On June 28th, following the conclusion of the European Championship group stage, The Guardian provided commentary on the performance of various teams.
Spain
Spain scored 5 goals and remained undefeated throughout their 3 group stage matches, making them a strong contender for the championship. The impressive performances of young players Nico and Yamal, along with Rodri’s leadership, have solidified their position.
Germany
Germany began their campaign with a dominant 5-1 victory over Scotland, securing the top spot in their group with two wins and a draw. However, their defense remains a concern after a crucial 1/8th final match against Denmark where their star defender, Tah, was suspended and Rüdiger suffered an injury.
Austria’s performance was a pleasant surprise as they managed to overcome both France and the Netherlands to secure the top spot in their group. While their aggressive pressing style creates vulnerabilities, their high morale has been a driving force for their success.
France
The spotlight for France has been on Mbappe after his nasal fracture sustained during their first game against Austria, causing him to miss their second match against the Netherlands. The team has yet to score a goal from open play in the group stage, and players other than Mbappe need to step up.
Portugal has been one of the best performers in the group stage. Cristiano Ronaldo is in better form than during the 2022 World Cup, and the attacking trio of Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and Ronaldo has the potential to lead them further.
Switzerland
Switzerland has been impressive in the group stage, with Granit Xhaka’s control of the midfield making him one of the best players in the tournament. The presence of Ndoye in attack and Akanji in defense provides further reassurance for the team.
Georgia
High-profile players like Kvaratskhelia and Mikautadze have showcased their talent, with Mikautadze currently leading the top scorers chart with 3 goals.
Turkey
Turkey has exhibited inconsistency throughout the tournament. Their performance in the group stage saw them claim a 3-1 victory over Georgia in their opening match, followed by a disappointing 0-3 loss to Portugal. In their final game against Czech Republic, they secured a late winner after playing with 10 men for a significant period of time.
England
The underwhelming group stage performance has dampened initial optimism surrounding the Three Lions. Their star players, Kane and Bellingham, have underperformed. The midfield experiment involving Arnold and Gallagher has failed, raising questions about whether Luke Shaw can save the team in the knockout stages.
Belgium
Despite dominating their opening game against Slovakia, Belgium suffered a surprising defeat. Lukaku had two goals disallowed, and while they managed to win against Romania and draw against Ukraine to secure their place in the knockout rounds, their performance was met with boos from fans. Facing France in the 1/8th final will be a formidable challenge.
Italy
Italy managed to secure a narrow entry into the round of 16 thanks to a last-minute equaliser against Croatia. Despite a less-than-ideal group stage performance, Spalletti switched formation from 4-4-2 to 3-5-2 in the final match against Croatia but failed to achieve desired results.
Netherlands
The Netherlands lost their group top spot after a surprising defeat to Austria. De Jong’s absence due to injury left a significant void in the team, and while Van Dijk performed well at Liverpool, he has been underwhelming at the European Championship. However, Gakpo’s form has been a bright spot, with 2 goals to his name.
Denmark
Denmark entered the knockout stages after drawing all three of their group matches, with their best performance coming in a 1-1 draw against England. They will face hosts Germany in the 1/8th final and will need to improve their performance for a chance to progress.
Romania
Rumors of a potential “gentleman’s agreement” between Romania and the Netherlands before their final group match were rife, a claim vehemently denied by the Romanian manager. Romanian football legend Gheorghe Hagi asserted that his team would not be intimidated by the Netherlands in the 1/8th final.
Slovakia
Slovakia has qualified for the round of 16 for the second time after their 2016 European Championship campaign. In 2016, they were eliminated in the 1/8th final by Germany with a 0-3 defeat. This time they will face England in the 1/8th final, hoping for a better outcome.
Slovenia
One of only two teams to qualify for the knockout stages with three points, Slovenia’s lack of goalscoring prowess was evident throughout the group stage, managing only 2 goals. Despite this, their energetic play and solid 4-4-2 formation make them a potential threat to Portugal in their 1/8th final encounter.
Ukraine
Ukraine became the first team in the 24-team European Championship to be eliminated despite earning 4 points. Their downfall can be attributed to a subpar performance in their opening match against Romania.
Croatia
Croatia’s group stage exit was sealed by a late equaliser from Italy. As the golden generation of Croatian football winds down, this tournament might be the last major international stage for Luka Modrić.
Albania
Drawn into the “Group of Death” alongside Italy, Croatia, and Spain, Albania impressed with their performances. They scored the fastest goal in European Championship history, netting in the 23rd second of their game against Italy. Their match against Croatia ended in a 2-2 draw, and they narrowly lost 0-1 to Spain in their final group stage match.
Hungary
Hungary was labelled a potential “dark horse” before the tournament but ultimately failed to progress from their group. The injury suffered by Valga, whose condition remains concerning, is a cause for worry.
Czech Republic
New manager Jaroslav Šilhavý had limited time to prepare his squad before the European Championship. Despite failing to secure a victory, the Czech Republic displayed promising performances. It will be interesting to see how they perform in the World Cup qualifiers.
Poland
Poland became the first team to be eliminated after two consecutive defeats, although their final match against France ended in a draw, showcasing their improvement. Lewandowski’s thigh injury significantly hampered their competitiveness.
Serbia
Serbia’s exit from the European Championship group stage has put coach Dragan Stojković’s position under scrutiny. In their final match against Denmark, they needed a win to progress but displayed a lacklustre performance.
Scotland
Scotland had high hopes for the European Championship but only managed to secure 1 point in their three group stage matches. Manager Steve Clarke complained about a denied penalty during their match against Hungary but their performances ultimately weren’t enough to earn them a place in the knockout stages.
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