COPA AMERICA 2024 ET EURO 2024 FINALS - What are we expecting?

Finally, we have come to the end of the COPA America and EUROPEAN Championship tournaments, 2024 edition. Ok not really the end because we still have two more games to determine who will be crowned champions in the COPA and EURO tournaments. It has been a jolly good ride while they lasted. It has been fun filled, exciting, captivating and eye catching as we see big names come down and also witness the making of champions from supposedly small teams.

Lionel Messi facing Diaz in the COPA America finals

The COPA America is seen as one of the strongest football tourneys to exist. This could be seen from the physicality involved, with reduced number of goals as well. Nevertheless, fun memories have been created. Argentina are looking forward to retaining their title, having won the tournament in 2021. Overall, the Argentinean team have managed a combined total of nine goals. They have scored eight and conceded just a goal from their opening game to the semi final round. Their goal scoring opportunities was however impressive with twenty-two chances created. This number showed a working midfield but the resultant number of goals showed that the strikers have not done a good job with the chances created.

Colombia National Team Celebrating a goal

Their final opponents however, Colombia have scored twelve goals and conceded just two goals. This figures showed a team that is consistent with conversion of chances created as they have only just created a total of fourteen chances with five games played.

On Monday 15th July, the tournament comes to an end by 1AM, Nigerian time. Many football fans are hoping for upset, especially Ororo fans. Can the Argentine Maestro come to the party?

Lamine Yamal tangles with Harry Kane at EURO 2024 finals

The EUROS on the other hand will see Spain and their youngsters battle it out against the Lions of England on 14th July by 8pm.

The Spanish team are the top scorers in the tournament with a total of thirteen goals scored and they have conceded just thrice in the tournament so far. Highest scorer in the team is Dani Olmo with three goals. The English team on the other hand have managed a combined 11 goals, scoring seven and conceding four.

EURO trophy

The finals will surely spring entertainment and surprises with both teams boasting of very bright and high performing players. Some players to watch include Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Jude Bellingham and a host of others.

Let the games begin football lovers. Who are you rooting to lift the trophy?

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EURO2024: Knockout Phase and How Things Stand

We are gradually coming to the climax of the European Championship. A competition that has lived up to expectations.

The #EURO2024 has delivered some doses of mouth watering performances, upsets, disappointment and last minute drama. One of the foremost upsets was having the reigning champions Italy ousted by Switzerland in the round of sixteen to progress to quarterfinals. Also we see a progress record that France has been able to maintain in almost three important competitions in the last six years; always knocking out Belgium from competitions that they have met at knockout stages.

The England team managed to survive a late drama with Jude Bellingham coming to their rescue in the 94th minute to snatch a 1:1 draw against a resilient Slovakia and going on to win in the match at extra time.

So far, we have all been entertained wholesomely and hope the quarterfinals deliver much more than we have witnessed.

The competition returns on Friday, 5th July with the first two games of the quarterfinals to be played by 5pm and 8pm, same day. The first game involves England and Switzerland. An encounter than football enthusiast are saying will go down at penalties but who knows. The Switzerland team are looking forward to keeping England trophyless for the mean time as well, we wait to see if England will tell a different story this time. The second match will be between Netherland and Turkey, A match many football fans are tipping Turkey for the win. It will be a decisive game as well.

On Saturday, the competition returns at 5pm with Spain hosting Germany at the MHPArena in a game that will be fiercely contested by opponents that boosts of a strong array of players. In the night, by 8pm Portugal will host France. 

Who will win the #EURO2024?

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EURO 2024, The Intrigues

The second leg of the group stages is currently ongoing and we can say, we have been greatly entertained as usual. The first match between Germany, the host country and Scotland gave an unexpected introduction into the fans should expect during the competition.

It as sensational Six goal thriller with |Florian Wirtz coming in with the opening goal at 10 minutes and Jamal Musiala scoring the second at the nineteenth minutes. We saw the first and only red card so far in the game at the opening match. Ryan Porteus picked the red for a bad foul in the box and Kai Harvertz scored the resulting penalty kick. 

Niclas Fullkrug and Emre Can scored the fourth and fifth goals respectively with the only goal for Scotland came on the Eighty seventh minute from an own goal by Rudiger.

So far, Germany and Spain have both qualified for the next round having won two of their three group stage matches. They will need a win or draw to stay at the top of the table or might finish second on the log. In any case, their present in the next round is confirmed.

Kylian Mbappe sustained a serious nose injury during their one zero win over Austria in their first group game of the tourney. He has been seeing at training adorning a face/nose mask. It is yet unconfirmed if he will be allowed to wear it during the official matches. His French side faces a very strong team, in the Netherlands that managed a 2:1 victory over Poland in their first game. Both teams will be looking to offset each other to claim an early spot in the knockout stage.

I will get you the very details when the group stage matches has all been played. Who progresses and who did not make it. Fingers crossed.

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