Before the real-life tournament kicks off, let’s see how Euro 2024 played out according to #FM18 👀
A lot can happen in 6 years...
Research indicates that in real life Germany weren’t confirmed as host country for Euro 2024 until late in 2018, and as Sports Interactive implemented the FM18 data lock prior to this, the in-game engine has decided that Turkey shall be the hosts of the 17th edition of the UEFA European Championships.
No major shocks in the qualifying phase; notable absentees include the likes of Czech Republic, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland who all failed to emerge from their groups. A Tony Pulis-led Wales will be Turkey-bound this summer, while Northern Ireland reach their first Euro finals since 2016 with clashes against France and Germany to look forward to.
What will actually shock you? Let’s start with the England Manager who for some reason was offered the role after winning the Championship with Aston Villa in 2022 (having relegated them the year before)
Arise, Sir Steve Bruce 🥬
Speaking of England - the media seem most surprised by the omissions of Harry Winks & Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from cabbage-man’s 26-man squad, while there are somewhat surprise call ups for Brentford’s Joe Wildsmith (currently at Derby County IRL) and Jamal Lascelles who picked up the last of his 2 in-game England caps back in 2021.
No sign of Declan Rice (Reading) who to date has been capped 12 times for Ireland 👀
In Group A Croatia are stunned by a 2-0 victory for Slovakia having travelled without Luka Modric after he retired in 2021 at the age of 35, FM18’s view on longevity clearly differs from modern day. England start with a backline of Eric Dier, Reece Oxford, Nathaniel Chalobah and Josh Tymon (his 35th cap btw) and are held to a 1-1 draw by Romania with Rashford on the scoresheet 🤷.
Both recover to pick up 3 points before facing off against in the final group game - a 2-2 draw includes a Harry Kane brace and both progress to the Last 16 so all is right in the world again.
Group B holds few surprises as Rafa Benitez’ Spain win all 3 games to top their group ahead of runners up Sweden, Samu Castillejo rising to be Spain’s talisman so make of that what you will.
Dortmund’s Alexander Isak was an FM18 wonderkid but fails to score in any of Sweden’s group games, John Guidetti the unsung hero as they beat Switzerland to finish 2nd in the group.
In Group C Patrick Cutrone is the hero of Italy scoring 3 goals to help the Azzurri finish top on goal difference ahead of Jan Jansen’s (aka Danny Blind) Netherlands, yep, that was a thing. Donny Van De Beek and Rick van Drongelen are the standout stars for the Dutch, while Van Dijk has to make do with a pace on the bench - the multiverse eh.
Group D is arguably the group of the tournament in terms of surprises; after being held 1-1 by Wales in the opener, Belgium go on to lose 3-1 to Ukraine and only a surprise victory over group winners Portugal (without a retired Cristiano Ronaldo) sees them qualify as a best 3rd place nation - De Bruyne and Lukaku retiring from international football in 2020 and 2022 respectively hasn’t helped anyone’s case and sadly Stoke’s Gianelli Imbula and Barcelona’s (!) Divock Origi haven’t really cut the mustard 🤷. 4 goals by Artem Dovbyk see Ukraine finish 2nd, while Tony Pulis surprises no one as Wales finish bottom.
It’s Euro 2024 and we’ve mentioned Stoke and Tony Pulis in the same sentence…
As is the theme of today’s thread, it’s no surprise that Robert Lewandowski is also retired from international football (in 2018 for no apparent reason) however Poland still manage to limp through by finishing 3rd in Group E; Turkey who aren’t led by Fatih Terim finish 2nd and Russia top the group as this is a world where they haven’t started a war and therefore are allowed to participate.
Group F is a straight out battle between Germany and France however and it’s the Germans who finish top after beating France in the opening fixture; I can’t tell you anything about the Germans as they were unlicensed in FM18 and I forgot to do a name-fix, while France are led as normal by the likes of Mbappé, Griezmann, Pogba and..Jean-Kévin Augustin. I love football.
It’s knockout time at Euro 2024 as we reach the Last 16! Tammy Abraham nets the winner as England overcome Belgium 2-1 after Nathaniel Chalobah opened the scoring, man-of-the-match award for Deli Alli, what could have been. A Pietro Pellegri hat-trick leads sees Italy demolish Sweden, as does Kylian Mbappé as the French dispose of Sweden (Isak still hasn’t scored). Isco helps the Spanish limp past Romania while there are also wins for Croatia, Portugal, Germany and Ukraine courtesy of a brace from Dovbyk who already looks set to win the Golden Boot.
We’ve reached the Quarter Finals. It’s the Croats who continue to outperform at major tournaments, a Marco Pjaca inspired 3-1 victory over Portugal despite Gelson Martins winning the man-of-the-match award. A brace by Alvaro Morata sees Spain dump out the Germans, so glad they are out considering their left-back is called Eduard Egg and I can’t be dealing with that.
Cutrone is the hero again as Italy knock out Ukraine, while in Istanbul England have comfortably beaten the French with goals from Harry Kane and you guessed it, Lewis Cook ✅.
EURO 2024 SEMI-FINAL
Despite Croatia’s heroics up to now, Spain prove to be too strong and goals from Pablo Fornals and Jorge Meré (I miss him) see the Spaniards advance to the final of Euro 24 with Rafa Benitez at the helm and David De Gea still in goal..impressive seeing as the likes of Pedri, Gavi and Lamine Yamal don’t even exist in this universe.
Meanwhile Italy play England in a repeat of the real-life 2020 final which I suppose is somewhat poetic for the narrative - unfortunately the outcome is the same, heartbreak for England as an 86th minute Moise Kean header beats Jack Butland to send the English home and put Italy through to the final. Steve Bruce holds his head high and remarkably keeps his job - I feel we should almost have a spin-off to see what he gets up to next, but that’s for another day.
THE FINAL
Here we are - live from the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul in front of 75,000 fans, it’s the Spain versus Italy in a repeat of the Euro 2012 final in which Spain ran riot to win 4-0 on the day; is this to be revenge and redemption for the Italians, or will we see Spain pick up their 4th European Championship?
In this world Iñaki Williams has declared for Spain and not Ghana, music to Spanish ears as he opens the scoring to give them an early lead. Italy manager Stefano Pioli shows he is not afraid to make the big calls - the misfiring Kean and Cutrone are replace by Pellegri and Emanuel Vignato on 56 minutes, and it’s the latter who repays the faith in his manager to score in the 69th minute - a goal which proves to be decisive as the game goes to extra-time after both teams cant’ be separated in 90 minutes.
The clock ticks on - Italy bring on Fede Chiesa while Spain deploy Saúl and, Munir? A quick Google tells us he currently plys his trade at Las Palmas so the multiverse strikes again, but this commentator ends up eating his words as the ex Barca forward pops up with a 114th minute winner to send the Henri Delaunay trophy back to Spain once more.
🏆 SPAIN ARE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS 🏆
As predicted, Artem Dovbyk wins the Golden Boot with 6 goals ahead of Mbappé and André Silva on 5; despite their Quarter Final exit, it’s Mbappé who wins Player of the Tournament with an 8.0 average rating, so the world rights itself again in that sense I suppose.
The Euro 24 Dream Team is announced - FM18 wonderkid Jorgé Mére is included, a world away from the Mexican league where he is currently on the books at Club América; there is also a place for England and Chelsea’s Josh Tymon who for some reason has become one of the best left-backs in the world within this universe despite (oh no I’m gonna say it again) starting FM18 at Stoke City…
There we have it - Euro 2024 according to FM18 and for sure a lot can happen in 6 years; be sure to also check out our list of Wonderkids to Watch for the real-life tournament, and follow us on X for all of our latest Football Manager content.
Enjoy the Euros - I’m off to uninstall FM18 again forever...👋
