Euro 2020: Round of 16 Preview
All six groups are now complete…
Six 4th placed teams and two unlucky 3rd placed sides have been knocked out and the stage is set for the knockouts, where the tournament really gets started.
Firstly, I think when reflecting on the Group stages, it’s important to reflect upon and remember the shocking, horrific and almost tragic day in which Christian Eriksen collapsed and had to be given CPR on the pitch after suffering a heart attack.
Our thoughts at Let’s Talk Ball are firmly with Eriksen and his family at this time and we are incredibly thankful and glad to see he has now left hospital in a stable position.
The biggest surprise from the groups were how underwhelming the ‘dark horses’ Turkey were.
I am in the large percentage of people who fancied them to do well at Euro 2020 but I am not going to pretend I didn’t say what I did. The proof is in my previous piece after all!
The group of death delivered the entertainment we all hoped for and as I predicted, Hungary gave a good account for themselves.
As for the home nations, England and Wales progressed, with Wales’ victory over Turkey being a particularly impressive result. England just progressed.
Scotland fans thought that a 0-0 draw with England won them the tournament but sadly 1 point from three games isn’t enough to progress.
Then there was Italy, Roberto Mancini’s workman-like, yet stylish and exciting to watch Italy. It is great having them back in a major tournament and they have to be one of the favourites now.
“Game 1: My prediction - Wales 1-2 Denmark”
Two teams with an enormous amount of togetherness and pride battling it out in a knockout game which means a great deal to both nations.
Denmark have shown incredible courage and bravery after what happened to their teammate and friend.
They are also a talented team with some young players having breakthrough tournaments, Damsgaard and Maehle being the standouts. That is why despite the brilliance of Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale at Wales’ disposal, Denmark will have too much for the Welsh.
“Game 2: My prediction - Italy 2-0 Austria ”
This was an easier one to decide, Italy have been fantastic so far and are very strong defensively.
Their high press has worked wonders and I expect it to continue here against an Austria side very dependent on David Alaba’s quality.
“Game 3: My prediction - Netherlands 2-1 Czech Republic ”
Whilst Czech Republic aren’t a bad side at all, England showed on Tuesday night that they aren’t anything special.
Netherlands have had a much stronger start to Euro 2020 than England, so I would expect them to get the better of the Czech’s over 90 minutes.
Wijnaldum and Dumfries to score for the Dutch and Soucek for the Czech’s, you heard it here first.
“Game 4: My prediction - Belgium 3-2 Portugal ”
This is the first mouth-watering tie of the knockout phases and it promises to be a goal fest.
Of course, that probably means it’ll finish 0-0 and be decided by penalties. My theory is there is just too many goals in both of these sides.
Ronaldo is a goal machine as is Lukaku and if Fernandes plays (and plays well) then both him and De Bruyne are as good as it gets in terms of attacking midfielders.
It should be a great spectacle and I just have a feeling Belgium will come out on top as Portugal have too many underperformers in their side so far. Dias and Fernandes being the biggest culprits.
“Game 5: My prediction - Croatia 1-2 Spain ”
It may have taken the Spanish a while to get going in Euro 2020 but once they did, they really did.
The biggest win of the tournament so far in fact and whilst Slovakia may have been dreadful, Spain really did come alive.
Sarabia and Ferran Torres will be hugely important to Spain’s hopes as this tournament progresses.
Croatia also displayed their best performance thus far in their final group game against Scotland as Modric sealed a 3-1 win with an audacious outside of the foot finish.
However, they aren’t the Croatia of 2018 and this will be where their journey ends.
“Game 6: My prediction - France 3-1 Switzerland ”
France had a mixed group stages, but I’m convinced we haven’t seen the best of them yet.
Mbappe was quiet and that spells worry for the rest of Europe when you consider how much better he and France could still get.
Pogba and Benzema were the standouts for me.
Benzema was quiet in the first two games but came alive against Portugal, grabbing a brace which could have easily have been more.
Pogba was on another level against Germany and Portugal, finding the gaps and executing majestic passes, not to mention some of the skill he displayed.
Switzerland saved their best performance for last against Turkey as Shaqiri stole the show with two world class goals.
France should be comfortable here but I just have a feeling it will go to extra-time before France put the after burners on and make the Swiss pay.
“Game 7: My prediction - England 2-1 Germany ”
Do I really believe that? I’m not sure but I really want to.
England haven’t impressed me so far and I’m far from convinced by the negative approach by Southgate.
That approach has just about worked so far, although on another day we would have lost to Scotland.
Sancho being left out is bizarre considering he has scored 50 goals and got 46 assists for club and country over the last three seasons. For me, him and Grealish should start against Germany as should Bellingham in midfield alongside Mount, with Rice sitting.
Tell me that’s too positive for a game at Wembley in front of a half capacity stadium?
I understand we cannot go all-out attack against a German side that is likely to dominate possession and will hurt us badly if we’re not slightly cautious. Yet that doesn’t mean we can’t play some of our best attacking talent and really give it a go?
I think anyone would rather see England go out having played well and attacked the game than to go out on penalties or by a 95th minute 1-0 winner having sat a back 7 (including the holding midfielders, most likely Phillips, and Rice) behind the ball for the whole match. Germany have vulnerabilities, they aren’t the Germany of 2014 and they already have been exposed by Hungary.
“Game 8: My prediction - Sweden 1-1 Ukraine - Sweden to progress via penalties”
Sweden looked good in the group stages and have topped a group including Spain, so I could see them sneaking a 2-1 win over Ukraine.
However, Ukraine aren’t a bad side either and on paper these two are evenly matched.
Let’s not forget, Ukraine almost got a draw against the Netherlands in their first game and have players capable of hurting Sweden.
Despite having not yet scored, Isak has been very exciting as I thought he might be, and I could see him getting his first goal of the tournament here.
Forsberg on 3 goals has been Sweden’s standout so far and he is also a major threat from both set pieces and open play.