Over the last few years, modern football has been criticised for how its tactics have evolved. With less emphasis on creativity, sides like Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City have picked up the majority of silverware by playing a game that is focused all on control. Naturally, teams have had to follow this blueprint in order to compete.

As we look ahead to this summer, particularly Euro 2024, it will be interesting to see how many teams adopt the possession-based style that has defined the last few years of football across the continent.

Indeed, the favourites for the competition with Euro 2024 betting odds all have their tactical approach, with France, England, and Germany all capable of lifting the trophy. But how has their identity changed when looking at previous winners of the Euros?

In this article, we look at the last few champions of Europe and assess the tactics that proved successful throughout recent editions of the tournament. Read on to find out more.

Euro 2020 – Italy

We start with the current holders of the Euros, and Italy’s defensive displays played a big part in their victory over England on penalties at Wembley three years ago.

Roberto Mancini established an experienced side with hundreds of international caps. It may have lacked pace and physicality but created chances by utilising set-pieces, and then kept clean sheets with the leadership from the centre-back partnership of Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini.

The two former Juventus defenders were rocks at the back, and the Azzurri conceded just three goals all tournament.

Even when trailing to England in the fourth minute, it never looked as if they would panic, and the control of Mancini’s 4-3-3, which focused on covering wingers Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Chiesa, went a long way to winning the big games for the Italians.

Euro 2016 – Portugal

When Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winning penalty to earn Real Madrid an 11th Champions League in the spring of 2016, those using a bet on Euros offer would see Portugal’s odds slash, but the five-time Ballon d’Or winner couldn’t have done it alone.

Ronaldo was the heartbeat of that Portugal side that won in2016, but stylistically their game plan focused far more on long, direct balls to compensate for their midfield.

The drop-off in quality from the bench was apparent for manager Fernando Santos, but Ronaldo’s injury against France in the final forced his hand to make changes, and it was a substitute in the form of Eder that won the game for the Portuguese.

Santos’ approach was to play forward quickly, changing his wingers to strikers in a diamond at the business end of the competition to have a numerical advantage – which worked when Eder got his goal in the 109th minute.

Euro 2012 and 2008 – Spain

The Spanish team from 2008-2012 were perhaps one of the greatest international sides of all time – and it was a combination of Guardiola’s intricate tiki-taka fused with José Mourinho’s winning mentality that was integrated by Spain boss Vicente del Bosque, as he won back-to-back Euros as well as the World Cup in South Africa.

Spain became so successful because of their ability to transition and play in multiple positions. An elegant midfield of Sergio Busquets, Xavi, and Xabi Alonso meant that Andrés Iniesta changed role, playing as a left winger, while David Villa and Fernando Torres had to come to receive the ball more often than they would have for Valencia and Liverpool respectively.

There was a slight change to personnel at Euro 2012, with Jordi Alba replacing Joan Capdevila at left-back, and Cesc Fàbregas leading the line for a side that scored 11 goals and conceded just one on route to thrashing Italy in the Kyiv final.

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Looking ahead to this summer, it will be interesting to see if any national side incorporates tactics that are used in the following domestic European seasons.

Following a triumphant conclusion to the club season, a Manchester United player is feeling optimistic as the Republic of Ireland gears up for two pivotal Euro 2025 qualifiers.

Aoife Mannion finds it hard to remember the last time she won a trophy before Manchester United’s recent FA Cup final victory over Spurs. “The girls were all teasing me,” she says. “It was my first in about a decade. The last one was some kind of FA Cup shield or something with Aston Villa. I can’t even remember the exact name, but it was a regional trophy of some sort.”

The win at Wembley marked a significant upgrade in silverware, with United clinching the FA Cup for the first time in their history in front of a crowd of 76,000. By the time Mannion stepped off the bench to play the final 12 minutes, the team was already leading 4-0. Job done.

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“It was phenomenal, an absolutely amazing experience. And when the boys accomplished it too, the sense of pride was immense. It was a truly extraordinary moment for me, my family, and my friends. Around 25 people came over from Ireland, including a school from Ballinrobe. We know one of the teachers there, and she always brings the students to the games. They’ve visited the Aviva and even watched us at the Emirates when we played Arsenal. They always carry the same banner, so I spotted it at Wembley and knew exactly where my family was sitting. It’s not like it used to be a decade ago when you could easily recognize faces in the crowd.”

For the 28-year-old defender, it was a triumphant end to yet another season plagued by injuries, where she managed only four league appearances for United. A knee injury had already sidelined her from the World Cup, and then a quad tear in September kept her out until February. Having endured two anterior cruciate ligament injuries in her career, she was no stranger to long stints in recovery.

Did the dream of moments like the FA Cup final keep her motivated? “Absolutely, it’s crazy to think about—there have been some really low points, but also incredible highs. Once my career is over, I’ll reflect on it all and decide what was worth it. The FA Cup is now just a memory, and I’m eager to chase that feeling again.”

She has made the most of her time away from the game, earning her Uefa B coaching license. Now, she’s among 17 current or former players selected for the inaugural all-female Uefa A license course. This 12-month program, which started last week, includes notable figures like Vivianne Miedema, Beth Mead, Kim Little, Lia Wälti, and Steph Houghton. It also features Chelsea’s Swedish goalkeeper Zećira Mušović, whom Mannion hopes Ireland can challenge in their upcoming matches. “We exchanged a few pleasant words as we left, like ‘see you in a few days,’” she says with a laugh.

While coaching might be in her future, her current focus is on playing. Since making her debut under Vera Pauw in February last year, she has only added four more caps due to a streak of bad luck. However, Eileen Gleeson’s high regard for her was evident when she started against both France and England in the opening games of Ireland’s Euro 2025 qualifying campaign last month, not in her usual center-back position, but as a left and right wing-back.

“I don’t mind where I play; I’ll give it my all in any position. My versatility is an asset for the team, and I’m ready to help wherever needed.”

Although Ireland lost to France (0-1) and England (0-2), Mannion sees positives. She believes these experiences boost their confidence for Friday’s game against Sweden at the Aviva Stadium and the return match in Stockholm next Tuesday.

“We played well for large parts of those games. The narrow scorelines, especially our strong second half against England, showed our potential. Our goal now is to maintain that balance for a full 90 minutes. It’s challenging against top teams, but we’ve learned a lot. Hopefully, we can apply those lessons against Sweden, recognizing they are one of the world’s best teams.”

While Euro 2024 is going to be spectacular in Germany, it is also likely going to be the last time we see some of this generation’s most iconic talents representing their respective nations, including Croatia’s midfield maestro Luka Modric, Germany’s indomitable shot-stopper Manuel Neuer and Portugal’s evergreen talisman Cristiano Ronaldo.

One player who has confirmed his retirement is German great Toni Kroos. The 34-year-old midfielder initially called time on representing Die Mannschaft after the last European Championships in 2021, when Germany were knocked out of Euro 2020 in the round of 16 by England.

However, Kroos was convinced to come out of international retirement after positive talks with current Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann earlier this year and he revealed on his social media that he believes the hosts have a good chance at Euro 2024.

“I’ll be playing for Germany again from March. Why? Because I was asked by the coach and I’m up for it,” Kroos told his Instagram followers. “I’m sure that much more is possible with the team at the European Championship than most people think right now.”

Germany are the third favourites behind England and France to win the tournament if you’re looking for a way to use your Euro 2024 free bets, but is Kroos onto something when he says that more is possible with this team than most people think?

It is no secret that Germany have had a pretty dire time of it over the last few years. Joachim Low stepped down after 16 years in charge of Die Mannschaft, which included a World Cup success in 2014, following the last Euros, and Germany have been on a downward spiral.

Hansi Flick was the man entrusted with taking the reins, and the new Barcelona boss had a nightmare tenure in charge of Germany in his two years — being embarrassingly knocked out of the 2022 World Cup in the group stage for the second tournament in a row while operating a win-rate under 50%.

Nagelsmann took over back in September, and while results have continued to be mixed, there is certainly something about this German side that could see them perform to a very high standard on home soil.

Despite only being 36 years old, Nagelsmann is a mature coach with over eight years of experience at the highest level of the game, including winning the Bundesliga and two DFL-Supercups in a relatively short stint with Bayern Munich.

Getting Kroos to come out of international retirement could prove to be a stroke of genius, and his cut-throat approach to his Euro 2024 squad, which includes notable absentees like Mats Hummels and Leon Goretzka, has to be admired.

In his seven games in charge, Germany have won three, drawn two and lost two, but there are excuses. Nagelsmanntinkered with his squads, starting XI and formations in his first four games—two of which he lost—to find the right formula, and he arguably has done that.

Wins over France and the Netherlands back in March were huge statements from Die Mannschaft, and you can’t rule them out from toppling the England betting odds on the back of notable wins like that.

Nagelsmann also has a good balance of youth and experience in his side, with experienced figures like Manuel Neuer, Kroos and Thomas Muller joined by exciting youngsters including Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz and Aleksandar Pavlović.

Kroos won the La Liga/Champions League double with Real Madrid this year, but will he sail off into the sunset with a European Championship added to his glittering CV? Only time will tell.