Euro 2024: F – Turkey, Georgia, Portugal, Czech Republic

Turkey Euro 2024 squad guide: ‘The Little Airplane’, silky playmakers and calls from Erdogan “The manager: The Little Airplane, as the 5ft 8in (173cm) Vincenzo Montella became known in his playing days because of his arms-out goal celebration, quickly achieved lift-off as Turkey manager after getting the job last September. The opening goal of his reign, by Baris Alper Yilmaz the following month, was historic in more ways than one, because it condemned Croatia to their first ever home defeat in a European Championship qualifier. Then in November, Turkey surprised Germany in another away game, coming from 1-0 down to win 3-2 in a Berlin friendly. …”
NY Times/The Athletic

Georgia Euro 2024 squad guide: Kvaratskhelia in attack but defence is untested “The manager: If you lead a national team to their first major tournament, it is a fair bet that you will be adored. Former France full-back Willy Sagnol took over Georgia at a difficult time four years ago, when they had narrowly failed to qualify for Euro 2020 after losing to North Macedonia in their Path D play-off final. The game was delayed and played without fans because of Covid-19 restrictions, leaving Georgia without their vociferous home support. …”
NY Times/The Athletic

Portugal Euro 2024 squad guide: The complete package, if the balance is right “The manager: After falling short of winning a title with one country’s ‘golden generation’ of players, Roberto Martinez is now tasked with going one better with another set. Martinez led Belgium to the top of FIFA’s world rankings and kept them there for more than half of his six-year tenure but, across three major tournaments, they couldn’t go that final step. They lost to World Cup winners France in the semi-finals in 2018 and European Championshipwinners Italy in the quarters in 2021. Martinez’s reign ended horribly in 2022 with an embarrassing group-stage exit from the Qatar World Cup, bowing out after drawing 0-0 with Croatia when the only target Romelu Lukaku hit was the dugout in a post-match rage. …”
NY Times/The Athletic

Czech Republic Euro 2024 squad guide: Expect unadulterated no-thrills football “The manager: ‘The pressure was already enormous. Sometimes, I didn’t understand it myself.’ Those were the words of Jaroslav Silhavy, who stepped down as Czech Republic head coach in November after successfully qualifying for Euro 2024. In his place came the experienced Ivan Hasek, 60, a former midfielder who captained Czechoslovakia to the World Cup quarter-finals in 1990. …”
NY Times/The Athletic