It was fast, right?
It seems like Euro 2020 has just begun, but somehow we are already halfway through the tournament.
Gone are the days after 14:00 kick-off, third place permutations and the Netherlands running across northern Macedonia like a freight train colliding with a garden fence. In their place are some very good bands that will shape the end of the tournament.
We now know who will play who when the knockout stage starts on Saturday. Here are all the games we have to look forward to, ranked according to their intrigue.
Italy crossed the quarterfinals / Insidefoto / Getty Images
When? Saturday 26 June 20:00 (UK time)Where? Wembley Stadium, London
Austria looks good after coming through a sticky group in second place, but unfortunately they have drawn Italy.
Roberto Mancini’s team is undefeated in about 500 matches and did not concede a goal at any point in Group A.
Procession incoming? You would think so.
The world champions qualified without too much trouble / Franck Fife – Pool / Getty Images
When? Monday 28 June, 20:00 (British time) Where? National Arena, Bucharest
France came through the famous death squad without once having tasted defeat and remains one of the favorites to win the tournament instantly.
They showed some vulnerability in pulling with Hungary, granted and have not really found their rhythm yet.
But in the face of a Swiss side that has not gone beyond the quarter-finals of a major tournament since 1954 … you would like to have the world champions for a relatively easy win.
Sweden has been one of the best sites to look at so far / Maxim Shemetov – Pool / Getty Images
When? Tuesday 29 June, 20:00 (UK time) Where? Hampden Park, Glasgow
All in all, this may be the least inspiring tie of the last 16 years, but don’t be fooled!
Sweden must not bother to go into the knockout stages. Zlatan or no Zlatan, they crossed it through Group E, took seven points from nine and best Spain for the top spot, and will consider winning a draw against Ukraine.
Still, their opponents are one of the most volatile and unpredictable in the tournament, scoring four and conceding five when they sneaked through as one of the top third-placed sides.
Andriy Yarmolenko and Roman Yaremchuk have taken their shooting boots, but Emil Forsberg has (so far joint second top shooter with three). This one seems unlikely to be speechless.
• The first player born in the 2000s to score a European Championship goal • The youngest goal scorer for Denmark in a major tournament • Participated in ??? 21
Mikkel Damsgaard has a bright future! ?? pic.twitter.com/Z2dwzBiaso
– 90min (@ 90min_Football) 21 June 2021
When? Saturday 26 June, 17:00 (UK time) Where? Johan Cruijff ArenA, Amsterdam
Not too much was expected of Wales heading into the summer, but they went quiet with their activities in Group A and had anything but qualified with one game left after taking four points from Switzerland and Turkey.
With that dream drive to the semifinals 2016 still fresh in their minds, they want to make it another special tournament, but it is not easy to make the last eight against a Danish side that has speed on its side.
The neutrals’ favorites only managed three points in the group but still managed to finish second after beating Russia on the last day. When Mikkel Damsgaard and Yussuf Poulsen hit form at the right time, they will see their first knockout win in Euro since they won it in 1992.
Spain qualifies with a convincing victory against Slovakia / Thanassis Stavrakis – Pool / Getty Images
When? Monday 28 June, 17:00 (British time) Where? Parken Stadium, Copenhagen
The myth that Croatia is an aging, past side disappears quite easily when one looks at actual facts. Their squad, with an average age of just under 28, is only the ninth oldest in the tournament.
However, it can not be denied that they are not what they were in 2018. Without Ivan Rakitic, Mario Mandzukic and Danijel Subasic, they fought in Group D and needed a Luka Modric champion class at Hampden to knock out.
Luis Enricque’s Spain, meanwhile, looks vulnerable. But they have a great achievement in them – just ask Slovakia for a reference about it.
This is a meeting between two sides far from their best, each of which has a point to prove. There may be fireworks.
Eight goals in the last nine Dutch matches and Depay does not look like he will finish soon! ? pic.twitter.com/GmkZM9DnqD
– 90min (@ 90min_Football) 17 June 2021
When? Sunday 27 June, 17:00 (British time) Where? Puskas Arena, Budapest
The Dutch have probably been the best – in fact there is no doubt about it. The Dutch have been the best team to watch in the tournament so far, and they have landed a winning tie that they hope for a quarter-final date with Germany or England.
Georginio Wijnaldum and Memphis Depay fired them through Group C without any problems at all, although their initial conflict with Ukraine showed that there is still weakness in them to be exploited.
A handy Czech side, with half-hero goalie Patrick Schick leading the line and West Ham duo Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal in their ranks, will do just that.
Cancel all plans you have for June 29! ?
– 90min (@ 90min_Football) 23 June 2021
When? Tuesday 29 June, 17:00 (UK time)Where? Wembley Stadium, London
Oh yes. Oh yes. Oh yes.
It is the one that England did not want, but the one that everyone who does not support England wanted them to have. One of the oldest international football competitions will be renewed at Wembley on Tuesday when Gareth Southgate goes head to head with Joachim Low for a quarter-final spot.
It is a meeting between two sides in similar positions, with promising young troops but no real tactical identity to speak of.
It is one of the most unpredictable games the tournament has conjured up so far, so get your TV screen booked.
1⃣0⃣9⃣ international goals …
How did Cristiano Ronaldo score all his goals for Portugal? ??? pic.twitter.com/McSkICLUmb
– 90min (@ 90min_Football) 24 June 2021
When? Sunday 27 June, 20.00 (British time) Where? La Cartuja Stadium, Seville
For the football purists out there, though, this is it.
World No. 1 against the defending European champions.
No matter what happens here, one of the favorites for the tournament goes to the quarterfinals.
Throw in the underlying story that Cristiano Ronaldo is a goal from becoming the best goal scorer in the history of international football, and how can you not get excited about it?
