Euro 2024 speaking factors: Most spectacular groups and predictions

Jun 28, 2024, 04:00 AM ET

Euro 2024 is all the way down to the ultimate 16 groups, as eight are headed residence after an thrilling group stage. We mentioned goodbye to Albania, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Scotland, Serbia and Ukraine, however we will all take pleasure in one other 4 rounds of fixtures earlier than the winner is topped on July 14.

Up to now, the match in has been filled with surprises, however what has stood out? Which groups have impressed (or not), and what can we anticipate from a bracket that has a lot of the top-ranked groups (France vs. Belgium; Spain vs. Georgia; Germany vs. Denmark; Portugal vs. Slovenia) on one aspect and a extra open really feel (Switzerland vs. Italy, England vs. Slovakia; Romania vs. Netherlands; Austria vs. Turkey) on the opposite?

We requested ESPN FC’s writers on the match what they’ve fabricated from issues thus far now we’re heading into the spherical of 16 on Saturday.

What’s been the very best factor in regards to the Euros thus far?

Gab Marcotti: This appears like a real match, and never like the fact TV present set that Qatar was (and, to a lesser diploma, Russia 2018), with followers showing as extras. Due to geography, the match can be much more accessible. On the pitch, lots of the video games have been tight and within the stability till the ultimate moments, which makes a pleasant change from what we see week in, week out in membership soccer. And our German hosts have been terribly welcoming.

Mark Ogden: The massive numbers of followers. The European nations have been backed by unusually small numbers in current main tournaments — Russia 2018, Qatar 2022 and the pandemic-impacted Euro 2020 — so it has been a return to the times of huge influxes of supporters. Germany’s location on the coronary heart of Europe, and the truth that eight nations at Euro 2024 border the nation, has allowed for large travelling contingents. Surprising color from Romania, Albania and Turkey has additionally been an enormous constructive.

James Olley: The atmospheres and the absence of politics. Earlier than the 2018 World Cup, there was concern about safety and Russia’s relationship with the West. The final Euros had been delayed by a 12 months and nonetheless closely affected by COVID-19. And the 2022 World Cup in Qatar raised critical human rights questions that forged a shadow over every thing that occurred on the sphere. All three tournaments weren’t properly attended by followers because of this and, in that context, what a refreshing change Germany is. It genuinely feels just like the wondrous blur of tradition and color that these main occasions ought to be.

Rob Dawson: How open the match is. A few of the favourites like England and France have struggled, and there are darkish horse contenders within the spherical of 16 corresponding to Austria, Turkey and Switzerland. Every staff to make it out of the teams will really feel there’s a professional probability to achieve the semifinals and past.

Julien Laurens: The ambiance in stadiums. In every single place I’ve been, it has been superb. Even on TV, it sounds superb. Each group of followers have raised their video games. Scotland‘s had been nice, as all the time once they qualify, but additionally these from Turkey, Georgia, Albania, the Netherlands, Portugal, Croatia … even the French have been good. It has been filled with color, face portray, chanting, leaping, smiling and crying.

Sam Marsden: I agree that it’s clearly the ambiance created by Scotland, Albania, Georgia, Turkey, Croatia and others. However simply to be totally different, I’ve loved the mx of kids and veterans. Spain‘s Lamine Yamal became the youngest player to ever feature in the finals, at 16; Portugal’s Pepê the oldest at 41. Croatia’s Luka Modric turned the oldest-ever purpose scorer at 38, whereas Germany‘s Jamal Musiala and Turkey’s Arda Güler have delivered a number of the group stage’s greatest moments at 21 and 19, respectively.

Tom Hamilton: It’s been a match the place followers have combined brilliantly throughout Germany. Supporters from Romania, Slovakia, Austria and Denmark that I noticed all loved spending time with the Scotland followers, and greeted them with their very own model of “No Scotland, no party.” As we head into the knockout phases, you’ve just a few acquainted names within the combine to win all of it, however the match is extremely open.

What’s been the worst factor in regards to the Euros thus far?

Marsden: The pitch invasions. Each recreation I’ve been to has seen safety breached, briefly halting the matches, typically on a number of events. Portugal’s video games have been hit hardest as a result of Cristiano Ronaldo impact. Six supporters tried to get to him in the course of the Turkey recreation. After the Georgia match, one other fan launched themselves from the stands, falling down the tunnel. It’s harmful.

Olley: I’ve all the time tried to not publicly complain about journey at tournaments as a result of as journalists, we’re all privileged to be there. Like many others, I’ve had some dangerous luck with the trains — attending to and from Gelsenkirchen for England’s first recreation particularly — however let’s concentrate on the soccer, so I’ll say the match format. It’s the identical as at Euro 2020, however no much less irritating: it’s farcical that groups have to attend for generally days to know who they’re enjoying within the spherical of 16 or in the event that they’ve even certified. UEFA ought to return to 16 groups, however clearly cash talks right here, so no less than once they inevitably go to 32 groups, we will dispense with this 4 “best third-place finishers” nonsense.

Hamilton: Like James, I’ve to agree that a number of the transport has been shambolic, and that the purgatory that groups are put in after ending the group stage is nonsense. Having third-place finishers undergo eliminates a number of the jeopardy. The truth that that Ukraine exit on 4 factors when some groups qualify on three is certainly farcical.

Laurens: Personally, every thing has been nice for me, so I don’t have a worst factor. Leaving the Veltins Area in Gelsenkirchen after Spain vs. Italy was a little bit of a mission, however the Spanish followers in my tram stored singing so it was cool. The trains have been good for me; entry to stadiums too. The video games I’ve lined had good tales and I’ve seen nice targets, I’ve seen the Masked Participant [Kylian Mbappé] in motion, and excellent atmospheres. Berlin is a good metropolis. I had simply forgotten how massive Germany is, particularly after the Qatar World Cup, so these practice journeys are nice however lengthy.

Dawson: What UEFA are doing contained in the stadiums earlier than kick-off. Juls is true; the ambiance created by the followers is likely one of the greatest issues on the match, so there’s no want for stadium sound methods to blast out ’90s dance classics to get everybody within the temper. Flip off the loud audio system and let the supporters construct the ambiance.

Marcotti: I feel a number of the greater names haven’t actually stood out but, although that doesn’t actually hassle me that a lot … it’s an opportunity to see others shine and are available to the fore. And a number of the logistics haven’t been nice at sure stadiums, however that’s a minor criticism. Truthfully, there hasn’t been a lot to moan about in any respect and even those that complain in regards to the format are somewhat lacking the purpose. These greatest third-place groups nonetheless make for drama. Go to 16 groups and it means various international locations won’t ever qualify for a serious match in generations; go to 32 and also you make all of qualifying just about irrelevant (at which level you may as properly scrap it and simply increase Nations League.) It’s a compromise. Reside with it.

Ogden: The centre-forwards. Keep in mind them? They was once the blokes who scored the targets and claimed all of the glory, nevertheless it’s been a grim competitors for the likes of Harry Kane, Romelu Lukaku, Robert Lewandowski and others. The final time the Euros had been held in Germany, in 1988, the match was made memorable by the gorgeous targets and performances of the Dutch nice Marco van Basten. There’s no signal of a brand new Van Basten but.

Which staff have impressed you most?

Dawson: Georgia. They don’t have a variety of possession, however they nonetheless discover a approach of enjoying front-foot, attacking soccer. Their video games in Germany are sometimes pure chaos. They defend aggressively, and once they win the ball again, it’s like an Olympic dash into the opposite penalty space. They’re nearly like a throwback staff from a bygone period, and it’s nice leisure.

Laurens: Georgia! I ran into their supervisor, Willy Sagnol, in Munich final month earlier than a Champions League recreation. He advised me that they’d shock Europe. They usually have! I knew he was making them strong, hard-working and filled with confidence, however I didn’t assume they’d get out of their group. They’ve, and so they have the very best goalkeeper of the match in Giorgi Mamardashvili and the highest purpose scorer in Georges Mikautadze. What an unimaginable story.

Olley: Georgia are rightly being highlighted by the others, so I’ll say Austria. They topped a bunch that regarded notably daunting given it contained France and Netherlands, however that was no fluke. Their relentless press and aggression will make them a match for anybody within the knockouts — they will beat Turkey and have already crushed the Dutch, their potential quarterfinal opponents. And I’m happy for head coach Ralf Rangnick, whose status was unfairly maligned at Manchester United.

Hamilton: Georgia have been field workplace and great to look at and whereas I beloved watching the primary 23 seconds of Albania scoring towards Italy, total I’ve to say Austria. Rangnick has accomplished a superb job there and they’re contenders for the trophy. They got here into the match with a quiet confidence and are delivering. No staff will wish to play them.

Marcotti: Austria seem like a membership aspect, and I say that as a praise. Worldwide soccer doesn’t actually lend itself to stylish ways as a result of coaches need to work with what’s accessible and so they don’t have that a lot time on the coaching pitch. However Rangnick has made Austria greater than the sum of its components, which is absolutely uncommon at this degree.

Ogden: Switzerland, simply forward of Austria. The Swiss are a harmful staff within the so-called weaker half of the draw as a result of they’re strong on the again, skilled in midfield and have younger and hungry expertise up entrance. Murat Yakin’s staff simply shade it forward of Austria, however they’ve additionally been spectacular.

Marsden: Spain. There have been query marks about La Roja pre-tournament. Only a few individuals had them down because the outright favourites, however they had been the very best staff by way of the group stage with three wins from three. What’s extra, they’re thrilling to look at with the unpredictably added by Nico Williams and Yamal.

Which staff have underwhelmed?

Ogden: England. Completely woeful. Different groups have underperformed, however none went into the match with as a lot hype as England. On paper, with a squad of such expertise, England ought to have breezed by way of their group and now be relishing a seemingly simple path to the ultimate. However Gareth Southgate’s gamers have change into approach lower than the sum of their components. They’ve been dismal and boring.

Olley: France didn’t win their group and Belgium regarded common, nevertheless it must be England given the opponents they confronted. Southgate has taken the staff on throughout his eight years in cost, however merely has to get extra out of such a proficient group of attacking gamers. With the knockout rounds now upon us, his margin for error has gone.

Laurens: I’ll go away the English gamers to settle their rating with Southgate, so I’ll decide Belgium. They’ve been a humiliation to their nation. 4 factors of their group is a shame for a staff of their calibre, and with the gamers they’ve. Domenico Tedesco has been clueless thus far on this match.

Dawson: England? France? Belgium? Netherlands? Take your decide. Serbia might be disenchanted to be going residence early. There was a superb probability to get out of Group C, however regardless of having Aleksandar Mitrovic, Dusan Vlahovic and Luka Jovic within the squad, they solely managed one purpose in three video games and completed backside.

Hamilton: Denmark vs. Serbia was one of many dullest matches I’ve seen. And with Denmark heading by way of, it’s Serbia who I feel go residence disenchanted. They’ve good attacking expertise of their staff, however by no means managed to place collectively a efficiency which did justice to the sum of their components.

Marsden: Given it’s tougher to achieve the spherical of 16 than not, Croatia massively underperformed by crashing out within the group stage, even when they had been paired with Spain and Italy. The trio of England, France and Belgium have all been under par, too, however will get a shot at redemption, which Croatia is not going to. Will that be it for Modric at main tournaments? He might be 40 by the subsequent World Cup.

Marcotti: Many of the pre-tournament favorites have been underwhelming, aside from Spain. England and France have attained nice outcomes by enjoying the kind of soccer we’ve seen within the match, so I assume that’s a mitigating issue for Southgate and Deschamps to some extent, however they’ve been unimpressive.

The knockout bracket may be very one-sided, which groups do you anticipate to achieve the ultimate and elevate the trophy?

Marcotti: It’s nonetheless fairly large open and something can occur … it’s match soccer, in any case. Germany have a extremely robust run to the ultimate, and I’m unsure in regards to the age and depth of the squad, so I’d lean in the direction of France (or Spain of their half of the bracket.) Within the backside half, it’s not nice in any respect, however England have the best margin of enchancment, I assume. So how about France (or Spain) beating England within the ultimate? (Except England beat themselves first, that’s.)

Ogden: I’m going for a Germany vs. Netherlands ultimate, with Germany to win it. I don’t assume Germany are the very best staff, however they’ve residence benefit and have Musiala and Florian Wirtz as match winners. The Dutch haven’t impressed me in any respect, however their path to the ultimate is one which they may regard as a transparent path. They may beat Romania after which construct up a head of steam. In the event that they meet Germany within the ultimate, it will likely be a traditional match.

Olley: They’ve not been nice however my pre-tournament prediction was France so I’ve to stay with them, regardless that Germany and notably Spain look in ominous type. I’d prefer to consider England will enhance, however it’s arduous proper now to say with any confidence they will beat, say, Slovakia, Italy and Netherlands enjoying like they’ve. I’ll go for Netherlands to lose to France within the ultimate.

Dawson: Within the high half of the draw, Spain and Germany have been most spectacular. If Germany can edge their potential quarterfinal, they may fancy their possibilities of reaching the ultimate. There’s a chance for a shock contender to come back by way of the underside half; both Austria or Turkey, who meet within the spherical of 16. I feel Austria will edge it, attain the ultimate, after which lose to Germany.

Hamilton: I agree with Rob, I feel we’ll find yourself seeing a Germany-Austria ultimate. Like many, I went for France pre-tournament, however as James is sticking, I’ll twist. Germany are dealing with the stress of being hosts brilliantly, and have the very best participant within the match thus far in Musiala. Austria are constructing properly beneath Rangnick and are on the beneficial aspect of the draw. I feel they’ll come by way of their half, after which finally fall simply brief to the hosts within the ultimate.

Laurens: Huge groups are going to boost their video games now. The group stage is a little bit of enjoyable, however the true match begins now. So I anticipate the likes of France, England, Belgium and Netherlands to play higher. You see the nice groups step up when it issues essentially the most. France are going to beat Netherlands within the ultimate, and Mbappé, with out his masks, will elevate the trophy, 40 years after Michel Platini.

Marsden: Anybody can beat anybody within the high half of the draw, however I’ll go for France vs. Spain within the backside semifinal and the winner of the match coming from that recreation. As for who they may meet within the ultimate, going towards all logic gleaned from performances thus far, it seems to be like the trail is opening up for England.