Anything’s possible in Euro 2020 knockout stages

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This article was published 25/06/2021 (1861 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Euro 2020 is anyone’s to win.

For real.

Yes, even Czech Republic’s — champions in 1976 as Czechoslovakia after beating World Cup holders West Germany; and yes, even Denmark’s— unlikely winners in 1992 after initially failing to qualify.

When Greece lifted the Henri Delaunay Trophy in 2004 they once again proved that anything is possible in play-off formats. Elsewhere, the Montreal Canadiens are currently administering a similar lesson, as are the Atlanta Hawks.

The bunched-up nature of the upcoming Euro knock-outs will only add to the unpredictability. At least three traditional heavyweights will be gone by Tuesday night, opening up the tournament to the likes of Sweden, Ukraine and Wales.

But that’s a matter for next week.

For now, it’s all about the octet of matches to be played over the next four days (all to be shown on TSN). It’s the most exciting phase of the competition, and following are projections for each of the encounters.

Belgium-Portugal: Sunday, 2 p.m., Seville

At Euro 2016, Portugal snuck their way into the knockout-stages without winning a match, only to lift the trophy in Paris two weeks later. Once again they’ve not appeared particularly convincing, although manager Fernando Santos’s changes against France seemed to pay off. Cristiano Ronaldo is also enjoying a purple patch of form. Belgium are one of just three teams to take a 100 per cent record into the round of 16 and are the world No.1 at the moment. Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne have regained their fitness at exactly the right time. Belgium advance.

Italy-Austria: Saturday, 2 p.m., London

Italy are one of the other two outfits with three wins from three outings. And they were hardly troubled doing it — outscoring Turkey, Switzerland and Wales by a combined 7-0. Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella will likely be recalled to the XI to play alongside Jorginho and Marco Veratti, and the three-pronged attack of Domenico Berardi, Ciro Immobile and Lorenzo Insigne should feast on a wobbly Austria backline. The Austrians were flattered by their 1-0 win over a poor Ukraine side on match-day three, and if David Alaba & Co. were to upset the Italians it would no doubt be the shock of the tournament. Italy advance.

France-Switzerland: Monday, 2 p.m., Bucharest

Switzerland rescued their Euros by beating Turkey 3-1 on match-day three, putting a draw with Wales and lopsided loss to Italy behind them. Xherdan Shaqiri, who saves his best football for his country, tallied twice in Baku but on Monday will be tracked by N’Golo Kante, probably the world’s best defensive midfielder. Winners of the Group of Death, France played one good half against Germany, struggled to draw with Hungary and then played Portugal to an entertaining 2-2 draw, generally disappointing in their role as pre-tournament favourites. This is when they’ll start to shine. Kylian M’bappe is due. France advance.

Croatia-Spain: Monday, 11 a.m., Copenhagen

If there is to be an upset — if you can call it that — in the top half of the draw, it will come first thing next week in Denmark. After lulling their supporters to sleep with a boring nil-nil with Sweden and a drowsy 1-1 with Poland, Spain finally delivered the champagne football manager Luis Enrique had been promising when they trounced Slovakia 5-0 in Seville. The thing is, their offense remains far too random to be reliable, and Croatia have been improving each time out. After losing to England and drawing Czech Republic, they won a well-deserved victory over Scotland in which incoming attacker Nikola Vlasic found the back of the net, as did stalwarts Luka Modric and Ivan Perisic. Croatia advance. 

Sweden-Ukraine, Tuesday, 2 p.m., Glasgow

If you plan on taking a EURO 2020 break at some point in the round of 16, do it Monday afternoon during what promises to be a snooze of a match at the top of the draw’s bottom half. Maybe visit one of the city’s just-opened patios; maybe go to the beach. The forecast looks promising. Sweden topped Group E by drawing Spain and edging Slovakia and Poland, and while Emile Forsberg has impressed there’s little more about this group particularly sparkles. Ukraine are here as the worst of the third-place qualifiers, although winger Andriy Yarmolenko and striker Roman Yaremchuk have been worth watching. Extra time, perhaps a penalty shootout, await. Sweden advance.

England-Germany: Tuesday, 11 a.m., London

It’s not coming home. Not even after these Euros were designed to accommodate England above all others; not even after an impressive run to the semi-finals of the last World Cup. Harry Kane has not looked himself the past two weeks, and Raheem Sterling is the only Englishman to have scored in three matches. The Three Lions will lie down with a whimper, nevermind that they’ll be facing a beatable Germany side. Die Mannschaft will go as far in these Euros as wing-backs Joshua Kimmich and Robin Gosens take them, although Kai Havertz has been lively as well. Germany advance.

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Netherlands-Czech Republic: Sunday, 11 a.m., Budapest

The Netherlands were the third team to post a perfect record in the group stage and looked better with each win. Midfielder Giorginio Wijnaldum is an early candidate for the Golden Ball and, crucially, Memphis Depay scored against both Austria and North Macedonia. Czech Republic are a real wildcard, starting the tournament with a 2-0 win against Scotland at Hampden before drawing Croatia and losing to England. It’s not a good trajectory. Netherlands advance.

Wales-Denmark: Saturday, 11 a.m., Amsterdam

The round of 16 will kick off on Saturday in Amsterdam, where Denmark should have considerable support against Wales. They’d really have support wherever they played, what with the good will generated after Christian Eriksen’s frightening heart failure on June 12. A 4-1 trouncing of Russia got them here, and Joakim Maehle and Mikkel Damsgaard will look to exploit Wales’ right flank. The Welsh are one of the surprises of EURO 2020. Aaron Ramsey is playing some good stuff and Kieffer Moore provides a towering, if awkward, target in attack. Denmark advance.

jerradpeters@gmail.com Twitter @JerradPeters