IT STARTED encouragingly, but the 17th European Championship has deteriorated from an underlying mood of expectation to a series of low-octane chess matches that seem to be hell-bent on ending with a penalty shoot-out. Although there have been just two penalty deciders so far, there is the potential for three more, a wholly unsatisfactory solution to breaking a deadlock. The TV channels might like them and talk them up, but they are no more satisfying than a toss of the coin.
Whatever happens in the next week, EURO 2024 will be remembered for the underperformance of so many teams. At its best, the competition has given us plucky displays by the likes of Georgia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Austria and Turkey, at its worst we have had Group C, Ronaldo’s tears and Bellingham’s rant. And let’s not forget the very irritating pitch invasions.
Some of the more fancied teams have failed to captivate our attention, such as England, Belgium, Croatia, France and, most noticeably, Italy. Some of this could be because some teams, like Croatia, Belgium and Portugal, have ageing. As good as some of these players have been, they cannot go on forever. While people were quick to point out that Croatia had some veterans in their squad, they seemed to ignore that in the England set-up, Pickford, Stones, Walker, Tripper and Kane were all over 30. EURO 2024 seems to be the end of the road for a golden generation or two.
The best teams to watch have been Spain – now surely favourites – Germany, Austria and Switzerland, two of which would have been discarded as teams most likely to make an impact. The Swiss play England, who dare not underestimate them in their quarter-final clash. Spain have been consistent and attack-minded, but there have been too many sides lacking pace and invention. Some games have simply been very dull. The goals-per-game rate is currently just 2.24 which is considerably lower than 2020’s 2.78 but better than 2016’s 2.12 per game. The crowds, as one would expect in Germany, have averaged a very healthy 51,646.
Goals seem to be very hard to come by, hence not one outstanding striker has come to the fore as the best sharpshooter in the competition. Currently, four players have netted three times, with just one – Cody Gakpo of the Netherlands – still involved. Since the European Championship moved to 16 (or more) nations, Antoine Griezmann holds the record for the most scored in a single competition, six in 2016. It’s all a far cry from 1984, when Michel Platini netted nine times in five games.
Europe is awaiting the next batch of outstanding forwards. Kylian Mbappé of France has had a poor tournament so far, his injury in game one compromising his effectiveness, while Harry Kane of England (two goals so far), started EURO 2024 playing deep and in a spectator role. Ronaldo, at 39, has been largely anonymous.
Above all, the lack of stand-out teams and performances can arguably be attributed to the format. A 24-team format definitely dilutes the quality of the competition. From a bean-counter’s perspective, more teams (markets) involved results in more broadcasting revenues, greater advertising potential and more media and commercial exposure, but it certainly does not mean a better tournament. The last 16-team structure was in 2012, jointly hosted in Poland and Ukraine. The average ranking for the 16 countries was 10.9 which was considerably lower than the 16.1 average for EURO 2024. In other words, there are more weaker teams in this year’s competition. With four third-placed teams guaranteed a place in the last 16, this can affect the final group games as opponents can shadow box for 90 minutes to get a point that can send them through. Slovenia, from the “group of slumber”, qualified with three draws and two goals from three games.
The return to a one-country location is certainly a positive; the fans have enjoyed themselves and there’s no better country than Germany to stage a major event. But sometimes, less is more and in the case of a football competition, it should be a showcase of the very best teams. A more compact format would also benefit the players and possibly help the spectators navigate the tournament easier from both logistic and financial perspectives.
Let’s be clear, there have been worse European Championships and World Cups, but with all the talent on show, all the money spent, there have been all too few games to remember. There have been some memorable moments and some good goals, but how often have the audience been transfixed for 90 minutes?