Sideline Story

What do Euro 2024 and Copa America say about two styles of football?

Football fans have enjoyed a dream summer of football as Euro 2024 and Copa America coincide this year. While appreciating both tournaments, what have fans felt about the differences between the two events? Also in this episode of Sideline Story, we analyze the success of Spain at the European Championship, preview the Copa America final featuring Argentina against Columbia, and touch on why Brazil got knocked out so early in the continental competition.

Duration:: 28m
Broadcast on:: 12 Jul 2024
Audio Format:: mp3

(upbeat music) - Hello, and welcome to Science Lion's story, your destination for sports news, analysis and discussions. Emmian Guan, of course today we will stick to the football topics and unpack some questions about the two popular continental tournaments in Europe and America. We will touch on the hottest teams, the shocking results and how we perceive the two different styles of football. I got our co-hosts for you and Tian Yu joining me for the discussions. All right, well, I guess for football fans like us, it has been a dream summer. Copa America class, Euro 2024. It's like having two flavors of pizza at the same time in dinner, which is my favorite. Can't ask for more. And I hope fans in China got some good rest of these days because in China to watch both tournaments means you need to glue yourself to the TV from 3 a.m. to 10 a.m. - Ask you about it, I'm sure he's still through that. - Not easy, not easy, not easy. But I guess it's all worth it because the two tournaments offer some fantastic matchups for fans. It's really a feast for football fans around world. For you, let's start with Euro 2024. I have to say, I didn't expect Spain to be this good. They have been outstanding in the past month. I think since 2012, they have experienced a really long time of going downhill. - Yeah, because they were at the peak. They went through a golden age where they won three consecutive major titles. - Exactly, but after that, the retirement of the likes of Sergio Busquets, Sergio Ramos, Shavi, yeah. Shavi Alonso, Shavi, Hernandez, PK, really made them lost. And they were struggling for quite some time. But this year, all of a sudden, they came back from nowhere. So what difference do you think they have made this year? I mean, it cannot be an overnight success. - Yeah, the biggest difference that I've noticed is that Spain has abandoned their Tikitaka, which they were known for in the age of all the players that we just mentioned. And instead, they seem to focus on individual players and on these players honing their skills. So like in the semifinal against France, they, a group of young players, led by Lameen Yamal, seem to really take no sweat in shaking off the defense. They can do that with just a few shifts. So basically, one player completes that move, complete that task by just by himself, compared with in the age where they played Tikitaka, it takes a lot more players and a lot more passes. And also, this is something that coach Luis Delafonte prefers. He says something to the effect like he would like his players to shoot when they have an opportunity, rather than to pass the ball around. And I think they executive that really well. And the result is a very efficient and clinical squat. And here by efficient, I mean both their tackles or their decisions on the pitch and the way that they advanced throughout this tournament. Because Spain was in the group of death. All the other teams were just as strong, if not stronger, before this tournament started. So they advanced through that group relatively easily. Yeah, they won them all. Yeah, yeah, with a straight record. And I think that's incredible. By the time that they get to the final, they've built up that confidence. And without Tikitaka, it's not like, they may have struggled during the years beginning 2012 to this tournament. Because they never found the right recipe for their players. Yeah, it's like previously they just knew how to play football, just in Tikitaka styles. They won three titles, consecutive titles, like you said, based on this style. And it's like they have to later play Tikitaka just for the sake of playing Tikitaka. Yeah, it's like it's the only way they know how to play football. But what I've always believed is that you should adapt your tactics and change your on pitch decisions based on the strength of the players rather than the other way around. So this time with a new coach with a young squad, they found that formula. And I think this will stick with them for a while. Yeah, I think Della Fonte is a fantastic coach here. Because previously, it's like the manager told the Spanish players, if you don't play Tikitaka, if you play one long pass, say goodbye to 10% of a salary. So yeah, I do think Della Fonte put the team together in one piece. I think Spain is the most balanced team in this year's Euro. They truly played as a team, not 11 individuals. I mean, I know everyone is talking about Yamal and Nico Williams, they are brilliant. But I think the rest of the team also deserve the equal credits. The best example is the quarter final against Germany. I was totally convinced I was thinking. After Spain took the lead, Yamal and Nico Williams was after the bench. I think Spain wanted to keep that one you lead to the end. But the Germany struck back with the last minute equalizer. Then I thought Spain now was without real attacking threats. Because Yamal and William are off. The biggest threats are off. Yeah, but they still managed to organize very quality attacks up front. And it paid off with that extra time header. Yeah, I think you make a great point. There is another very important aspect. Not only are these players young and daring on the pitch, but they are also willing to do the dirty work. And also they are willing to drop deep into defense. Yeah, everybody was hard working throughout the tournament. I mean, it seems like with a completely different squad, the Spanish squad can still keep that quality. That level never drops easily. But I guess with other teams, if they lose one or two key players, their quality could decline sharply. And for some teams, they may even collapse with absence of some top players. So that's the most impressive part I found in the Spanish team. Tianyu, I know you watched Spain's game as well. What's your impression about this team? First of all, I think we can all agree that that qualifying or between Spain and Germany was probably the most thrilling games we ever watched of this year's Euro. I think we can. Last ditch goes, of course, why not? Yeah, it's like a rehearsal of the final. And sadly, Germany was the one who got eliminated. Especially considering how ugly the top team has performed like England and France. Yeah, but I think whoever got out of that quarter final would definitely be the biggest title contender. And talking about Spain, it seems like they have become a totally different team now since the start of the tournament. And just like for you mentioned, they have abandoned the Tiki Takas playing style, which they have been quite well known for quite some time, which features a lot of ball possession and a lot of short passes, which tends to wear down the opponent's defense. But with the exits of Shavi, Iniesta, and Sergio Busquets, which have formed the foundation of the Spanish team in their prime, they have gradually come to terms with the fact that the Tiki style can no longer work well in the modern football games. So they want to seek to change. They want to focus on the ball possession like they used to, but instead they want to play more efficiently and pragmatically to cater to the tempo of current football matches. And now with the joining of the new ball players, like we said, Nico Williams and LeMing Yamao, they have successfully completed the transition without anyone noticing it. I don't think Spain had those kind of players before, right? Yeah, like the power play, the two-wing power play, right? So like we said previously, Nico Williams and LeMing Yamao have offered the team with a lot of vigor and speed. They have the creativity and the courage to go on one-on-one with defenders, create spaces and opportunities, particularly Yamao. That goal against France was magnificent. Yeah, stunning. Yeah, I can't believe it's from only a 16-year-old. I don't even know what I was doing when I was 16. Yeah, it makes us feel so old. Doing homework. Yeah, and also in the midfield, they still have a bunch of talents, like Rodry, Fabian Ruiz, Danny Ormo, who can maintain a certain level of ball position and offer more control on the pace of the games. So, and don't forget, they've also got veterans like Danny Carvaha, natural, and Maratha. And they can offer experience and stability on the squad and can always step up when the team needs them the most. So with these, the great number of talents they have at their disposal, this Spanish team can play very efficiently. So you don't see too many short passes in their games now. But instead, they are more running to create spaces and more long and through passes from the back to pinpoint the attackers in the front. So I guess that's why their games are becoming more and more interesting right now. Yeah, it's a combination of experience to players and those vigorous Yama players. It's a very good composition. Very balanced squad. So they've got equal strength on every aspect. Yeah, but I don't think they totally abandoned Tiki Taka. For some part of the game, you can still find they playing ball possession very efficiently, keeping the ball under their feet. I think against the Germany, especially in the second half, they played ball possession game that Germany was... There was no way for Germany to get the ball for quite some time on the pitch. So I think they didn't abandon it, but they used it when they need to use it. It's like they used Tiki Taka as part of the plan in their bag. And they're not compared with before, they're not obsessed with it. Yeah, so one of the weapons in their arsenal, but not the only weapon. But enough compliments for Spain. And let's move on to Copa America. We have a final match here featuring Argentina against Colombia. Argentina, the defending Copa champion, not only the defending Copa champion, but the defending World Cup champion. Of course, they are the batting favourites here. But Fuyi, do you think Colombia can put up a fight? Because 80 years ago, Chile, as an underdog, they beat Argentina in the final through a penalty shootout. So maybe Colombia can trigger something similar here? Yeah, from what you just said, I agree that Argentina are the clear favourite going into this Copa America final. But I wouldn't just roll out Colombia for winning the title just yet. In my opinion, when you're in the final of such a big tournament, it's less about the skills or how many superstars you have in one team. Mentality and form also play an important part. And it's like when you get to the penalties of a football match. And if it can't happen, right? Yeah, it's a little bit of everything. Like, of course, you have to maintain that high level of performance. And also, the coach decisions, substitutions, a little bit of luck, or sometimes even the condition of the pitch will play a part. Some things in the final of a major football tournament are just hard to explain. So anything can happen in this game between Colombia and Argentina. And I'm someone who's always supported the clear underdog in a football match. You like true dramas, right? Yeah, I'd just like to see a success story. Just like a black horse inspiring stories. Like some someone or some team beating the odds and getting there. It is inspiring, very inspiring to me. So I hope that this year Colombia will surprise us and make an unlikely hero at the Copa America. And as for my expectations for this match, I know it's unlikely to happen. But I'd like to see a very open and aggressive game from both sides. And of course, as many goals as possible, if not that, I hope both teams can treat us in a penalty shootout. Yeah, it seems like we are on the same page. Because I definitely think Colombia has a chance here. They were playing consistently this month. And they got some real threatening attacking powers. Like the Luis from Liverpool. Yeah, Luis Diaz. Yeah, Luis Diaz. So my prediction here is one all drawn after extra time. And Colombia wins the penalty shootout. I know it's a lot of drama. It's a wild guess, but it's possible. Can you or what do you think this game would go in your expectations? Well, just like Brandon, I hate to talk about Argentina. But the truth is they have been doing quite well in this year's tournament. What surprised me the most about them is that it's not their attacking power. But they're a stable performance in defense as they have only conceded one goal so far before the final. And I think that was largely thanks to the incredible performance by the center-backdo of Romero and the Sandra Martinez. They are willing to make body confrontations and are very swift and decisive in their defense. And also Rodrigo De Pal and Mac Allister have also offered a lot of help in fighting for their ball position. And so I think one of the biggest advantages of this Argentina squad is the depth of their team, with both veterans offering a lot of experience and young players providing creativity. Their final opponent, Colombia, is also doing quite well. Hamis Rodriguez, a formal Real Madrid player, and also a formal Biden player. He always seems like a different player when he was playing for his home country. And I think Argentina is definitely, like we said, the hot, hot favorites going to the final. But Colombia is such a resilient team. And I think they will cause a lot of trouble for their opponents with their tireless running and fierce tackling. Yeah, I think they were down to 10 men in the semi-final against the Uruguay. But they maintained that lead to the end. It's really resilient performance. But speaking of this final, I think everyone had been expecting a final between Argentina and Brazil. But unfortunately, Brazil was unexpectedly knocked out by Uruguay in the quarter-finals. I've said it too early. Yeah, but if you take a look at their squad, they look pretty much good. I mean, Páquita, Vinicius, Jr., Rodrigo. Yeah, Rodrigo, Raffinia, Marquinius. But they didn't deliver their level. For you, what happened to them? What does Brazil's exit tell you about this team? I think the day that they went home was probably the darkest day in Brazil's history since their 7-1 loss at home to Germany. The exit, early exit, I think if there's anything that need to read or Brazil needs to learn from that, is that they really need to start planning for a future without Neymar. Of course, Neymar's absence from this cup of America is not the only reason for their poor performance. But those young players and some of the names that you just mentioned are not quite there yet. Although some of them may already be the pillar at their clubs. Yeah, like Vinicius, Jr., Rodrigo. So these players are the future. And from what they've been offering, we see a glimpse of the future. But there's a question of when that will arrive. And I think until they complete that transformation, until they step up, there will be some painful days ahead for Brazil's national team. But that process, I mean, for these players to evolve and grow, won't necessarily belong. If they maintain their consistency, as long as the momentum is there, we can expect the return of Brazil just like, maybe unexpectedly, just like how Spain came back. Yeah, it's a process Brazil needs to go through. And they need to trust just like how Spain went through that process. So maybe next the World Cup, we can see the Brazilian team performing better again. Yeah, because an underperforming Brazilian squad just doesn't feel right. And a tournament in its later stages without Brazil, it always feels like it's missing something. So I really hope that that process won't take Brazil as long as it did Spain. And I hope to see them back as soon as possible. I think the game format of Copa America also played the role in Brazil's exit, because after 90 minutes, the game went straight into a penalty shootout. It definitely increased uncertainties. And Brazil, even they had one man advantage. They didn't create many chances. They created few chances against the Uruguay. It seems like attacking magic was gone. So I think the Brazilians have no one else to blame but themselves for this loss. This is the thing. I think if Brazil got knocked out because of defensive mistakes, then defense would be like, OK, what can you do about this? But if Brazil lost the game, because of the lack of creativity up front, that's a big issue. It's inexcusable, almost a crime in Brazil. You can't score. So what's your impression about Brazil's exit? Yeah, like you guys just said, after watching their games, honestly, I don't see any highlights in this Brazilian team. The absence of Neymar, like Fouid mentioned, really took a heavy toll on this team. If you're watching Euro 2024 and Copa America at the same time, you may find Spain has even more elements of Samba football. Cam Brazil is a good point. Yeah, you don't see a single element of Samba in their games. There's no creativity, no combinations, and no speed and power. Finisius Jr. seems to be the only man who can be the source of vigor and creativity in the front for Brazil. But after he got that really unnecessary, foolish yellow card when playing against Colombia, he couldn't make it to the quarterfinal against Uruguay. And in that game against Uruguay, Brazil played like a disaster. And Rick is too young to be counted on. And Rodrigo seems not playing very comfortably when he was as he didn't get the same level of support as he got when he was playing for Real Madrid. And I think a lack of emerging players, star players, is probably the crux of Brazil's problem. Like we said, the Pacuita, the likes of Pacuita, and Raphina. They are talented, but they are not that talented, like Neymar. The level of Neymar relied on key moments, right? Yeah, we haven't seen a player that can really reach the level of Neymar after him. Vanisius Jr is talented, but he is too reckless and emotional. And he really needs to get more mature. And these players also, until they can really take up the role of Neymar and really lead this Brazilian squad to the height they have used to reach. Yeah, it's interesting you just compared Spain with Brazil. As I said, it's a dream summer for football fans, Cop America, plus Euro 2024. For me, I just can't help comparing two styles of football, European football, and the South American football, when we watch the two tournaments. For you, are there any differences about the two styles of football when you watch the two tournaments? Yeah, sure, there are still differences. Although they're both moving toward the same direction, because a lot of the South American players are playing in European elite clubs. Yeah, clubs and elite leagues. So the European tournament feels like a collection of sophistication and superstars. I'm not saying that Copa America doesn't have superstars, or it's not sophisticated. By comparison, the Euro is just... I don't know how to put it, it's like something that's already there. And the players are all grown, and they've all developed. And it's very direct and simple. You just watch them and enjoy their style. I really like how one Chinese blogger puts it. He says that the Euro is like a boreal forest, where every tree looks the same. And their prowess is determined only by their size. And at Copa America, it's a rainforest where there are all different kinds of vegetation, and they're all vying for the same resources with their individual strength. So I think that's a very good way of putting it. I like it, and I agree with it. Personally, if you ask me to make a comparison or an analogy, I would say that there are a lot of diamonds in the rough at Copa America. And at Euro, there are polished diamonds, but you keep discovering new facets. Right. I think South American football and the European football, they are in the same trajectory of modern football. I think some teams in South America, they play just like European teams play. But this year, I noticed some really, as I said, ugly games. But like England, France, they really, I would not say, play just for the glory, but they play more pragmatically. Nothing wrong with that, at least for me, I'm a result-oriented person. I don't care how you get there, the important thing is that you get there. Yeah, but meantime, in South America, I noticed the more wild and open games. A lot more raw and polished. Yeah, that's true. Tell you what I thought. Yeah, I think in terms of intensity of the game, Copa America has been better, because I think that's because of the differences in their rules, because in Copa America, there are no team who ranks third will get eliminated at once. But while in Europe, in Europe, 2024, you still have a chance, if you are ranking third in your group, you still have a chance in advancing to the knockout stage. And also, there's no extra time in Copa America, while a lot of the games in Europe, 2024, can drag on for over 120 minutes. So like you said, the likes of England, France, and they're not known for their notoriously long games. And also, there are more body confrontations and tackling in the American tournament. However, in terms of the number of football talents and the level of techniques and competitiveness, I agree with you. I think I would say Europe wins in that respect, because there are literally no weak teams in Europe. And every team can create some amazing upsets. We've seen the likes of Austria and Switzerland doing incredibly well at this year's tournament. While in Copa America, it's always at most four games, out four teams competing for the final title. Yeah, it's always fascinating to compare those two kinds of football. I think in the foreseeable future, the Carnival UEFA Cup of Champions, the match between European champions and the South American champions, will tell more general picture of the differences of two footballs. And of course, in two years, we will have the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The top team will go again for the top honor, and it will be full of stories, fascinating stories. But that's it for this edition of Sightline Story. Thank you so much for joining us. For more information, you can check our website, radio.cgtn.com. Until next time, see you. [Music]