Euro 2020 takeaways: Spain survives, Germany escapes and the group stage saves the best for last

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This article was published 23/06/2021 (1940 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It was a breathless final day of group-stage play at Euro 2020, with drama in all four games as teams in wide-open groups E and F battled for survival. Here’s a breakdown of Wednesday’s slate, the wildest of the competition so far.

• Spain vs. Slovakia: A knockout round without Spain, one of the tournament’s best, loomed as a possibility heading into the noon-hour start against the Slovaks, who started the tournament strong and needed just a point to advance. They dug an early hole, however, when goalkeeper Martin Dubravka got turned around in his box and spiked a rebound off the crossbar and into his net. Before halftime, a poor clearance attempt by Slovakian midfielder Jakub Hromada led to Spain’s second goal on the way to a 5-0 victory and second place in Group E. At game’s end, Slovakia still clung to hopes of advancing in third place — pending later results — despite the self-inflicted defeat.

• Sweden vs. Poland: It was a must-win game for Robert Lewandowski and Poland, while the Swedes were already guaranteed to advance. And yet, the Swedes came to attack for the first time in the tournament and Emil Forsberg, now in the hunt for the Golden Boot as top scorer, scored twice by the 59th minute for a 2-0 lead. It’s never that easy when you’re facing Lewandowski, though, and the Bayern Munich striker bagged two late goals to tie. But as Poland pressed for a potential winner, Viktor Claesson scored on the counterattack for a 3-2 Swedish victory.

• Hungary vs. Germany: You have to feel for Hungary, which led twice in a 2-2 tie with the Germans and fell just short of advancing as the second-place team in Group F. The performance, however, raises questions about which Germany will show up in the next round — the team that dominated Portugal in its previous match, or the one that almost let Hungary escape with an upset.

• France vs. Portugal: Good refereeing has been a highlight of Euro 2020, but France and Portugal swapped debatable penalty calls in the first half of their final group match. Cristiano Ronaldo scored his fifth goal of the tournament from the spot, and Karim Benzema responded with his first. In the end, they each netted a pair in a 2-2 tie, with Ronaldo’s second equalling the men’s international goals record of 109, set by Iran’s Ali Daei. We didn’t see the best of France or Portugal. Both seemed happy to cruise after the Hungary-Germany result ensured France would win the group and Portugal would advance in third.

And now fans can breathe. Until Saturday, at least, when the knockout stages begin.

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• Four thirds: If we never have to think about this quirk of the group-stage qualifying formula again, it will be too soon (or Euro 2024). The Czech Republic, Switzerland, Portugal and Ukraine advanced to the round of 16 after finishing third in their groups. The Czechs, Swiss and Portuguese all earned four points. Ukraine beat out Finland and Slovakia (all third-place finishers with three points) based on goal differential. The four survivors will face group winners in the next round, but there is hope: Portugal advanced as a third-place team at Euro 2016 and went on to win it all.

• How did we do? The Star’s pre-tournament predictions had Group E finishing Spain, Poland, Sweden, Slovakia. Nothing went right for us on this one, which wound up: Sweden, Spain, Slovakia, Poland. We predicted Group F would end up: France, Portugal, Germany, Hungary. While Portugal and Germany flip-flopped, we’ll give ourselves points with both advancing.

• The biggest loser: It was a thrilling first 13 days of Euro competition. On the field, teams went for it — even Sweden got in on the charge, if late. Off the field, there was the joy of fans in the stands, unity in moments of hardship, and players showing support for social justice — whether by kneeling for racial equity or wearing a rainbow arm band in solidarity with the LGBTQ community. The only letdown? UEFA, the tournament’s governing body, which reportedly gave Denmark limited options to resume play after star Christian Eriksen suffered cardiac arrest mid-game; investigated German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer for wearing that rainbow arm band; and declined an application from Munich’s city council to have Allianz Arena lit up in rainbow colours for Wednesday’s Germany-Hungary match. Hungarian officials recently passed a law that human rights groups say stigmatizes LGBTQ people and limits their rights. UEFA has been a stain on its own competition so far.

• On the docket: The round of 16 begins Saturday with Wales and Denmark at noon, followed by Italy taking on Austria at 3 p.m. The eight-game knockout round runs through Tuesday, with two matches each afternoon.

June 24, 2021 — Correction: This story has been updated from a previously published version to correct that it was Hungarian officials who recently passed a law that human rights groups say stigmatizes LGBTQ people and limits their rights, not Munich.

Laura Armstrong is a Star sports reporter based in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @lauraarmy