The first two international soccer tournaments of the summer came to a close yesterday, and I’m not sure how to feel about it yet. It’s bittersweet, because seeing the finals is always the most exhilarating part, but when I woke up this morning knowing that there’d be no international soccer to watch, I shed a single tear while staring at my reflection in the television screen.
Now I have to actually WORK while I’m at work instead of doing “research”? No, that can’t be right. I’ll extend the tournament fun a bit longer for all of us; let’s go through both competitions and talk about the knockout stage, key takeaways, and my favorite things from each one. Then, we can all go back to the real world until the Olympics start up to distract us once more.
Euros: Está Volviendo a Casa
The last time we checked in on the Euros, I said Germany and Austria would play each other in the final. HA! That did not happen. Not even close, though I feel like Germany would’ve made the final if they didn’t have to play Spain in the quarterfinals. Tough draw!
In fact, the entire lower half of the bracket was a tough draw. If you’d bet on five of the eight teams in that half of the bracket to win the entire tournament before it got started, I wouldn’t have thought you were crazy. Spain, Germany, Portugal, Belgium, and France all had to go through one another to make the final, and it’s no surprise that iron sharpened iron and produced the tournament champions, La Furia Roja, who claimed their record fourth title.
This was a new-look Spanish side, with youngsters Nico Williams (22) and Lamine Yamal (turned 17 the day before the final) grabbing headlines for more than just their youthfulness. Where once the world was dazzled by Tiki Taka and the fluid exploits of Xavi, Iniesta, and Busquets, we now see the field marshaling of Rodri providing a base from which Yamal and Williams can use their speed and attacking quality to wreak havoc on even the world’s most organized defense. The Spaniards weren’t playing the exact style that made so many fall in love with them in 2010, but I’d say this new version of it will win a few admirers in its own right.
As for the runners-up, I can’t say I’m surprised. I enjoy poking fun at England’s failures, but jokes aside, this is an extremely talented squad that has experienced unprecedented disappointment in recent times. Losing consecutive Euro finals is ludicrous, but when you throw in their fourth-place finish in the 2018 World Cup, it begins to feel like some force is working against the Brits. We saw flashes of Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham’s skill, but a sometimes uninspired, haphazard tournament from the Three Lions kept Southgate’s men from finally jumping that final hurdle and left Harry Kane trophyless once more.
Beyond the final, there were plenty of stories worth mentioning. It was a tournament that emphasized collective achievement and performance over the individual, and while Rodri ended up winning player of the tournament, it could easily have gone to any number of players on the winning side. Turkey played fantastic soccer, showing that they could very well be at the start of a golden era for their national team, and Arda Guler might be the man to lead it. Georgia acquitted themselves well in their first-ever Euros appearance, making the Spanish sweat in their Round of 16 matchup when they went up first, courtesy of the tournament’s leading goal scorer (own goal).
We saw some legends say farewell, including the German pair of Toni Kroos and Thomas Mueller, France’s Olivier Giroud, and Belgian defender Jan Vertonghen, all three of whom have either retired completely or stepped away from international soccer. Likewise, we may have seen the likes of Luka Modric, Xherdan Shaqiri, and (maybe) the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo play their final minutes at major international tournaments. Only time will tell which of yesterday’s stars will be a part of tomorrow’s stories, but for now, let’s just appreciate that we had the chance to watch such immensely talented individuals.
In many ways, this Euro was a changing of the guard, as every iteration is to some degree. Guler (19), Yamal (17), Bellingham (21), and Germany’s Jamal Musiala (21) look to be the cream that will lead the next crop of soccer superstars, with several other names worthy of mention showing their stuff in Germany over the last month. What great players, what a tournament, what a game. Truly beautiful.
Copa América: The GOAT Gets Another One
For anyone that watched both the Euros and the Copa América, it was clear that there are stylistic differences across the Pacific Ocean. Where the European teams tended to follow a distinct style of play, the American teams threw in more flair, along with some extra grit and showmanship that, in my opinion, either made the games more exciting or killed off any recognizable rhythm.
I was much closer on my predictions for the Copa América than I was for the Euros, so cut me some slack. I thought Uruguay would fall to Argentina in the final, and though Colombia replaced Bielsa’s men for the silver medal, I got the champions spot on. Not the hardest prediction to make, but hey, it’s honest work.
The champions played with a swagger that comes from having been there and done that, making it three major tournament wins in a row. The aura of Lionel Messi was arguably more effective than the man himself at this edition of Copa América, as Lautaro Martinez ended up being the star man for La Albiceleste when he was given the chance. They were tasked with beating a stubborn Canada side twice in the same tournament, as well as a youthful, exciting Ecuador side that we’ll likely be hearing from in the future. All in all, it wasn’t Argentina’s most entertaining performance at a tournament, but dang was it an effective and efficient way to claim their 16th (!!) Copa América.
Before we move on to my miscellaneous favorites from the competition, I need to give Colombia their flowers. The heroic performance of James Rodriguez (Copa América record 6 assists) made me feel like a teenager watching the 2014 World Cup all over again, and I fell in love with Los Cafeteros all over again. Luis Diaz was electric as always, and the soccer their team was playing this month was mesmerizing more often than not. They fell flat in the final, but what a display. Bravo, Colombia.
Final aside, it was an exciting tournament throughout. We witnessed the maturation of a new Uruguayan generation, and we discovered that Brazil’s next superstars aren’t quite ready to shoulder the burden of the Canary Yellow. I was surprised to see Panama and Canada separate themselves as the best two Concacaf teams in the tournament by far, and while I still think the USA and Mexico have more quality, they certainly didn’t show the spirit and fight that their fellow confederation members did.
On a particularly bright note, Loons Tani Oluwaseyi and Dayne St. Clair performed very admirably in Canada’s third-place match, proving to be valuable assets in the Canadian men’s national team setup. If I were a betting man, I’d say additional call ups are in their futures. Well done, lads, and well done to Jesse Marsch for leading the Maple Leafs to fourth-place in their first-ever Copa América.
The group-stage exit of the USMNT proved to be the straw that broke Gregg Berhalter’s job security, and though I may be in the minority that’s sad to see him go, I am choosing to be excited for whomever is chosen to replace him. I’ve already talked about the state of US Soccer enough, but I’ll add this: let’s be patient and supportive as we continue to build a better tomorrow for American soccer. It’s going to get better; trust me.
From the tactical masterclass of the Euros to the passion-filled slugfest of the Copa América, we’ve been treated to a fantastic month of international soccer. It was exhilarating and frustrating at times, pulling me in and making me care about people from places I’ve never been and may never go. I rode the highs of the Georgian underdogs and felt the lows of the Colombians that fell at the final challenge. I learned about new cultures, participated in the joys of competition, and felt closer to the world around me.
As always, these tournaments ended up being far too short for my liking. I can’t wait for the 2028 editions of both of these tournaments, but first, let’s enjoy this summer’s Olympics. Then, start preparing yourself for World Cup 2026! We’ve got so much to look forward to in this awe-inspiring sport over the next few years, and I can barely contain my excitement.
