Euro 2024 is right down to the ultimate 16 groups, as eight are headed house after an thrilling group stage. We mentioned goodbye to Albania, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Scotland, Serbia and Ukraine, however we will all take pleasure in one other 4 rounds of fixtures earlier than the winner is topped on July 14.
To date, the event in has been filled with surprises, however what has stood out? Which groups have impressed (or not), and what can we anticipate from a bracket that has many of the top-ranked groups (France vs. Belgium; Spain vs. Georgia; Germany vs. Denmark; Portugal vs. Slovenia) on one aspect and a extra open really feel (Switzerland vs. Italy, England vs. Slovakia; Romania vs. Netherlands; Austria vs. Turkey) on the opposite?
We requested ESPN FC’s writers on the event what they’ve manufactured from issues to this point now we’re heading into the spherical of 16 on Saturday.
What’s been the very best factor in regards to the Euros to this point?
Gab Marcotti: This appears like a real event, and never like the fact TV present set that Qatar was (and, to a lesser diploma, Russia 2018), with followers showing as extras. Due to geography, the event can be much more accessible. On the pitch, lots of the video games have been tight and within the steadiness till the ultimate moments, which makes a pleasant change from what we see week in, week out in membership soccer. And our German hosts have been terribly welcoming.
Mark Ogden: The large numbers of followers. The European nations have been backed by unusually small numbers in latest main tournaments — Russia 2018, Qatar 2022 and the pandemic-impacted Euro 2020 — so it has been a return to the times of huge influxes of supporters. Germany’s location on the coronary heart of Europe, and the truth that eight nations at Euro 2024 border the nation, has allowed for enormous travelling contingents. Sudden color from Romania, Albania and Turkey has additionally been an enormous constructive.
James Olley: The atmospheres and the absence of politics. Earlier than the 2018 World Cup, there was concern about safety and Russia’s relationship with the West. The final Euros have been delayed by a yr and nonetheless closely affected by COVID-19. And the 2022 World Cup in Qatar raised critical human rights questions that forged a shadow over all the things that occurred on the sector. All three tournaments weren’t nicely attended by followers because of this and, in that context, what a refreshing change Germany is. It genuinely feels just like the wondrous blur of tradition and color that these main occasions must be.
Rob Dawson: How open the event is. A number of the favourites like England and France have struggled, and there are darkish horse contenders within the spherical of 16 corresponding to Austria, Turkey and Switzerland. Every group to make it out of the teams will really feel there’s a reputable likelihood to achieve the semifinals and past.
Julien Laurens: The ambiance in stadiums. All over the place I’ve been, it has been wonderful. Even on TV, it sounds wonderful. Each group of followers have raised their video games. Scotland‘s have been nice, as all the time once they qualify, but additionally these from Turkey, Georgia, Albania, the Netherlands, Portugal, Croatia … even the French have been good. It has been filled with color, face portray, chanting, leaping, smiling and crying.
Sam Marsden: I agree that it is clearly the ambiance created by Scotland, Albania, Georgia, Turkey, Croatia and others. However simply to be totally different, I’ve loved the mx of children and veterans. Spain‘s Lamine Yamal grew to become the youngest participant to ever characteristic within the finals, at 16; Portugal’s Pepê the oldest at 41. Croatia’s Luka Modric grew to become the oldest-ever aim scorer at 38, whereas Germany‘s Jamal Musiala and Turkey’s Arda Güler have delivered a few of the group stage’s greatest moments at 21 and 19, respectively.
Tom Hamilton: It has been a event the place followers have combined brilliantly throughout Germany. Supporters from Romania, Slovakia, Austria and Denmark that I noticed all loved spending time with the Scotland followers, and greeted them with their very own model of “No Scotland, no get together.” As we head into the knockout levels, you may have a couple of acquainted names within the combine to win all of it, however the event is extremely open.
0:26
Hamburg turns orange as Dutch followers get the get together began
Dutch followers have fun on the streets of Hamburg forward of their first Euro 2024 recreation.
What’s been the worst factor in regards to the Euros to this point?
Marsden: The pitch invasions. Each recreation I’ve been to has seen safety breached, briefly halting the matches, usually on a number of events. Portugal’s video games have been hit hardest as a result of Cristiano Ronaldo impact. Six supporters tried to get to him through the Turkey recreation. After the Georgia match, one other fan launched themselves from the stands, falling down the tunnel. It is harmful.
Olley: I’ve all the time tried to not publicly complain about journey at tournaments as a result of as journalists, we’re all privileged to be there. Like many others, I’ve had some dangerous luck with the trains — attending to and from Gelsenkirchen for England’s first recreation particularly — however let’s give attention to the soccer, so I will say the event format. It is the identical as at Euro 2020, however no much less irritating: it’s farcical that groups have to attend for typically days to know who they’re enjoying within the spherical of 16 or in the event that they’ve even certified. UEFA ought to return to 16 groups, however clearly cash talks right here, so no less than once they inevitably go to 32 groups, we will dispense with this 4 “greatest third-place finishers” nonsense.
Hamilton: Like James, I’ve to agree that a few of the transport has been shambolic, and that the purgatory that groups are put in after ending the group stage is nonsense. Having third-place finishers undergo eliminates a few of the jeopardy. The truth that that Ukraine exit on 4 factors when some groups qualify on three is certainly farcical.
Laurens: Personally, all the things has been nice for me, so I haven’t got a worst factor. Leaving the Veltins Area in Gelsenkirchen after Spain vs. Italy was a little bit of a mission, however the Spanish followers in my tram saved singing so it was cool. The trains have been good for me; entry to stadiums too. The video games I’ve lined had good tales and I’ve seen nice targets, I’ve seen the Masked Participant [Kylian Mbappé] in motion, and very good atmospheres. Berlin is a superb metropolis. I had simply forgotten how huge Germany is, particularly after the Qatar World Cup, so these practice journeys are nice however lengthy.
Dawson: What UEFA are doing contained in the stadiums earlier than kick-off. Juls is correct; the ambiance created by the followers is likely one of the greatest issues on the event, so there is no want for stadium sound methods to blast out ’90s dance classics to get everybody within the temper. Flip off the loud audio system and let the supporters construct the ambiance.
Marcotti: I believe a few of the greater names have not actually stood out but, although that does not actually trouble me that a lot … it is an opportunity to see others shine and are available to the fore. And a few of the logistics have not been nice at sure stadiums, however that is a minor criticism. Actually, there hasn’t been a lot to moan about in any respect and even those that complain in regards to the format are quite lacking the purpose. These greatest third-place groups nonetheless make for drama. Go to 16 groups and it means quite a few nations won’t ever qualify for a serious event in generations; go to 32 and also you make all of qualifying just about irrelevant (at which level you would possibly as nicely scrap it and simply increase Nations League.) It is a compromise. Reside with it.
Ogden: The centre-forwards. Keep in mind them? They was once the fellows who scored the targets and claimed all of the glory, but it surely’s been a grim competitors for the likes of Harry Kane, Romelu Lukaku, Robert Lewandowski and others. The final time the Euros have been held in Germany, in 1988, the event was made memorable by the beautiful targets and performances of the Dutch nice Marco van Basten. There is not any signal of a brand new Van Basten but.
1:27
Why Georgia qualifying for the knockout stage is a ‘fantastic story’
Shaka Hislop recaps Georgia’s beautiful 2-0 win over Portugal that sees them qualify for the spherical of 16 at Euro 2024.
Which group have impressed you most?
Dawson: Georgia. They do not have loads of possession, however they nonetheless discover a means of enjoying front-foot, attacking soccer. Their video games in Germany are sometimes pure chaos. They defend aggressively, and once they win the ball again, it is like an Olympic dash into the opposite penalty space. They’re nearly like a throwback group from a bygone period, and it is nice leisure.
Laurens: Georgia! I ran into their supervisor, Willy Sagnol, in Munich final month earlier than a Champions League recreation. He instructed me that they’d shock Europe. And so they have! I knew he was making them stable, hard-working and filled with confidence, however I did not assume they’d get out of their group. They’ve, they usually have the very best goalkeeper of the event in Giorgi Mamardashvili and the highest aim scorer in Georges Mikautadze. What an unimaginable story.
Olley: Georgia are rightly being highlighted by the others, so I will say Austria. They topped a bunch that regarded significantly daunting given it contained France and Netherlands, however that was no fluke. Their relentless press and aggression will make them a match for anybody within the knockouts — they will beat Turkey and have already overwhelmed the Dutch, their potential quarterfinal opponents. And I am happy for head coach Ralf Rangnick, whose status was unfairly maligned at Manchester United.
Hamilton: Georgia have been field workplace and fantastic to observe and whereas I beloved watching the primary 23 seconds of Albania scoring in opposition to Italy, total I’ve to say Austria. Rangnick has finished a superb job there and they’re contenders for the trophy. They got here into the event with a quiet confidence and are delivering. No group will wish to play them.
Marcotti: Austria seem like a membership aspect, and I say that as a praise. Worldwide soccer would not actually lend itself to classy ways as a result of coaches should work with what’s accessible they usually do not have that a lot time on the coaching pitch. However Rangnick has made Austria greater than the sum of its components, which is actually uncommon at this degree.
Ogden: Switzerland, simply forward of Austria. The Swiss are a harmful group within the so-called weaker half of the draw as a result of they’re stable on the again, skilled in midfield and have younger and hungry expertise up entrance. Murat Yakin’s group simply shade it forward of Austria, however they’ve additionally been spectacular.
Marsden: Spain. There have been query marks about La Roja pre-tournament. Only a few folks had them down because the outright favourites, however they have been the very best group by means of the group stage with three wins from three. What’s extra, they’re thrilling to observe with the unpredictably added by Nico Williams and Yamal.
2:12
Why struggling England are nonetheless Euro 2024 favourites
Frank Leboeuf assesses England’s hopes within the knockout levels of Euro 2024.
Which group have underwhelmed?
Ogden: England. Completely woeful. Different groups have underperformed, however none went into the event with as a lot hype as England. On paper, with a squad of such expertise, England ought to have breezed by means of their group and now be relishing a seemingly simple path to the ultimate. However Gareth Southgate’s gamers have turn out to be means lower than the sum of their components. They have been dismal and boring.
Olley: France did not win their group and Belgium regarded common, but it surely needs to be England given the opponents they confronted. Southgate has taken the group on throughout his eight years in cost, however merely has to get extra out of such a proficient group of attacking gamers. With the knockout rounds now upon us, his margin for error has gone.
Laurens: I’ll depart the English gamers to settle their rating with Southgate, so I’ll choose Belgium. They’ve been a humiliation to their nation. 4 factors of their group is a shame for a group of their calibre, and with the gamers they’ve. Domenico Tedesco has been clueless to this point on this event.
Dawson: England? France? Belgium? Netherlands? Take your choose. Serbia can be dissatisfied to be going house early. There was an excellent likelihood to get out of Group C, however regardless of having Aleksandar Mitrovic, Dusan Vlahovic and Luka Jovic within the squad, they solely managed one aim in three video games and completed backside.
Hamilton: Denmark vs. Serbia was one of many dullest matches I’ve seen. And with Denmark heading by means of, it is Serbia who I believe go house dissatisfied. They’ve good attacking expertise of their group, however by no means managed to place collectively a efficiency which did justice to the sum of their components.
Marsden: Given it is tougher to achieve the spherical of 16 than not, Croatia massively underperformed by crashing out within the group stage, even when they have been paired with Spain and Italy. The trio of England, France and Belgium have all been under par, too, however will get a shot at redemption, which Croatia is not going to. Will that be it for Modric at main tournaments? He can be 40 by the subsequent World Cup.
Marcotti: Many of the pre-tournament favorites have been underwhelming, aside from Spain. England and France have attained nice outcomes by enjoying the kind of soccer we have seen within the event, so I assume that is a mitigating issue for Southgate and Deschamps to a point, however they have been unimpressive.
1:24
Are Spain the group to beat at Euro 2024?
Julien Laurens has excessive reward for Spain as they proceed to impress after beating Albania 1-0.
The knockout bracket could be very one-sided, which groups do you anticipate to achieve the ultimate and elevate the trophy?
Marcotti: It is nonetheless fairly extensive open and something can occur … it is event soccer, in spite of everything. Germany have a very powerful run to the ultimate, and I am unsure in regards to the age and depth of the squad, so I’d lean in direction of France (or Spain of their half of the bracket.) Within the backside half, it isn’t nice in any respect, however England have the best margin of enchancment, I assume. So how about France (or Spain) beating England within the closing? (Except England beat themselves first, that’s.)
Ogden: I am going for a Germany vs. Netherlands closing, with Germany to win it. I do not assume Germany are the very best group, however they’ve house benefit and have Musiala and Florian Wirtz as match winners. The Dutch have not impressed me in any respect, however their path to the ultimate is one which they may regard as a transparent path. They may beat Romania after which construct up a head of steam. In the event that they meet Germany within the closing, will probably be a basic match.
Olley: They’ve not been nice however my pre-tournament prediction was France so I’ve to stay with them, regardless that Germany and significantly Spain look in ominous type. I might wish to consider England will enhance, however it’s laborious proper now to say with any confidence they will beat, say, Slovakia, Italy and Netherlands enjoying like they’ve. I will go for Netherlands to lose to France within the closing.
Dawson: Within the prime half of the draw, Spain and Germany have been most spectacular. If Germany can edge their potential quarterfinal, they may fancy their possibilities of reaching the ultimate. There’s a possibility for a shock contender to return by means of the underside half; both Austria or Turkey, who meet within the spherical of 16. I believe Austria will edge it, attain the ultimate, after which lose to Germany.
Hamilton: I agree with Rob, I believe we’ll find yourself seeing a Germany-Austria closing. Like many, I went for France pre-tournament, however as James is sticking, I will twist. Germany are dealing with the stress of being hosts brilliantly, and have the very best participant within the event to this point in Musiala. Austria are constructing properly underneath Rangnick and are on the beneficial aspect of the draw. I believe they will come by means of their half, after which finally fall simply brief to the hosts within the closing.
Laurens: Huge groups are going to lift their video games now. The group stage is a little bit of enjoyable, however the true event begins now. So I anticipate the likes of France, England, Belgium and Netherlands to play higher. You see the nice groups step up when it issues essentially the most. France are going to beat Netherlands within the closing, and Mbappé, with out his masks, will elevate the trophy, 40 years after Michel Platini.
Marsden: Anybody can beat anybody within the prime half of the draw, however I’ll go for France vs. Spain within the backside semifinal and the winner of the event coming from that recreation. As for who they may meet within the closing, going in opposition to all logic gleaned from performances to this point, it appears to be like like the trail is opening up for England.