A Dutch of class – the Netherlands top the win percentages at the Euros
By Aidan Elder | chief sports writer
The pre-tournament friendlies were meant to clear up some of the questions we had going into it, but if it’s anything, now it’s murkier than Ryan Giggs’ love life. In a vain attempt to get a handle on how the next four weeks of football might go, it’s time to consult the history books.
It’s a look at the win percentages of some of the bigger football nations since the first European Championships in 1960. I think it’ll surprise. And not just because I’m doing Gareth Southgate jokes 16 years later.
For the purposes of this, wins on penalty-kicks and the tossing of a coin (it has happened) are counted as wins. Some places only count those as draws. That’s harsh. Success in spot-kicks takes bravery and nerve. Or being less crap at them than Gareth Southgate. Technically it’s not a win, but you’re heading to the next round and the other guys are packing away their dirty clothes for the journey home, so it’s a pretty realistic simulation of the feeling.
The Netherlands sitting on top of the pile (56%) is as predictable as someone making a gag about getting stoned any time someone mentions Amsterdam. They’ve only won the Euros once, but they’re an almost constant presence in the semi-finals and finals.
They almost always go into tournaments with high quality teams or at least with teams with big enough egos to convince everyone they’re high quality until they get found out. With a bit more luck and dubious refereeing, this generation of the Oranje have the pedigree to repeat the achievement of the 2010 World Cup with a run to the final.
Just like teenage pregnancies or John Terry, the numbers don’t reflect well on England. They’ve won just a smidgen under 35 per cent of all their games at the European Championships. In fact, they’ve won just eight games in their entire history at the Euros. They’ve underperformed on the European stage, certainly in contrast to better showings at World Cups.
PAST MASTER: Michel Platini against Portugal in the 1984 Euros where they were crowned champions
France’s good record is built upon the wins of 1984 and 2000. In 1984 it was thanks to the brilliance of Michel Platini, whilst in 2000 it was thanks to their resilience and fighting spirit. And the ‘golden goal rule’ that was discontinued not long after. Despite their reputation for being a bit flaky, France’s win rate of nearly 54 per cent shows their general air of superiority is founded upon a good deal of actual superiority.
Much of Spain’s history has been associated with flopping. They developed a reputation as fluffing their lines on the big stage, but even in the bad old days, they tended to impress and win a few games before blowing everyone’s hopes. They’ve also been boosted by the swaggering victory in 2008, but overall, it’s a surprisingly healthy record.
Not dissimilar to England, Italy haven’t always shown their best stuff at the Euros. They seem to like it as much as someone saying ‘hey you, get your hands off my wife.’ They are dissimilar a couple of ways however. Firstly, they’ve actually won it and secondly, they’ve been involved in the latter stages far more often. Their win rate of 48 per cent has benefitted from the coin toss used to decide the semi-final of the 1968 tournament instead of a penalty shoot-out, but it’s still not too shabby.
Instinct and a lifetime of national stereotypes might have you thinking Germany would be the most ruthless of the European nations. The ‘never write them off’ cliché comes from somewhere and it’s based on their ability to grind out a performance when they need it most – even if they’re looking as slick as socks with sandals.
You might think that the Czech Republic’s record has been inflated by the impressive record of Czechoslovakia, but it’s not. I’m far too culturally sensitive to attribute the success of that team entirely to the Czech element and ignore the Slovaks. Hooray for European diversity! Besides, their win rate of 44 per cent at the Euros actually drops to 42 per cent when lumping in Czechoslovakia’s history, so maybe the Czech and Slovaks weren’t that good together anyway.
The huge caveat that comes with this stats is that’s about winning at the right times. It’s all well and good hockeying everyone in your group, but you need some juice in the tank for the knockout stages. A 75 per cent win rate at a tournament could mean you win the trophy, but it also could mean you’re starting your summer holidays after a quarter-final exit. If you don’t get the timing right, high hopes can be destroyed faster than you can say ‘limply taken penalty’.
This doesn’t surprise me at all. We usually sail through qualification because we’re seeded for a few, past, minor glories from 1966, 1970, 1990 – (much like the English teams in Champions League) but we have a relatively poor recent record when it comes to the crunch against the “big boys” – Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, . . . Ireland . . .
Hear You, KAF. Will be a better tournament the longer England can stay in it tough. They can’t lose to France… or Ukraine… or Sweden
i think the whole country has no expectations of England doing well at all and going on this basis any progress will be a unexpected surprise.over the years supporters of the country have become used to failure and now presume all the time the England team to fall at the first or second hurdle.i certainly have no faith in the team and look towards Denmark.the manager is not of the standard required and the players are questionable to say the least.at best group runners up and then knocked out in the knock out following round?
England, the media more so, have been desperate to host the World Cup & other tournaments, i.e. Euro & Olympics as they perceive that hosting it has an advantadge. Look now that for the first time ever there’s a GB team for the Olympics for example & who’se the host? These tournaments are ultimately decided on a teams performance over their running period in a current contest & not how they performed 56 years ago. The media should back off & stop reminiscing or English players should be “barred” from reading, watching or listening to the hype from them. This would alleviate a lot of pressure forced upon them to perform according to a trophy won 56 years ago!
Can’t blame them. We shudder to think what would happen to Ireland if we ever won anything (at soccer)
There’s no mystery – English players are technically crap. That’s why hardly any get transferred to the Continent and why those that do disappear up their own arschlochen.
But I love and respect Roy Hodgson. If anyone can get anything out of this mediocre set of players its him. Shame on Liverpool FC and their fans for not appreciating what he was gonna do for you. You voted bootroom you got nothin except racial embarrassment from Dalgleish
I can’t work out why these football players are paid so much most earn more in a week than we do in a year. For this kind of money I would expect to put my life on the line. Do these players even think they owe anything NO! To be honest England have their best chance of doing something in a tournament, most only dreamed of playing for their country and for that reason only should have the passion and will to succeed in Euro 2012.
No mystery to me. Always overated, and have a disrepectful attitude and estimation of other teams. The appointment of Managers is always a fiasco and the fans.
turn on them within weeks.
Sven was at first the best in the world and Capello was the Mesiah. Questions then arose as to who would they really support if England played their respective own countries, Sweden/Italy.
How many English players of the last 20 years would be included in a world eleven. I suggest none but Im sure the England fans can give me 30 or 40
Would Spain drop any of their team to put an English player in? We see this automatic right to win every tournament.
ABE
no team spirit, they need a leader like trappatoni. watch ireland play and compare this to the way england play. huge difference in the monetary value of the 2 squads. and huge difference in team spirit.
england will qualify from the group…the rio ferdinand issue has not helped our cause along with the injuries…however i am 100% behind roy hodgson and the england team’;
its about time the press stopped giving it large and grow up !!! every year the paparazzi try to ruin englands chances with shit journalism….
We Hear You, Steve. England have enough good players to get out of the group stages. Need to shackle Benzema though – big time
This is the poorest England team (manager included) for a long time. I wouldn’t be surprised if they are back on the plane pointless. Seriously, if they lose to France it could knock the tiny bit of stuffing out of them and they lose the other two matches.
I’m Welsh by the way so am well aware that England are way above us.
They DONT have a poor record!!! The problem is that they still think they rule the world, have an empire etc etc etc… They are an average team at best and at times have actually overperformed. GET A GRIP and get real Engurland….
Without doubt one of the worst England sides for years ..And we have had some bad ones .. yet some great players could have been there … Hodgson should go with the younger ball players, Walcott,, Chamberlain alongside Gerrard in midfield behind Defoe and Rooney when back. We have got to get a fluid midfield instead of this typical English regimented style and we may get somewhere. We should be using this opprtunity to build a young experienced side for the world cup. Once again we are never prepared.
well finally England showed what a mediocre team they are, with no finese or ability to hold and pass the ball.It would have been a complete injustice if Italy had lost this match, we even had the hype that England had been practicing penalties in Training..well on there showing they maybe should have spent there time in training on passing the ball ..they need to re-group and watch how the supberb Pilor sprayed passes about.
Englands failure as a force in world football i put down to far to many foriegn players playing in the premier league, it does not give a chance for young and fringe players coming through, there must be masses of young talent..but most play as reserves to foriegn players.