After 13 straight days of Euro group play, fans can finally take a moment to catch their breath. Over 3,240 minutes of soccer were played in the group stage and now it’s time for the Round of 16. Before moving on, it’s worth looking back at the worst Euro teams from the group stage that left us disappointed.
Euro Teams That Disappointed In The Group Stage
5. Scotland
Scotland’s Euro 2020 campaign was a disappointed-but-not-surprised type beat. Scotland was in for a tough time after being drawn in a group with England and the World Cup runner-up, Croatia. Covid-19 issues with Billy Gilmour halfway through the group stage didn’t help matters either.
It was always unlikely for the Scots to make it to their first-ever knockout stage, but it definitely wasn’t going to happen by only scoring one goal over the course of three games. It also didn’t help that Scotland conceded the two front-runners for goal of the tournament.
OUT OF THIS WORLD FROM PATRIK SCHICK pic.twitter.com/1GDdrwwvmB
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 14, 2021
Goal that almost certainly knocks Scotland out of yet another tournament at the group stage was a Modric stunner. I ache for Scotland and am reminded of Homer's wisdom
“Kids, you tried your best, and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try” pic.twitter.com/0dcCdmYIMJ— roger bennett (@rogbennett) June 22, 2021
At least Scotland can say they held England to a 0-0 draw in perhaps the most boring game of the group stage. Hopefully we don’t have to wait another 23 years to see Scotland at another major tournament.
4. England
What?? England?? But they topped their group? Who does this idiot writer think he is?
Hear me out, I promise. England was rock solid in defense and didn’t concede in the group stage of a major tournament for the first time since 1966. It’s the production from England that leaves me concerned for the Three Lions.
I gave Scotland flak for only scoring one goal in the group stage, but England only scored twice. England has the fewest goals scored out of any team that has advanced to the Round of 16. In fact, only three teams — Turkey, Finland and Scotland — scored less goals than the Three Lions. Watching this team try to create an attack is like watching paint dry.
With the ludicrous amount of talent Gareth Southgate has at his disposal, the following results aren’t too impressive:
England 1-0 Croatia
England 0-0 Scotland
England 1-0 Czech Republic
A lot more was expected from this England side. Thankfully for England, their next opponent in the knockout stages also happens to be next on this list.
3. Germany
Just because the Germans finished second in Group F doesn’t mean they are free from scrutiny. If it weren’t for Leon Goretzka’s late-game heroics, Germany would be number one on this list.
I honestly don’t know what to make of this Germany team. They were flat against France in the opener, electric against Portugal and abysmal at home vs. Hungary. Every game is a question of which Germany team is going to show up.
This squad is a shadow of its 2014 World Cup-winning team and a close cousin of the 2018 World Cup disappointments.
2. Turkey
Turkey wins the trophy for worst dark horse in the history of dark horses. I won’t forget how many people were hyping up the idea of Turkey making a deep run in Euro 2020. The Turks basically had homefield advantage too, playing in Baku, Azerbaijan.
I couldn’t even begin to describe where it all went wrong for Turkey. After Merih Demiral conceded an own goal against Italy in the opening match, the wheels fell off the Turkish wagon. With eight goals conceded and only one goal scored, Turkey was statistically the worst team in the tournament.
The supposed dark horse was actually a donkey.
1. Poland
Is it too late for Robert Lewandowski to change nationalities? You’ve got to feel for the Bayern superstar. He tried his best to carry Poland to the knockout stages, but one man doesn’t make the entire team, and Lewandowski’s teammates let him down.
The shocking opening loss to Slovakia set the tone for Poland. Spain’s inability to score from the penalty spot, paired with Alvaro Morata being a point-blank miss merchant, saved Poland from back-to-back losses.
If you had told me that Poland would get its only point of the group from Spain, I’d have called you insane. Don’t worry Polish fans, you only have to wait a little over a year for the 2022 World Cup, where your team can finish bottom of a group for the third time in a row.
