So, as the dust settles and tears are wiped away, it’s time to reflect. Euro 2020 is over and Italy have emerged victorious, defeating England on penalties – yes, obviously, penalties. As in every tournament, there are winners and losers. Italy and Switzerland will, undoubtedly, count themselves as winners. England themselves can probably reflect on the tournament with pride, reaching their first major tournament final since 1966. On the other hand, France and the Netherlands would most likely prefer to move on from Euro 2020 rather swiftly. However, some winners can go unnoticed, falling under the radar and don’t quite get the recognition they deserve. Join 3-At-The-Back as we take a deeper look at the Euro 2020 winners who haven’t got the credit they deserve.
VAR
Casting your mind back to a weekend where VAR didn’t make the headlines – for all the wrong reasons – is a struggle. When it was first introduced to the Premier League in the 2019/20 season, fans were asked to accept a bedding-in period. The process would be slow at first and a few mistakes would be made, but it was promised that it would soon be rectified. In the Premier League, the opposite seems to have happened. Decisions are slow and frequently contentious, leading to anti-VAR campaigners pleading to return to simpler times: where referees made mistakes but at least they were made quickly. Penalties felt rare and players didn’t have to worry about clipping their toenails in case they were offside.
So, with VAR to be used in Euro 2020, some feared the worst. A celebration of football ruined by VAR would be an all-too familiar tale. Yet, barring a few occasional errors and slow processes – somewhat predictably the English cohort of officials were the most frequent offenders – VAR was a success. Fans celebrated goals not worrying about offside, the standard of ‘clear and obvious errors’ was upheld, and games generally passed by without incident, leaving the actual football to make the newspaper’s back pages. Referees escaped scathing criticism.
VAR
Casting your mind back to a weekend where VAR didn’t make the headlines – for all the wrong reasons – is a struggle. When it was first introduced to the Premier League in the 2019/20 season, fans were asked to accept a bedding-in period. The process would be slow at first and a few mistakes would be made, but it was promised that it would soon be rectified. In the Premier League, the opposite seems to have happened. Decisions are slow and frequently contentious, leading to anti-VAR campaigners pleading to return to simpler times: where referees made mistakes but at least they were made quickly. Penalties felt rare and players didn’t have to worry about clipping their toenails in case they were offside.
So, with VAR to be used in Euro 2020, some feared the worst. A celebration of football ruined by VAR would be an all-too familiar tale. Yet, barring a few occasional errors and slow processes – somewhat predictably the English cohort of officials were the most frequent offenders – VAR was a success. Fans celebrated goals not worrying about offside, the standard of ‘clear and obvious errors’ was upheld, and games generally passed by without incident, leaving the actual football to make the newspaper’s back pages. Referees escaped scathing criticism.
Euro 2020 highlighted how VAR can be used to positive effect. VAR can make correct decisions quickly without affecting the pace of the game. With the right officials on the pitch and behind the monitor, VAR can work. Hopefully, Euro 2020 inspires positive change at Stockley Park on August 13 as the Premier League season kicks off.
Emma Hayes
Emma Hayes was everything a pundit/co-commentator should be. Insightful and knowledgeable, picking up on the minutiae that can only be seen by those with a brilliant football brain. Sharing that knowledge with the viewers and doing so with a genuine smile and excitement. She was a breath of fresh air.
Having signed a new, long-term contract as Chelsea Women’s manager recently, it is clear she is still chasing an elusive Champions League winner’s medal, reaching the final in 2020/21 but falling at the final hurdle. It is unlikely, then, that she has set her sights on managing in the men’s game anytime soon, becoming the first woman to do so in history. However, if she wished to, Hayes has proven herself to be about as knowledgeable as they come in football and will no doubt have made men’s teams sit up and take notice. The appointment of a female manager in the men’s game would not appear as risky after Hayes’ detailed in-game tactical analysis she displayed during Euro 2020.
Emma Hayes
Emma Hayes was everything a pundit/co-commentator should be. Insightful and knowledgeable, picking up on the minutiae that can only be seen by those with a brilliant football brain. Sharing that knowledge with the viewers and doing so with a genuine smile and excitement. She was a breath of fresh air.
Having signed a new, long-term contract as Chelsea Women’s manager recently, it is clear she is still chasing an elusive Champions League winner’s medal, reaching the final in 2020/21 but falling at the final hurdle. It is unlikely, then, that she has set her sights on managing in the men’s game anytime soon, becoming the first woman to do so in history. However, if she wished to, Hayes has proven herself to be about as knowledgeable as they come in football and will no doubt have made men’s teams sit up and take notice. The appointment of a female manager in the men’s game would not appear as risky after Hayes’ detailed in-game tactical analysis she displayed during Euro 2020.
UEFA’s 32-Team Tournament Dream
It should come as no surprise that UEFA are desperate to increase the number of teams in the European Championship. More teams, more games, more money. The fact that footballers are human beings and could actually do with rest to avoid long-term, potentially career-ending injuries doesn’t really factor into decision-making. That much was clear with the new, expanded plans for the Champions League (but let’s not get into that right now). That is why sixteen became twenty-four and third place became qualification, more or less.
Euro 2020 proved that the 24-team model doesn’t garner the excitement an international tournament should have. All sense of jeopardy and drama going into the final group fixtures was lost, with teams securing qualification based on results in other groups. UEFA will have known this and, probably, are quite happy that the tournament panned out the way it did – with all three final groups knowing who qualified for the knockout based on the first three groups results. So, when they inevitably suggest increasing the number of teams from 24 to 32, Europe will resoundingly say yes. Jeopardy restored and a chance for those nations just missing out to have a shot at making history. After all, more teams, more games, more money. Just keep quiet about those pesky players needing a rest.
Fans
It wasn’t the tournament we all imagined it would be. Travelling from country to country to watch football in the glorious summer sun. Even the glorious summer sun seemed to abandon us, at least in this country. The sight of fans back in stadiums, however, was a welcome one. Not all ground may have been full, but the energy that normally accompanies a full house was certainly there. Having been so accustomed to crowd noise, it was almost a blissful surprise when Jordan Pickford received a headed back-pass against Croatia to a polite round of applause.
There are some things crowd noise simply cannot replace. The collective intake of breath as a chance builds, a chorus of boos for the game’s pantomime villain and the pandemonium in the stands as a goal is scored. Even the polite round of applause following a headed back-pass to the goalkeeper was a blissful surprise. Those instinctive reactions are unique and seeing and hearing them once more is utterly joyous. Finally, after what has felt like forever, football – as we know and love it – felt like it had returned. Long may it continue.
It should come as no surprise that UEFA are desperate to increase the number of teams in the European Championship. More teams, more games, more money. The fact that footballers are human beings and could actually do with rest to avoid long-term, potentially career-ending injuries doesn’t really factor into decision-making. That much was clear with the new, expanded plans for the Champions League (but let’s not get into that right now). That is why sixteen became twenty-four and third place became qualification, more or less.
Euro 2020 proved that the 24-team model doesn’t garner the excitement an international tournament should have. All sense of jeopardy and drama going into the final group fixtures was lost, with teams securing qualification based on results in other groups. UEFA will have known this and, probably, are quite happy that the tournament panned out the way it did – with all three final groups knowing who qualified for the knockout based on the first three groups results. So, when they inevitably suggest increasing the number of teams from 24 to 32, Europe will resoundingly say yes. Jeopardy restored and a chance for those nations just missing out to have a shot at making history. After all, more teams, more games, more money. Just keep quiet about those pesky players needing a rest.
Fans
It wasn’t the tournament we all imagined it would be. Travelling from country to country to watch football in the glorious summer sun. Even the glorious summer sun seemed to abandon us, at least in this country. The sight of fans back in stadiums, however, was a welcome one. Not all ground may have been full, but the energy that normally accompanies a full house was certainly there. Having been so accustomed to crowd noise, it was almost a blissful surprise when Jordan Pickford received a headed back-pass against Croatia to a polite round of applause.
There are some things crowd noise simply cannot replace. The collective intake of breath as a chance builds, a chorus of boos for the game’s pantomime villain and the pandemonium in the stands as a goal is scored. Even the polite round of applause following a headed back-pass to the goalkeeper was a blissful surprise. Those instinctive reactions are unique and seeing and hearing them once more is utterly joyous. Finally, after what has felt like forever, football – as we know and love it – felt like it had returned. Long may it continue.
Written by - James McEvoy
Edited by - 3-At-The-Back
Edited by - 3-At-The-Back