Germany Euro 2024 team guide: Wirtz and Musiala provide spark but defence is a concern “The manager. It’s strange to talk of a 36-year-old manager or head coach as being in a career recovery phase — and perhaps that is too strong a term — but Julian Nagelsmann is certainly on the rebound after leaving Bayern Munich. Until that sacking in March 2023, Bayern had just seemed like the natural next step of his ascension. It was not to be. Amid grumbling about his clothes, his temper and, in one instance, his skateboarding, the shine came off the penny when he was fired just 18 months on from his appointment. …”
NY Times/The Athletic
Scotland Euro 2024 team guide: Greater than the sum of their parts and aiming high “The manager. As the man who took Scotland to their first major tournament in 23 years, Steve Clarke’s legacy was secured the moment David Marshall saved the decisive penalty in the qualification play-off shootout against Serbia in November 2020. Making it to back-to-back Euros has elevated him to certified royalty, but a run into the knockout stages this summer would see him go down as arguably the best manager in Scotland’s history. …”
NY Times/The Athletic
Switzerland Euro 2024 team guide: An under-fire manager and an underpowered front line “The manager. Quite a few people in Switzerland are surprised that Murat Yakin is still there. As a playing great for the national team, his appointment in 2021 was welcomed but after being pulverised 6-1 by Portugal in the round of 16 at the World Cup, the last year or so has been a disaster. In their last seven qualifiers, they only beat Andorra and limped to the tournament by finishing second in a weak group. …”
NY Times/The Athletic
Hungary Euro 2024 team guide: Solid foundations and Szoboszlai magic cause for hope “The manager. ‘He could be filmed knocking over grandmothers in front of parliament, and people would still love him,’ says one supporter, summarising the popularity of Hungary head coach Marco Rossi. The 59-year-old Italian has been in charge since 2018 — making him the country’s longest-serving coach since the legendary Lajos Baroti in the 1960s, who was the final manager of a golden generation known as the Mighty Magyars. …”
NY Times/The Athletic
“The European Championships are almost upon us. Where the continent’s best and brightest gather to decide once and for all (or until 2028) who is the top dog. You have probably done all your research on the players and the teams and the tactics, so now it’s time to judge their outfits. And we’ve got some bad news for you folks: this has not been a vintage year for home kits. Too many templates, too many dull shirts, not much to get you excited about. And then there’s the kit that will make the players look like they’re wearing a diaper. So read on, and judge for yourselves…”
Scissors Kick 