There's nothing false with these boys: we got ourselves our true 9s back

Football evolves like everything. Formations are different from what they used to be just 10 or 20 years ago, and some positions have almost disappeared while a few others are emerging.

For quite some time, the newly-established 'false 9' took the football world by storm, as many tacticians - including Manchester City's boss Pep Guardiola - turned to anything but genuine strikers. Contemporary managers opted for more versatile attackers instead of those good old poachers, robust centre-forwards who "only" knew how to score goals and nothing else. They needed ones that had virtues like being 'good in opening space', 'running between the lines', passing, playing one-twos, etc.

All of a sudden, we've found ourselves with those - their name says so, don't at us - false 9s. Even their physical appearance was opposite to those charming lumberjacks we're used to seeing upfront for decades with the shirt number '9'.

And then came EURO 2024.

It started with the very first game of the tournament, which launched Niclas Fullkrug into stardom. The 31-year-old Borussia Dortmund striker is anything but new on the stage, yet it was only the demolition of Scotland, embellished with his screamer, that introduced this genuine toothless 9 to the entire world.

The next day, we got ourselves another gem from that same jar, as Hungary was looking to avoid the defeat to Switzerland with Martin Adam, 29, as a substitute. Another one from that Fullkrug's pack, a strong and a bit slow yet powerful netbuster, made his presence felt. Still, he failed to find the back of the net, which didn't hurt his image in public, as he received praise on social media from various football fans.

Last but not least, Wout Weghorst made the headlines today with his amazing output against Poland - he came on in the 81st minute and scored the winner in the 83rd. Simple, effective, one-touch masterpiece like back in the old days. We got ourselves our true 9s back.

EURO 2024: A fool, an idiot, a hero

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP - GROUP STAGE

Monday

16.00: (3.60) Romania (3.35) Ukraine (2.10)

19.00: (1.48) Belgium (4.30) Slovakia (7.00)

22.00: (6.25) Austria (4.20) France (1.53)

Tuesday

19.00: (1.85) Turkey (3.50) Georgia (4.40)

22.00: (1.55) Portugal (4.00) Czech R. (6.25)

Wednesday

16.00: (1.53) Croatia (3.90) Albania (7.00)

19.00: (1.35) Germany (4.90) Hungary (9.50)

22.00: (3.70) Scotland (3.40) Switzerland (2.05)

Thursday

16.00: (4.10) Slovenia (3.50) Serbia (2.00)

19.00: (5.60) Denmark (3.70) England (1.65)

22.00: (2.30) Spain (3.30) Italy (3.20)

***odds are subject to change***