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Euro 2024: We’re Down To The Last 16

Jun 27, 2024

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After two weeks of action, we’ve come to the end of the Euro 2024 group stage.

The two group winners and the four best third-placed teams are now preparing to line up in the knockout round.

Here’s a look at the upcoming matchups.

Switzerland vs Italy

Holders Italy were far from convincing in the group stage, managing just one win, one draw and one defeat…and will be hoping to find their footing in the last-16.

They face a Switzerland side who impressed with a second-place finish in Group A, with a win over Hungary and draws against Scotland and Germany.

Germany vs Denmark

The hosts came out unbeaten from the group stage and will be hoping to carry the momentum into the knockout round, with the backing of their strong home support.

Their opponents Denmark, meanwhile, failed to win a single group match and snuck into the last-16 despite recording three draws.

England vs Slovakia

The Three Lions have so far failed to show the consistency that helped them reach the final of the last edition. They recorded just one win and two draws against relatively weaker Group C opponents and will need to improve quickly if they’re to avoid an early exit.

Slovakia’s claim to fame was their Group E victory over the more fancied Belgium and they’ll be hoping for more giant-killing heroics to keep their campaign alive.

Spain vs Georgia

The Spaniards have established themselves as one of the major favourites this edition with a 100% group record. The last time they won all three group ties was in 2008, when they went on to lift the trophy.

Not to be outdone, Georgia’s appearance in the last-16 is also one for the history books. They’ve made the knockout round in their very first major tournament, thanks to their equally historic win over Portugal.

Pundits generally agree that as dark horses…they have nothing to lose by taking the game to their higher-ranked and more fancied opponents.

France vs Belgium

Arguably the biggest tie of the round.

France were surprised to only finish second in Group D with one win and two draws. They’ll be counting on their talisman Kylian Mbappe to be firing on all cylinders following his return from a broken nose.

Belgium – the third ranked team in the world – have disappointed so far this tournament, only making it out of the group stage on goal difference. Like the French, they too will be counting on their star player Kevin de Bruyne to dig them out of trouble.

Portugal vs Slovenia

Portugal booked their last-16 place thanks to impressive group wins over Turkiye and the Czech Republic. While their hopes are once again placed on the shoulders of Cristiano Ronaldo (who’s likely playing in his last major tournament), this is also an opportunity for the next generation of Portugal stars to stamp their mark.

They’ll be fancying their chances against Slovenia, who snuck into the knockout round with three draws in Group C.

Romania vs Netherlands

The Romanians managed to snag the top spot in a very tight Group E…where only goal difference separated the four sides.

They’ll face a Netherlands team who’ve not been at their best so far this tournament, only making the knockout round as one of the best third-placed teams.  

Austria vs Turkiye

The Austrians surprised everyone by topping Group D ahead of the more fancied France and the Netherlands.

Ralf Rangnick’s side may now consider themselves dark horses, but it won’t be easy against an organized and motivated Turkish side, who have two group wins so far.

 

The Euro 2024 knockout round kicks off on Sunday, June 30^th. You can catch all the action LIVE on Astro.