After 36 matches, Euro 2024 has moved into the all-important knockout section, which begins with the spherical of 16 on Saturday.
Al Jazeera highlights the 4 key matches of this spherical:
⚽ Germany vs Denmark
WhenJune 29, 21:00 native time (19:00 GMT)
The place: BVB Stadium in Dortmund
Germany and Denmark will meet in a rematch of the 1992 Euro ultimate once they meet in Saturday’s match in Dortmund. Whereas hosts Germany stay undefeated within the match with two wins and a draw, Denmark are but to rejoice a victory, drawing all of their group stage matches and scoring simply two objectives.
Denmark, who go into the match as underdogs, might be wanting to attract inspiration from their miraculous efficiency within the 1992 Euro ultimate in Gothenburg. In that recreation, they pulled off one of many greatest upsets in historical past in a ultimate, beating then-world champions Germany 2-0 to win their first and solely main soccer title.
“We’re going to face a robust staff and a bit like the massive nation towards the small nation,” Denmark assistant coach Christian Poulsen informed reporters forward of Saturday’s spherical of 16 conflict. “However we’re going into battle and we hope to have the ability to do the identical factor we did in 1992.”
The Danes will depend on veteran midfielder Christian Eriksen and forwards Rasmus Hojlund and Jonas Wind to problem Germany, which has a star-studded squad that features Euro 2024’s second-leading scorers Jamal Musiala and Niclas Fullkrug, in addition to rising star Florian Wirtz.
Earlier than the knockout match, German coach Julian Nagelsmann will face a tough resolution: preserve his religion in Kai Havertz within the beginning lineup or begin Fullkrug after the extra-time draw coming off the bench within the final recreation towards Switzerland.
Traditionally, Germany is sort of unbeatable when it reaches the knockout stage of the European Championship. Of the ten instances it has managed to qualify, it has reached the semi-finals on 9 events and the ultimate on six.
The Germans are on the similar degree as Spain with three European soccer titles. Saturday’s victory towards Denmark brings them one step nearer to a document fourth title, and with the added motivation of doing in order the host nation of Euro 2024, in addition to being the proper farewell for retiring German celebrity Toni Kroos of soccer after the match.
However Denmark, who reached the semi-finals on the final version of Euro 2020, won’t have a straightforward time of it for the Germans.
⚽ France vs Belgium
When: July 1, 18:00 native time (16:00 GMT)
The place:Dusseldorf Enviornment in Dusseldorf
France and Belgium have one factor in frequent: each groups have struggled on offense on this match.
Whereas France, two-time world champions, haven’t scored so removed from play, Belgium has solely scored twice in three video games.
These statistics sound unusual given the offensive expertise of those two star-studded groups: the French boast gamers like celebrity Kylian Mbappé and skilled striker Antoine Griezmann, whereas Belgium is lucky to have probably the greatest playmakers on the planet. world, Kevin De Bruyne, and the imposing striker Romelu Lukaku.
Regardless of having scored solely two objectives within the group stage (an personal purpose towards Austria and a penalty scored by Mbappé), French defender Saliba is assured that his teammates will take a step ahead within the tie towards Belgium.
“It is clear that we must be extra harmful from set items, particularly me. I do not assume I touched a single one, so we are able to do higher,” stated Saliba.
Attacking points usually are not the one drawback going through Belgium. Followers booed and whistled the staff after the staff’s goalless draw within the group recreation towards Ukraine in Stuttgart and captain De Bruyne informed his gamers to depart the sector with out thanking the supporters.
Defender Thomas Meunier stated the fan response was “disproportionate” and added that the staff “all the time performs to win.”
Belgium, nonetheless in search of its first main soccer title, have proven little or no promise within the match for followers to imagine they’ll overtake France, who’ve gained the European Championship twice and are thought of by many pundits to be the match favourites.
Monday’s match would be the 76th assembly between the 2 sides, though the primary within the European Championship since 1984.
⚽ Austria vs Türkiye
When:July 2, 9:00 p.m. native time (7:00 p.m. GMT)
The place: Leipzig Stadium in Leipzig
With fast-paced and entertaining soccer, Austria and Turkey had been two of essentially the most thrilling groups within the Euro 2024 group stage.
Not many anticipated Austria to win a gaggle that included match heavyweights France and the Netherlands, however Ralf Rangnick’s younger staff achieved the unthinkable with their glorious attacking show.
Not taking part in with a defensive mentality, Austria scored six objectives within the three group video games with six totally different gamers registering objectives, suggesting that the staff is properly balanced and unselfish in assault.
“It is unimaginable to complete first in a gaggle that was essentially the most tough of all based on UEFA coefficients,” Rangnick stated. “We began with an unlucky personal purpose towards France, we withstood all of the strain they placed on us to win towards Poland after which to complete high of the group is one thing very particular,” added the previous Manchester United interim coach, recognized for his counter-pressure ways. .
The Austrians, who’ve little star energy and haven’t made it previous the spherical of 16, entered the match as darkish horses however have now elevated their standing to title contenders. Standing in Austria’s path on the first impediment might be recognized enemies like Turkey, whose marketing campaign has been nothing in need of dramatic.
Arda Guler and Hakan Calhanoglu had been among the many scorers for Turkey, who scored a formidable 5 objectives within the group stage. However additionally they conceded the identical variety of objectives, exposing an absence of solidity in defence.
Austria gained 6-1 the final time these groups met in a pleasant in March however Euro 2008 semi-finalists Turkey are excessive on confidence this time round and are more likely to pose a much bigger problem.
Nonetheless, the Turks will play the spherical of 16 match with out their inspirational captain Calhanoglu, who’s suspended after receiving two yellow playing cards. His enormous absence could also be all of the motivation the Austrians want as they attempt to attain the Euro quarter-finals for the primary time.
⚽ Portugal vs Slovenia
WhenJuly 1, 21:00 native time (19:00 GMT)
The place:Frankfurt Enviornment in Frankfurt
Portugal might be beneath strain to regroup rapidly after their second-string facet suffered a shock 2-0 defeat to match debutants Georgia within the ultimate Euro 2024 group recreation on June 26.
As they put together to face Slovenia within the final 16, most followers would decide Portugal because the clear favourites, however a fast have a look at historical past and the shape information may recommend in any other case.
Portugal have confronted Slovenia simply as soon as – shedding 2-0 in a pleasant in March 2024. Cristiano Ronaldo was a part of the staff that began in that match, though Portugal had been lacking their key midfield duo of Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes.
Each Silva and Fernandes have scored at Euro 2024, however veteran celebrity striker and Portugal captain Ronaldo is but to seek out the online, regardless of having essentially the most makes an attempt on purpose.
In what have to be a worrying improvement for Portugal, for the primary time in his profession, Ronaldo, 39, has failed to attain within the group phases of a serious worldwide match.
A Portugal staff that has not reached its peak will doubtless wrestle towards Slovenia, which prefers to play on the again and frustrate its opponents, as demonstrated towards England in a 0-0 draw of their ultimate group recreation in Cologne.
“Slovenia is a staff that performs like a membership, with brutal defensive synchronization and two influential forwards. We now have to arrange properly for the match, however this isn’t a pleasant,” stated Portugal coach Roberto Martínez, referring to the defeat of his staff towards Slovenia in March.
The Slovenians, who’re taking part in within the Euro Cup qualifiers for the primary time after reaching three attracts, are additionally harmful on the counterattack.
Key ahead Benjamin Sesko, who stands at 1.95 meters (6.5 toes) and is blessed with distinctive athleticism for a participant of his measurement, is among the most fun younger forwards in Europe and is taken into account the massive menace of Slovenia on the entrance towards Portugal.