EURO 2024
Day two of the knockout stages features one big-name nation that has impressed at Euro 2024, and another that certainly has not. Having topped Group B with maximum points and without conceding, Spain now face a history-making Georgia team in the last 16. Meanwhile, after winning their section in rather less emphatic fashion than the Spaniards, England take on a Slovakia side chasing their deepest ever run at a major tournament.
England came into Euro 2024 as the bookmakers’ favourites – but the Three Lions have done very little to justify that tag. Although Gareth Southgate’s men finished top of Group C, they produced three uninspiring displays in the process. Indeed, a nervy 1-0 win over Serbia was their only victory of the group stage: they were then held to drab draws by Denmark and Slovenia.
While England qualified from the dullest group at the Euros – it witnessed just seven goals across six games – Slovakia emerged from the tightest section. Francesco Calzona’s men progressed to the last 16 as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams, having finished level on points with every other team in Group E. The Slovakians knocked an unfortunate Ukraine into fourth place on goal difference, making the Ukrainians the first team in Euros history to miss out on the knockout stages despite scoring four points.
Against England, Slovakia will be bidding to reach the quarter-finals of a major tournament for the first time as an independent nation.
England have won five of the teams’ six previous meetings – but were unable to beat the Slovakians in the countries’ only major-tournament clash so far. In the final round of group-stage games at Euro 2016, the teams played out a forgettable 0-0 draw in Saint-Étienne.
For a place in the quarter-finals… 👀@bookingcom | #EUROfixtures pic.twitter.com/gIbSzRuVv0
Spain were not high up the list of the pre-tournament favourites. Thanks to their displays in Germany, however, they are now very definitely among the frontrunners for the Henri Delaunay Trophy.
The Spaniards were the only team to qualify for the last 16 with a 100% record. After three first-half goals gave Luis de la Fuente’s men a 3-0 opening victory over Croatia, they dominated defending champions Italy on matchday two – and were extremely unlucky to only win 1-0. Having sealed top spot with a game to spare, Spain rounded off their perfect group stage by beating Albania 1-0 with a second-string team.
According to Oddschecker, Spain are now the bookmakers’ joint-second favourites to win Euro 2024, alongside Germany. The three-time European champions are priced at +400 to add a fourth continental crown. (Despite their less than stellar showing in Group C, England remain the +350 favourites to win the final in Berlin on 14 July.)
Making their first appearance at a major tournament since gaining independence, Georgia are the surprise member of the knockout-stage line-up. Only the 35th-highest UEFA nation in the FIFA world rankings, the Georgians qualified for the last 16 as a third-placed finisher, thanks chiefly to a famous win over Portugal.
In the final round of Group F matches, Kvicha Kvaratskhelia and Georges Mikautadze scored the goals that gave Georgia a 2-0 triumph over the Euro 2016 winners.
Were Willy Sagnol’s team to earn another upset win against Spain today, they would become only the second tournament debutant to reach the quarter-finals this century, following Wales in 2016. However, they are yet to defeat the Spaniards in a competitive meeting. Indeed, La Roja have won all six, and beat the Georgians by an aggregate score of 10-2 in qualifying for Euro 2024.
England vs Slovakia: Fox Network, TUDN USA, Univision, ViX
Spain vs Georgia: Fox Network, ViX
EURO 2024
EURO 2024
You can also stream every Euro 2024 game on fuboTV, which offers new users a free introductory trial.
Enjoy the action on fubo.
The winners of England vs Slovakia will take on Switzerland in the quarter-finals, after the Swiss dumped Italy out with a comfortable 2-0 win in Berlin. Spain or Georgia, meanwhile, will advance to a last-eight clash with hosts Germany, who were 2-0 winners over Denmark in Dortmund.
About the author
William Allen
British journalist and translator who joined Diario AS in 2013. Focuses on soccer – chiefly the Premier League, LaLiga, the Champions League, the Liga MX and MLS. On occasion, also covers American sports, general news and entertainment. Fascinated by the language of sport – particularly the under-appreciated art of translating cliché-speak.
COPA AMÉRICA 2024
COPA AMÉRICA 2024
COPA AMÉRICA 2024
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