The Fourth Official: Three Tales of Coming Back

         

Hungary vs Switzerland or the Breel Deal

At one time in history, the Hungarian National Football Team were considered golden. Between the years 1952 and 1954 Hungary won a Gold at the Helsinki Summer Olympics, were crowned champions of the Central European International Cup which was played over the course of 6 years, and finished runners-up at the 1954 World Cup in Sweden. This generation of players were truly the Magical Magyars.

The current generation of Hungarian players are lead by the youngest captain at this year's Euros. After a 44 year hiatus at Europe's premier tournament, 24 year old midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai is looking to lead his country back to the top of European football. This edition of Hungary are looking up as they have qualified for 3 straight Euros. Waiting in the wings for them were there first Group A opponents, Switzerland.

The Swiss Super League is the 12 ranked team in Europe seeing them well below the standards of the big five England, Spain, Germany, Italy, and France. They're also the 19th ranked team in the world according to FIFA. For most countries that would be a fine position. For a favorite to win a major tournament, anything short of the top 10 makes you a long shot.

The team was looking lackluster in scoring during their friendlies leading up to the tournament. They were scoreless against Denmark, only managed 1 goal each in victory of Ireland and a draw with Austria. Their lone scoring barrage coming in a match against the Baltic country of Estonia. One question that Switzerland had coming into the tournament was who would be their top striker?

It used to be Breel Embolo who had scored 13 goals in 62 appearances. He tore his ACL in August of 2023 and while fully mended had yet to play a full 90 minutes for his country. The question was, could he pick up where he left off?

With Embolo on the bench the rest of the Swiss team looked to jump on Hungary early. In the twelfth minute Michel Aebischer would play a through ball into the box that Kwadwo Duah would jump on to make it 1:0. After a check for offsides, that goal would stand. 

Just 33 minutes later Aebischer would collect the ball just outside the arch of the Keeper's Box and fire a long range shot to the right bottom corner and in. Just before half the Swiss were up 2:0 and looking to cruise.

Halftimes can be funny things. A chance to talk things through and settle down, and the 2nd 45 minutes can be different than the first. After fending off the oncoming Swiss attack Dominik Szoboszlai would cross the ball into the box to find the head of Barnabas Varga who would send the ball into the net. 24 minutes from the final whistle and Hungary were making a game out it. 

The game would remain nervy with Switzerland looking for the goal to put it away, and Hungary vying for the tying goal. The 74th minute saw Breel Embolo make his return to the Euros coming on for Ruben Vargas. Fast forward to stoppage time. A long ball by Switzerland would be headed straight up by Hungary's defense to fall comfortably at the feet of Breel. The forward would chest the ball down, lose his shoe, and lob the ball over Hungary's goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi to seal the victory. 

Switzerland lost on penalties to France in the Round of 16 at Euro 2020. With Breel Embolo back in the mix, they hope to make it even further this year.

     

Spain vs Croatia or Morata that for Spain, Please

Croatia have been known for deep runs in the FIFA World Cup. They finished 2nd in 2018 and 3rd in 2022. That success hasn't translated into Europe's Championship as they have bowed out of the last two editions in the Round of 16. Many still picked them to be possible winners of a stacked Group B. They would be up against defending champions Italy, previous multiple champions Spain, but also time. How long can this Croatian side continue push to be among the final two teams standing?

Enter Spain. La Furia Roja. The nation has fallen from its once unquestionable position as the best in the world. Their impeccable run began in 2008 with a European Championship. They would follow that up with a 2010 FIFA World Cup. Not to be forgotten, they would repeat as Europe's best in 2012. The last team to win back to back titles were on a mission to not be forgotten. Favorites to win teeter tottered among the bookies between England and France. Germany was also picked to win thanks the home field advantage. Spain was ready.

The Spanish National Team at the Euros has become synonymous with Alvaro Morata. The veteran forward is the all time leader in goals scored at the Euros by a Spanish player. He was quick to push his total at the top ahead. 

In the 29th minute, Fabian Ruiz would drive the ball forward to Morata who would slip the ball to the keeper's right and open up Spain's campaign 1:0. It was the third straight European Championship where Morata scored against Croatia. It made him the first Spanish player to score in three straight Euros, and tied him for 3rd all time in goals scored for Spain. 

Croatia would jump back off the kick off moving the ball quickly towards Spain's goal. Mateo Kovacic's shot would be saved. Spain would answer back, especially in the 32nd minute when Pedri's pass would find Fabian Ruiz who score their second. 

At 16 Years, 338 days, Spain's Lamine Yamal became the youngest player to ever appear at a European Championship. He would make his presence felt with an assist off of a corner kick. His cross into the box would find Dani Carvajal who would strike from close range to make it 3:0.

With such a dominant performance against a gritty opponent in Croatia, all eyes would turn to see how Italy would respond in what was once considered a three team race for first in Group B.

     

Italy vs Albania or Barella Believe It!

Albania qualified for only their second UEFA Euros competition finishing atop their group. Their defense lead the way as they only gave up 4 goals in 12 matches. They didn't face anyone with the firing goal power of Spain or Italy. Would their defense be up to keeping things close? And if not, could they score multiple goals to stay in the game? 

Italy entered this year's Euros looking as outsiders to repeat as Champions. The bookies looked more favorably to England, France, and Germany. Some questioned if Italy could even finish top two of Group B. Spain's brilliant performance earlier in the day meant the pressure was on the Azzuri to show up as well.

Unfortunately for Italy, Albania was ready at the start. Just 28 seconds into the first half, Italy would take a throw deep in their own half. A pass back to the keeper would make it into the box but fall to the feet of Albania's Nedim Bajrami to give Albania a shocking 1:0 lead. This was the fastest goal ever scored at a European Cup match.

Albania were ahead, but Italy had plenty of time to work some magic. The pressure began and would culminate just ten minutes later. Lorenzo Pellegrini would receive the ball from a corner kick and cross it towards the far post where Alessandro Bastoni would head the ball for the tie. 

Just five minutes later, Albania would make a poor clearance out of the box that would land at the feet of Nicolo Barella who would calmly score the go ahead goal. 

Many chances by both sides, mostly Italy, but this game would end 2:1 for the Champions. Albania's comeback to the Euros looked impressive for a side that few picked to even earn a point. But with all to play for given Croatia's loss, Albania could have a shot at advancing in one of the top four third place positions.

Italy survived a scare today. How will they fare against a more clinical looking Spanish side? We'll find out five days from now.

The Fourth Official: Germany vs Scotland or From Wirtz to First

        

Germany finished 2023 losing to the likes of Colombia, Japan, Turkey, and Austria. In the middle of that run, they beat France and the United States, while drawing with Mexico. The mostly downward yo-yo lead to changes for their task of hosting the 2024 Euro Cup.

Enter new head coach Julian Nagelsmann, only 36 years of age. The hope was to translate his success at club level into a rebirth of the German National team. Inclusion of new, youthful players such as 21 year old Florian Wirtz and 24 year old Kai Havertz, as well as bringing back some veterans like 34 year old Thomas Muller, and the seemingly ageless 34 year old Toni Kroos, himself a man on his way to retirement after a successful campaign to win the La Liga title and the Champions League with Real Madrid, in what would be a fairy tale ending to a player who clearly has some years left in his legs with a Euro title on German land, Die Mannschaft were ready to prove to the World that England and France weren't the run-away favorites after all.

Friendly victories in 2024 over France, Netherlands, and Greece saw Germany building momentum into the start of this tournament. Their one blemish a scoreless draw against the youngest team to qualify for the Euros, but a talented bunch nonetheless in Ukraine. Germany stepped onto the field in Munich trying to avoid being the first host to not win their opening match since Poland's 1:1 draw in 2012. 

If you look at the photo above and wonder what is happening, you know how Scotland started to feel early in this match-up. The aforementioned Florian Wirtz made his debut in a major competition. He opened up the scoring of Euro 2024 from a centered pass just outside the box from right back Joshua Kimmich. The resulting shot would go low and to the keeper's left. Angus Gunn would dive and reach the ball with his hand driving it to the post and back in behind. All this just 10 minutes in.

Things would like twice as bad for Scotland in the 19th minute. Attacking midfielder and captain Ilkay Gundogan would drive the ball forward into the box to center forward Kai Havertz who would pass the ball to Jamal Musiala and the hosts were up 2:0.

Even when Angus Gunn did right he was still made to be wrong. A flicking header from Gundogan would be saved only for the ball to rebound in the keeper's box where a mistake would be made. The rebound would fall back to the feet of a waiting Gundogan who would be challenged Scottish center back Ryan Porteus. The two footed challenge would see Ryan's front leg hit the ball and follow through to kick Gundogan in the shin, while the trailing leg would slide on the grass and connect studs up into the same leg of Germany's captain. The resulting red card would also lead to a penalty kick. Though Ilkay would spend some time rolling on the grass in pain, it was Scotland who were about to truly feel hurt.

Kai Havertz would step up and send Angus Gunn the wrong way to give Germany a 3:0 lead in stoppage time of the first half. 

The action wouldn't pick up until the 68th minute. Gundogan would drive forward, pick up a pass, and heel flick it back to a running Niclas Fullkrug who would find the back of the net to make it 4:0. All of Germany thought Fullkrug doubled his goal tally in the 76th minute only to find the substitute would become the first victim of the automatic offside technology which ruled the forward too far ahead for the oncoming pass and nullify the goal keeping it 4:0.

At this point, Scotland's only hope to progress out of the first round of a major tournament would rely on two victories in their remaining matches, and enough goals to keep their goal differential competitive. They would find some luck in the 87th minute. Scottish captain Andrew Robertson would deliver a cross from midfield that would be flicked on by Germany's Fullkrug, only to find the head of Scotland's Scott McKenna whose attempt at goal would deflect off of German center back Antonio Rudiger into the German goal. At this point the singing German crowd grew quiet at the one blemish they would see in the night. The Scottish fans tried to make the best of their situation by chanting, "You aren't singing now".

The night would end much as it began. In stoppage time of the second half Germany would play the ball into the corner, lay it off back on the left hand side, drive the ball into the box to be passed back to a waiting Emre Can who would fire low to the keeper's left. For the second time in the night Angus Gunn would put his hand on a ball only to allow a goal. 

Four nights ago, Emre Can wasn't even on the team sheet for Germany at Euro 2024. Tonight he was scoring the fifth goal in a European Championship, the most Germany has ever scored in a single game at the the tournament, in the biggest win Germany has had at a Euro. 

In terms of favorites, Germany has set the standard. Let's see how the other predicted winners fare in their opening matches. As for Scotland, there are still two chances to make some history on their own as the best four third place teams will make it out of their respective groups. To do so they are going to need to find plenty of goals. Their history says they do not have it in them as they've only scored 6 goals in 10 matches at the Euros all time. The Tartan Army must keep on believing, they are after all the one nation who has the unicorn as their national animal. "Fairy tales can come true, it can happen to you", crooned Frank Sinatra. Here's to Scottish hearts staying young.