The last groups delivered their verdict on Wednesday, and certain minor nations played spoilsport while several big names disappointed.
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Like Les Bleus’ run in 2018, history teaches us that conclusions from the group stage can be misleading. Spain and Germany, impressive, nevertheless approach the knockout matches with more confidence than France and England, while Austria and Georgia have surprised.
Certain surprises at the start of the competition could also offer a historic epic, while the big names are almost all gathered in the same part of the table. Overview of the teams who made their mark, for good or less well, in the first two weeks of competition.
They unfolded
Spain has struck a major blow. Coldly realistic from the start against Croatia (3-0), scoring three goals before the break, La Roja then completely stifled Italy (20 shots to 4) to secure first place in a group yet extremely high. Against Albania, Luis de la Fuente changed ten of his eleven starters but his team showed the same serenity (1-0). Enough to take on the role of favorite fully assumed by the coach himself after the victory against the Nazionale: “No team is better than us.”
Irony of the draw, the two best teams could meet in the quarter-finals. Because in the same part of the table appears the first of group A and host country, Germany. The most dominant team in this group stage, with the highest average possession (64.3%) and the greatest number of attempts (57 shots), the Nationalelf was buoyed by the technical finesse of its offensive players, The image of young Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz (21 years old). After a demonstration for the opening match of their Euro against Scotland (5-1), Julian Nagelsmann’s men dominated Hungary (2-0) then conceded an inconsequential draw against a solid Switzerland (1-1 ).
They disappointed
The “pool of death” kept its promise, eliminating a great football nation: Croatia. Swept by Spain from the start (3-0), Luka Modric’s teammates gave in in the final moments of the two following matches, against Albania (2-2) and Italy (1-1). The 2018 Ballon d’Or, aged 38, did not decide on his future in the selection, especially expressing his dismay after the last draw: “It was one of the most stressful matches of my career. Football is cruel and it showed.” But it is also the just punishment for a sluggish game, and a formation shaken up by the Albanians (15 shots conceded) and generally dominated by the Azzurri (13 shots to 6 for Italy).
Ukraine finished the Euro in last place in its group, yet scoring 4 points. Largely beaten by Romania (3-0), the Ukrainians then raised their heads against Slovakia (2-1) and Belgium (0-0), but the general goal difference was fatal to them. “A strong nation is a nation that remains united and helps each other in all circumstances, in times of defeat and in times of victory. Today, we thank the Ukrainian national football team. Despite this disappointing result, you fought for our country Our great victories await us, the victories of Ukraine.promised the president Volodymyr Zelensky.
England and France escaped premature elimination, securing their qualification before the last meeting and even finishing undefeated. The two rival nations, however, share a flawed game with Croatia. The Blues did not miss any chances (49 shots over the three matches), but did not score in the game, settling for an own goal to beat Austria (1-0) and parity scores against the Netherlands (0-0) and Poland (1-1). Duller still, the Three Lions frankly struggled to get rid of Serbia (1-0) before providing minimum service against Denmark (1-1) and Slovenia (0-0).
They surprised
If France did not fully succeed in its group stage, it is firstly because it finished in second place, behind an exciting Austria. The Burschen first disappointed against the Blues (0-1), before overturning Poland (3-1) and treating themselves to the Netherlands at the end of a crazy match (3-2). Romano Schmid, scorer in the decisive victory against the Oranje, was jubilant in a press conference: “My Werder Bremen team-mates always laughed at me when I told them we could finish top of our group. Now that we’ve done it, it’s incredible.”
True to their reputation, Ralf Rangnick’s men shone with their aggressiveness (132 balls recovered, more than any other nation) and their offensive dynamism in a tough group. The Austrian coach, who had changed almost half of his starting lineup for the last match, admitted himself to surprise after the match: “Aside from the win, our team’s bench depth is better than we thought because the players who played today were perfect.” Austria now dreams of going even further, as they approach an affordable round of 16 against Turkey.
Georgia, for its part, sold its skin dearly for its first participation in a major international tournament. After a severe setback against Turkey (1-3), the reward for their tenacity came with a draw snatched from the Czech Republic (1-1). For the Crusaders, surprise guests of the Euro, this little point sounded like a victory: “When I see everything we have done over the past three and a half years, it is more than deservedenjoyed the French coach Willy Sagnol after the meeting. The strongest feeling is undoubtedly pride. When you know where you come from, it’s easy not to be disappointed.” The Georgians then did even better by dominating a Portuguese team already assured of first place (2-0). They qualified for the round of 16, where they will find Spain.