Kelly Clarkson wasn’t necessarily thinking of the group of death when she sang the immortal line “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”.
But was this an unwitting piece of insightful punditry, or does landing in the trickiest pool at a major tournament damage a team’s chances of lifting the trophy if they reach the knockout stages?
Group F is Euro 2020’s incarnation, including France, Germany, Hungary and Portugal. For whichever side emerges on top, fighting through this tough group might seem the ideal way to begin a tournament.
They’ll be battle-hardened, having already whittled away their weaknesses against other strong opposition. After overcoming months of anticipation and migraine-inducing pressure, what can be left to fear?
There is always the alternative.
