The European Cup is messed up, Croatia is at the bottom! 3 seeded teams missed the top spot, and 2 pseudo-strong teams appeared

The European Championship is in turmoil, and the top teams are in trouble

The European Championship has always been regarded as one of the highest level of international football and attracts the attention of fans from all over the world. However, at the beginning of this tournament, we witnessed a shocking chaos. Three seeded teams missed out on qualifying from their debut group, while two of the 'pseudo-strong' teams were overshadowed and the title favourites were not all smooth sailing, making the whole European Championship full of drama and uncertainty. What is the reason for this jaw-dropping situation?

Croatia fell off the altar and seeding out became standard

For this European Cup, the biggest dark horse is none other than Croatia. The team, which finished third in the last World Cup and has top stars such as Luka Modric, Gvardiol and Kovacic, is considered the favourites to win this European Cup. However, it was a surprise that Croatia suffered a 3-0 defeat to Spain in the first round of the group stage and finished bottom of the group. This not only defeats the expectations of the outside world for Croatia, but also makes people have to sigh at the fierce competition in contemporary high-level football.

In a similar situation with Croatia, there are two other seeded teams, France and Belgium. France, the runner-up of the last World Cup, drew with Germany in the first round of the group stage, but in the end they could only finish second in the group. Belgium, which is considered the favorite to win the European Championship, suffered a 0-1 loss to Slovakia, and suffered Waterloo at the beginning of the group stage.

The reason why these so-called "top European teams" failed to show their success in the group stage is largely due to several aspects:

First of all, it's a team-level issue. While these teams have star-studded players in their squads, it is often not easy to twist the stars together and maximize the overall combat effectiveness. Croatia's success at the last World Cup was due in part to the natural chemistry between the players, but it didn't happen overnight. The new tournament environment, combined with the ups and downs of the players' form, can make it difficult for the team as a whole to perform.

On the other hand, the coaching staff of these teams is also likely to be a major factor in the team's performance. England, for example, has a world-class star, but under Gareth Southgate, it can't really be a champion. England's failure to win the European Championship in 58 years may have something to do with the limited ability of the coaching staff.

At the same time, some of the seeded teams have significant physical and mental problems. Belgium, for example, has been singing all the way in the previous warm-up matches and the World Qualifiers, but once it arrives at a major stage such as the European Championship, its defense becomes vulnerable. This may have something to do with the team's difficulty in adapting to the pressures of the tournament.

In short, these seeded teams have suffered setbacks without exception, which cannot but be said to be a major highlight and regret of this European Cup. Even in the squad that everyone was optimistic about winning the championship before, it is difficult to find one that can really advance to the knockout round. This may represent a seismic shift in the football landscape, with some new powers on the rise and traditional powers facing unprecedented challenges. In the following games, we can see more unexpected results.

The dark horse counterattack was remarkable, and the group stage was wonderful

In the chaos of the group stage in the first few rounds of the European Championship, there were also some dazzling dark horse performances.

The first thing to mention is the German team. As one of the seeded teams in this European Championship, Germany swept Scotland in the first round of the group stage, completely crushing the opponent with a score of 5-1, showing strong offensive firepower. It was undoubtedly one of the most amazing games of the tournament. The German team has also performed well in the warm-up matches before, and it can be said that they are regaining their former king style and are expected to continue to perform well in the next games.

Another notable dark horse team is Romania. As an unseeded team, Romania impressively beat Ukraine 3-0 in the first round of the group stage. Although the team is not worth much, with solid defense and efficient counter-attacks, it has made a name for itself in the group stage and has become one of the most indispensable presences of this European Championship.

In addition to this, Serbia, Turkey and other teams have also performed very well. Serbia narrowly beat England 1-0 in the opening round of the group stage, but their overall quality and tactical awareness have impressed. The Turkish team, on the other hand, defeated Georgia 3-1, showing encouraging morale and fighting spirit.

It can be said that in the group stage of this European Cup, teams that were originally considered weak have risen one after another, setting off an exciting "counterattack tide". These "dark horse" teams not only give people a refreshing feeling in terms of strength, but also add unpredictable drama to the whole competition. In the next knockout rounds, we can also see how these teams continue to write their own legends.

No matter who wins the Hercules Cup in the end, the "chaos" in the group stage of this European Cup is enough to make people unforgettable. The rise of some of the more underdog teams that were once considered favourites has not only subverted expectations, but also underscored the dramatic changes in the competitive landscape of modern football. This is undoubtedly an unprecedented visual feast for fans.

In the next stage of the competition, we can see more surprises and surprises. The European Championship is showing us a wonderful picture, so let's wait and see what remains of this premier football competition.

Heroes in the knockout stage

Once the chaos of the group stage has surfaced, we must turn our attention to the upcoming knockout stage. There will undoubtedly be a fierce battle between the teams and the teams as they try to take control of their own destiny at this most critical moment.

As seeded teams, Germany is undoubtedly the most eye-catching presence. They showed their attacking prowess by beating Scotland by five goals in the group stage. Now the German team is gaining momentum and is expected to make it all the way to the next knockout rounds, once again establishing the supremacy of German football. But we can't ignore the potential of some other teams. Romania's impressive performance in the group stage, for example, with their solid defence and efficient counter-attacks, beat favourites Ukraine, which undoubtedly increased the possibility of surprise in the knockout round.

Another team to watch is Turkey. The team lived up to expectations in the group stage with a 3-1 victory over Georgia, showing a tenacious will to fight and good teamwork. I believe that in the next competition, they will do their best to strive for another good result in the knockout stage.

However, we can't ignore the performance of some traditional powerhouses in the knockout rounds. England may not have done so in the group stage, but as a leading team in the world, they will definitely give it their all in the knockout stage. Similarly, giants such as France and Portugal will definitely burst out in the knockout round and strive to advance to the final.

We also have to pay attention to the performance of some of the "dark horse" teams. Serbia, for example, narrowly beat England in the group stage, showing exceptional tactical acumen and a sense of competition. I believe that in the knockout stage, they will definitely show more outstanding strength and strive to hit higher goals. Croatia, for example, suffered a surprise defeat in the group stage, but as runners-up in the last World Cup, they still have enough quality to regain their glory in the knockout rounds.

In short, entering the knockout stage, we will witness a more intense and suspenseful battle. Whether it is a traditional powerhouse or an emerging dark horse, they will go all out and strive to take control of their own destiny at this critical time. I believe that the next matches will bring more exciting performances, let's look forward to the dramatic matchup of these top teams in the knockout round.