World Cup Fever Shayan Hussain

The panel is joined by a 5th face in this episode, Max, as they put all the speculation from the discussion of the groups together to announce their official tournament predictions. Similarly, each member considers a smaller side that they feel can spring some surprises, and presents you with their match to watch: a game you must pencil into your calendar and make time for even if you watch no other. This final installment of Episode 1 (Previews) is completed with Shawn's geopolitical-football conflict of the day, briefly discussing how issues over ownership of Crimea between Russia and Ukraine have resurfaced on the eve of Euro 2020, heightening tensions between the two bitter rivals on and off the field.

Huge occasions call for huge players, and that's what this group is filled with. The one everyone's been waiting for, this year's "Group of Death" has no shortage of storylines. Can Cristiano Ronaldo break the all time international scoring record (he's only 5 goals away)? Will France avenge their 2016 Final loss in the rematch against Portugal? Is it possible for poor Hungary to manage to grab a goal, or even a point? 

Featuring tournament favorites France and Portugal, alongside 2014 World Cup winners Germany and minnows Hungary on their respective home fields, Group F splits panel opinions on who will finish first through third and who may go home. Suda speaks about what he sees as "the only perfect attack" in the tournament which one of these sides possesses, Cade boldly announces his Euro 2020 winner as he emphasizes the importance of Clarity within a squad, and Shawn presents his fun fact of the day: an intersection of political environment and squad selection for Hungary.

Sergio Ramos, captain / general / face of the nation: injured. Sergio Busquets, experienced veteran / appointed captain following Ramos' squad exclusion: positive Covid test. Real Madrid, Champions League Semifinalists / 2 points away from Spanish title: 0 players in squad. Such is the situation for Spain, who appear to be in a unique and fragile state on the eve of this tournament; one positive COVID test from any of the players who were in contact with Busquets and the whole squad may have to be replaced by reserves. Luckily for them, mayhem the day before the 2018 World Cup resulted in their coach being fired, meaning they've seen and handled such a high profile mess before. Even more luckily for them, our panel don't see much of a threat being posed from Poland, Sweden, or Slovakia, aside from inform phenomenon, Robert Lewandowski.

It's Comin Home, It's Comin Home, It's Comin. Football's Comin Home!

Time to discuss Group D, otherwise known as the Group of England. Our very own panel expert (English born and bred) Danny pours his heart out in explaining just how much this tournament means to not only him but the whole of the nation of England. He tells us of his historical heartaches watching his side falter in International Tournaments, while Cade gives us an in-person account of how the weight of expectation may have hindered the Three Lions against Iceland in 2016. Scotland, Croatia, and the Czech Republic are paid their mentions as well, while the panel previews whether they'll witness an ecstatic or tearful Danny after Sunday morning's big match: England against Croatia.

The group of light. The stuff of dreams for a side like North Macedonia, featuring at their first ever international tournament, who will fancy their chances of getting out of a group that other teams would die for. The panel discusses the shortcomings of this group's "powerhouse", the Netherlands, leaving Cade disappointed with the nation of his ancestry. Similarly, they compare and contrast the remaining three Eastern European nations, Austria, Ukraine, and North Macedonia, coming to a consensus on who might come second in this group. Goran Pandev is deservedly praised, leading us to this week's sports betting sleeper pick.

Favorites to win in Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup, expectations have been astronomical for Belgium for the best part of a decade now. Yet, the curtain is slowly falling on their golden generation's chance to write their names in the history books, as players like Alderweireld, Witsel, De Bruyne, Mertens, and Hazard aren't getting any younger. Shawn is joined by Danny, Suda, and Cade on this episode as the four of them debate Belgium's odds in this tournament in a round-table format, running into some conflict and disagreement along the way. Shawn analyzes Denmark as a potential tournament sleeper pick, while Cade shares an anecdote on the wonders of "Captain Russia", Artem Dzyuba.