Euro 2024 and the 2024 Copa America have — for the most part — been exciting tournaments to watch over the past three weeks.
The group phases came to a dramatic conclusion, especially with the final games in Group E and Group F at the Euros. Romania, Slovakia, the Netherlands and Ukraine all finished on four points, with Ukraine the unlucky side forced to depart.
Indeed, aside from the dour fare served up in Group C, where England, Denmark, Slovenia and Serbia managed one win between them, there was plenty to enjoy. This dichotomy was more evenly represented in the Round of 16, which began with hosts Germany and an impressive Switzerland each playing with authority to dispatch Denmark and holders Italy 2-0.
Spain have been the most impressive team in the competition and eventually ran out 4-1 winners over a fearless Georgia, who led on a heady night in Cologne. That game stood in sharp contrast to another prosaic England performance, where Gareth Southgate needed a remarkable injury-time overhead kick from Jude Bellingham to save his team from humiliation against Slovakia.
Suffocating tension trumped entertainment when Jan Vertonghen's own goal proved the difference between France and Belgium and Slovenia took Portugal all the way to penalties because Cristiano Ronaldo missed out in extra time. The fun returned as the Netherlands found their groove in a 3-0 win over Romania before Turkey held on to beat form side Austria 2-1 in a high-octane thriller.
Ronaldo’s Portugal were then dumped out by France again in a shootout, as well as Spain saying goodbye to the hosts as they scored a late goal in extra time. Southgate’s side once again needed extra time and this time penalties to get past an impressive Swiss side and will meet Ronald Koeman’s Oranje after their comeback vs. Turkey.
At times, it’s been hard to draw breath. But today there is a chance…
MORE: Euro 2024 schedule and results, updated LIVE | Who will win Euro 2024? Latest odds and predictions
There will be no tournament football played until the middle of the week commencing July 8, 2024 as from this point, the schedule thins out.
The first semifinals will take place on Tuesday, July 9 before the second one getting underway on July 10.
The winning sides that reach the final will then have until the weekend to prepare, as the finals kick off on July 14.
The semifinals begin on Tuesday, July 9.
The first matches will be Spain vs. France in Munich (Euros) followed by Argentina vs. Canada (Copa) in New Jersey.
On Wednesday, July 10, England take on the Netherlands in Dortmund in Euros action, before Uruguay go head to head with Colombia in the second Copa America semifinal.
MORE: Where to watch Euro 2024 matches where you are
Joe is Senior Editor (Football) at Sporting News.
