Dark Horses and Powerhouses; Euro Cup Round of 16 Preview!

The Euro Cup Round of 16 is set to kick off with a series of thrilling encounters. The draw has produced some highly anticipated matches, with one standout being the morning showdown between the powerhouse teams France and Belgium. Another highlight is the prestigious clash between Austria and Turkey, both vying for the title of the top dark horse. Smael Football provides a detailed preview of the Round of 16 matchups.

Italy's national team secured their spot in the Euro 2024 Round of 16 in dramatic fashion. The Azzurri managed to hold Croatia to a draw, thanks to a last-minute goal from Mattia Zaccagni. This result saw Luciano Spalletti's side advance as the runner-up in Group B. Spalletti remains confident in his squad's quality after their strong group stage performance, but he urges his team to remain humble and show full respect to their opponents. 

Italy will face Switzerland, the tournament's dark horse. The Swiss team, led by Murat Yakin, had an impressive group stage, qualifying alongside Germany with two draws and one victory. Switzerland nearly defeated Germany in their final match. Despite the draw, Granit Xhaka, proud of his team's performance, warned the bigger teams to watch out for Switzerland. According to him, Switzerland has significantly evolved and poses a strong threat in Euro 2024. 

Switzerland boasts a well-rounded lineup, including Manuel Akanji, Yann Sommer, Ricardo Rodriguez, and Denis Zakaria. Italy, on the other hand, is equally formidable with a blend of young talent and experienced players such as Nicolo Barella, Riccardo Calafiori, Jorginho, Federico Dimarco, and Federico Chiesa. Historically, Italy holds the advantage, having won 29 out of 60 meetings between the two teams.

An intense showdown is on the horizon between Germany and Denmark. Die Mannschaft is favored due to their well-rounded squad. The attacking quartet, featuring Ilkay Gundogan, Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala, and Kai Havertz, will be pivotal in their quest for victory. These four players have collectively scored five of Germany's eight goals at Euro 2024, making them one of the tournament's most prolific teams.

Historically, Germany has the upper hand with 15 wins and five draws out of 23 encounters against Denmark. Despite this record, Denmark's group stage performance was underwhelming, with three draws and no wins. 

However, Denmark's coach Kasper Hjulmand remains optimistic about his team's prospects. He had anticipated facing Germany even before their match against Serbia, predicting a fierce contest. Confident in his team's ability to challenge Germany, Hjulmand believes his key players, such as Christian Eriksen, Rasmus Hojlund, and Alexander Bah, can make a significant impact.

Georgia has dramatically secured a spot in the Round of 16 of the Euro 2024 Cup, despite collecting just one point from their first two matches. Initially deemed unlikely to advance, Georgia, under coach Willy Sagnol, refused to give up. Sagnol's determination to overcome the odds paid off when his team defeated Portugal in their final Group F match, thanks to goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Georges Mikautadze. This unexpected victory allowed Georgia to advance as one of the best third-placed teams.

In the Round of 16, Georgia faces a formidable opponent: Spain. La Furia Roja dominated Group B, winning all their matches and becoming the only team to secure a perfect 9 points. Despite not being the top favorites to win Euro 2024 and lacking the star-studded squad of previous years, Spain has shown remarkable strength under Luis de la Fuente's guidance. The current squad may not feature legends like Xavi Hernandez, Sergio Ramos, or Andres Iniesta, but young talent Pedri believes Spain's reliance on teamwork makes them stronger.

Spain's depth is evident, particularly in their attacking line with prodigious talents Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, who are key threats to any defense. Their midfield boasts the skills of Pedri, Rodri, and Fabian Ruiz, while their defense balances youth and experience. Despite being considered underdogs, Georgia will rely heavily on their attacking duo, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Georges Mikautadze, to challenge Spain's robust lineup.

The Portuguese national team secured their place in the Round of 16 as the top team in Group F. However, this achievement highlights Cristiano Ronaldo's ongoing struggle in Euro 2024, as CR7 has yet to score in three matches. His frustration was evident when he was substituted against Georgia. Despite this, Bruno Fernandes remains confident that Ronaldo will regain his scoring touch soon. The Manchester United captain emphasizes Ronaldo's positive impact on the team and believes he will continue to be Portugal's top scorer. Ronaldo will have a chance to prove Fernandes right in their upcoming match against Slovenia.

Slovenia boasts a formidable defense, having conceded only two goals and drawing all their Group C matches. Even England's attack struggled against the Green Dragons' defense. Despite this, coach Matjaž Kek remains humble about his team's defensive prowess, which has helped them advance to the Round of 16 as one of the best third-placed teams. Kek attributes Slovenia's success partly to luck.

Luis Figo, however, predicts that Slovenia's fortune will run out against Portugal. He believes Roberto Martinez's squad has a greater chance of advancing. Portugal's impressive track record in the Euro Cup, having reached the quarterfinals from 1996 to 2016, adds to their confidence. Ronaldo is optimistic about Portugal's prospects, seeing their current squad as a golden generation capable of reaching the Euro 2024 final.

The Round of 16 clash between France and Belgium feels like a final happening too soon, as these two powerhouse nations battle for a spot in the quarterfinals. France is seen as having the upper hand, often tipped as potential champions. German legend Philipp Lahm has praised the Les Bleus squad, claiming their talent is unmatched and predicting a dominant performance. However, Lahm's prediction fell short as France failed to top Group D, contrary to many expectations. Opta's supercomputer had projected a 57.9% chance for France to win their group, but they managed only one win and two draws, placing them in a challenging path.

Despite landing in a tough bracket with potential matches against Portugal, Germany, and Spain, Didier Deschamps remains confident. The 55-year-old coach believes France's quality surpasses that of their rivals. This confidence is supported by France's head-to-head record against Belgium, with three wins and two draws from their last six encounters.

Nevertheless, France must be cautious of a resurgent Belgium under Domenico Tedesco. Belgium boasts key players like Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku, both from Manchester City, who are crucial to the Red Devils' strategy. Additionally, Romelu Lukaku, the former Inter Milan striker, is a significant threat. Tedesco has vowed not to bench Lukaku, despite his missed chances, and is optimistic that his star striker will soon find the back of the net.

The Dutch national team made it to the Round of 16 of the Euro 2024 Cup in dramatic fashion. The Oranje nearly missed the knockout phase after a 2-3 defeat to Austria, which dashed their hopes of finishing in the top two of Group D. Ronald Koeman was furious with his team's performance, especially the central defender duo of Virgil van Dijk and Stefan de Vrij, who failed to secure Bart Verbruggen's goal. Rafael van der Vaart criticized Van Dijk, calling him lazy for his role in Austria's third goal, which left Marcel Sabitzer onside. Koeman was also blamed for not utilizing Matthijs de Ligt and Micky Van de Ven and for lacking alternative strategies.

Despite these criticisms, Koeman remains optimistic about the Netherlands' chances in the knockout phase. Their first test will be against Romania, who surprisingly topped Group E, surpassing Belgium. Edward Iordănescu's squad earned four points from three matches and showcased a solid defense throughout the tournament. 

Romania's attack has also been formidable, scoring four goals and achieving a 3-0 victory over Ukraine. In contrast, the Netherlands managed only two goals in Group D. However, Romania's head-to-head record against the Netherlands is not favorable, with only one win in their last six meetings. 

The Oranje will need to overcome their recent struggles and Romania's strong form to advance further in the competition.

A thrilling clash is anticipated as Austria takes on Turkey in the Round of 16. Both dark horses are eager to secure a spot in the quarterfinals. Austria's rapid playing style is expected to challenge Turkey significantly. Ralf Rangnick's squad showcased their prowess by defeating the Netherlands in their final Group D match, earning them the top spot with 6 points. 

Rio Ferdinand expressed his surprise at Austria's impressive performance, noting that their games were even more enjoyable to watch than England's. He praised Austria's strong team play, attributing their success not just to individual talent but to a cohesive unit. This makes Austria slightly favored to advance past Turkey. Rangnick is likely to continue relying on Marcel Sabitzer, who has thrived under his freedom in the attacking role.

However, Austria must remain cautious, as Vincenzo Montella's Turkey has a better head-to-head record. Turkey has won three of their six encounters with Austria, who have only two victories against the Crescent-Stars. Turkey also boasts a lineup of young stars, including Arda Güler and Kenan Yıldız, who will be central to their offensive strategy.

Slovakia aims to deliver another big surprise in the Round of 16 as they face England, one of the favorites to win the Euro 2024 Cup. According to Media Opta's supercomputer, the Three Lions are the top seed. However, Slovakia is undeterred by the prospect of facing such a strong opponent. Francesco Calzona's squad has already proven their capability by defeating Belgium in their opening Group E match.

David Hancko praised the Falcons for their impressive performance, and Martin Dubravka highlighted the team's hard-fought journey to the Round of 16, securing their spot as one of the best third-placed teams. Despite their achievements, Slovakia is considered the underdog against England. The head-to-head record is heavily in England's favor, with five wins out of six matches, while Slovakia has yet to defeat the Three Lions.

England has started to find their rhythm, with Gareth Southgate giving opportunities to young talents like Kobbie Mainoo and Cole Palmer. Paul Scholes is optimistic about England's potential in the Round of 16, and Jude Bellingham believes the Three Lions have the best squad composition in the tournament. However, the team's depth has taken a hit with the departure of Phil Foden, who left due to family matters. Sky Sports reported that Foden is expecting the birth of his third child.

Despite losing a key player, Southgate remains confident in his team's ability to perform well. The Round of 16 clash between England and Slovakia promises to be an exciting encounter.

What are your thoughts? Who do you think has the best chance of advancing to the quarterfinals? Share your opinion in the comments below.