The knockout rounds of Euro 2024 have quite a bit to stay as much as after a sensational group stage.
What a event it has been to this point, with gorgeous strikes, carefully fought video games and a shock or two being thrown in for good measure.
Regardless of a lot of the big-name gamers failing to hit their anticipated heights, unheralded names have risen to the event, and younger stars are shining notably brightly on the large stage.
Some stunning groups have squeezed their means by to the spherical of 16, too, they usually’ll be decided to maintain their journey going just a bit bit longer.
With just one group boasting an ideal file following pool play, the bracket feels fairly open, which suggests shocks might nonetheless be in retailer.
Learn on for our rating of the remaining 16 groups earlier than eight are despatched packing.
16. Slovenia
Slovenia someway managed to make the final 16 after three attracts in Group C, scoring simply two targets within the course of.
Whereas holding England scoreless is a superb achievement, the Three Lions have not precisely sparked into life in Germany, so the outcome maybe says extra about them than it does Slovenia.
With Portugal on the slate subsequent, Slovenia’s event will quickly be over.
15. Slovakia
Slovakia completed third in Group E regardless of having the identical factors whole as Romania in first and Belgium in second (and Ukraine in fourth).
Qualifying from probably the most disappointing group of the event, few will anticipate a lot in opposition to an admittedly lackluster England.
They’ll bask of their 1-0 victory over Belgium, however that is pretty much as good because it will get.
14. Denmark
The Euro 2020 semifinal looks like a very long time in the past for Denmark, who crept into the knockouts with a second place end in Group C after three uninspiring attracts.
Granted, the pool as a complete was disappointing, however there are few positives to level to when assessing De Rød-Hvide’s performances.
With a Germany facet enjoying in entrance of a house crowd up subsequent, they’re prone to exit the event with a whimper.
13. Georgia
Are Georgia higher than the three sides above them on this checklist on paper? Maybe not, however this can be a energy rating, in spite of everything, and Georgia have energy coursing by their veins proper now.
A 2-0 victory over one of many event favorites in Portugal—albeit with a closely rotated beginning XI—was an enormous shot within the arm for Georgia, they usually’ll need to harness that momentum.
Spain are subsequent on the gauntlet, and even when they will not be tipped to maneuver on, Georgia will put up one hell of a combat.
12. Belgium
Perhaps if VAR was a bit bit kinder to Romelu Lukaku, Belgium could be a couple of locations increased on this rating. However it wasn’t, so they don’t seem to be.
Opening the event with a 1-0 loss to Slovakia was an enormous shock, even when De Rode Duivels aren’t fairly as star-studded as years passed by.
A 2-0 victory over Romania was promising, however any momentum constructed up was dashed with a dire 0-0 draw in opposition to Ukraine.
With neighbors France up subsequent, they will be fortunate to get a lot additional.
11. Switzerland
A win in opposition to Hungary and two attracts in opposition to Scotland and Germany represents a profitable group stage for Switzerland, who will go into their assembly with Italy with confidence to tug off an upset.
The Swiss have been good worth on the worldwide stage within the final decade or so, usually performing past expectations due to an skilled backbone and a few magic from the event model of Xherdan Shaqiri.
Sitting eleventh right here may be a bit harsh, however that is extra due to the groups forward of them.
10. Romania
Romania had been unable to hold their unbeaten qualifying run into the event correct, however ending high of their group remains to be an enormous increase for the squad, even in a weak pool.
For a group so reliant on a stout again line, conceding three targets in three video games shall be disappointing, though the step up in high quality from the qualifying levels was certain to carry more durable challenges.
Psychological fortitude is vital in event soccer, and that may serve Romania effectively in opposition to the Netherlands. They will want greater than that in the event that they need to keep in Germany, although.
9. Turkey
Two wins from three group video games is a good platform for Turkey to construct on, however conceding as many as they scored (5 apiece) is not the very best signal.
That goals-against determine was made to look worse by a rampant Portugal facet, however with a equally free-scoring Austria up subsequent, they will need to make sure the again line is shored up.
A dramatic late-winner in opposition to 10-man Czechia could have offered an adrenaline increase that may linger into Tuesday’s assembly, they usually’ll want it in opposition to one of many event’s shock packages.
8. Italy
Italy certified in second in what was maybe the hardest group of the lot, so 4 factors may not be as disappointing as they appear.
Whereas not the classic that took the title for years in the past, Italy are nonetheless a fearsome prospect, if solely due to the ferocity with which they sing their nationwide anthem.
Northerly neighbors Switzerland will give them a tricky check, and it would come all the way down to penalties. Fortunately for the Azzurri, although, spot-kicks on the Euros went fairly effectively for them final time.
7. Netherlands
The Netherlands would have been shocked to have completed third of their group, however Group D did not conclude like anybody would have predicted.
Nonetheless, they’ve made it by to the knockouts, they usually’re nonetheless among the many strongest sides on paper. Their loss to Austria was surprising, however a 0-0 draw in opposition to a France facet many thought of favorites pre-tournament is an effective outcome, particularly after two defeats to them within the event qualifiers.
With Cody Gakpo within the hunt for the event’s Golden Boot, the Dutch ought to step issues up a notch, and Romania are maybe the kindest opponent to face of all of the group winners.
6. France
It is simply not taking place for France in the intervening time. The facial damage to Kylian Mbappé in Les Bleus event opener would have dented confidence, however there are nonetheless loads of star gamers within the squad—they simply want to point out up when it issues.
Qualifying for the knockouts in second was not how they wished to complete the group, however they continue to be undefeated, and that counts for one thing. With a far-from-vintage Belgium up subsequent, it is the proper alternative to get issues so as earlier than a probable assembly with Portugal.
Properly, effectively, effectively, what do we have now right here? Austria have rapidly grow to be the event’s darlings, enjoying sensational attacking soccer that led them to a stunning spot on the high of Group D.
Six targets of their final two video games, together with three in opposition to the Netherlands, may be very spectacular, and Ralf Rangnick has laid a tactical platform that has pushed the group to unanticipated heights.
A gathering with Turkey shall be fascinating, with each groups boasting unimaginable help on the event. However when it comes to high quality, the Austrians have it in abundance due to a collective effort relatively than particular person brilliance.
With most of the perceived high groups not but exhibiting that sort of cohesion, the actual fact Austria have come into the event trying like a membership facet shall be regarding to the large hitters.
England are fortunate to be this excessive. The Three Lions’ placement right here is extra all the way down to how favored they had been initially of the event relatively than the place they’re proper now. Contemplate this a drop within the energy rankings relatively than a mirrored image of how the competitors has gone to this point.
Issues that supervisor Gareth Southgate’s conservative model wouldn’t get the very best out of a wealth of attacking expertise have proved to be well-founded, with solely two targets scored. That is regardless of having Bundesliga top-scorer Harry Kane, and a quartet of Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer who scored 76 targets between them of their home league video games final season. Palmer’s solely performed 19 minutes to this point.
It has been uninspiring, to say the least, however England are used to plodding by the group levels earlier than coming to life within the knockouts—identical to they did at Euro 2020.
Slovakia will present a get-right recreation earlier than a probably serene journey by their facet of the bracket on the best way to the ultimate.
The two-0 loss to Georgia of their closing group recreation was a shocker, however Portugal had already certified comfortably, so resting key gamers was arguably extra essential.
In any other case, 5 targets in two video games bodes effectively for the Seleçao at full power, they usually can rapidly put that final outcome up to now.
Maybe the most important query, unsurprisingly, surrounds Cristiano Ronaldo. His aura stays, and he has proven some indicators of his high quality, however he’s maybe harming the group greater than serving to due to his tendency to be on the fringes of the motion relatively than totally concerned.
Saying that, his will to win may be large in event soccer, however perhaps that is higher served as an impression substitute relatively than a starter.
Regardless, although, Portugal have expertise in extra, and a gathering with Slovenia will permit them to get their first XI clicking once more forward of a tricky potential run to the event’s climax.
The hosts burst out of the traps with a 5-1 hammering of Scotland, and a 2-0 victory in opposition to Hungary was comparatively breezy, too.
Whereas they slowed down a bit within the 1-1 draw with Switzerland, qualification was already assured, so the necessity to carry out on the highest doable customary was eliminated.
In Jamal Musiala, Germany boast one of many event’s most fun gamers to this point, with the 21-year-old scoring twice and exhibiting off his fast ft and soccer mind in his 222 minutes of recreation time.
With a strong again line, knowledge by the center of the park, and vitality on each attacking flanks, Germany look completely balanced going into the latter levels. With residence help behind them, too, they might choose up their first Euros title since 1996.
Spain are the one unbeaten group within the competitors, and having been within the hardest pool within the group stage, that ought to strike concern into the hearts of everybody else.
Whereas Rodri has been his sometimes glorious self, the plaudits are to this point being laid on the ft of Lamine Yamal.
The 16-year-old has been a thorn within the facet of each defender he is come up in opposition to to this point, tying opponents in knots and gliding by video games as if he is been doing this for the final 10 years.
With the licence to rotate within the closing group fixture (which they nonetheless gained in opposition to Albania), Spain could have recent legs going into the knockouts. With Georgia arising subsequent, they are going to need to keep away from complacency, however they need to be pretty assured of going by.
The one factor that appears like stopping Spain from successful all of it is the power of their facet of the bracket. With Germany doubtless up subsequent, Portugal or France might be mendacity in wait in the event that they get by that problem.
However, for now, Spain are on the high of the tree. It is only a case of whether or not they can stay on the best perch.