Euro 2020 Group F: The Group that lived up to the title “Group of Death”

France, Germany, Portugal and even Hungary, never failed us as the “Group of Death” and was hands down the most entertaining group at the Euro 2020 competition.

The only disappointment to come from Group F is that all four countries couldn’t qualify for the knockout stages. Only three points separated first and fourth, one dissecting first from both second and third – this group left everything to play for on the final day of the group stages.

It was a fitting end to a fantastic and action-packed group-stage run by the 24 teams involved in the European Cup Finals. If the past events are anything to go by, we are in for some damn amazing knockout encounters.

Combined XI (4-3-3) from Group F

Goalkeeper: Péter Gulácsi (Hungary)

Defenders: Robin Gosens (Germany); Raphael Varane (France); Willi Orbán (Hungary); Joshua Kimmich (Germany)

Midfielders: Paul Pogba (France); Toni Kroos (Germany); N’Golo Kante (France)

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal); Diogo Jota (Portugal); Kai Havertz (Germany)

Without Péter Gulácsi and Willi Orbán (yes the rest of Hungary’s backline worked their socks off), it could have gotten a lot uglier a lot earlier; that’s why they make the team and are the only two entries in the best XI from Hungary.

Paul Pogba is on this list because of N’Golo Kante – he unleashes a Pogba we rarely get to see in the Premier League. The French duo is as legendary together as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

With the two French midfielders, is the third only other French player, defender Raphael Varane. Like Pogba, Kroos has been pulling the strings for the Germans in the middle of the park.

Die Mannschaft come in hot with four players in Group F’s best XI – that’s including the conductor Kroos. Wing-backs Robin Gosens and Joshua Kimmich have been excellent for Germany, as well as the young man Havertz.

The last couple of spots go to the two guys running the show upfront for Portugal – the tournament’s top scorer Ronaldo and his partner Jota.

Group F’s Top Team – France really but Hungary gets the shout

Group F, arguably the toughest group to break down and pick the elite from. Yes, France did extremely well having been the only team in Group F not to lose. Their five points seem like a lot more compared to Italy’s nine accumulated in Group A.

Nonetheless, we here at The Top Flight feel that Hungary deserves all the credit and much more than any other Group F contender, despite being unable to pick up three points during their fearless run.

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To put it into perspective; the Hungarians, before Euro 2020, were ranked 37th in the FIFA ranking and they went toe-to-toe with the second-ranked (France), fifth-ranked (Portugal), and 12th ranked country (Germany) in the world of football.

To add more oomph to what they’ve achieved, they only lost one game while in a group with the two previous World Cup winners and the previous Euro 2016 champions and runners-up.

They kept both France and Germany humble with the points shared and failed only against Ronaldo and co., but that clash saw them go goalless until the 84th minute and it all fell apart for Marco Rossi and men. Top stuff and so unlucky not to win their games and qualify for the round of 16.

Group F’s Best Moment

The best moment of this group was the entire Matchday 2 of Group F. Germany’s 4-2 hammering over Portugal turned the group on its head but not without the help of Hungary’s draw with France.

If either France or Portugal had won their respective fixtures or if both of them won on the day, the group standings would have been very lopsided, with the Portuguese and the French favourites to qualify.

But no! They were denied the luxury of resting keys players and denied early passage through to the next round. It was a special day of football and a truly unexpected build-up to what we witnessed on the final day of Group F.

Group F’s Worst Moment – Hungary losing in the final moments

To pinpoint the saddest and most tear-jerking moment, you would have to go back to the final six minutes of Group F’s Matchday 3 encounter between Germany and Hungary.

Hungry were minutes away from knocking their opponents out of the cup and progressing through to the next round but then the introduction of Leon Goretzka proved instrumental in ending Hungary’s run.

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His goal in the 84th minute felt like the world ended and one of the sweetest Euro 2020 stories ended in heartache.

Surprise Factor

Germany is a sleeping giant and honestly, their opponents have poked the bear too many times and they could really hit their best form at the right time of the tournament.

Them beating Portugal 4-2, especially after losing the first game and going down by one against Ronaldo and his wrecking crew, was truly a turning point. The previous champions were left dumbstruck after being totally exposed by great tactics.

How bad was the fourth-placed team?

Not bad at all. In fact, they were the best of those who lost and somehow better than some of the third-placed nations. Due to being placed in the Group of Death, Group F, the difference in class showed at important moments for the other three group participants.

The Hungary boys were also the only fourth-placed team not to lose more than one game – with Russia the only team who placed last that won a fixture.

Group F’s Breakout Star

Robin Gosens probably scored one of the most important goals for his country. It would have to be a toss-up between him and Leon Goretzka for the most important goal in Germany’s push into the round of 16, though.

This tournament has also seen the rise of the three centre-backs and wing-backs system. Players such as Gosens, Kimmich, Raphaël Guerreiro, Denzel Dumfries and others have thrived at this year’s Euros because of the system.

Yes, Robin Gosens is 26 years of age and the oldest entries in our “Breakout Stars category”, but nobody expected him to be as pivotal as he has been for Joachim Löw this tournament.

Group C’s Best Player

Is this up for debate? Would it be lazy to say Ronaldo is the best player in this group and perhaps at this tournament so far?

No! Not at all. The veteran leads the Golden Boot race and is ahead by two goals with five scored.

His contribution so far has seen him score in every match in the group stages and equal the world record for international goals scored with 109 international career goals to his name.

In total this Euro 2020, he has a goal contribution of six with an assist added to his goals. At 36 years old he is still making headlines, breaking records, and leading his nation in the pursuit of gold medals and silverware.

He still looks like the fittest player on the pitch and has started all three and ended all three 90 minutes of football played.