UEFA Euro 2024, Four teams confirmed in last 16, Who will be the champion?
The top two teams from each group will advance directly to the next round. The top four third-placed teams will have a chance to play in the next round.
Hosts Germany, Switzerland, Spain and Portugal advanced to the next round. Scotland and Poland are out.
What situation are the other teams in? Each team has played two matches. There is one match left.
Group A
Group A ended on Sunday. Germany and Switzerland advanced to the next round. Scotland are out. Germany has 7 points, Switzerland has 5 points in second place.
Group B
Spain moved from Group B to the next stage with 6 points. Their last match is against Albania. Croatia and Italy will face each other in the other match of this group.
Italy will advance to the second round on goal difference even if they draw with Croatia in the last match. They now have 3 points.
If Italy wins, Albania and Croatia will have a tough road. To keep the hope alive, Albania will have to get a point against Spain in the last match.
The same applies to Croatia. Both teams have 1 point each.
Group C
England are ahead in Group C. Harry Kane has 4 points. Denmark is in second place with 2 points. Slovenia is third with two points.
If England win and beat Denmark in the last match, Serbia will also go to the next round.
If Denmark and Slovenia win their last match, they will definitely advance to the next round. If you waste points, you have to look at the results of other matches.
Group D
The Netherlands, France and Austria are in the fight for the next round from Group ‘D’. Poland has not yet got a point.
Austria will have to look forward to the other matches. Even if Poland wins, they do not have a chance to advance to the next round.
Group E
Group ‘E’ is a fierce battle. Four teams collect 3 points. Romania, Belgium, Slovakia and Ukraine all have almost equal opportunities.
If the two matches are drawn, Romania and Belgium are ahead in terms of goal difference. Ukraine will be knocked out. Slovakia will have a chance to finish in third place.
Group F
Portugal advanced to the next round from Group F. Turkey is in second place with 3 points.
If they win again, the door to the last 16 will open in front of Czechia. In that case, Turkey will have to wait. Like Czechia, Georgia has no choice but to win.
Before the last two matches of each group, the top four third-placed teams are Austria, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia.
Then there are Albania and Czechia. At the end of the group stage fight, however, this calculation will change a lot.
Italy beat Spain to reach knockout stage
From villain to hero in a minute! But at the end of the day, Luka Modric had to leave the field with his head down.
Modric gave Croatia the lead with a goal a few seconds after wasting the penalty. Mattia Zakkani paid it off moments before the end of the game.
Spain topped the group with nine points after beating Albania in the other match. Italy is in second place with four points from three matches.
Croatia are on two points from three matches. You have to look at the other team to get to the knockouts. But they were practically knocked out.
From the beginning, there was a bit of slowness in Italy’s game. They kept control of the ball at their feet. But he could not create a chance to score.
The memory of being torn apart by Spain in the previous match still seemed to be spinning in their heads. Croatia insisted on counter-attacking. They are slowly taking possession of the ball.
Italy decided that the defense would not be broken in any way. As a result, when the Croatian footballers moved towards the box with the ball, at least five people from Italy were coming to stop.
Italy had a good chance. Nicolo Barella got the ball just outside the box from the corner. He raised the cross. Alessandro Bastoni stood empty.
Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic saved his strong head. Croatia also responded. Gianluigi Donnarumma blocked Luka Suchic’s shot on the left foot from outside the box.
For a while, the game of the two teams again saw poisonous football. Both teams wanted to attack again and again.
But due to the wrong pass, no one could create chances. As a result, the ball was moving in the midfield.
In the second half, Croatia’s attack increased. They seemed much more determined than Italy. A few minutes later, Croatia got a penalty.
Andrei Kramarić’s cross from the left side hit the hand of David Frantesi in the box and changed direction.
Although the referee did not give a penalty at first, he changed the decision after seeing the replay on the advice of ‘Var’.
Modric wasted that opportunity. Donnarumma hit a low shot to the left. Italy’s goalkeeper jumped and saved the shot. Italy was a little complacent at the time.
That’s why they digest goals. Although Donnarumma made a save, the Italian footballers did not show interest in attacking immediately. Croatia got the ball in a moment.
Donnarumma saved Ante Budimir’s effort from the cross that floated from the right. But fall to the ground.
Before getting up, Modric, who was behind, put the ball in the net with a left foot shot.
After that, Italy had many chances but could not score. It was not thought that they would score in the last minute.
The match was less than a minute left in the attachment time. Ricardo Calafori’s pass was cleared by Zakkani.
Wrap the ball in the net with perfect placement. Croatia’s dream was shattered by this one goal. Meanwhile, Spain coach Luis de la Fuente did not want to risk this match because of the confirmation of the last sixteen.
He changed the team of Italy’s match radically. Aymeric did not keep anyone other than Laporte. He also changed the goalkeeper.
Spain did not have much benefit in the beginning. Albania, who was fighting to survive in the competition, seemed much sharper. They attacked from the beginning.
About ten minutes passed before Spain took possession of the game. They created two chances in 12 minutes.
Merino took a shot from the cross of Jesus Navas. Albania goalkeeper Strakosha saved it. Soon after, Joselu’s head flew over the bar in Laporte’s cross.
Spain took 14 minutes to advance. Dani Olmo got a lot of space in front and ran and gave the cross to Ferran Torres.
The pass was so perfect that Torres took the time to put the ball in the net. Spain then went back to their game.
Control of the ball returned to their feet. They did not give Albania a chance in the first half. Albania did not get the chance in the second half. Needless to say, Spain did not give a chance.
They kept the ball at their feet. Albania occasionally took the ball away and went on the attack but could not use the opportunity.
Harry Kane in England’s dressing room in Euro 2024
England have not been able to play up to their reputation yet. Former footballers have criticized the team. Captain Harry Kane has come forward in this situation.
He took a hand in the former. In the meantime, Prince Williams went to England’s dressing room and gave a message to the footballers.
Williams went to England’s dressing room after the match against Denmark. The prince was there for a long time. He talks to the footballers.
According to England team sources, Williams has advised the footballers to play with a cool head. He told them not to listen to anything outside.
The prince has forbidden the footballers not to be disappointed as a match is drawn. In his words, the confidence of the footballers has increased a lot.
Ken is trying to increase the unity of the team’s footballers. Before the last match of the group, Kane called everyone in the squad in one place.
There was no manager Gareth Southgate or support staff. Footballers talk about where the problem is. They vowed to play well as a team.
Former England footballers Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer criticised Kane after the draw against Denmark. They especially criticized Ken.
Kane has countered two former footballers. “I think they also have a responsibility,” he told reporters after the team’s practice.
I know that everyone can express themselves. But as former footballers, they should understand that many people keep an eye on them.
So they should think more before saying anything. We are playing for the country.
They know how stressful it is to play in an England shirt. In the meantime, they are putting the team in more danger by saying such things. ”
Kane did not play the full 90 minutes in the previous two matches. He was picked up by the coach. The question arose as to why he was not fully fit.
The England captain also responded. “I wasn’t picked up because of my fitness. The coach had other plans at the time.
In that plan, any other footballer could have played better than me. So I was picked up. I am 100 per cent fit.
I scored in the previous match. Hopefully, I can do the same in the next match. I will try to play better. ”
After the Portugal-Turkey match, a big question has been raised
UEFA has been trying to stop the incident. They said that if this happens in the future, strict punishment is waiting for that supporter.
In Saturday’s match, four people entered the field during the match and two after the match to take selfies with Ronaldo. Ronaldo took a picture with a smile with one of them.
He was very upset with the behavior of others. Portuguese footballer Gonzalo Ramos clashed with a security guard while trying to stop a pitch intruder after the match.
UEFA said on Sunday night that security at 10 stadiums in Germany would be increased. If any spectator enters the ground in violation of the rules, then he will be evicted from the stadium immediately.
He will not be allowed to enter any stadium for the remaining matches of the competition. A criminal complaint will be filed against him.
Three weeks ago, before the Champions League final, a YouTuber said that he would give financial rewards to those who entered the ground. Three people entered the field in that match.
“It’s a matter of great concern,” Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said after the Turkey game. The mood of the audience was good today.
The star footballer of the team will be loved by the people of his country, it is normal. We like that too.
But it should also be accepted that if someone does not have the right mind, it becomes difficult to manage. It becomes difficult to protect the players.
I don’t think the safety of the players should be compromised. A message should also be sent to the audience that this is not right. ”
Kylian Mbappe opens face guard after scoring goal
France could have scored at least six goals. An easy opportunity was wasted. In the end, Mbappe scored from the penalty. He scored his first goal in Euro.
Mbappe was playing after wearing a face guard due to a nose injury. He removed the face guard in the joy of scoring the goal.
France could not win even after Mbappe’s goal. They had to pay for the opportunity wasted. Robert Lewandowski equalised from the penalty spot.
With one win and two draws, France finished second with five points and advanced to the pre-quarterfinals. Poland were eliminated with 1 point.
Austria beat the Netherlands in the other Group D game. Austria topped the group with six points after beating Poland and then the Dutch.
The Netherlands lost but they had 4 points. As a result, they made it to the pre-quarterfinals as the best third team. That is, three teams from Group D went to the next round.
Coach Didier Deschamps did not keep Antoine Griezmann in the first eleven after returning to Mbappe. Mbappe started playing where Griezmann played.
The French attack from the beginning of the game. Usman Dembele had the first chance in the 11th minute. His shot from the left edge was well saved by Skorupski.
Three minutes later, however, Poland had their chance. Zimanski’s shot was well saved by Mignan.
Most of France’s attack was being made from Kante’s feet in the midfield. Sometimes he was raising the ball to Mbappe, sometimes Dembele.
As a result, France had a chance. Mbappe himself went into the box and went to the scoring position at least twice. But he could not defeat Skorupsky.
Poland’s coach played Robert Lewandowski in this match in the hope of a goal. He got two chances from every attack but could not use it. France’s defense was frozen.
Mbappe was attacking as well as defending. He did not try to save himself even once by wearing a face guard.
He went to every fight. He was trying hard to score. But the first half ended goalless.
In the second half, France continued to attack one after another. They also get its fruit. Poland’s Kiwier fouled Dembele in the box.
France gets a penalty. From the spot, Mbappe wrapped the ball in the net with the left side of the goalkeeper.
Then run to the audience. Remove the face guard. His teammates hugged him and cheered.
After conceding the goal, Poland increased the attack a bit. They also get fruit. Upamecano fouled Swidarski in the box.
Poland get a penalty. There’s drama there, too. Lewandowski’s first shot was saved by Mignan.
But the referee asked Lewandowski to take a penalty again as Maignan came out of the goal line before the shot. Lewandowski scored the equalizer for the second time.
In the rest of the time, both teams tried very hard to score. But they could not open the goal. France had to be satisfied with a 1-1 draw.
Although Mbappe played well back on the field, the way they wasted the opportunity in this match will keep the country in mind.
Austria surprised in the other game of the group. They beat the Netherlands 3-2. In the 6th minute, Doniel Mullen of the Netherlands scored an own goal while trying to get the ball out.
Austria advanced. Another suicidal goal in the current Euro. In the first half, Austria had more possession of the midfield.
As a result, the Netherlands could not return to parity in the first half. At the beginning of the second half, Cody Gakpo returned the equalizer for the Dutch.
Austria went ahead again in the 59th minute. This time Romano Schmidt scored. The Netherlands defender could not find his head.
The Netherlands started playing open football after falling behind. As a result, both teams are creating chances.
Memphis Depay scored the equalizer in the 75th minute from Wighrst’s header. Five minutes later, Austria went ahead again.
This time Marcel Sabitzer scored. Later, another goal of Austria was canceled for offside. In the end, Austria left the field from the top of the group with 6 points.
Austria showed that they have come a long way by finishing at the top of the group where there are teams like France, Netherlands.