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Text: Broken Boat Cold
Edited by Broken Boat Cold
Preface
The 1/4 finals of the European Cup are raging, and the fierce games make the fans enthusiastic! Who would have thought that the two strong teams of the host country, Germany and Portugal, would both fall on the threshold of the quarterfinals?
France and Spain have teamed up to advance to the semi-finals, but what are the ups and downs of these two matches? What are the shocking scenes worth recalling?
The storm of youth swept the European Cup
On the field of the European Cup, a whirlwind of youth is sweeping, Yamal is like a bright new star, in this European Cup has sent three assists, showing amazing talent and strength.
The performance of this young player is reminiscent of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo back then, who also began to emerge at this age, and in the Spanish team, Olmo's performance was equally impressive, as he came on as a substitute.
Not only scored the winning goal, but also became the key man of the team, this kind of performance from the bench to directly change the direction of the game is undoubtedly a perfect embodiment of the strength and psychological quality of a player.
Merino, on the other hand, struck late in extra-time and showed an excellent ability to take chances, and this kind of performance to step up at crucial moments is exactly what a champion team needs, and the Spanish young players play well.
Not only does it add a lot of energy to the tournament, but it also bodes well for the future of the team, and from the performances of these young players, we can see that the future of European football is growing rapidly, and they are not only bringing fresh blood.
Interpreting the charm of football in its own way, this power of youth is quietly changing the pattern of European football, but football has never been just a stage for young people, and experienced veterans also play an important role on the field.
Their on-the-spot performance and tactical execution ability can often influence the direction of the game at critical moments, and this collision of old and new, youth and experience is the secret of football's eternal vitality.
On this stage, every player is interpreting the charm of football in their own way, whether it is a young player who is not afraid of tigers, or an experienced veteran, they are all fighting for their dreams, and this fighting spirit is the most touching part of sports.
Strong showdown, who dominates the ups and downs?
The match between France and Portugal is arguably the most eye-catching match of this European Cup, and the clash between two traditional powerhouses is undoubtedly a visual feast for football fans, but the process of the game is surprisingly uneventful.
Both teams were cautious in regulation time, with Portugal dominating possession but disappointing in attacking efficiency, with poor quality passing and few threats created.
In this situation, even a superstar like Cristiano Ronaldo struggles to make a move, and France rely mainly on quick counter-attacks to create a threat, and Mbappe's speed has become France's sharpest weapon, but the real great opportunities are few and far between.
The conservative style of play of the two teams turned this strong matchup into a war of attrition, and the score remained 0-0 in 120 minutes, which not only reflected the proximity of the two teams, but also exposed the weakness of both sides in attack.
In the end, the game could only be decided by a penalty shootout, in which Cristiano Ronaldo scored accurately, showing the composure of the veteran, but Felix's mistake became the turning point for Portugal to lose the game.
This kind of mistake at a crucial moment often leaves an indelible shadow on the players, and the French team eventually won the penalty shoot-out with a score of 5-3, and although the victory to advance to the last four was not easy to come by, it also exposed the problems of the French team in the offensive end.
If they want to go far in the next games, they will have to improve their attacking efficiency, and this defeat is undoubtedly a huge blow for Portugal, especially for the 39-year-old Ronaldo, who could be his last European Championship appearance.
Saying goodbye to the European Championship with regret is undoubtedly a bitter ending for the football superstar, but football is so cruel that it will not open up to you just because you are a superstar.
On this stage, only the performance of the moment is the most important, and the exit of the Portuguese team, perhaps marking the end of an era, but also heralding the dawn of a new era, and the lesson of this game is that it is at the top level.
Conservative is not always a wise choice, sometimes taking risks and being bold can lead to unexpected gains, and both France and Portugal should learn from this game and prepare for the games ahead.
The host's pathos came to an end
Germany had high hopes as hosts, but they suffered a heartbreaking defeat against Spain in a game that was full of ups and downs and drama.
After the start of the game, the two teams often fought physically, the field was full of gunpowder, fouls continued, and even there were 16 yellow cards and 1 red card staggering figures, this level of intensity, people can't help but think of the "German tank" of the year
However, the lack of passion and discipline exposed the tactical problems of the German team, and Spain took the lead in the 51st minute thanks to a goal from Olmo, who had come on as a substitute.
But he became the key to changing the direction of the game, which once again proved that in football, the role of no one player should never be underestimated, and the backward German team launched a crazy counterattack.
Their efforts finally paid off in the last minute of regulation time when Wirtz's equaliser gave hope to German fans and not only saved the German team, but also made the game even more exciting.
However, fate did not seem to be on Germany's side, and in the final minute of extra time, Spain's Merino scored a goal that not only shattered Germany's dreams of qualifying, but also brought Kroos's career to a slightly regrettable end.
The defeat must have been a painful blow for the Germans, who were expecting a miracle at home only to be knocked out by the fact that the defeat meant more than just a knock out of the tournament.
It could also have an impact on the attention of the European Championship as a whole, and we should not let this defeat dismiss the quality of the German team, whose tenacity and never-give-up spirit in the game still deserve our respect.
The defeat may be painful, but it is also the best teacher, and I believe that after this setback, the German team will become stronger, and for the Spanish team, this victory is undoubtedly a shot in the arm, they have not only defeated strong opponents.
The victory over the hosts on the road will greatly boost the team's confidence, especially the outstanding performance of the young players, and give a glimpse of the bright future of Spanish football.
Whether it is Germany or Spain, the spirit they showed in this game is worthy of our learning and admiration, this is the charm of football, it is not only a sport, but also a spiritual inheritance.
Looking ahead to the semi-finals, who will make it to the top of Europe?
With the quarter-finals coming to an end, the matchup for the top half of the European Championship has been decided: Spain will face France in a battle of the dragons, which is undoubtedly a strong matchup, with both teams having a glorious history and excellent quality.
Looking at their current form, Spain seem to have the upper hand, showing great resilience and teamwork against Germany, especially by the young players.
The 16-year-old's three assists showed the potential of Spain's new generation, and this youthful energy may be the key to Spain's victory, and we cannot underestimate the strength of the French team.
Although they were somewhat conservative against Portugal, the overall quality of the team should not be underestimated, with Mbappe's speed, Antoine Griezmann's creativity and Benzema's ability to grasp the game as a winning formula for France.
The key to this semi-final is likely to lie in the tactical arrangement of the two teams, Spain are known for possession, and their pass-and-possession football has always been their label, while France are more adept at quick counter-attacks, and Mbappe's speed can often exert lethal power in counter-attacks.
Another point to watch is the mentality of both teams, with Spain having just beaten hosts Germany away and morale is high. France, on the other hand, struggled to advance through a penalty shoot-out, which could have some impact on the team's confidence.
For the managers of both teams, it will be a huge challenge to develop a reasonable plan tactically and motivate the players at the same time, whether to stick to their own style of play or adjust to the characteristics of the opponent.
It's going to be a matter to ponder, and looking at the all-time head-to-head meetings, the two teams are fairly close in quality, with both sides having had good performances in past matches, meaning that this semi-final is likely to be a close contest.
It may even be decided by extra-time or penalty shoot-outs, and no matter who wins in the end, it is believed that this game will be a football feast, it is not only a battle between two teams, but also a collision of two football concepts.
It's a must-play for the fans, and it's a stage where every detail can be the difference between victory and defeat, whether it's a subtle pass that can affect the outcome of a game, that's the beauty of football, it's full of uncertainty and that's why it's so fascinating.
epilogue
On the field of the European Cup, we witnessed the power of youth, felt the tenacity of veterans, and experienced the infinite charm of football, whether it was surprise or regret, victory or defeat, every game is interpreting the true meaning of football.
It is not only a sport, but also a spiritual inheritance, on this stage, every player is fighting for their dreams, every team is writing their own legend, the next game, I believe that football will bring us more surprises and touches, because on the football field, everything is possible!
Reference: Shangguan 2024-07-06"This world belongs to young people! Hosts Germany were knocked out, while Spain and France advanced to the semi-finals of the European Championship.
China.com 2024-07-02 "The Birth of the Wonders of the European Cup: Germany, Spain, Portugal and France Gather, 1/4 Finals Super Showdown in Place Football Feast"