The 2024 European Championship has entered the knockout phase after an eventful group stage that saw several surprises. Notably, favorites like England, France, and the Netherlands delivered underwhelming performances, while Croatia and Serbia also failed to advance. However, newcomers Georgia made headlines by securing a spot in the round of 16 after a remarkable victory against Portugal.
In the upcoming round of 16 matches, Germany, who topped Group A, will face Denmark, a team that has yet to win but also hasn't lost. The Germans are favorites but must be cautious. England, despite their disappointing group stage, will play against Slovakia and are expected to win. Similarly, Portugal is set to face Slovenia, with the former being the favorites.
The match between Switzerland and Italy is anticipated to be a close contest. Switzerland, who narrowly missed first place in their group due to a last-minute goal by Germany, will face Italy, the reigning champions who also secured their spot with a last-minute goal against Croatia. Historically, Switzerland has struggled to advance past the round of 16, while Italy aims to defend their title.
Another exciting match will be between France and Belgium in Düsseldorf. Both teams had disappointing group stages and will be looking to redeem themselves. The outcome of this match will see one of the favorites exiting the tournament early.
Austria, who emerged victorious from the 'Group of Death,' will face Turkey and are considered strong contenders. The Netherlands will play against Romania, aiming to recover from their lackluster group stage performances.
- The 2024 European Championship matches will be broadcast live on various channels including ARD, ZDF, RTL, and MagentaTV. Specific match broadcasts include England vs. Slovakia on ZDF and Spain vs. Georgia on ARD.
- The Swiss team has a history of reaching the round of 16 in major tournaments but often struggles to advance further. Their last significant progress was in the previous Euro when they defeated France in a penalty shootout.
- Italy, the defending champions, have a storied rivalry with Switzerland. Their recent encounters include a decisive 3-0 win for Italy in the last Euro group stage and two draws in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
- The winner of the Switzerland vs. Italy match will face the victor of the England vs. Slovakia game in the quarter-finals, scheduled to be held in Düsseldorf next Saturday.
