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The knockout rounds begin with Switzerland v defending champions Italy. Switzerland have had a good tournament so far, finishing second in their group behind hosts Germany. They take on Italy who have not shown their best yet but have displayed glimpses, particularly in the build-up to and the finish of Mattia Zaccagni’s equaliser against Croatia.
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The fixtures don’t stop after Switzerland v Italy with Germany v Denmark. Hosts Germany have been one of the teams to show what they can do, especially with their 5-1 drubbing of Scotland in the opening game of the tournament. Denmark, meanwhile, have not been as imposing but they are not a team to under-estimate.
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We will be previewing both matches more throughout the day, as well as bringing you any breaking news from around the rest of the Euros. Let’s get started.
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Important Events
Denmark coach Kasper Hulman He has full confidence in his team, saying: “At the beginning I thought Germany were one of the favourites to win, so it’s a shame they’ll have to play against us.”
“They have the ability and the talent and they presented themselves very well as a group, but we have the ability and the talent and they’re going to have to play very well to beat us.”
We know Denmark is a difficult match. They face many challenges ahead, with defender Jannik Vestergaard saying: “We know it’s going to be a bit of an upset to win the tournament, but we like to be underdogs.”
“Germany will be the favourites to win, but we want to give them a bit of trouble and play to our strengths.”
Julian Nagelsmann also said Germany “We are well prepared for the knockout stages,” he said. “We started with an easier game than we expected, then the game against Hungary was more complicated but they were great. Then the third game against Switzerland was difficult but we managed to tie it up at the end.”
“In the end, we had to deal with a lot of different issues in the group stage so I think we’re well prepared for the knockout stage.”
There is one important question on the minds of German supporters. Will Antonio Rudiger be able to play tonight? He was suffering from a hamstring injury but returned to training on Friday. Asked about the matter in his press conference, Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann said: “He is a very important player. Our medical staff have been doing everything they can this week to get him fit again and he looked good in training.”
“As far as the muscle issue, we’ll see what happens overnight. We’ll have to wait and see what happens, but at the moment it looks like he’ll be healthy again, so we’re happy to have him back. Unless something special happens (overnight), he’ll be able to play.”
Jonathan Liu
First, insects. A mosquito infestation has claimed many lives at Germany’s training camp in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria. Two weeks of humid weather have meant the team’s outdoor garden, located next to a forest, is barely usable at night. “I’ve already been bitten two or three times,” striker Maximilian Baier admitted. “But if that’s the main problem, so be it…”
And then the thunder comes: Germany’s equivalent of the German weather service has warned of severe thunderstorms, torrential rain, large hail, hurricane-force winds and even tornadoes across western Germany on Saturday, timed to coincide with a crucial round of 16 match against Denmark in Dortmund.
If Germany’s Euro 2024 campaign is beginning to take on the appearance of a biblical ordeal, rest assured: there could be plenty of mishaps ahead.
Read the full article here:
Jonathan Wilson
Germany Denmark AnalysisAfter a dominant performance against Scotland and a decent showing against Hungary, Germany’s draw with Switzerland was a misfire that called into question the sustainability of their progress under coach Julian Nagelsmann. Were they really that good against Scotland, or were Scotland just bad? Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz worked effectively together, but the question remains whether they would be better off with a weaker Kai Havertz or a more solid talent from centre-forward Niklas Füllkrug.
Are Denmark good enough to threaten Germany? Probably not, but that was the thinking before Denmark’s 2-0 win in the Euro 92 final. Denmark missed chances against Slovenia and England, but their creativity relies heavily on Christian Eriksen. As he did in the opening game, the Manchester United midfielder is struggling to stay on for the full 90 minutes. But Denmark are solid enough that they could struggle if Germany isn’t at their best.
verdict A sure victory for Germany
Jonathan Wilson
Switzerland vs Italy analysisItaly have not lost to Switzerland in 11 matches since qualifying for the 1994 World Cup but they look vulnerable here. They were uneasy leads against Albania and Spain and their switch to a back three against Croatia seemed to make it even harder for them to attack. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has been excellent this tournament but a lack of creativity and the absence of a top centre-forward are major problems.
There were rumours before the tournament that Switzerland might already be in decline, but in contrast they have been sharp and inventive, with coach Murat Yakin having a clearly defined and different plan for each match. Breel Embolo is now fit enough to start and his hold-up play, combined with Dan N’Doye’s speed to get past him, makes him a major threat. The only caveat is that the Swiss were not as effective when Scotland played deep against them, which may provide a gameplan for Italy.
verdict Switzerland wins by a narrow margin
preamble
Good morning and welcome to today’s EuroNews Blog. With no European football tournaments taking place for three days, the withdrawal symptoms are starting to set in, but the good news is that the last 16 starts today and we can all get our football fix.
The knockout stage begins with Switzerland facing defending champions Italy. Switzerland has played well so far in the tournament, finishing second in their group behind hosts Germany. Switzerland will face Italy, who are yet to show their best form but have shown glimpses of it, especially in the lead-up to and finish of Mattia Zaccagni’s equaliser against Croatia.
After Switzerland vs Italy, the action doesn’t end with Germany vs Denmark. The hosts, Germany, have been one of the teams that have really shown what they’re capable of, especially in their opening match of the tournament, beating Scotland 5-1. Denmark, on the other hand, is a less impressive team, but one to be reckoned with.
We’ll have more in-depth previews for both matches throughout the day, as well as the latest news on the rest of the Euros matches.
