Slovakia 1-2 Ukraine

Euro 2024/Group E/Round 2

MOTM: Mykola Shaparenko

Other standout performances include: Oleksandr Zinchenko & Stanislav Lobotka

Notable Stats:

• Roman Yaremchuk has now scored more European Championship goals than any over player in Ukraine’s history (3).

• Ivan Schranz is the first player to score multiple goals at a single European Championship tournament for Slovakia.

Match Stats:

• xG: 1.19 - 1.55

• xThreat: 1.2 - 1.43

• Possession: 56% - 44%

• Field Tilt: 61.8% - 38.4%

Ukraine Fight Back

They desperately needed the win against Slovakia and it wasn’t easy either. I was impressed by how Slovakia setup out of possession in their first game against Belgium. Made it difficult to progress the ball and adjusted well to the press of Belgium through the movement of Lobotka.

The first goal was quite unfortunate for Ukraine to concede given the deflection but Slovakia worked it well down their left side and took advantage of Zinchenko at the back post.

Excellent move by Ukraine to work it down the left side and open up a cut back for their first goal. Made possible by the movement of Shaparenko in the box.

Shaparenko for the second goal receives a brilliant pass between the lines from Zabarnyi.

Puts the ball in-behind for Yaremchuk to run onto and poke into the goal.

Now Ukraine have a tough task ahead to beat Belgium who also desperately need the win to progress. All four teams on 3 points sets up a tense final round of games in group E.

Poland 1-3 Austria

Euro 2024/Group D/Round 2

MOTM: Marcel Sabitzer

Other standout performances include: Christoph Baumgartner, Marko Arnautovic & Krzysztof Piatek

Notable Stats:

• Ralf Rangnick has his best win rate in charge of a team with Austria (58.3%).

Match Stats:

• xG: 1.68 - 1.83

• xThreat: 1.37 - 1.45

• Possession: 47.3% - 52.7%

• Field Tilt: 38.2% - 61.8%

Dark Horse Has Arrived?

Austria had a tough start against France, despite playing superb off the ball they were up against immense individual quality and they couldn’t seize the couple chances they created.

What was clear in that match became even more so against Poland, Austria are a very well coached team under Ralf Rangnick. Smart with their movement on and off the ball.

The way they occupy players, pull them out of the way to open up space to attack is remarkable to watch. Lesser known names of course but there is still plenty of talent in there.

Poland were far from being the poor team on the day, just like against Netherlands there was good spells for them but in a group like this without Lewandoski they were always up against it. Austria took their chances were Poland did not.

Provided that Austria get through as a third place team, they’ll make the round of 16 match difficult for any team.

Netherlands 0-0 France

Euro 2024/Group D/Round 2

MOTM: N’Golo Kante

Other standout performances include: Upamecano & Tchouameni

Notable Stats:

• N’Golo Kante has made more major tournament appearances without losing than any other European player, with France unbeaten in all 17 games he’s played.

• N’Golo Kante is the only player to win the UEFA Player of the Match award in both games so far at EURO 2024.

• France have not won any of their last six games in which Kylian Mbappe has not started.

Match Stats:

• xG: 0.52 - 1.02

• xThreat: 0.64 - 1.78

• Possession: 37.7% - 62.3%

• Field Tilt: 31.1% - 68.9%

• Penalty Box Shots: 4 - 8

• Deep Completions: 4 - 11

• PPDA: 18.9 - 14.9

• High Turnovers: 0 - 5

• 10+ Pass Sequences: 17 - 28

Stalemate

I think it’s understandable to read the scoreline and think either poor performance or at the very least a boring one. France had to find a way without Mbappe in the team and they certainly tried something different!

Kante was fantastic again but this time in a role higher up the pitch to win the ball and make vertical runs next to Rabiot. You saw France play far more like a Red Bull team as a 4-2-2-2. Trying to overload the Dutch midfield and focus on transitions. Netherlands had the athletic and smart defenders capable of matching those movements.

Upamecano and Tchouameni were excellent in possession to progress France up the pitch.

There was chances for the Netherlands with Frimpong at the start of the match. Xavi Simons goal ruled out for offside interference by Dumfries will leave them feeling robbed of the win (correct decision in my opinion).

France should have scored with this chance, won the game and suddenly everyone is talking about how good they look. That wasn’t the only chance for Griezmann in this match either and France will feel unfortunate to draw given the chances created.

A draw means the Netherlands are top and if it finishes that way France will be on the same side of the draw as Germany and Spain. Favorable for England!

Georgia 1-1 Czechia

Euro 2024/Group F/Round 2

MOTM: Giorgi Mamardashvili

Other standout performances include: Georges Mikautadze & Tomas Soucek

Notable Stats:

• Czechia registered 12 shots on target against Georgia, the most by a team who failed to win the match in EUROs history (since 1980).

• Only Michel Platini (1.8) has a better goals/game ratio in EURO history than Patrik Schick (0.86). 5+ games played.

• Patrik Schick has overtaken Milan Baros as Czechia’s all-time top scorer in the history of the EUROs.

• Georges Mikautadze is the sixth player to score both of his nation’s first two goals at the EUROs. The first player to do so since Andriy Shevchenko.

• Giorgi Mamardashvili is the first goalkeeper to make 15+ saves at EURO 2024. 11 came against Czechia.

Match Stats:

• xG: 1.22 - 3.06

• xThreat: 0.67 - 2.52

• Possession: 38.2% - 61.8%

• Field Tilt: 25.9% - 74.1%

Georgia Steal A Point

Mamardashvili was one of the best goalkeepers in La Liga last season and in this match he backed that up. Czechia were excellent in possession and at sustaining it in the Georgia half. Created the highest xG in a single EURO 2024 match and still left with only point.

Here is how they both lined up.

As mentioned, the number of chances Czechia generated was staggering and until the first half penalty Georgia had struggled to get a couple shots on target.

All that work by Czechia and in the end Georgia had this chance to get their first win in Euros history, shooting and completely missing the goal. Georgia will need one hell of a performance against Portgual to have a chance of qualifying and Czechia should take some confidence from this heading into their final match against Turkey.

Turkey 0-3 Portugal

Euro 2024/Group F/Round 2

MOTM: Bernardo Silva

Other standout performances include: Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha & Ruben Dias

Notable Stats:

• Cristiano Ronaldo is now the highest goalscorer and provided the most assists (7) in EUROs history (on record).

• Bruno Fernandes has been directly involved in 28 goals in his last 23 appearances for Portugal.

• Portugal’s win against Turkey matches their biggest wins in EUROs history (Croatia 96, Germany 00, Hungary 21, Turkey 24).

• Bernardo Silva is the first Manchester City player to score at EURO 2024.

Match Stats:

• xG: 0.68 - 1.86

• xThreat: 1.09 - 1.43

• Possession: 43.1% - 56.9%

• Field Tilt: 54.9% - 45.1%

• Penalty Box Shots: 4 - 9

• Deep Completions: 8 - 13

• PPDA: 14.7 - 8.2

• High Turnovers: 5 - 6

• 10+ Pass Sequences: 11 - 19

This is Portugal

This is the Portugal I was expecting to see and was disappointed not to see against Czechia. Of course they have talented players but you must be set up well as England have shown us.

One quick note is the changes to Turkey without Guler and Yildiz. They missed them both in attack and more than likely this was tactical. Saving those two for the final group match where a win get’s them out the group.

The standout for me in this match was the pressing from Portugal. Leaving Leao and Ronaldo very simple jobs to press 1v1. Bernardo Silva, Fernandes and Vitinha could all dictate the high press and who jumps. Defenders in Mendes, Dias, Pepe and Cancelo are all happy to and able to be aggressive jumping up from behind.

Turkey struggled to get out without turning over the ball or hitting it long for Yilmaz which Mendes was more than happy to race him for. Costa able to come out and sweep.

Turkey were poor at defending in their own box against Georgia and we saw that again here. The movement of Ronaldo and Bernardo Silva caused them plenty of problems for the goals. Vitinha has been a standout for me in midfield for Portugal, across both matches.

Here are the stats for Bernardo Silva against Turkey, the man of the match with his goal and crucial to the intelligent high press used by Portugal. Now they look like contenders.

Belgium 2-0 Romania

Euro 2024/Group E/Round 2

MOTM: Kevin De Bruyne

Other standout performances include: Jeremy Doku, Amadou Onana & Florin Nita

Notable Stats:

• For the first time in EUROs history, all four teams in a specific group (Group E) are level on points heading into the final matchday.

• Belgium scored their fastest-ever goal at a major tournament. 73 seconds.

• Jeremy Doku has completed more take-ons than any other player at EURO 2024 (9) while only three players have created more chances.

Match Stats:

• xG: 2.46 - 1.43

• xThreat: 1.56 - 1.08

• Possession: 55.1% - 44.9%

• Field Tilt: 57.1% - 42.9%

• Penalty Box Shots: 14 - 7

• Deep completions: 18 - 8

• PPDA: 7.7 - 11.2

• High Turnovers: 9 - 2

• 10+ Pass Sequences: 15 - 4

De Bruyne Leads Belgium to Victory

This was a good step forward from Belgium compared to their previous match. Although they lost, the performance was good against Slovakia. Tielemans came into midfield and was able to push up or drop deep. De Bruyne would do the opposite to him in possession. Lukebakio coming inside for Castagne to push high. Doku isolated on the left side, that’s a good thing!

Here are the stats for Jeremy Doku in this match but I want you to focus on his passes inside the box. Along with De Bruyne, they both created a number of chances throughout the match. The issue was either players missing those chances or goals being disallowed again. Lukaku is now on three disallowed goals in two games.

Electric start from Belgium as a patient Jeremy Doku picks out Lukaku inside the box. He holds up the ball and lays it off to Tielemans arriving to shoot.

Romania in the second half stepped up for a good portion of the half and built up to one chance after Onana lost possession. After that Belgium wrapped up the result with a ball over the top from the goal kick, De Bruyne jumping onto the loose ball to tap it in.

If Belgium attack like this against Ukraine then they’ll score the goals to win and in the knockout rounds they have a chance. De Bruyne and Doku will create against the best in the world. But they must be clinical with those chances.

Team of Round 2

Here is my team for the second round of fixtures as Portugal looked far better against Turkey. Spain and Germany continued showing why they could win the tournament. De Bruyne leading Belgium to a crucial win. Arnautovic reached a huge individual milestone. Kante had back-to-back MOTM awards and Mamardashvili stole a point for Georgia.

Contenders Ranking?

Heading into the final group game more teams impressed and a number of them made improvements. England continued to struggle.

Here are my current rankings for the contenders. One from each group.

1. Germany

2. Spain

3. France

4. Portugal

5. Belgium

6. England

Nagelsmann has built a team specifically for winning this tournament and they’ve delivered so far. Yet to see them fully tested defensively in transition or against an aggressive and intelligent press. Spain look to be the most balanced team in the competition.

France have outstanding individual quality, found ways to win but yet to fully click into gear. Portugal looked far more fluid in their match against Turkey and were setup well by Martinez to press. Belgium will create enough chances to win three games in one match but the question remains if they will be clinical when it really matters. England may have outstanding individual players but they have neither been set up well enough or had players find solutions on the pitch. Instead, stumbling into top of the group.

I’d keep my eye on the following teams to cause upsets and/or bounce back into form.

• Switzerland

• Austria

• Romania

• Italy

• Croatia

The Netherlands are a fascinating case given the talent they have and are currently top of their group. A manager that can put together confusing lineups. A great set of defenders and brilliant young goalkeeper. My concerns are not staying in a game against any of the contenders but would be them finding the winning the goal in the final moments of a game.

LAST WORD👋

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