SM
Real Sociedad vs. Real Madrid: 13 hrs 43 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

Five talking points ahead of the Euro 2020 knockout stages

:Headline: Five talking points ahead of the Euro 2020 knockout stages:
England face Germany while Wales take on Denmark in Amsterdam.
Sports Mole

Euro 2020's last-16 line up was completed on a dramatic evening as three-times winners Germany left it late to secure qualification.

With Portugal skipper Cristiano Ronaldo on the verge of breaking yet another record and England bidding to end a 55-year wait for a major trophy, the race to the final at Wembley on July 11 promises further drama.

Here, the PA news agency takes a look at some of the talking points as the tournament reaches the knockout stage.

Just Ron more

Ronaldo's penalty double in a 2-2 Group F draw with world champions France handed holders Portugal a showdown with FIFA's number one-ranked team Belgium. In the process, the Juventus forward equalled former Iran striker Ali Daei's record of 109 international goals and one more against the Belgians will bring a fresh accolade. Three of his tally to date have come against Roberto Martinez's men. A fourth could prove priceless.

Sweet for Southgate?

Gareth Southgate's penalty miss against Germany ended England's hopes at Euro '96 (Sean Dempsey/PA)

Germany will head to Wembley for the latest chapter in one of international football's biggest rivalries. From the Geoff Hurst hat-trick in England's 1966 World Cup final victory to the Gerd Muller strike which ended their reign four years later and the Frank Lampard goal-that-never-was in South Africa in 2010, the fixture has rarely been uneventful – as Gareth Southgate knows only too well. The England manager had his penalty saved in the shoot-out against Germany at Wembley which ended England's Euro 96 dreams at the semi-final stage. Revenge would be sweet.

Dutch courage

Surprise Euro 2016 semi-finalists Wales are threatening a repeat after negotiating their way through a testing Group A and a punishing travel schedule which has taken them from Baku to Rome and now Amsterdam. Robert Page's men face a Denmark side which has coped admirably with the emotional trauma of Christian Eriksen's collapse on the pitch after suffering a cardiac arrest in their opening fixture, buoyed by a tide of support both at home and from the football family in general. In the circumstances, Gareth Bale and his team-mates may be considered underdogs – just as they were before they dumped Belgium out of the tournament five years ago.

City showdown

Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne (left), Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva (right) will be the best of enemies on international duty (Ian Walton/PA)

When Belgium and Portugal go head-to-head in Seville on Sunday evening, there will be plenty of familiar faces to English football fans. Nine members of the Belgium squad play in the Premier League and 11 more have previously been on the books of clubs in England's top flight, while eight of the Portuguese cohort currently play in England and five more have done so in the past. Three of the stars of Manchester City's title charge last season – Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne and Portugal duo Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias – find themselves in opposition.

Quadruple for Deschamps?

France head coach Didier Deschamps has won the World Cup as both player and manager and is attempting to complete a similar double at Euro 2020 (Owen Humphreys/PA)

France boss Didier Deschamps remains on track to complete a remarkable quadruple as his side face Switzerland in Bucharest on Monday. No man has ever won the World Cup and the Euros as both player and manager. The midfielder captained France to World Cup glory on home soil in 1998 and then to Euro success two years later. He was then in charge when France lifted the World Cup at Russia 2018. Four more wins this summer would see him make history.

body check tags ::

amp_article__452541 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-06-24 09:47:42:
html db last update - 2021-06-24 09:12:09 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Share this article now:
ER
Read Next:
A closer look at England's potential route to Euro 2020 glory
>


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Gareth Southgate Didier Deschamps Cristiano Ronaldo Roberto Martinez Ali Daei Gerd Muller Christian Eriksen Gareth Bale Robert Page Football
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
A closer look at England's potential route to Euro 2020 glory
Man City close gap to Arsenal with statement four-goal win over Brighton
Best Football Betting sites in the UK for April 2024: Where can you place your bets?

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal34245582265677
2Manchester CityMan City33237380324876
3Liverpool34228475344174
4Aston Villa34206871502166
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd33165125150153
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle331551369541550
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham34139125463-948
9Chelsea32138116157447
10Bournemouth34129134960-1145
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton331111115254-244
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves34127154654-843
13Fulham34126165054-442
14Crystal Palace34109154456-1239
15Brentford3498175259-735
16Everton34118153648-1233
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3467214775-2825
19Burnley3458213769-3223
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3437243392-5916
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

This weekend's permutations: Who can be crowned champions, win promotion or suffer relegation?

1

TW

"I am happy" - Arsenal target reacts to transfer rumours

2

&A

Preview: Aberdeen vs. Motherwell - prediction, team news, lineups

3

PA

Chelsea handed major fitness boost ahead of Aston Villa clash

4

CH

Chelsea confirm length of Fernandez injury absence amid reports season is over

5

CC

Where should Chelsea use Palmer against Aston Villa?

6

WS

Preview: Man Utd vs. Burnley - prediction, team news, lineups

7

PM

Arsenal 'considering alternative midfield signings amid concerns over number one target'

8

A'

"I am confident" - Arne Slot confirms desire to take Liverpool job

9

&A

Preview: Norwich vs. Swansea - prediction, team news, lineups

10

PN


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .