Cristiano Ronaldo the star of the group stage as Portugal, Ukarine, Czech Republic and Switzerland qualify as best losers.
Cristiano Ronaldo inspired Portugal to a best loser finish in the group of death. Photo Credits: Twitter/ Faisal HQ
The final round of group games at the European Championship kicked off on Sunday with group A games, which featured Italy against Wales, and Switzerland playing Turkey.
Wales joined Italy in the knockout rounds after avoiding an heavy defeat in the game against the group leaders. Matteo Pessina’s 39th minute half volley from a Marco Verratti free-kick was the different in the match.
Switzerland beat Turkey, who were eliminated from the group whilst recording no point, conceding eight and scoring just once. A really disappointing tournament for Turkey, who had a decent pre tournament campaign.
Steven Zuber recorded a hat-trick of assists in the match to become only the third player since 1980 to do so in a single European Championship game, after Rui Costa in 2000 and Michael Laudrup in 1984. While Xhedran Shaqiri has now scored seven goals in major tournaments, the most for Switzerland by a single player.
Turkey becomes the fifth team to finish a group campaign with zero points after Yougoslavia in 1984, Denmark 200, Bulgaria in 2004 and Republic of Ireland in 2012.
Group C teams first took centre stage on Monday evening with The Netherlands making it three in three after another impressive performance in a 3-0 win over North Macedonia. Goals from Gini Wijnaldum (2) ans Memphis Depay, helped Frank de Boer’s aide maintain a strong finish in the group.
Christopher Baumgartner’s 21st minute strike helped Austria finish second in the group with the win meaning they finished the group games on six points, leaving Ukraine waiting to learn their fate of progressing to the next rounds.
Later on Monday evening, Belgium were also able to make it three in three by beating Finland 2-0 courtesy of an own goal from Finland’s Goalkeeper Lucas Hradecky and Romelu Lukaku added a second, nine minutes from the end of normal time.
Denmark showed spirit to qualify in second place despite losing their first two games after completing a 4-1 demolition of Russia in Copahaghen. Damsgaard, Poulsen, Christensen and Mæhle all on the score sheet for Denmark, while Artem Dzyuba’s 70th minute penalty proved just consolation.
Denmark scored four goals in a match at a major tournament for the first time since the 1998 World Cup, in a 4-1 victory over Nigeria.
Denmark’s qualification the biggest upset of final group games round. Photo Credits: Twitter/ Martin Braithwaite
On Tuesday, Raheem Sterling scored his second go of Euro 2020 in a 1-0 England win over Czech Republic as the Three Lions finished top of Group D while Croatia see off Scotland in a 3-1 win in Glasgow to progress as the second placed team in the group. Scotland automatically out of the tournament, earning just a point in three games.
Sweden stay and finished top in group E after another impressive display in a 3-2 win over Poland. Emile Forsberg gave Sweden an early lead just 82 seconds into the game to move about Yussuf Poulsen into second fastest goal scored in an European Championship finals game.
The RB Leipzig man also doubled his side’s lead before Robert Lewandowski’s down restored parity. And in the final minutes of added time, Krasnodar forward, Viktor Claesson won it for Sweden in St. Petersburg.
Spain walloped Slovakia in a 5-0 win on Wednesday evening. Slovakia conceded two own goals from Goalkeeper Martin Dubravka and Juraj Kucka while Aymeric Laporte scored his first goal for Spain. Pablo Sarabia and Ferran Torres completed the rout for Luis Enrique’s side.
Spain qualified as second placed team at the same time ruining every chance Slovakia got to qualify as one of the four best losers.
In the final group, Hungary left Germany and Portugal worried of group stage elimination but were in the end conquered. Germany salvage a point in a two all draw with Hungary thank to a late Leon Goretzka’s leveler.
The Hungarian led twice, first in the first half through a well placed header by their hitman, Adam Szalai. Germany answered by through Kai Havertz six minutes after the hour mark and just under two minutes later, the Hungarian had their noses in from again with Adam Szalai turning provider for Andras Schäfer, who nipped his header past Manuel Neuer.
Substitute, Leon Goretzka restored parity for Germany as it finished two all and Hungary were eliminated from the tournament at the group stages.
In the other game, Cristiano Ronaldo equaled Ali Daei’s record of most international goals at 109 after his double against France earned his Portugal side a place in the knockout rounds. Karim Benzema also ended his goal drought with a two goal show in the draw.
Cristiano Ronaldo gave Portugal the lead, converting from the spot after Hugo Lloris appeared to have punched Danilo when defending a free-kick. Karim Benzema equalized in the added time of first half, also from a penalty.
Benzema then put France in front two minutes after the restart, beating Rui Patricio from a delightful Paul Pogba pass. Ronaldo then made history on the stroke of hour mark, winning and converting a penalty as both sides settle for a point each.
France, Germany and Portugal respectively qualify from the group of death while Hungary will ponder how better it would have been, had they not been placed in the group of too clash nations.
Czech Republic, Portugal, Switzerland and Ukraine are the four lucky teams to qualify from the group stages as best losers.
Cristiano Ronaldo is the outright best performer of the group stages despite Portugal being in a very difficult group. The striker scored five goals, at least two more than any other player, and also recorded a further assist.
The Portuguese also become the first player to score in all group games while Goalkeepers Gianluigi Donnarouma and Jordan Pickford did not concede a goal on all three group games with Italy and England respectively.
The round of 16 fixtures, to be played between Saturday and Tuesday;
Wales v Denmark
Italy v Austria
Netherlands v Czech Republic
Belgium v Portugal
Croatia v Spain
Switzerland v France
England v Germany
Sweden v Ukraine
Afolabi Kehinde Hassan
