Euro 2020 - The Last 16

No more playing for points and the only strategy is to play to win as we reached the Knock Out stage. Beat the opponents four more times and you are the Champions of Europe. Sometimes your path to glory needs the luck of the draw such as when you are drawn to face a weaker side but to be champions you need to ready and good enough to face anyone at anytime. 

So into the last 16 we go. Wales v Denmark looks quite equal. Italy are strong favourites v Austria. Netherlands maybe slight favourites v the Czechs. France are clear favourites v Switzerland. Spain should be favoured v Croatia. Sweden v Ukraine could go either way but the mouth-watering ties are England v Germany and Belgium v Portugal. 

After the Group stage, the top scorers are:

(1) Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) - 5 goals, (2) Patrick Schick (Czech Republic) - 3, (3) Emil Forsberg (Sweden) -3, (4) Romelu Lukaku - 3, (5) Georgino Wilnaldum (Netherlands) - 3, (6) Robert Lewandowski (Poland) - 3, (7) Memphis Depay (Netherlands) - 2, (8) Ciro Immobile (Italy) - 2, (9) Xherdan Shaqiri (Switzerland) - 2, (10) Raheem Sterling (England) -2.

Cristiano Ronaldo is a superb specimen of sportsman and soccer player who at 36 has shown no signs of slowing down and he is now leading by two goals. Surely he could add more when Portugal meets Belgium but Belgium have concede only once so far. Patrick Schick' stock will rise with superb display so far. Sweden's Emil Forsberg is an exciting player on the left side of midfield. Romelu Lukaku is Belgium's striker in chief and Portugal's porous defence will have a hard time to stop him. Georgino Wilnaldum has shown how much Liverpool will miss him in future. Playing in a more forward role he has scored regularly for his country as opposed to his deeper role for Liverpool. He has already scored more than the entire England team. Robert Lewandowski's Poland is already out. Memphis Depay continued his resurgence and Barcelona must be happy. Italy are the top scorer in the group stage and Ciro Immobile could add more to his tally against Austria. He is certainly not immobile. Xherdan Shaqiri is in good form but will find the French defence tough. Raheem Sterling ins England's only goal scorer but Germany have already conceded five times. Will Harry Kane even score in this tournament? 

From here on, some teams will have to go home early from these matches. Some are picking the quarter-final to be: France v Spain, Belgium v Italy, Netherlands v Denmark and Sweden v England. Of course, it could be different. What do you think? 

Wales v Denmark - Wales have a population of less than 3.1 million and yet again the Dragons have defied the odds to be even here and now in the last 16. That has been an achievement itself. Denmark themselves have a slightly large population of 5.8 million and they have always defied the odds. Both have been amazing and unfortunate one of them have to exit the competition after this match. Singapore should learn something from them here. Wales shocked all when they went to the semis in the last Euro and a win here for either team pits them against the Netherlands or the Czechs. It will be tough as Denmark have been playing so well but you can't rule them out. The Danish have been building up some momentum and should be slight favourites. Wales defend well and will score the odd goal or two but their game changer remains to be Gareth Bale or Aaron Ramsey. Denmark have been playing well as a team and for me they have the edge. I have to go for a Danish win. 1-2.

Italy v Austria - It is a little strange for Austria to be here as they have never won a Euro finals match but now has two victories under their belt. It will be a huge upset for them to win here against in-form Italy who are not only in-form but have been one of the most outstanding teams, by far the best and surprisingly exciting. They are playing a bit like Liverpool's 4-3-3. Once this tie is won, their next one will be a real challenge with Belgium or Portugal waiting. Hard to see the Austrian getting past the almost perfect Azzurri. Austrian attack is decent but the Italians have played eleven matches without conceding a goal. Italy will be too good for Austria. If they keep a clean sheet it is a 2-0 win but Italy must concede a goal some time and if it happens they will go for goals to win 3-1 as 1-1 or 2-1 is too dangerous. Italy to win 3-1.

Netherlands v Czech Republic - Many still consider the Netherlands to be the weakest of the strongest teams and so the Czechs got a bit lucky with their draw. So if they raise their game at the right time and cause an upset they get to meet either Wales or Denmark - a seemingly less daunting task to the semis. This game could be closer than originally thought. The Netherlands also kind of strolled past their group after a bit of scare with Ukraine. This is a winnable game for them but the Czechs are good to go against the form book though they do looked a bit flat at times. The Flying Dutchmen will fly but I suspect there will be goals and an exciting game is on the cards. The Netherlands to prevail. 3-2.

Belgium v Portugal - Portugal should have tried to win against France to top their group so as to meet Switzerland but instead were settling for a draw. Maybe they do not fear Belgium. They have the leading scorer Ronaldo. They are scoring but also conceding. They were soundly beaten by Germany but as good as the French in a draw. Belgiums' group was weaker so they strolled through a bit. Belgium are strong but often under-performed at the critical stage somewhat like England. Portugal are weaker this time but they have been tested with the best in the group stage and can stun FIFA's number one ranked team - Belgium who laboured against Finland. Portugal need to stop De Bruyne and Lukaku. Whoever wins sets up a meeting with Italy or France assuming the latter teams win. Ruben Dias FWA's Footballer of the Year and Bruno Fernandes who was so good for Manchester United are struggling leaving Ronaldo to carry the torch which will not be enough. Two top strikers, two high-scoring sides. Portugal have won 6, Belgium 5 and they had 7 draws in their previous meetings. There will be goals. This time I expect Belgium to win. 3-2.

Croatia v Spain - I have been surprised that Croatia are even here and that is all credit to them. They are nowhere near where they were during the World Cup. Spain as usual killing by passing the ball to death. Nothing much happened since until their last match when they hit Slovakia in a hugely impressive 5-0 win which is simply bad news for Croatia as Spain is slowly peaking at the right time and finally scoring freely. If they beat Croatia, they get to meet France or Switzerland. The key battle will be in midfield. The experience of Modric, Brozovic and Kovacic versus Pedri, Koke, Rodri or Busquets. Spain to eventually edge out Croatia by a one goal margin. 1-2.

France v Switzerland - In the most recent World Cup and Euro, the Swiss not only qualified but they have learned how to progress and made it out of the group stage. Progress from here has been and will now be very tough. France have not hit top gear yet. Barring a major upset, they will meet Spain or Croatia. France do not look like their best but they don't have to...yet. They could not beat Hungary and Portugal. France to win as Klyian Mabppe, Kareem Benzema, Kante and Griezman will be too hard to stop. France have become the new Germany. They win competitions. 2-0.

England v Germany - Leon Goretska's late equalizer against Hungary kept the Germans in the competition. Both teams face a slightly easier passage to the final if they win this one. The Germans' performances have been mixed but they often come alive during the knock out stages. England have been the most boring team this Euro but they have kept a clean sheet after three games. They also know their route to the final is more favourable but their records against the Germans are anything but. Get through this hurdle and they may even become favourites. Germany have won 15, England 13 and they have drawn 4 times in their head to head encounters.

The question now is how will England lineup and play. Will Jadon Sancho even start? German legend Lothar Matthaus said that if Sancho is not good enough for England, we are ready to give him a German passport. He played no part in earlier matches and only did a cameo versus the Czechs for six minutes towards the end. At a young age he has already battled many teams in the Bundesliga with goals and assists and have intimate knowledge of the Germans. With such rich attacking talents, England have been very meek. Blessed are the meek, for they shall.....

Southgate may be tempted to play Kieran Trippier at left back again as he may feel he needs Trippier for set piece play though Luke Shaw has played well. Do not expect their full backs to attack too often as have been the case so far as that is how Southgate wants to play otherwise Joshua Kimmich and Robin Gosens will cause some damage. Harry Maguire and John Stones are set to continue. Mason Mount and Ben Chiwell looks set to miss as they have been isolated since their close contact with Scotland's Billy Gilmour who tested positive for Covid. 

It appears Kavin Philips and Declan Rice will be their two defensive midfielders. Or will he consider Jordan Henderson. What about youngster Jude Bellingham who has been a star for Borussia Dortmund? Raheem Sterling picks himself as he has been England's only goal scorer with two so far. Jack Grealish and Bukayo Saka were outstanding in their previous outing, so will they be kept or will he finally play Jadon Sancho who has been excellent for Dortmund. Will Phil Foden be restored to the lineup? Marcus Rashford is only most effective on the left where Sterling plays so he will probably come on later when needed. Captain Harry Kane who surprisingly has no goal to date is likely to continue to lead the line. The Germans have theri own who could cause damage - Kai Havertz, Serge Gnarby and even Leroy Sane. Maybe the game will be a cautious and boring one or it may open the floodgates once a goals is scored.

This game will be close and could go either way. Portugal played with handbrake on and won the last Euro. Southgate is playing his England with handbrake on and hoping to emulate that but for me your car won't go far with the handbrake on. England have been boring, mediocre and seemed afraid to lose. Germany look better but which one will turn up? The one against France, Portugal or Hungary? Cesc Fabregas said that England are such a powerful squad, full of energy, They should free themselves a bit more with all the very talented players they have. 

In the past, many used to say - my heart says England and my head says Germany. This time it should be my heart says Germany but my head says England because Germany are more exciting and England is boring. Jose Mourinho have said something like exciting teams don't win tournaments and boring teams do. The team that makes less mistakes or a moment of brilliance from either side wins the game. 1-0.

Sweden v Ukraine - Ukraine has just sneaked in and got themselves a more favourable draw than most. Not that the Swedes are easy meat but at least theirs is the least daunting and not the most. While Sweden have not been spectacular, they have done all their things right. A win over Ukraine while not a foregone conclusion, can be expected and achievable. England and Germany shall await them next. Ukraine won only one match to get here. Sweden to win. Watch Emil Forsberg and Alexander Isak. 2-1.