Do you think France's 1-0 win over Belgium was exciting?
In fact, in the quarterfinals of this European Cup, there are very few that can really be called strong matchups. In almost every game, the strength of both sides has a considerable tilt. The most obvious is Spain vs. Georgia, the difference between the two sides is more than two notches, right? In addition, England vs. Slovakia, Portugal vs. Slovenia, and Germany vs. Denmark also have a certain gap in strength.
Only France vs. Belgium is a strong matchup. Both sides are strong teams and are ranked second and third in the world respectively. If none of this is a strong matchup, then the others are even less deserved.
However, this game is not much different from France's 0-0 draw with the Netherlands in the group stage. Although France had the advantage, far outpacing Belgium in possession and shots, there were plenty of mistakes on both sides and the quality of their shots was hard to look at. For fans who stay up late to watch the game, everyone may not feel that staying up late is worth staying up, but they just know the result.
However, it was this boring match that gave me a glimpse of the French champions.
It is said that the tournament is nameless, but in fact, by extension, the team that wins the championship is not necessarily the team that plays the best. Remember the 2018 World Cup? Many fans criticize Didier Deschamps for having so many trump cards and playing boring and even ugly football. Except for the impressive goal shootout with Argentina in the quarterfinals, France did not play well in the other six games, including the final. But at that time, watching them play, there was an inexplicable feeling, and they didn't know how they won.
Take the final as an example, it was Mandzukic's own goal that opened the situation. As soon as Croatia equalized, France immediately received a gift package for handball in the opponent's penalty area, and the penalty fell from the sky. Facing the half-blooded Croatia, France did not even fully exert its strength in this game, and the individual ability of Pogba and Mbappe was enough to solve the problem.
Looking at the 1-0 victory over Belgium this time, although France dominated the attack and pressed the opponent to play, the quality of the shot was indeed not flattering. The game went 0-0, but Muani half-turned and shot (or was it meant to be a cross?). Inexplicably solved the problem. In fact, this ball is not a good opportunity at all, and it is also far-fetched to shoot, but it is such an understatement and even a sloppy and perfunctory kick, which actually hit the opponent's leg to complete the line change and shake the opponent's goalkeeper. There were so many better chances in the whole game, all of which were played by French players, but one chance that was not a chance was scored through a series of coincidences. Where do you make sense?
This may be the champion. The so-called champion is to win the game inexplicably. In other words, if you win, you don't know how you won. Wonderful? It's too extravagant, it's too meaningless, winning is the last word.
Those teams that play well may not really have a championship appearance. Spain's group stage was smooth, the knockout round played Georgia, and the three-line bombing of land, sea and air was diverse, and the content was rich, which was really the champion of this European Cup. But if it's exciting, it may not be transformed into a championship. When it comes to the real test, it is doubtful whether this system can still operate efficiently. Perhaps, after the quarter-finals with Germany, there will be an answer.
Whether it is the World Cup or the European Cup, at least in the past ten years, the best-looking team has not won the championship. Instead, the teams that stumbled and sometimes played like constipation came to the end. I have to say that this European Cup, as of now, France is like this. Next, let's wait and see.