EURO 2020: Reigning, Defending, Champions Of Europe General Discussion

I’m glad you brought up Italy because they are the test case that helps show how hypocritical media can be.

Here’s what you should ask yourself when it comes to the national teams of Italy and Portugal: do journalists generally present Portugal as favorably as it presents Italy?

From what I see and hear and read, the media is always willing to credit Italy for its success and for its obstinance on the pitch, praising how tough Italy is to break down, etc. Meanwhile, Portugal goes more defensive to finally win a tournament (with a team nobody expected to win the tournament) and is castigated for it. Italy has Catenaccio, Portugal just has Ronaldo.

I understand that journalists (written or broadcast) want to be entertained and that plays a role in how they process a match, I’ve acknowledged as much. I also understand that Italy has more trophies, so even when they play dour football they’re lauded because that’s their “identity.”

However, it’s not like Italy was high-flying throughout the 2006 WC, yet the media is all “Wow, those tough, plucky Italians just found a way to win again. Such class!” Portugal does something similar and its “They just ruined football, they’re lucky and negative and I hope I never see anything like that ever again.”

Portugal isn’t a victim and neither are its fans, but you have to just not pay attention if you think the likes of Portugal and Italy and Netherlands and England and Brazil and Spain (etc., etc.) are all on equal footing when it comes to the way media talks about them, nor should they be. But it’s the hypocrisy and caveats that annoy me as someone who simply wants Portugal to get credit when it deserves credit.

Portugal won Euro 2016 and so much of the ongoing narrative was immedaitely set by the folks on TV who pointed to luck and negative tactics and their own hurt feelings. That’s actially a rare thing in the world of sports.

 

Something interesting happened last night with Joao Cancelo: he started at LB for Man City.

That could be an excellent development for Portugal considering Guerreiro rarely plays a true LB position for Dortmund, which obviously has impacted his quality at LB for Portugal, and Mario Rui is clearly not preferred to RG.

Hopefully it wasn’t a one-match trial by Pep and Cancelo continues to see time at LB. He had a good match, though he had little to do defensively. He did have one poor clearance from a corner that gave Watford an open shot (that it wasted), but otherwise was good even though there weren’t counter opportunities, mostly intricate passing trying to break through a team with nine men behind the ball.

He played the full 90.

 

I guess it has more to do with the fact that Italy are 4 time World Champions and Portugal have never been world champions before. I guess that is the big difference.

 

A Portugal lineup with Semedo at CB (he's a RB) ahead of Dias. And Cancelo ahead of a fit Ricardo Pereira. Imagine that...lol!

 

As I mentioned. Just a lot of personal feelings and/or preconceived notions getting in the way of actual analysis sometimes. I expect it on Twitter, not from professional journalists.

Either way, it’s fairly obvious the media treated the Euro 2016 champions differently than Euro 2004 champions Greece or 2006 WC champions Italy, though.

 

Yeah well I guess because people ie. pundits and media alike are not used to Portugal playing defensive football

 

This is 100% conjecture

 

That’s gonna be a no from me.

It’s no shock Leicester City has 9 points from 8 matches since Ricardo was injured.

It’s actually not. If you follow a sport or sports closely you see that there are narratives that build around certain players, teams and seasons (or tournaments) that are not always accurate or consistent. All you really have to do is pay attention. However, praising the champion after winning the trophy is quite consistent - a formality, really.

Euro 2016 was the first time I ever saw one of a team (especially one of my own) win a trophy and immediately have negative connotation surrounding the analysis of that triumph. Between international soccer and international hockey and college basketball and college football and Major League Baseball and the NBA and the NFL I’ve followed countless seasons and even been lucky enough to see my teams win a major trophy dozens of times and there is precisely one time it was followed by members of the media acting offended by what just happened.

I think a big part of that has to do with the supposed “morality” a lot of soccer analysts, especially former players, apply to the way they view the sport that you don’t get from those analyzing other sports. But to act like there is a wrong way to win a European Championship is ridiculous, especially when we’re talking style of play or tactics as opposed to something nefarious like dirty play or blatant cheating.

A huge swath of journalists could barely deign to give Portugal so much as a little begrudging respect for what is an obviously a praiseworthy accomplishment.

 

Should be a (hard) no for anyone, yet it appears someone thinks it's a good idea...

 

I've long spoke about the mostly negative views towards the Portuguese national team for years. I can't say it's a world wide thing, but without a doubt it's rather obvious for the English, American and Canadian broadcasts. I remember 2 out of 3 "analyst" picking Bosnia over Portugal in a playoff years ago. It was either TSN or Sportsnet, whomever had the rights at the time. I also remember them being divided on the Sweden playoff.

You don't even have to compare how their viewed with the likes of France, Italy or any other World cup champion. They often get downplayed in comparison to inferior opponents.

I will say this, it does seem to be changing a bit. I've seen and read many more positive views in the last 2 years.

 

It’s harder for UK media to be quite so oblivious about the Portugal NT when the Premier League features the likes of Rui Patricio, Joao Moutinho, Ruben Neves, Diogo Jota, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Ricardo Pereira, etc. etc.

That won’t prevent their Euro 2020 previews from being 90% about Ronaldo’s age, though.

 

Well
This writer appears to have stuck his neck out and has predicted Portugal winning euro 20. Not sure if the postponement would change his mind.

https://www.thetriangle.org/sports/alternative-universe-euro-2020-and-copa-america-2020/

he says what many of us say, Ronaldo’s age isn’t so
Much a concern and we have a strong array of young talents coming through .

 

We have no weakness we are the best right now on the world stage.

 

Well then. Isnt that a breath of fresh air? lol.

Not often you come across such articles. It isnt far from the truth. While this author may not be sleeping on Portugal for Euro 2020/21*.. he is in the minority. Most still are and will be next summer.

Regardless of our group, i dont think theres any reason why Portugal can not top the group. At this moment, we are arguably the best NT in the world and potentially even more dangerous in a years time with the development of some of our young players and the opportunity to get back to their normal seld (Renato Sanches/Joao Felix)

 

My point is driven home when you look at the sportsbooks.

Euro 2020 winner:
England +500
Belgium +550
France+550
Netherlands +700
Germany +700
Spain +700
Italy +1200
Portugal +1600

What more evidence do we need to understand how we are viewed among others? The Euro 2016 and 2019 Nations League champions are the 8th favorite to win Euro 2020.

lawl.

 

this is ridiculous .
Also , Bruno fernandes will have another year at United . Same with Bernardo Silva who hopefully will bounce back as he has a better season two years ago.

If Ruben Semedo goes to benfica as is expected ,JJ will turn him into a beast alongside Ruben dias .

 

Can you tell
Me what website it is? I’ll
Put $350 right now on Portugal winning and cash out
Next summer in glory.

I don’t have much money tbh as my job doesn’t pay well
And I have to pay some spousal
Support and I remain focused on becoming a full
Time youth coach in Portugal or a scout.

I also have a teenage daughter but I don’t have to pay child support because the court saw I already looked after her as best as I could. In fact she spends more time with me than she does with my bitch ex.
I have more access and custody rights .this shows
How good of a person I am despite my haters on here .

 

Every time I think about Portugal’s
Team now I am honestly envious of Fernando Santos.

he has such a wealth of options and can approach the game with various formations and tactics.

 

His offensive minded Benfica 2006 tactics have translated really well to this national team we look unstoppable.

 

I detect sarcasm here as that benfica side was terrible.

my point is that he has a
Wealth of options many previous Portugal
Managers didn’t have.

He has a squad that can win the euro
And word
Cup.

 

Bet365

 

Yeah. I mean, for the most part, we can pretty much slot in the starting 11. There are some questions marks, certainly, but my only real question mark is the one CB position. Will it be Pepe? Possibly. Infact, if healthy, it probably will be. Lets wait and see how much progress is made with guys like Quaresma, Ferro and Semedo (if any) and how that impacts the NT ranks.

 

CB is a weakness.

Pepe isnt what he once was, and Dias while really good isnt word class. The other options are just good CB's right now. Let's see how they perform next season.

We're close though, France is the only team I'm really wary of. England is actually looking pretty good too if you look at their assembled roster.

 

Our team is so overrated. Only one top class winger (Bernardo), midfield is nothing special. Lb is a liability on defence. Best cb is 38.

William may even be done because of his back injury.

 

If anything, those things mean they're properly rated. Portugal may be #7 in the FIFA Rankings, but it rarely is treated like it. And it's behind the likes of Belgium, England and Croatia, which have won precisely nothing in ages, or beaten Portugal in a meaningful match in...also ages.

As it is, essentially no one outside of Portugal or Portugal fandom thinks it will win (or even place second in) a group featuring Germany and France even as reigning Euro 2016 and 2019 Nations League champions. Meanwhile, sportsbooks have the world #7 team as the 8th most likely Euro 2020 champion.

That really doesn't look like Portugal is overrated by the masses from here. And while Bruno Fernandes is getting plenty of credit for his impact at Manchester United, do you think the fact he took the Premier League by storm will lead to UK media predicting great things for Portugal next summer? Absolutely not.

Portugal's issues are mostly in figuring out the best 11 and how they work together. Not many teams at Euro 2020 will have the proven equivalent of Cristiano, Bernardo, Bruno, Ricardo, Rui, William, Raphael, Neves, etc. in its lineup. Or have the luxury of young talents like Dias, Renato, Joao, Silva, Leao, etc. fighting just to get/stay on the pitch.