As many teams at Euro 2024 have displayed an incredible performance level following a long domestic season, are there any standout nations that have caught the eye of journalists watching from across the UK and who they believe, could just go all the way.
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00:00Charlie, just looking at the Euros, the tournament so far, who's looked the best nation for you
00:08in terms of the way they've gone about their games and just steadily ticked along? There's
00:13been quite a few interesting teams to watch this tournament so far.
00:17Yeah, it's been a fantastic tournament so far. Quite a few surprise packages. I've really
00:23enjoyed that group that's got the likes of Slovakia and Ukraine and Belgium in it. That
00:27one's been going right down to the wire, isn't it? Romania as well, surprising a few. So
00:31that's been fantastic. But one team I think has been quite clear, and maybe a dark horse
00:37at the start, now becoming more of a favourite, is Spain. Just the way they're plucking sides
00:41apart and tearing Italy to shreds as well, aside that on the opening day you thought,
00:46ooh, maybe they can go on and retain things. In possession, they don't have as much as
00:50they used to. It's not the whole tiki-taka style of old. It's just being so clinical
00:54and creating all those chances. Then obviously having a 16-year-old, Lamin Yamal, being the
00:59youngest scorer in Euros history. His cracking efforts from the edge of the area, the way
01:03he curls the ball effortlessly towards the top corner, I think he's been fantastic. Could
01:07he be one of the star players of the entire tournament? Maybe he's a bit too young for
01:11that, but as a collective, Spain are playing so well and I think they can go all the way.
01:15I think for me, I quite like Spain, to be honest with you. I've enjoyed watching Spain.
01:22I liked the Tachan players, really impressed. Nico Williams, really, really caught my eye.
01:29You've got Marassa there leading the line and Rodri, probably the best in his position,
01:35isn't he, in the world? Are they a little bit too young to go all the way? That's my
01:41only concern. They're going to get found out as the tournament goes deeper. Obviously,
01:46Germany, Girona, Switzerland, maybe they were playing within themselves just because they
01:52already threw into the next rounds. France probably weren't great against Holland, but
02:00they should have won that game, really. That chance that Rabiot and Griezmann made a meal
02:06of and then, obviously, Holland had the goal to sell out, didn't they? I think teams are
02:11still finding their way into the tournament. I have liked the look of Spain, but I think
02:18they might just be a couple of years too young yet, but they might surprise us.
02:24Spain have been, in terms of the football, the standout team, clearly. They're the only
02:29team to win all three games so far. Obviously, there could be another couple in the group
02:32stages, but Spain have had the perfect record, no goals scored against them, made Italy look
02:39bang average last week when they played and made Italy a decent side. They should be competing
02:45with Spain. They didn't compete. They only won nil, but Spain have been the standout football
02:51side, you've got to say. The way they played, the style of football they played,
02:56they've been attacking continuously. They don't stop.