With the group levels behind us, Euro 2024 now enters the enterprise finish of the event, when there’s no extra margin for error.
The favourites are all by way of in the primary, with Croatia the most important title to drop out within the group stage.
There are some shock packages which have made the final 16 too, although: event debutants Georgia shocked Portugal to succeed in this stage, whereas Austria completed above France and the Netherlands to high Group D.
However because the event goes on, there are some critical questions being requested of the respective coaches in the case of crew picks, whereas different gamers nurse knocks forward of the knockouts.
And right here, utilizing Opta information, we check out a few of these choice dilemmas.
Ought to Southgate drop Foden and might Shaw keep match?
Phil Foden got here into Euro 2024 on the again of an impressive season for Manchester Metropolis. He was named the Premier League Participant of the Yr, scoring 19 objectives in 35 top-flight appearances in 2023-24.
But taking part in out on the left facet of England’s assault, with Jude Bellingham deployed centrally, Foden has failed to copy that kind for the Three Lions.
Anthony Gordon straight contributed to 21 Premier League objectives for Newcastle United (11 objectives, 10 assists), and seems in a position to provide the type of directness that appears to be lacking from England’s assault.
Gordon would seemingly substitute Foden if he had been to begin, so what’s England’s latest document at main tournaments with out the Metropolis star?
Foden has featured in 10 video games on the World Cup and Euros for England, who’ve gained six of these video games, drawing three and shedding one. They rating 1.8 objectives per recreation with him within the crew in comparison with 1.6 within the 5 event matches by which he has not featured.
Defensively, England do appear just a little extra stable when Foden doesn’t characteristic, with their objectives conceded per recreation dropping from 0.6 with him in, to 0.2 with out the 24-year-old.
Behind Foden, although, the left-back place is a matter. Luke Shaw has not performed for membership or nation since February, however Kieran Trippier has failed to supply the identical attacking output or stability whereas deputising, and could possibly be an damage doubt forward of England’s conflict with Slovakia.
The sense of Southgate in taking an unfit Shaw can definitely be questioned, although when factoring in main tournaments solely, you possibly can perceive why.
England have a 58.3% win proportion (7/12) when Shaw is within the crew in comparison with a 35.3% (6/17) success charge when he’s not, whereas conceding double the quantity of objectives per 90 with out Shaw (1.0 to 0.5).
Does Ronaldo deserve Martinez’s backing?
Cristiano Ronaldo is the document look maker (28) and goalscorer (14) on the Euros, however at 39, ought to he be spearheading Portugal’s assault?
Ronaldo failed to attain from 12 photographs within the group stage, as for the primary time at a significant event, he didn’t handle to hit the again of the online within the first spherical.
The Al-Nassr striker scored 10 objectives from qualifying, however in opposition to extra resilient defences, he has discovered it more durable, and in opposition to Georgia he was stored quiet, although he did spurn one Opta-defined ‘massive likelihood’.
Ronaldo’s look in opposition to Georgia marked his fiftieth such match at a significant event, a European document, with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner having solely sat out two fixtures at a World Cup or Euros since 2004. Portugal have a 46% win ratio with him of their crew in main competitions, however is it time to chop the wire?
France want Mbappe’s magic
Kylian Mbappe recovered from a damaged nostril to play, whereas donning a masks, for France in opposition to Poland final day out, and it was his penalty that put Les Bleus forward earlier than Robert Lewandowski equalised from the spot.
That marked Mbappe’s first objective on the Euros, whereas he’s now only one behind Michel Platini (14) in France’s all-time checklist of document goalscorers at main tournaments.
France recorded 2.32 xG in opposition to Poland, with Mbappe accounting for 1.31 of that. Within the match that he missed, a 0-0 draw in opposition to the Netherlands, Les Bleus mustered just one.43 xG, displaying how a lot Mbappe was missed.
Lacking out
There are some massive gamers who undoubtedly is not going to be that includes within the final 16, and that’s as a result of reality they’re suspended after choosing up two yellow playing cards all through the group stage.
Italy’s Riccardo Calafiori has been one of many stars of the event, however the Bologna defender is not going to play in opposition to Switzerland on Saturday.
Hosts Germany will even be with out a key defender in Jonathan Tah.
This marketing campaign has been Tah’s first at a significant event, however the Bayer Leverkusen centre-back has been spectacular thus far and will likely be a miss when Germany go up in opposition to Denmark.
Turkiye, in the meantime, must play Austria with out Hakan Calhanoglu.
The Inter playmaker has solely missed one match for his nation at a significant event, although Turkiye did win that one, however going through in-form Austria with out their finest participant is a frightening prospect.