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  A number of top scorers in EURO history were not exactly favourites to win Golden Boot awards. The Golden Boot Award, or the accolade for top scorer, is one of the most prestigious individual awards in any competition, at both the club and international stage. Such is no different in EURO. As one of the major international tournaments, winning such an award is remarkable, especially for strikers. In the tournament’s history, several underrated players managed to be the top scorers. One of whom was not even a frontman but a central midfielder. Here are those unlikely names who won UEFA EURO’s Golden Boot awards.  Klaus Allofs (1980) The underrated top scorer had already emerged in the first edition with tournament format, replacing the final four, EURO 1980. The Golden Boot winner was the unlikely Klaus Allofs. He was still 24 years old and playing for the Bundesliga's non-elite side, Fortuna Dusseldorf, which only finished 10 th in the standings that season. Aloffs ...

  A number of goalless games in EURO deserve better credit as they mark the top form of both goalkeepers. Goalless games are probably considered the dullest part of football. In every tournament or competition, there is bound to be one or more. Naturally, such matches never attract fans, as most would see how both sides missed shots on goals or spurned chances. However, the stalemate could also demonstrate how goalkeepers from both sides were in top form and almost equally denied the shots to keep the clean sheets. In short, some goalless games are not about the duels of forwards but the contests of the defenders on both ends of the backline, but the goalkeepers’ show. In EURO 2024, three games have resulted in a stalemate. Two of which are in the final games of Group C, when both clashes saw no goals at all. Yet, both England vs. Slovenia and Denmark vs. Serbia are not regarded as the best goalless games since both goalies’ saves were not dominant. Such matches are rare. Here ...

  A few notable figures in Copa America history were able to win the title as players and managers. Copa America 2024 has been underway. The reigning champions, Argentina, did not have much difficulty securing a win over Canada at the opener. Lionel Messi is aiming to lift the trophy for the second time, and so is his boss, Lionel Scaloni. Unfortunately, he never had a chance to do the same as a player. The former Lazio man never received a call-up for the regional tournament during his playing years. He is not as fortunate as these notable names who have won silverware as players and managers. One of them was even a World Cup winner while he was still actively playing in the 1990s. Lais (Brasil) The Brazilian midfielder was one of the few successful player-managers in South America. In Copa America 1922, he clinched the title with such a role. Brazil was the host and unbeaten throughout the championship. Lais’ men were held three times before finally dismantling Argentina ...

  A number of top goal scorers in Europe became scoreless while playing in the UEFA EURO. Scoring goals is an incredible achievement for every footballer, especially in major competitions, either at the club or international level. For forwards, this is their main task, besides providing assists, opening the space in the final third, or going deep in the second line to help win the ball from the opposition sides. However, plenty of top goal scorers turn blunt in front of the goal when they compete in top-level international tournaments. France’s current star, Kylian Mbappe, is the most recent example. The top scorer in the 2022 FIFA World Cup as well as the Ligue 1 Golden Boot winner in the past few seasons has been unable to find the back of the net in EURO. He has been scoreless since the 2020 edition and has yet to open his account in Germany 2024 , despite helping Les Blues snatch a narrow 1-0 win over Austria at the opener. Mbappe is actually not the only name falling in...

Some goalkeepers from the clubs in the bottom half of the Premier League final standings in 2023/24 still make the cut in EURO 2024. The Premier League has been the elite domestic league in the world for years. When players, especially goalkeepers, manage to seal the spot in the line-up and continue to be the first choice in the EPL club, then they certainly deserve a place in the national team’s final squad for a major tournament like EURO 2024. Such does not only apply to the shot stoppers from the Premier League top teams but also to the ones playing for the mid- or lower-table sides. The England national team is one of them. They still count on Jordan Pickford between the sticks, despite having Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale and Crystal Palace’s Dean Henderson. Pickford has been the key player in The Three Lions since the 2018 FIFA World Cup. His experience in major tournaments and mentality in the big game deserve special credit, despite only playing for the minnow, Everton. The Tof...

  In EURO history, the pre-tournament favourites have had less of an advantage than the dark horses. Being pre-tournament favourites in major competitions can boost team confidence. However, it can also be burdensome . In EURO, the pre-tournament favorites do not always guarantee silverware in the end. In fact, this continental championship is frequently not in favour of the favorites. The underdog status may even be advantageous, as they face less pressure from the media and fans . Throughout the tournament history, the favorites only thrived and clinched the silverware in four editions, 1960, 1972, 1984 and 2012. In those editions, USSR, West Germany, France and Spain managed to live up to their fans and pundits expectations in the final round, whereas the other 11 editions have always produced unlikely champions , either from secondary or tertiary favourites or from dark horses. This can be strong evidence that betting on the favourite is still a risky business. Nothing is ...

  Only a few former Olympic team managers appointed to take charge of the senior team were considered the best one in history. The Paris Olympics 2024 are getting closer. The multi-event sport tournament starts its competition on July 26, but football starts slightly earlier on July 24 due to its stages in the competition. All 16 managers are still pondering who will be named in the final squad and which over-aged player can be called up and given permission by their clubs to compete in the Olympics, the global tournament that is not included in the FIFA calendar. So far, only the host France U23 and Argentina U23 have called up their players for the final squad. Les Blues have included Crystal Palace man Jean Philippe Mateta and former Arsenal man Alexander Lacazette as their only over-aged players enlisted in the team. France is led by Thierry Henry, while Albiceleste currently has Javier Mascherano at the helm of the team. Both are still at the early stages of their manager...