If Arsenal and Manchester City fans want from good news from their Champions League exits on Wednesday, then read on.
Both Arsenal and City were sent packing in the Champions League after exits to Bayern Munich and Real Madrid respectively on Wednesday night.
The Gunners lost to Bayern 3-2 on aggregate in Germany while the reigning champions City were beaten on penalties by Real.
It means that all four English clubs that started the season in the competition have now be eliminated before the semi-finals with Manchester United and Newcastle crashing out at the group stage.
But it is not all bad news and the signs indicate that early exits from Europe could give England a boost ahead of the European Championship this summer in Germany.
That is because since 1992, when the European Cup rebranded as the Champions League, the country of a club that has reached the final of the competition has never gone on to win the World Cup or European Championship that summer.
The last time the country of a club that reached the final went on to taste success was in 1988 when PSV won the European Cup.
Weeks later, the Netherlands claimed success at the Euro ’88 with their legendary star-studded side including Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard. while other icons including Ronald Koeman, Gerald Vanenburg and Berry van Aerle all played for PSV.
And the closest it has come to repeating since was in 2004 when Porto won the Champions League under Jose Mourinho.
Portugal would go on to reach the Euro 2004 final on home turf with a squad full of Porto stars including Ricardo Carvalho, Deco and Maniche.
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But Greece pulled off one of the biggest underdog stories in the history of football by landing a 1-0 win to claim their first ever triumph at the competition.
Nevertheless, even during Spain’s dominance from 2008 to 2012 when they won two European Championships and the World Cup, neither Real Madrid nor Barcelona could win the Champions League in any of those years despite incredible teams boasting Spaniards like Andres Iniesta, Iker Casillas, Xavi and Sergio Ramos.
While it might only be a superstition, there might be an argument to suggest that the extra fixtures in Europe can wear down players ahead of an international European competition.
And Arsenal and City both have several Englishmen who will be key to England in Germany this summer.
Gareth Southgate will be heavily relying on Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and John Stones in the competition and if they are fatigued, it could give the Three Lions trouble.
So consider yourselves lucky, Arsenal and City fans, as your early exits from the Champions League might just have given England a fighting chance of finally becoming European champions.
News Summary:
- Arsenal and Man City exits from Champions League could be good omen for England at Euro 2024
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