Curious European Championship tournament tree: DFB team unlucky, England lucky?
After the completion of the EM group stage, the hot phase of the tournament begins. However, before the first round of 16 matches, it is clear: The German team led by national coach Julian Nagelsmann faces a difficult path to the final. The English team, on the other hand, harbors hopes.
The last major EM riddles were solved, at least organizationally, late on a Wednesday evening. While the football continent still doesn't know if the enigmatic English are simply very tired and poorly coached or great masters of perfect performance dosing, if the French can score a goal, and how good (or not) the German national team really is, every team now knows its next opponent. The most spectacular duel is expected to be between France and Belgium. Both teams have yet to instill the terror they want to.
A hot duel could also be in store for Ralf Rangnick's rebels against Turkey. The Austrians are currently flying through the tournament like the legendary Alpine heroes over the legendary Streif. And Turkey is always worth trusting. The team of Vincenzo Montella plays with great passion, great effort, but not always the results match. Both national teams can rely on great support in the stadium in Leipzig. Both fan bases have celebrated big tribune parties at this EM.
Germany, which was already clear for a while, will face Denmark. A rather uncomfortable opponent, driven by their star player Christian Eriksen. Denmark is a tough nut to crack in the knockout round on the way to the potential title at home. And it won't get any easier. The draw has a few unpleasant surprises in store for the DFB team. With a win on Saturday in Dortmund, it would then be against the winner of Spain vs. Georgia. Here, the signs are clearly divided: Spain is the giant, Georgia the excited dwarf. The further knockout matches in this half of the tournament are Portugal against Slovenia and France against Belgium. But whoever wants to be the European champion must beat everyone (five euros into the piggy bank).
Thus, all top favorites, sorry England, are in one half of the tournament bracket, the "shark tank," as the Portuguese newspaper "A Bola" writes. The "Three Lions" from the island could hardly disturb the balance of the two sides of the draw. Quite the opposite. To celebrate a title at an international major tournament after 58 years, the way seems just about right. The "Daily Mail" spread hope in the face of possible next opponents. The team of Gareth Southgate faces the Slovakia in their round of 16 match, a manageable opponent for the favorite. With a win, it would then be against the winner of Italy vs. Switzerland. The further round of 16 matches in England's half of the tournament are the Netherlands against Romania and Austria against Turkey.
England has now the best conditions for entering the final, writes the "Daily Mail," increasing the pressure on the already struggling Lions. As France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and host Germany are all on the other side of the draw. The strongest opponent on the way to the final, which will be held on July 14 at the Berlin Olympic Stadium, are, at this point, the Austrians!
The draw for the European Football Championship 2024 has been announced, with England’s path to the final seeming more favorable as they are placed in a relatively weaker half of the tournament ("shark tank"), while Germany, a top favorite, has a challenging route ahead, potentially facing Denmark, a tough nut to crack, followed by the winner of Spain vs. Georgia, nations whose outcomes are expected to be starkly different. Soccer fans can expect to see the DFB team battling it out on the field against Danes inspired by their star player, Christian Eriksen.
