After 13 breathless days of soccer, Euro 2024 shrinks from 24 groups to 16. There was loads of drama to savour because the teams concluded, with Croatia bowing out, France and Belgium ending second of their teams, and Georgia making but extra worldwide soccer historical past.
Forward of the match, ESPN ranked all the taking part nations 1-24 so as of how seemingly they have been to win Euro 2024. Now, following the conclusion of the group stage, we’ll rank the remaining 16 once more on that very same easy premise. The eight groups which were knocked out have additionally been included and listed so as of how spectacular they have been (or, in some instances, weren’t).
We have taken into consideration as many elements as we will, nevertheless it’s value making an allowance for these three as you learn by way of:
– How have the workforce truly carried out at Euro 2024?- How conceivable is it that the workforce enhance from right here?- Which aspect of the knockout bracket are they on?
You will see the bracket referenced rather a lot, because it’s actually essential. With Spain, Germany, Portugal and France all on one aspect, it is turned out to be extremely lopsided. That has created fascinating alternatives for some, whereas concurrently making the trail really treacherous for others.
Earlier rating: 15
Scotland’s marketing campaign was bitterly disappointing. They opened up the match with a 5-1 shellacking by the hands of Germany, scored a single (closely deflected) objective and totalled a miserly 0.9 Anticipated Objectives (xG) throughout three group video games. Not less than the followers placed on a elegant present.
Earlier rating: 18
Serbia completed backside of the lowest-scoring group — the one which, collectively, scored fewer targets than Germany did and actually despatched followers to sleep at factors. That is a one-way ticket to the gutter of this rating.
Earlier rating: 16
Hungary acquired some hype heading into this match, however have been in the end squeezed out on the very finish of the group stage by Georgia’s outstanding win over Portugal. Frankly, that is soccer justice at work: Hungary’s One hundredth-minute winner towards Scotland could have been an unbelievable second, however nearly all the soccer they performed up till that time was torrid.
Earlier rating: 19
Poland have been mathematically eradicated from Euro 2024 earlier than they’d even performed their third group sport, shedding to each Netherlands and Austria. That made their final match, towards France, a real free hit. They usually put a significant spanner within the works by scooping a draw and stopping the French from topping the group. It was all the time going to be a troublesome group to navigate. However with Robert Lewandowski managing an harm and lacking minutes, it turned not possible.
Earlier rating: 24
Albania suffered the misfortune of being positioned in a horrendous group alongside Spain, Italy and Croatia, however made an actual fist of their try to upset the percentages. They scored the fastest-ever European Championship objective (23 seconds) towards Italy and fought to the final towards Croatia, equalising within the 94th minute. Their willpower and spirit added a lot to the match, as did their followers.
Earlier rating: 20
Czechia’s group stage effort will be summed up by the phrase “almost.” They almost held Portugal to a attract Sport 1; they almost beat Georgia in Sport 2; they usually almost sprung an upset, with 10 males, towards Turkey in Sport 3. Ultimately, a single level is all they obtained, however they have been in rivalry from begin to end and have been oh-so-close to pulling one thing off.
Earlier rating: 8
Croatia’s bizarrely poor European Championship type continued as they have been eradicated on the group stage. And it occurred in simply in regards to the cruellest doable method. They conceded ludicrously late equalisers to Albania (94th minute) and Italy (98th minute) having already misplaced 3-0 to Spain, leaving a nation in disbelief and star participant Luka Modric in tears as he bows out of worldwide soccer.
Earlier rating: 12
No workforce at Euro 2024 can really feel extra onerous executed by than Ukraine, who accrued 4 factors from three video games and nonetheless obtained knocked out. They’re going to head residence, but have to observe Denmark and Slovenia contest the spherical of 16 — regardless of the actual fact each solely managed three factors and neither gained a sport.
2:20
Was this Euros a step to far for this Croatia technology?
Alejandro Moreno wonders who will step up for Croatia now that Luka Modric’s technology is nearing their finish with the nationwide workforce.
Earlier rating: 21
Slovenia made historical past by qualifying for the knockout stage of a match for the primary time — and did so off the again of three consecutive attracts. Having didn’t win a sport in what was clearly one of many weakest teams, it is unlikely they will get a lot additional now the energy of the opponent will increase considerably.
Earlier rating: 22
Just by qualifying for Euro 2024, Georgia made historical past. In reaching the spherical of 16, they’ve captured hearts and minds everywhere in the world. What an unbelievable experience it has been for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia & Co.
Their “reward” for making the knockouts is a bout with Spain, the workforce many would counsel have regarded like the very best on the match. That is an enormous think about why they rank simply fifteenth, however we’re acutely conscious that writing off this group of gamers is a harmful transfer.
Earlier rating: 23
Together with Georgia, Romania are shock qualifiers for the spherical of 16, as few gave the Tricolorii a lot of an opportunity of escaping a gaggle containing Belgium, Ukraine and Slovakia — and even fewer thought they’d end high.
Romania are powerful to gauge, as that blistering 3-0 victory over Ukraine in Sport 1 now feels a very long time in the past. Since then, they have been comfortably dispatched by Belgium and floor out a draw with Slovakia. It is powerful to flee the sensation they burst into the match however at the moment are truly fizzling out.
Earlier rating: 13
Turkey turned up and performed precisely as marketed: vibrant and bold in assault, however nervous and shaky on the again.
They’ve scored a few of the finest targets of the match, conceded by far the worst personal objective (sorry, Samet Akaydin), and can not seem to get by way of a sport with out some form of goalkeeping mishap. All of it feels very flamable, so that they slot in among the many decrease of the groups within the knockout part.
Earlier rating: 11
Earlier than the match, we requested which Denmark would present up: the frighteningly energetic Euro 2020 model, or the languid World Cup 2022 equal. The reply? Seemingly, it is the latter; they drew all three group video games and lacked any actual attacking verve.
Three factors proved sufficient to qualify for the knockouts, however the journey seemingly would not go a lot additional. Hosts Germany are up subsequent, then probably Spain, then probably Portugal. Few — if any — are holding out hope the Danes can negotiate that gauntlet of video games.
Earlier rating: 17
Slovakia have been one of many tales of the match. They kicked off with an upset win over Belgium that was barely fortuitous however nonetheless well-deserved, after which secured qualification with some extent towards Romania in Sport 3. They’ve performed good soccer all through, with Napoli maestro Stanislav Lobotka on the coronary heart of every thing good.
Beating England within the spherical of 16 is a troublesome ask, however they’re defensively stable and know find out how to pluck a objective from someplace in midfield when wanted.
2:17
Why Belgium should be good to beat France
Julien Laurens believes Belgium should play the proper sport to have any likelihood of beating France regardless of having problems with their very own.
Earlier rating: 6
Belgium’s Euro 2024 expertise up to now has been downright weird. They’ve had extra targets chalked off by VAR (three) than anybody else, making striker Romelu Lukaku simply in regards to the unluckiest man in Germany this month, and of their last match they appeared to sleepwalk to a 0-0 draw with Ukraine that put them second in Group E, pushing them over to the robust aspect of the knockout bracket.
Are they good, unhealthy or unlucky? It is onerous to nail down which one it’s, however at the least on a person degree, it is controversial that solely midfielders Kevin De Bruyne and Amadou Onana are having good tournaments.
Belgium’s punishment for relinquishing first place within the group is a round-of-16 bout with France. In the event that they one way or the other surpass Les Bleus, Portugal are seemingly up subsequent. It is a gruelling path that, on proof up to now, they will not have the ability to navigate.
Earlier rating: 7
From the primary minute of the group stage to the final, Italy have conspired to do issues the onerous method. They conceded the earliest objective on report at a European Championship — 23 seconds into their opener towards Albania — and solely secured qualification to the knockouts with a 98th-minute equaliser towards Croatia.
They have been excellent towards Albania — higher than the early shock and eventual 2-1 scoreline steered — however obtained thumped by Spain and struggled towards Croatia. The place does that depart them? Plonked in the course of the ultimate 16-team rating, which can be an admission that we’re nonetheless undecided what they’re able to.
Earlier rating: 14
The Swiss have been reported to be low on confidence heading into Euro 2024, however what we have seen on the match suggests in any other case. They’re unbeaten, dealt with Hungary with ease and got here inside a few minutes of beating Germany to win Group A.
Defensively they give the impression of being stable, midfielder Granit Xhaka and defender Manuel Akanji are having fun with good tournaments within the backbone of the workforce, whereas they’ve sourced targets from completely different locations. They seem to be a official menace.
They have been positioned simply forward of Italy on this rating as a nod to their higher performances within the teams, however the match between them Saturday within the spherical of 16 genuinely looks like a coin flip.
Earlier rating: 9
There have been occasions the place Netherlands have regarded defensively stable; there have been occasions the place they’ve regarded offensively thrilling. Irritatingly for supervisor Ronald Koeman, it is uncommon that these two mix to type an entire efficiency. However maybe they’re saving it for the knockouts?
The Oranje landed a beneficial round-of-16 tie (on paper) in Romania, so ought to really feel assured they will attain the quarterfinals — the place, probably, they will get one other crack at an Austria aspect that beat them 3-2 within the group stage.
Cody Gakpo has had an incredible match, scoring twice and looking out like a powerful Plan A in assault, however extra shall be wanted from midfield, and from captain Virgil van Dijk in defence, if this workforce are to really succeed this summer season.
Earlier rating: 10
Austria weren’t solely thrilling to observe within the group stage, however they backed up these performances with outcomes. Their extremely energetic model ratcheted up the tempo of video games and pushed some good sides — notably France and Netherlands — to the restrict.
In beating the Dutch 3-2 within the last group sport, Austria gained Group D and slipped into the softer half of the knockout bracket, making them arguably probably the most spectacular workforce on that aspect primarily based on the soccer we have witnessed up to now.
Turkey look beatable, then maybe they will need to beat the Dutch once more. Their greatest enemy, although, is likely to be their very own self-discipline — supervisor Ralf Rangnick is having to rotate his workforce closely with the intention to keep away from suspensions, as their aggressive model picks up yellow playing cards for enjoyable.
2:12
Why struggling England are nonetheless Euro 2024 favourites
Frank Leboeuf assesses England’s hopes within the knockout phases of Euro 2024.
Earlier rating: 3
England have been a significant disappointment at Euro 2024, enjoying by far probably the most anaemic attacking soccer of any of the large nations and managing only one win from a gaggle containing Denmark, Slovenia and Serbia.
Based mostly solely on what we have seen, they’re no match for the opposite massive weapons, however curiously (and considerably fortuitously), their path to a possible last avoids each single one of many elite groups.
England’s hardest doable path to the ultimate is Slovakia, then maybe Switzerland, then Austria or Netherlands, however the issue is that in the event that they face any of the highest 4 on this rating in that last, they will seemingly lose. It is a rating of who’s more than likely to win the match, not simply attain the ultimate.
The way in which England have performed, there is not any assure they will get there anyway. They’ve an terrible lot of bettering to do, quick, and there have been only a few rays of sunshine. Maybe the factor to hold on to is that the defence has been pretty stable — they’ve conceded the bottom xGA (Anticipated Objectives In opposition to) of the match (1.1), though high quality of opponent should be acknowledged right here. If their star-studded assault can discover some steadiness and fluency, England might instantly burst into life.
However, primarily based on present proof, that looks like a good distance away.
Earlier rating: 4
One of many biggest compliments you may pay a global aspect is to say they appear like a membership aspect. On the ball, that is Germany.
With veteran midfielder Toni Kroos on the coronary heart of a fluid passing sport, younger Jamal Musiala’s electrical dribbling opening up groups and Ilkay Gündogan dropping into the areas created, this assault has regarded improbable.
However there are some issues for coach Julian Nagelsmann in the case of the defensive aspect of the sport. The areas behind Germany’s adventurous full-backs look ripe for counter-attacking, plus they will now need to cope with enforced absences to what has up to now been an unchanged beginning XI. Jonathan Tah is suspended for the round-of-16 conflict with Denmark, and Antonio Rüdiger has a thigh challenge. Out of the blue, Germany could go from unchanged XI to wholesale modifications in a heartbeat.
Their path to a possible last could effectively embrace Spain, then Portugal or France, as they’re on the powerful aspect of the bracket. All in all, placing them fourth on this rating feels honest.
1:03
Ogden: France actually disappointing at Euro 2024
Mark Ogden assesses France’s second place end in Group D at Euro 2024.
Earlier rating: 1
France’s shock draw to already-eliminated Poland had a nasty impact on their match hopes, because it knocked them into the robust aspect of the bracket. Now, as a substitute of negotiating the likes of England and Italy en path to a possible last, they may seemingly have to overcome two of Spain, Portugal and Germany.
That, plus the curious nature of the 2 targets they’ve mustered up to now (an personal objective and a penalty) has led to many being down on Les Bleus, however there are some balancing elements to think about.
First, France don’t have any challenge firing themselves up for large opponents (in reality, the final time they performed a “weaker” aspect, they obtained knocked out by Switzerland). Second, they might not have scored many, however their complete xG in a troublesome group was 5.8 — the best in the complete match.
It hasn’t been classic France, however, like with England, there’s critical capability to enhance. Maybe dealing with Belgium within the spherical of 16 is the spark they want.
Earlier rating: 2
In rating Portugal second, we’re largely ignoring the 2-0 defeat to Georgia in Sport 3. In any case, there was zero jeopardy for the Seleção, as they’d already been confirmed as group winners, and that was mirrored in each efficiency and workforce choice.
The efficiency that beat Turkey 3-0 in Sport 2? The last-gasp winner towards Czechia, refusing to be held, in Sport 1? That is the true Portugal … we expect.
There isn’t any doubting this squad’s high quality and depth, however supervisor Roberto MartÃnez has used three completely different programs in three video games. Sensible or silly? Good to get everybody concerned, or disruptive of type and move? The solutions shall be decided by outcomes from right here, and a tie towards Slovenia within the spherical of 16 looks like an excellent one to get going once more.
Earlier rating: 5
We have seen some massive scorelines at Euro 2024, however the single most dominant and irresistible efficiency was delivered by Spain in what ended up as only a 1-0 win over Italy.
It was sufficient for a lot of to sit down up and take discover. Spain got here up towards a top-10 aspect on this match and systematically took them aside, solely missing the second and third targets to place a flourish on the consequence. That has led to them rising to the highest of this rating as, to place it merely, they’ve set a benchmark for efficiency.
Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams are thrilling from the wings; Fabián Ruiz is having the match of his life in midfield; and, regardless of a number of modifications to personnel, the defence are but to concede.
Spain are the one workforce to win all three video games in the complete match. It is clear they deserve high spot on this rating. They’re the aspect to beat.