The Euros 2024 group stage has finally finished and now fans are eager for the much-awaited Round of 16 to get underway. The brackets for the knockout stages have been decided and some of the fixtures lining up are surely mouth-watering. While European glory is the ultimate prize many have felt that it’s kind of unfair for the sport that one side of the knockout bracket seems overpowering. Rather there are many big teams on one side of the bracket giving undue advantage to the big teams on the other side.
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Could you Imagine, only one out of Spain, France, Belgium, Germany, and Portugal having a realistic chance of reaching the finals? That sounds crazy right? Even worse is two of the undoubtedly best teams in the whole tournament, Spain and Germany will face off as early as the Quarterfinals. Another final-worthy clash between Belgium and France is set to happen as early as the Quarterfinals. On the other hand, European heavyweights such as England, Italy and the Netherlands have one of the easiest runs to the Finals.
Understandably, many football fans are feeling disappointed with the way the knockout stages will be played out. But the fact of the matter is, UEFA or anybody else could have in no way been able to decide who plays who. It was all in the hands of the teams playing in the competition. The knockout brackets were already set before the first game of the Euros was played based on the standings of teams in their respective groups at the end of matchday 3.
But the upsets in the group stages made it so that teams like France and Belgium will be facing each other in the Ro16. No one, not even UEFA must have expected France and Belgium both to finish 2nd in their respective groups.
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So who faces who?
The Ro16 kicks off with Switzerland taking on the Azzurri, followed by the hosts Germany playing against Denmark. The Slovaks will be up against England, while by far the best team in the tournament Spain will take on Georgia who defeated Portugal to make it here. Then the much-awaited France vs Belgium game will take place followed by Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal taking on Slovenia. On the last matchday of the first stages of the Knockouts, the toppers of Group E, Romania, will play the Netherlands whilst the toppers of Group D, Austria will take on Turkey.
