In the early hours of July 1st, two Round of 16 matches of the European Championship saw England and Spain both secure their passage to the next stage with come-from-behind wins. However, while both teams emerged victorious, the Three Lions fought tooth and nail to barely overcome Slovakia, while the Spanish bullfighting machine ran riot, delivering a resounding thrashing to Georgia.
Having stumbled through the group stage, England’s progress to the knockout rounds was met with skepticism. Facing a Slovakia team known for their defensive solidity, Southgate stubbornly stuck to his 4-2-3-1 formation. Bellingham, Foden, and Saka remained isolated, while Kane looked visibly uncomfortable.
Despite boasting a luxurious squad valued at £1.52 billion, England found themselves on the back foot as Slovakia’s counter-attacking prowess caused them much distress. Schranz’s early goal plunged the Three Lions into a perilous position.
On the verge of a humiliating exit, Bellingham miraculously emerged as their savior, scoring an acrobatic equalizer in the 95th minute. In extra time, Kane found the net, ending the improbable run of the Slovakian underdogs. While fans marveled at Bellingham’s moment of brilliance, Southgate’s resilience also garnered attention. However, the question on everyone’s lips is: will England be blessed with such fortune against a more formidable and efficient Swiss team in the next round?
If England’s qualification was a nail-biting affair, then Spain’s was a complete demolition. Despite an early own goal from Le Normand after being pressed by Kvaratskhelia, the Spaniards bombarded the Georgian goal, firing off 17 shots in the first half alone, keeping Mamardashvili on his toes. Rodri’s powerful strike in the 39th minute equalized, swiftly averting a potential crisis.
The second half witnessed a complete unleashing of Spanish attacking prowess. First, Yamal provided an assist for Fabián Ruiz to put Spain ahead, followed by goals from Nico Williams and Olmo, as the bullfighters decisively crushed Georgia’s spirit with a resounding four-goal victory. In a staggering display of dominance, Spain unleashed a total of 35 shots, nearly nine times the number of their opponents.
The 16-year-old Yamal achieved several historic milestones. He became the youngest player in European Championship history to feature in the knockout stage and, like Cristiano Ronaldo in 2004, is the first player under 20 to provide two assists in a single European Championship tournament.
The adage “the future is now” rings true for Yamal. While Ronaldo achieved this feat at the age of 19, Yamal, at just 16, continues to impress as a U20 player, with a future brimming with limitless potential.
Spain’s 4-1 victory over Georgia secured their fourth consecutive win in the tournament. It’s worth noting that Spain’s 2008 triumph also saw them storm through the group stage, only to be held to a goalless draw by Italy in the first knockout game, requiring a penalty shootout to advance. Similarly, in 2012, they were held to a draw by Italy in their opening knockout match. This suggests that the current Spanish squad might be even more dominant than the previous two European Championship-winning teams.
However, the upcoming quarter-final clash against hosts Germany presents a formidable test. Can Spain maintain their winning streak against the mighty Germans?
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