Euro 2024 – Thoughts on the Round of 16

Euro 2024 – The Round of 16
Wednesday 3rd July 2024

Back home after my trek round the group stages, and I had an appointment with an armchair in front of my TV for the first knockout round – two matches a day spread over Saturday to Tuesday. 

 

After 36 games in 13 days to eliminate eight teams, it was down to business proper. Let’s face it, who had we lost that mattered, in terms of a potential winner so far? Croatia? Maybe. But aside from that, we saw the back of Hungary, Scotland, Albania, Serbia, Poland, Ukraine and the Czech Republic. No likely winners amongst that lot. 

 

Now four days, eight games and eight exits. No second chance. Much as the group stage produced some drama, mainly where underdogs were involved and England were not, this is where the tournament actually starts. Up until now it’s simply been a matter of jostling for position… and how well that worked out for England. All the best teams are in the other half of the draw, a little reminiscent of Gareth Southgate’s first tournament as the full England manager, back in 2018. 

 

So match by match, some brief reflections…

Switzerland 2 Italy 0 (Berlin)
Ah yes, the Italians. Won the Euros in 2021, but didn’t even make the last two World Cups. Taken apart by Spain and with only three of the players that started the Euros final three years ago. Talk about upheaval. Strangely enough, they hit the post twice in the second half, albeit one of those efforts was courtesy of a Swiss defender, but this was ultimately a one-sided match in which Switzerland deservedly went through. I’m not convinced Italy were helped by making as many as six changes to their starting eleven. No chance of Gareth Southgate pulling that stunt. Granit Xhaka has enjoyed a boom time since departing the Emirates, and he will meet his effective replacement in the shape of Declan Rice in the quarter final. You have to ask about Granit, was he just not quite suited to the English game? I think it’s fair to say that the club didn’t get the best out of him, although Arteta came close in 2022-23.

 

Germany 2 Denmark 0 (Dortmund)

Let’s face it. Denmark qualified without winning a game and didn’t exactly light up the tournament. With Germany getting their act together, this did have the feeling of a no-contest. It was a shame that Havertz couldn’t convert after his bit of wizardry to take out two defenders, but some of the finest moments do not always end up as goals. Pele’s dummy in the 1970 World Cup or the Cruyff turn four years later are memorable examples and still celebrated to this day. The turning point were the VAR decisions in a short space of time after the interval that denied Denmark a goal for a narrow offside and saw Germany awarded a penalty for what really wasn’t a handball. Nevertheless, Germany were by far the better side and deserved the win. You imagine their next test, against Spain might be a slightly sterner affair. 

 

England 2 Slovakia 1 (Gelsenkirchen)

I don’t need to dwell too long on this. When will Gareth Southgate understand that the balance of the team is more important than making sure your best individuals are on the pitch? Hopefully before the quarter final. Foden and Trippier do not work. Bellingham produced a touch of class after a couple of quiet games to save his manager’s neck. Neither side was particularly accurate in front of goal and defensively, England had lapses that don’t suggest they might be champions elect despite being in the easier half of the draw. Still, knockout football is about survival. Credit to the utility of Bukayo Saka who played all over the shop.

 

Spain 4 Georgia 1 (Cologne)

A dominant Spain were so obviously going to break down the plucky Georgians that when the underdogs went a goal up, I rushed to an online bookies and put £100 on a Spain win, making the easiest £62 I ever will. Like taking candy from a baby. Order was restored and Spain do look seriously impressive. I’ll put the goal they conceded down as a bit of a fluke. I could see them winning the trophy on their performances so far. Such good players throughout the team and genuinely penetrative. They find a way through massed ranks of defensive teams, although from the last eight onwards, you imagine they won’t meet anyone that play as deep as Georgia. Good to see some football after the England performance.

 

France 1 Belgium 0 (Dusseldorf)
Classic France. Don’t concede and find a goal from somewhere. They have played so many of these kind of games over the years, not least the 2018 World Cup semi-final against the same opposition with the same scoreline. A lot of the finishing in this game was either high or wide with a dull regularity, although France deserved their progress as they were more adventurous than the Belgians. I followed a tip on Lukaku for top scorer before the tournament began. I should have known better. The man is the master of the disallowed goal, or indeed the narrow miss. France are simply the great survivors, so often doing just enough. Their game against Portugal will be interesting. Anything could happen. Portugal have been more entertaining, but France, defensively, have conceded one goal in four games. Saliba made a rare error in this game from which Belgium nearly scored, but otherwise has been one of the best defenders in the tournament.

 

Portugal 0 Slovenia 0 (Frankfurt)

The Ronaldo show rolls on. He finally scored… albeit in the penalty shoot-out, and of course there was the extra time penalty that was saved. I didn’t get the feeling he was playing for the team as much as against Turkey. I mean, let someone else have a go at a free kick for starters. Why doesn’t he take corners if his delivery is so good? Maybe because he’d try and score direct from them. Portugal seem to be running out of steam after looking impressive to these eyes in their first two matches. Slovenia blew the opportunity to go through from spot kicks, but at least the blame was split three ways. And honestly, a Portugal v France quarter final is just a little more enticing than Slovenia v France.

 

Netherlands 3 Romania 0 (Munich)

About 15 minutes of the Romanians making a fist of it, before the Dutch got their act together and ran away with this one. After a mixed group stage, they might just be running into form. They tore the opposition defence apart and really should have scored more. 

 

Turkey 2 Austria 1 (Leipzig)
A cracking game, with no shortage of rain in the second half. The Turks went two ahead, Austria pulled one back and extra time was only denied by the wonder save. Austria were being talked up after winning their group, although I only caught their first match on the box, so I really can’t say too much. Perhaps a little over-hyped? Certainly, their set piece defending wasn’t up to the mark. The glass throwing reached new levels. Can you imagine an England v Turkey semi-final? I wouldn’t want to be in Dortmund for that. Still, Switzerland v Netherlands feels more likely somehow. Credit to the Turks for their spirit, and to the Portuguese referee for his handling of the antics. If his countrymen are eliminated by France, I suspect this performance might get him the final. The Netherlands v Turkey feels like it could be a classic. As it was people were calling this match the best in the tournament so far. One thing you have to say about Turkey – all their matches have been entertaining.

 

I’ll be back with some more thoughts on Sunday after the quarter finals.

 

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