Which Games Should Liverpool’s Hierarchy Keep Their Eyes on at This Summer’s Euros?
The European Championships is more than an opportunity for international silverware – it’s a chance for clubs to mine unearthed jewels that weren’t on their radars before. Sure, this has hurt Liverpool in the past – nobody can forget El Hadji Diouf – but the Euros is a shop window for teams looking to do business.
The Reds fall into that category because players are expected to move on and will need replacing, particularly after the injury-hit season just witnessed. But which games offer the best value for money for Liverpool’s supporters and hierarchy this summer?
Denmark Vs Finland
There’s not much fancy about the third game of the tournament, especially as we don’t have any Danish or Finnish players to cheer on. However, we could have a couple of footballers to cast an eye over as the respective squads are packed with cheap, young talent that still has plenty of experience.
A prime example is Mohamed Daramy, a tricky winger who has the ability to turn a game on its head, which is part of the reason why Denmark vs Finland odds have the Danes at 40/85 favourites compared to Finland’s 11/2. Although the right-side and left-side of attack are competitive, it wouldn’t be foolish to have someone like Daramy rotating in, ensuring the attack stays mentally and physically fresh. Another Danish player that deserves a shoutout is Jacob Bruun Larsen who is expected back at Hoffenheim this summer and ready to make great strides.
On the Finnish side of the coin, Rangers’ Glen Kamara could make an excellent addition to the squad, even though he has two years left on his deal. He’s played under Steven Gerrard, so he understands the demands put on him by a Liverpool legend, and he would be a savvy replacement if Gini Wijnaldum leaves for nothing at the end of the season.
England Vs Croatia
We can’t get away from the fact that the Euros is an opportunity to support our country, one that has a massive chance of ending the decades of hurt since winning the World Cup. According to the bookies, Gareth Southgate’s men are just behind France as favourites to win the competition.
However, our Liverpool head also tells us that England versus Croatia is a fantastic game for analysing prospective signings. Jadon Sancho is at the top of the list – if you believe the reports – and it would be nice to see him reproduce the form he has in Germany if the directors are going to splash £70 million-plus on him.
Our defensive worries are no secret, but Croatia do have a centre-back that could push Joe Gomez and take his place alongside Virgil van Dijk. Duje Ćaleta-Car has had a positive season at Marseille, with the Croatian playing a key role in the heart of the defence. There’s no denying that Croatia has been a hotbed of talent lately.
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France Vs Germany
Who wouldn’t want to watch France versus Germany? Two of the biggest nations in football go head-to-head, and it’s only in the group stages! Again, though, there are players on either side that might make their way to Anfield after the Euros are over.
Kylian Mbappe is the name on every fan’s lips because his mixture of strength, skill, pace and clinical finishing makes him a global star. Liverpool will have to fight off a host of clubs, but a record fee would be worth it for the brightest star in the game. A more realistic prospect is Dortmund’s Mahmoud Dahoud.
The energetic midfielder is exactly what Klopp demands from his men in the middle of the park. Plus, he has the intelligence to control the tempo of any game when he sees fit. After just getting the call up from Germany, he could feature heavily in his team’s competitive campaign.
There are lots of players linked with Liverpool, but some of the savviest are Scandinavian, German and Croatian. That’s where fans and the people in charge at Anfield should be looking when the Euros kick off in earnest.