Belgium-Italy is the only match that is worth a semifinal, Czech Republic-Denmark indecipherable: these Europeans have shown that there are no sentences already written. Here is the guide to quarters
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Belgium-Italy is the only quarter that is worth a semifinal. Switzerland-Spain and Ukraine-England seem one-way. Indecipherable, in a minor tone, Czech Republic-Denmark. But the truth is another: in this European any forecast is forbidden. Today we would say Italy-Spain and England-Denmark, with the English playing the final four at Wembley. But what if the quarters also rebelled against the sentences already written?
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It’s easy to say Spain. After a couple of rounds, France was destined to win the European Championship, Switzerland seen with Italy was better off not participating and Spain seemed engulfed in its tedious maneuver without the creative spark. All overturned in these round of 16 that have also re-evaluated the path of the blues: Swiss and Czechs were not so modest. The tournament is long. And while France has frayed from game to game, Spain is growing in self-esteem and goals, not in game. That was never lacking, only that the accuracy in the shots was disastrous. Ten goals in Slovakia and Croatia offer a new perspective. Translated: it will be worse for Switzerland than with France.
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The Bleus were too tied to personal initiatives. He missed a Jorginho to join Kanté and free Pogba. Spain is more compact, less spectacular, it weaves its web around the prey and then strikes. Morata has dozens of crosses and through filters available, Olmo, Sarabia and Oyarzabal do a huge job in the wing, and Pedri’s star is shining: it looks like a future De Bruyne for how he connects the departments and dictates the times, but he moves (let us case) like Dybala. Behind, the Spaniards are very steadfast. Switzerland must understand if Gavranovic, Vargas, Mbabu, decisive in the current match with France, can enter immediately or in the current match. Untouchable Zuber, but he had seen himself with Italy in the final. Only one advantage, but not indifferent, for Petkovic: nothing to lose. Which makes it easy. And if Xhaka repeats itself …
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Czech Republic-Denmark
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The fourth impossible. No one would have ever indicated the Czech Republic, not after the 4-0 with Italy in the last pre-European friendly (and the goals could have been more). We all thought: it’s a pity it didn’t happen to us. And instead he took advantage of that knockout, closing the ranks in defense and shortening departments and men. Rhythm and physique are not lacking. He took advantage of every situation scientifically, with Schick’s shots and a good collective behind him: he only lost at Wembley with the British, but was already qualified. And then the tactical masterpiece with the Netherlands of which he showed all the limits. Now it is scary with that pair of midfield Soucek-Holes and the former Roma player never so lethal. But Denmark is no less surprising. At zero after two days, and with the shock of Eriksen’s cardiac arrest in the field, he recovered the qualification at the last minute, overwhelming a disrupted Russia and starting a new European.
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The impression is that it will depend on the Danes. They are the ones with the most offensive propensity and the most opportunities (with Italy and Spain). They have a fast, vertical game of running entrances and cut crosses. Physically and mentally it is as if they had freed themselves of a burden since Eriksen was out of danger, indeed it was a burst of energy. They fight, they pull from outside and the Sampdorian Damsgaard is the revelation. There is always the risk that Wales have exaggerated the merits, and that Czech coach Silhavy has the strategy to slow the pace. Favorite Danes, Schick-Damsgaard challenge, speed and imagination against solidity and concreteness.
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De Bruyne or not De Bruyne? It changes a lot, maybe everything. We can also do it with KDB and Lukaku together, but facing Belgium without its phenomenon would be an indisputable advantage. On the other hand, coach Martinez can do without Hazard, at least this Hazard, as in recent times, although reassuring signs of recovery were seen against Portugal. But De Bruyne, today, is in another category. And this is the least predictable quarter-final on paper. Percentages at par, net of KDB. With Italy having won the ranks of favorite in the current tournament: many suspected that so far it had shone in the “darkness” of others, in the modesty of its rivals, Belgium may be the litmus test for an afterthought.
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Red devils have a nice collective, like ours. Less young, more proven, with a lower center of gravity. They tend to cover themselves up and then stretch the field with launches. They have two top players like De Bruyne and Lukaku, while ours are aspiring tops, if we exclude perhaps Verratti who is not sure of the place. We have more enthusiasm, because we are not the first in the Fifa ranking, we come from the Russian Apocalypse and, having reached the quarters, everything that comes is a success. We work for Qatar. Our mission is to chain Lukaku, make fast possession, lower the defensive line a few meters in order not to expose himself to Big Rom’s counterattacks and then attack on the flanks, from where we can hurt a physically strong defense but passable low ball. But in the goal area we need to be more precise. Today Spain seems more formidable.
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Can England miss the opportunity of the century? A quarter-final against the non-transcendental Ukraine, before a “final four” at Wembley in the most affordable part of the scoreboard, with one between Denmark and the Czech Republic in the semifinals. A more promising path is difficult. And now that Kane has unlocked, and the enthusiasm is skyrocketing, everything is conspiring for England to compete for the European Championship for the first time in history. Not that some fragility is missing in the Southgate team, especially the defense attacked by the Germans at speed seemed pierceable. Nor is it clear whether the three-way defense system seen against Germany will be confirmed. But the two medians (Rice-Phillips) are irreducible and on the flanks Saka and Sterling take no prisoners. Sterling is the goalscorer: 3 goals out of 4, the rematch for the difficult season in Manchester City. Plus Foden, Bellingham and Sancho on the bench.
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Shevchenko’s Ukraine, like Switzerland, has nothing to lose. Getting to this point is already a success. However, it seems less solid, a little light and less reliable in defense. He lost the verticality of the early days and struggled to be dangerous in the area. Yarmolenko and Zinchenko are the best, Malinovskyi’s European Championship still unsolved. If Sweden hadn’t been left with ten last night, maybe it would have been different. He has experimented with the three-man defense with the Swedes and is likely to confirm it to counter the English offensive power: do I aim for penalties? But the impression is that Sweden would have had a better chance of surprising the Southgate national team.
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June 30, 2021 (change June 30, 2021 | 08:50)
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