.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction

This Chapter introduces The Guardian Football Weekly podcast and welcomes the panel members: Barry Glandenni, Philippe O'Claire, Barney Ronny, and Lars. The podcast focuses on Group C and D of the Euros, with a particular emphasis on England's chances.

00:01:28

England's Strengths and Weaknesses

This Chapter delves into England's strengths and weaknesses. The panel acknowledges England's strong attacking force but highlights concerns about their defense and midfield. They discuss the potential for Gareth Southgate to take risks with his squad selection, particularly in midfield, and debate whether England's attacking talent can overcome their defensive vulnerabilities.

00:27:15

England's Group Opponents: Serbia

This Chapter focuses on England's first group opponent, Serbia. The panel discusses Serbia's dangerous attacking potential, highlighting the talents of Dusan Vlahovic and Aleksandar Mitrovic. They also discuss the potential for Serbia to cause problems for England's inexperienced defense.

00:31:58

England's Group Opponents: Denmark

This Chapter analyzes England's second group opponent, Denmark. The panel acknowledges Denmark's solid core but expresses concerns about their lack of creativity. They discuss the importance of Christian Eriksen's performance and the potential for Denmark to struggle against stronger opponents.

00:35:32

England's Group Opponents: Slovenia

This Chapter examines England's final group opponent, Slovenia. The panel highlights Slovenia's ability to pull off surprises, particularly against teams that dominate possession. They discuss Slovenia's recent victory over Portugal and the potential for them to cause problems for England.

00:39:21

Group D: France

This Chapter focuses on France, a strong contender to win the tournament. The panel discusses France's impressive squad, highlighting their attacking talent and depth. They also acknowledge concerns about their right-back position and the potential for injuries to key players.

00:48:13

Group D: Netherlands

This Chapter analyzes the Netherlands, another strong team in Group D. The panel discusses the Netherlands' strengths, particularly their defense and attacking wing-backs. They also highlight concerns about their midfield and the potential for Ronald Koeman's first tournament in charge to be a challenge.

00:52:20

Group D: Austria

This Chapter examines Austria, a team with a strong pressing game under Ralph Rangnick. The panel discusses Austria's potential to cause problems for their opponents, particularly the Netherlands. They also acknowledge concerns about Austria's lack of goalscoring threat.

00:56:02

Group D: Poland

This Chapter focuses on Poland, the weakest team in Group D. The panel discusses Poland's lack of attacking threat and their reliance on Robert Lewandowski. They also highlight concerns about Poland's ability to compete against stronger opponents.

Keywords

Q&A

• What are England's strengths and weaknesses going into the Euros?

  England has a strong attacking force but faces concerns about their defense and midfield. The panel debates whether Gareth Southgate should take risks with his squad selection, particularly in midfield, and whether their attacking talent can overcome their defensive vulnerabilities.

• How dangerous are Serbia as an opponent for England?

  Serbia is considered a dangerous opponent due to their strong attacking potential, with players like Dusan Vlahovic and Aleksandar Mitrovic. They could cause problems for England's inexperienced defense.

• What are the chances of Denmark going far in the tournament?

  Denmark is a solid and well-organized team, but they may lack creativity in attack. The panel discusses the importance of Christian Eriksen's performance and the potential for Denmark to struggle against stronger opponents.

• Why should England be wary of Slovenia?

  Slovenia has a history of pulling off surprises in international tournaments, particularly against teams that dominate possession. Their recent victory over Portugal highlights their ability to cause problems for stronger opponents.

• What are France's chances of winning the Euros?

  France is considered a strong contender to win the tournament, with a squad full of world-class talent. However, they face concerns about their right-back position and the potential for injuries to key players.

• How strong is the Netherlands' squad?

  The Netherlands has a strong defense and attacking wing-backs, but concerns remain about their midfield. The panel discusses the potential for Ronald Koeman's first tournament in charge to be a challenge.

• What are Austria's chances of progressing in the tournament?

  Austria has a strong pressing game under Ralph Rangnick and could cause problems for their opponents, particularly the Netherlands. However, concerns remain about their lack of goalscoring threat.

• Why is Poland considered the weakest team in Group D?

  Poland lacks attacking threat and relies heavily on Robert Lewandowski. The panel discusses concerns about Poland's ability to compete against stronger opponents.

• What are the key factors that could determine England's success in the Euros?

  England's success will depend on their ability to overcome their defensive vulnerabilities, particularly in midfield. The panel discusses the importance of Gareth Southgate's tactical decisions and the need for England's attacking talent to perform at a high level.

• What are the potential dark horses in the Euros?

  The panel discusses several potential dark horses, including Slovenia, Austria, and Denmark. They highlight the ability of these teams to pull off surprises and cause problems for the tournament favorites.

Show Notes