The European Championship is coming to an end. Only four teams remain in the tournament. But life goes on for the relegated teams. What interesting news is coming from the teams that have already left the European Championship?
Italy
Italian Football Federation president Gabriele Gravina said coach Luciano Spalletti will continue to work with the team. “We have full confidence in Spalletti, we will continue to move forward with him. We had no right to count on winning the European Championship, having in our squad boys who had never played in the national team before. We won the European Under-17 Championship, but none of these boys had ever played in the country’s main team before,” Gravina noted.
Luciano Spalletti
Photo: Claudio Villa/Getty Images
However, Spalletti did not do well at the European Championships in Germany. As Calciomercato reported with reference to Reppublica, during the tournament the relations between the coach and the players were tense. It is noted that the team was divided into two parts. Some players blamed Spalletti for the team’s lack of preparation for the European Championships, considering that they lacked intensity.
In addition, some players were against the call-up of midfielder Nicolo Fagioli, considering him a “snitch”. In case you had forgotten, the Juventus player involved Newcastle player Sandro Tonali in a betting scandal. Players were also shocked that Spalletti changed his tactics and composition two hours before the third round of group stage match against Croatia (1-1).
I don’t feel sorry for the Italian team. And that’s why:
Goodbye, Italy! Spalletti’s team played well at the Euros
Serbia
Serbia failed at the European Championships and finished fourth in the group with two points. Changes came immediately after the team’s exit. Vice-president of the Serbian Football Union Branislav Nedimovic and general secretary Jovan Surbatovic resigned.
Serbian national team players
Photo: Alex Caparrós – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
And during the tournament there was a lot of heat in the team. Dusan Tadic was not called up for the first round match against England (0:1). The midfielder came on the field only in the 61st minute. And after the meeting he said that he had to start the match because he considered himself the best player in the Serbian national team. Later, Tadic apologized to coach Dragan Stojkovic and his teammates. But the residue remained.
Serbian national team player joins RPL:
Zenit’s record transfer after Malcom! The club acquires the Serbian who scored a goal at the European Championship
Belgium
The Belgians lost to France in the round of 16 of the European Championship (0-1), but coach Domenico Tedesco will remain in his post. “Domenico has signed a contract until 2026, so there is no question of his departure. The situation is clear,” said Frank Vercauteren, sporting director of the Belgian Football Association, at the championship. It is worth noting, however, that the Belgians did not have the best tournament and played mediocre football.
Domenico Tedesco
Photo: Alex Grimm/Getty Images
And yet, there were changes in the Belgian national team. Defender Jan Vertonghen announced his retirement from the national team. The 37-year-old holds the record for the number of caps in the Belgian national team, with 157. But at Euro 2024, it became clear that Vertonghen no longer had enough speed.
Kevin de Bruyne is likely to leave the Belgium national team soon. He did not rule out such a scenario. “It is too early to say whether I will finish playing for the national team. I need to rest now because this season has been particularly long for me. You need to think a little bit. I will make a decision after the summer,” De Bruyne told La Libre.
How much does Tedesco earn? Domenico is at the centre of the list of coaches for the Euro Cup:
How much are national team coaches paid for Euro 2024? Southgate is a real paradox!
Croatia
The most dramatic moment came at the end of the third round of the group stage match between Croatia and Italy. The Croatians were leading 1:0 and this result put them into the playoffs. However, in the 90+8 minute, Mattia Zaccagni scored the return goal and knocked Croatia out of the last 16. The main shock, of course, was experienced by 38-year-old Luka Modric, who had already been substituted by that time. After the match, he did not answer the question about his future with the national team: “We will see. Now is not the time for such questions.” We may have seen the last game of the brilliant Luka for Croatia.
Luka Modric after the match against Italy
Photo: Dan Mullan/Getty Images
In addition, there were changes in the Croatian coaching staff after Euro 2024. Ivica Olic, the former CSKA player and coach who helped Zlatko Dalic, took on another job. He was in charge of the Croatian U-21 national team. Perhaps this appointment will be a springboard for further work with the main national team.
How Croatia was eliminated from Euro 2024:
Modric scored a historic goal at the Euros! But Italy…
Hungary
The main news related to Hungary at Euro 2024 is the injury of striker Bernabé Varga. In the 68th minute of the third round match against Scotland (1-0), the 30-year-old collided with opposing goalkeeper Angus Gunn. After this, the Hungarian striker fell to the ground. Varga was treated for several minutes and then taken off on a stretcher. Barnabash suffered multiple displaced fractures of the facial bones. He had to undergo surgery. But fortunately, after Hungary’s exit from the Euro, Varga was discharged from the hospital. He returned home, where he continues his recovery.
After Barnabash Varga’s meeting with Angus Gunn
Photo: James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
The Hungarian Football Association has announced that the national team’s coach, Marco Rossi, will remain in his post. “The next task of the Hungarian national team is to succeed in the Nations League this autumn and then in the World Cup qualifying tournament. The team will be led by Marco Rossi with the full support of the union and the president,” said the head of the organisation, Sandor Csanyi.
How Hungary experienced disturbing moments:
Video
A terrible injury overshadowed the last goal in the history of the European Championship. The player was carried away with an oxygen mask
Albania
Albanian and Rubin Kazan striker Mirlind Daku “distinguished himself” after the Euro group stage match against Croatia (2:2). He grabbed a megaphone and started shouting insults at Macedonians and Serbs. UEFA suspended Daka for two matches for this. But now Mirlind needs to return to Kazan. And Rubin has several Serbian players playing.
Mirlind Daku at Euro 2024
Photo: Julian Finney/Getty Images
Daku has already apologised to everyone: “We have an international team at Rubin and all the players respect each other. We have a strong team, very good and even friendly relations with Chumich, Vujacic, Jocic and all the lads. I want to apologise to the team, the management and the coaching staff. I always felt their support throughout the season. I know it was my mistake. Only with my behaviour can I prove that this can happen to anyone.” Let’s see if Mirlind has problems at Rubin.
Details of the unpleasant story with Daku:
The RPL striker was banned from the European Championship after a scandal. The insults by the Serbs could not be justified.
Georgia
Georgia played in the European Championship for the first time. And how! The team immediately qualified for the playoffs, where they lost in the round of 16 to the mighty Spain (1-4). However, in their homeland the players were welcomed as national heroes. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Tbilisi. A reaction that is worth more than any trophy.
This is how it went:
Stories
The Georgian national team was welcomed like a champion in Tbilisi. Video
