The semi-finals of Euro 2020 were full of drama and heart, as Italy and England progressed to the final. Italy beat Spain in a penalty shootout that saw Spanish players Dani Olmo and Álvaro Morata go from heroes to villains. In England’s match against Denmark, they were finally able to break through their 55 year old semi-final ceiling at major tournaments, reaching their first final since 1966. Here is our quick semi-final recap.
North Macedonia entered their first ever major tournament as clear underdogs. Before this, the only player of North Macedonian origin who had played in the European Championships was Blagoje Vidinic, a goalkeeper for the Former Yugoslavia in 1960. Unfortunately for North Macedonia, they failed to progress past the group stage, and floundered to the bottom of Group C. Despite that, they never looked as though they did not belong. Here is our tactical analysis of how they performed at the European Championships.
In Thomas Tuchel's first twenty-two games in charge, the Blues lost just two games. It's safe to say, things were going swimmingly in Chelsea's quest to finish in the top four. After an incredible two-leg performance over Real Madrid to reach the UEFA Champions League final, the Blues travelled to Manchester and turned heads with their 2-1 victory over the eventual champions, in a preview of the final to come. Just as the Blues reached their highest point under Thomas Tuchel, they quickly reached their lowest.
Despite a disappointing loss to Newcastle United this weekend, David Moyes' West Ham are still in the race for the top four. Their injury crisis might be building, but any form of European football would be a major plus for the team. Here is Amelia-Toni Adejobi's analysis of their chances of finishing within the top four, and how they fared in some of their recent matches.
For a team sitting 18th in the Premier League table and facing relegation, Fulham played like they already had no hope. Leeds United fought long and hard and came out with a well deserved three points, shooting them up to 11th. Looking at the statistics on paper, no one would be able to tell that Fulham played a lackluster game. Here is Amelia-Toni Adejobi’s Tactical Analysis of Leeds' 2-1 win over Fulham on March 19, 2021.
West Ham United have had an extraordinary season thus far. However, against second-place Manchester United, they failed to play with any conviction, almost as though they didn't believe in themselves to win the match. It was a confusing performance from the Hammers, who have achieved positive results against the likes of Leicester, Spurs, and even Manchester City this season. Here is Amelia-Toni Adejobi's Tactical Analysis of United's 1-0 win over the Hammers.
The MastermindSite 