England, solid if not brilliant, and Spain, exciting, should a priori make short work of Slovakia and Georgia respectively on Sunday in the round of 16. But be careful, this Euro 2024 does not like stories written in advance, as shown by the elimination of Italy by Switzerland.
Published on: 06/30/2024 – 07:59 Modified on: 06/30/2024 – 09:39
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The day after the elimination of Italy, the defending champion, overtaken by Switzerland (2-0), and the qualification of Germany against Denmark (2-0), two other title contenders are aiming, on Sunday June 30, for the quarter-finals of Euro 2024: England and Spain.
In Gelsenkirchen, England face Slovakia at 6 p.m. On paper, there is no contest: the “Three Lions”, 5th in the Fifa rankings and vice-champions of Europe 2021, must ruffle the feathers of the Slovak “Falcons” who are ranked 45th in the world and have already equaled the best result in their history by reaching the 8th finals.
But England played with the nerves of their supporters during the group stage, which concluded with them in first place in their group but with only one victory (against Serbia 1-0), two draws (1-1 against Denmark and 0-0 against Slovenia), and only two goals scored in 3 matches.
It’s a mess for one of the tournament favorites who line up Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane, credited with a total of 114 goals this season with their respective clubs.
Coach Gareth Southgate targeted by criticism
For the English fans, expected in large numbers again in Gelsenkirchen, the person responsible for this mediocre first phase is easy to find, the coach Gareth Southgate, the target of criticism and throwing of cups after the draw against Slovenia. “99% of the fans are behind the team and the manager,” Kane dismissed.
Slovakia does not have much to lose and has shown that it can sow some nice stones in the path of the big names, as Belgium can attest, beaten 1 to 0 for its entry into the running.
The Slovaks then fell back into line with a defeat against Ukraine (2-1) and a draw against Romania (1-1). “The English can punish you at any time,” warned the Italian coach of the “Falcons” Francesco Calzona, holding stifling pressure.
Spain facing the Georgian surprise
The gap is even more abysmal between Spain, the most attractive team of the first three weeks, and Georgia, the one undoubtedly the least expected at this stage of the competition, opposed in Cologne (9 p.m.).
The Spanish in training on Saturday in Donaueschingen © Lluis Gene, AFP
The three-time Spanish European champions are the only ones to have finished the group stage with the maximum nine points thanks in particular to their prodigious and uninhibited wingers, Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams.
Read alsoThe program for the round of 16 of Euro 2024
It is an understatement to say that Georgia, ranked 74th in the world, surprised everyone in its first participation in a major tournament.
Willy Sagnol’s team lost its first match against Turkey (3-1), undoubtedly the best of the tournament so far, due to its intensity on the pitch and in the stands.
Thanks to their goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili and their centre forward Georges Mikautadze, top scorer in the group stage of the Euro with three “pawns”, the Georgians upset the Czechs (1-1), then dominated the Portuguese, already qualified and in a light version (2-0).
“We will go into this match with a lot of confidence because we have absolutely nothing to lose. For me, we have already won Euro 2024,” warned Sagnol.
“We don’t see it as an easy match at all,” replied his Spanish counterpart Luis de la Fuente. “Georgia has grown so much since we faced them in the qualifiers,” he underlined, referring to the large Spanish victories (7-1 and 3-1).
On the eve of their reunion with their best Belgian enemies (Monday 6:00 p.m. in Düsseldorf), the Blues will sacrifice the traditional pre-match protocol with the press conference of coach Didier Deschamps.
Another expected press conference, that of Italy which will take stock of its disastrous Euro at midday from its base camp in Iserlohn.
With AFP
