Postponed by a year, shunted around the continent – this has been the most unusual of European Championships. Yet if the last year has taught us anything, it’s that even in times of pandemic, shocks in football are still few and far between.
Manchester City cruised to the Premier League title, as did Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid made things a little more interesting, but these are hardly Serie A and La Liga’s minnows.
In the culmination of this strange, unprecedented tournament, we may still witness a fairytale. The Netherlands and France have already been sent packing by the underdogs, Czech Republic and Switzerland respectively, while Denmark have paid a fitting tribute to Christian Eriksen in their progress to the last eight.
The quarter-final draw is now almost complete as England prepare to face Germany and Sweden take on Ukraine in Tuesday’s ties.
Quarter-final draw
- Switzerland vs Spain
- Belgium vs Italy
- Czech Republic vs Denmark
- England OR Germany vs Sweden OR Ukraine
There will simply be no following Monday’s action, in which Spain and Croatia put on an eight-goal thriller before the French and the Swiss shared six goals between them and Kylian Mbappe saw his penalty saved.
For all the criticism of Uefa’s format in the group stages, the tournament has finally come alive in the knockout rounds. The sense of jeopardy is back and the power rankings are shifting all the time.
10. Ukraine
Ukraine made it through via coming third in Group C, winning just one game against North Macedonia. Other than their near fightback against Netherlands, which featured a stunning goal from Andriy Yarmolenko, there hasn’t been an awful lot to get excited about from Andriy Shevchenko’s men.
9. Sweden
Coming top of a group featuring Spain was no mean feat, even if that was before La Roja were really firing on all cylinders. Sweden are one of six remaining teams who haven’t lost a game yet.
8. Switzerland
Springers of the greatest upset yet this summer – and probably one of the biggest in European Championship history – Haris Seferovic provided a reminder of Switzerland’s attacking threat against France. They are far more than just Granit Xhaka. Vladimir Petković’s men will need another miracle in the next round though, as they have been drawn against Spain.
7. Czech Republic
There is no real reason for the Czechs to be perennially underestimated. How easily it’s forgotten that Czechoslovakia won the tournament in 1976 and the Republic reached the final in 1976. From Antonin Panenka to Pavel Nedved, this time it will be Patrik Schick spearheading the charge.
6. Denmark
Denmark became the first team to score four goals in successive games at a Championship against Russia and Wales. They are in the most favourable side of the draw and have the goodwill of a continent behind them given how their campaign began.
Euro 2020 odds
*Odds via Betfair and correct on 29 June
- Ukraine – 55-1
- Sweden – 40-1
- Switzerland 25-1
- Czech Republic 22-1
- Denmark 9-1
- Belgium 13-2
- Germany 13-2
- England 4-1
- Italy 34-1
- Spain 10-3
5. Germany
The difference between England and Germany so far is that when Joachim Low’s side have been on form, they’ve really looked at it. Nevertheless, they lost to France, failed to beat Hungary, and were aided by a couple of chaotic own goals against Portugal.
4. England
No goals conceded but just the two scored. It’s hard to know by what measure England should be judged, though their pragmatic approach hasn’t done them too much harm so far as they still topped Group D. Germany will be the real test.
3. Belgium
Potential injuries to Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne could be tournament defining – but as yet it’s unclear how serious those knocks are. Roberto Martinez’s side are the world’s number one ranked team and they are one of just two countries – Italy being the other – to have won all their games so far.
2. Spain
Spain have arrived. While they threw away a two-goal lead against Croatia, they showed great resilience to clinch back victory and are now the tournament favourites. Alvaro Morata has found his feet with a badly needed goal and with five in their last two games, Luis Enrique’s side have banished doubts about their prowess up front.
1. Italy
By our reckoning, Italy are still the team to beat, albeit it required extra time for Gli Azzurri to get past Austria in the last 16. Just four of Italy’s squad play outside Serie A – of all the top European leagues, arguably the most similar in style to tournament football – and they’ve conceded just one goal from their last 11 games, with five different goalscorers at the Euros already.
More from i on Euro 2020
- England aren’t ‘rubbish’ and Southgate isn’t a ‘fraud’ – we just need a bit of patience
- What the Premier League could learn from Euro 2020’s controversy-free referees
- The football nomad who became a hero for his role in saving Eriksen’s life
- How Ronaldo’s Coca-Cola stunt could change the face of football sponsorship
- How to watch every Euro 2020 match on TV and online in the UK
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3h3L8Q7
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