England 2-1 Slovakia (AET)

Euro 2024/Round of 16

MOTM: Jude Bellingham

Match Stats:

• xG: 1.72 - 2.19

• xThreat: 1.92 - 1.46

• Possession: 63.1% - 36.9%

• Field Tilt: 67.1% - 32.9%

• Penalty Box Shots: 8 - 8

• Deep Completions: 16 - 12

• PPDA: 8.5 - 18.1

• High Turnovers: 5 - 2

• 10+ Pass Sequences: 36 - 15

England Stay Alive

I had mentioned before the match that England will find it tough to find space between the lines. Slovakia kept a compact mid block and pressed their double pivot. Foden coming inside and Trippier being predictable on the left side made it even easier for Slovakia to deal with England.

England lost the ball frequently due to how predictable their play was going forward. Slovakia continued hitting long balls over the top that kept giving the back line problems.

The first goal comes from this ball over the top, something Stones in particular struggled with all game. Both him and Guehi get mixed up on which man to track.

Walker heads over to the right side to track that player and block off the pass. Stones stays on his man in the middle. Schranz then makes his run from deep into the box.

Getting ahead of Guehi to receive the pass through and finish far corner. Pickford slow to come out.

England still had half chances throughout the match. Here is just one of the deliveries by Foden that was missed.

Foden was offside for this goal, a brilliant move by England up until that point.

England found their equalizer at the last minute with this creative set play from a throw-in. Walker long throw, Guehi knocking it on and Bellingham over head kick.

England found the winner in extra time after a mistimed shot by Eze, Toney put the ball back into the 6 yard box for Harry Kane to score.

It was changes in the second half and extra time that allowed England to find a way through and it’s changes that are needed in the next game if they want to progress past Switzerland. The lack of width and predictability on the left side only compounds the problems England have out of possession.

One idea on how England approach the next match is whether we see a switch to a back three. Matching Switzerland. Do we see Luke Shaw fit to start at LB? Do we see Gordon come in at LW?

England will take on Switzerland in the Quarter Finals on the 6th July, 17:00 GMT. A very tough match given how tactically impressive Switzerland were against Italy and that we’ve not seen England put in a convincing performance.

Spain 4-1 Georgia

Euro 2024/Round of 16

MOTM: Rodri

Match Stats:

• xG: 3.48 - 0.15

• xThreat: 2.68 - 0.32

• Possession: 75% - 25%

• Field Tilt: 95.6% - 4.4%

• Penalty Box Shots: 18 - 1

• Deep Completions: 27 - 1

• PPDA: 7.6 - 25.5

• High Turnovers: 10 - 0

• 10+ Pass Sequences: 38 - 6

Spain Shine Against Georgia

On paper this was meant to be an easy win for Spain, given how easily they beat Georgia in the qualifying stages. The first 15 minutes was exactly what we’ve seen from Georgia during the tournament, well organized at the back and difficult to break down.

Trouble was Spain had so many options to pull around that back five. Two winger that could coming inside or hit the byline. Two full backs backing them up with overlapping runs. Rodri, Ruiz and Pedri finding space in and around the box. Morata making runs to push the central defenders deeper. It was only a matter of time…

Georgia have had success in the tournament with their well organized low block to stifle the opposition and being deadly in transition. Quick and smart passes into space. Their opening goal is an excellent move down the right side combining all of those strengths.

Rodri then equalized with a brilliant shot outside the box, on his weaker foot.

Lamine Yamal seems to already have a signature move with this cross to the back post. Fabian Ruiz was there to head it in and put Spain 2-1 up.

Nico Williams scored a wonderful goal that started with this switch out to him on the left side.

Taking it into his path, beating the defender and finishing into the roof of the net.

Dani Olmo (recently linked to Man City) came on just after half time and provided the fourth goal for Spain. Taking the ball down just outside the box, making a quick move past the defender and finishing into the bottom left corner.

Spain were fantastic in this match and took Georgia apart by the time it finished. They will take on Germany in the Quarter Finals on the 5th July, 17:00 GMT. Setting up perhaps the best match up in the tournament, between the two teams that have impressed the most out of the favorites. The winner

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia (3-0 Pens)

Euro 2024/Round of 16

MOTM: Diogo Costa

Match Stats:

• xG: 1.95 - 0.47

• xThreat: 2.27 - 0.73

• Possession: 70.8% - 29.2%

• Field Tilt: 76.9% - 23.1%

• Penalty Box Shots: 11 - 3

• Deep Completions: 15 - 2

• PPDA: 6.5 - 14.8

• High Turnovers: 5 - 4

• 10+ Pass Sequences: 34 - 2

Portugal Struggle Again

It’s fair to put the Georgia result to one side given the number of changes made but it’s not like the Czechia performance was inspiring from Portugal either. They were excellent against Turkey but against Slovenia it was not great again from Portugal.

Ronaldo dominates the headlines for taking every free kick he could but the real questions should lie at the feet of Martinez. If you are not willing to drop Ronaldo then you should setup the team to get the most out of him.

Bernardo holding width on the right, Fernandes floating out to the left to find space. Vitinha and Palhinha easily picked up in the middle. Cancelo inverting only to be covered off. A back line that found it easy to track the runs of Ronaldo.

Portugal made it easy for Slovenia to defend against them.

Here is an example of a free kick Ronaldo took during the game, this was his closest shot to scoring.

Jota won a penalty in the second half after he ran into a couple Slovenia players in the box. Harsh decision but it didn’t matter as Oblak saved it.

Sesko had a huge chance in extra time to win the game that he missed and it was penalties that was needed to decide the match.

Up stepped Diogo Costa as the hero by stopping three penalties in a row. The most impressive performance by a goalkeeper in the tournament so far.

Portugal will take on France in the Quarter Finals on the 5th July, 20:00 GMT. If the two games last night were anything to go off then penalties might be needed again unless France can find another own goal…

France 1-0 Belgium

Euro 2024/Round of 16

MOTM: Jules Kounde

Match Stats:

• xG: 1.74 - 0.28

• xThreat: 1.9 - 0.64

• Possession: 54.9% - 45.1%

• Field Tilt: 75.8% - 24.2%

• Penalty Box Shots: 13 - 3

• Deep Completions: 17 - 5

• PPDA: 16.2 - 21.1

• High Turnovers: 2 - 1

• 10+ Pass Sequences: 26 - 22

France Find Another Own Goal

The setup of both teams stifled one another and led to a rather dull game as a result. Greizmann playing RW. Kante and Rabiot playing as eights. Doku in LWB positions before he’s beginning his dribbles. De Bruyne playing deeper meant he couldn’t play those killer passes in the final third that we saw in previous games. France are filled with brilliant duel winners so Belgium struggled to win any second balls and get more chances in transition.

When Belgium was in possession they setup like this.

France on the other hand found it tough to breakdown the Belgium back line when in possession without the creative players in the middle to find space. The best they had was a couple chances to shoot outside the box or some crosses into the box.

When France was in possession they setup like this.

Thuram had a good chance after Kounde found this cross into the box.

This was their best opportunity to score from a shot on the edge of the box but Tchouameni hits it over.

This was the one chance Belgium was waiting for, De Bruyne slotting the ball in-behind for Carrasco which he didn’t take.

In a game that felt like neither team was going to score and penalties was needed, it was another own goal that get France the win. The ball threaded into Kolo Muani whose shot was deflected off Vertonghen.

France will take on Portugal in the Quarter Finals on the 5th July, 20:00 GMT. A game that will have penalties written all over it unless either of these teams finds their rhythm in the final third. Something we’ve not seen for most of the tournament.

LAST WORD👋

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