Euro 2020: Meet Big Teams That May Not Qualify For Round 16

So far in the Euro 2020 championship, only four out of 24 teams have clinched the ticket to the round of 16.

As of Sunday, only Italy in Group A has secured nine points, Belgium have six points in Group B and Netherlands have six points in Group C and Wales qualified with 4 points from Group A.

Advertisement

The Euro games have 24 teams struggling for the spot made for only 16 teams.

Italy is the only team that has so far won all of its matches against Wales, Switzerland and Turkey.

They have been named the most impressive team at the group stage of the competition.

In Group D, Czech Republic and England are both struggling for the slots with 4 points each, while Croatia is yet to win a match.

Advertisement

Sweden is leading Group E with 4 points, while Slovakia has 3 points to boast of in the Group.

But Spain may put up a surprise having drawn all the two matches they have played so far.

France is topping the Group F which has been tagged the ‘group of death’ with 4 points.

Germany is second place in the group with 3 points after losing to France in their first group game.

But Germany made a comeback to beat Portugal 4-2 to clinch the second spot ahead of both Portugal which is in the third place and Hungary in the fourth.

Advertisement

In UEFA Euro rules, 12 teams are selected from the top two teams of the six groups, while another four are selected from the four best losers.

The four best losers will be selected from the six teams that come third in each group.

Teams like Switzerland in Group A (4 points), Finland in Group B (3 points), Austria in Group C (3 points), Croatia in Group D (1 point), Spain in Group E (2 points) and Portugal in Group F (3 points) are currently third in their various groups.

Croatia Squad/ Getty Images

If the likes of Croatia, Spain and Portugal must progress to the next stage based on current standings, they have to win their last group games.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal are on three points and they have their last game against France, but need to squeeze at least a draw from the encounter.

Advertisement

This will in a way offset the cost of the 4-2 loss the defending champions suffered from Joachim Löew’s Germany.

Portugal Squad Against Germany

Luis Enrique’s Spain so far have not won a match in Euro 2020 and they risk the chance of eviction if they lose their match against Slovakia.

Spain National Team, Euro 2020

On Sunday, Enrique admitted he expected more from his team after a 1-1 draw with Poland.

“I was expecting more,” said Enrique. “I was expecting six points and zero goals conceded. But this is the situation.

“We’re coming into the crunch match now and if we want to progress, we need to win. If we win, we’ll go through. If not, we’ll be out. That’s the reality.”

Portugal’s coach Fernando Santos, in the last game took responsibility for the defeat but believes his team will improve on Wednesday against France.

“Germany were the better team and I take responsibility for this (defeat), but whether we progress now is up to us and how we respond,” Santos said after losing to Germany.

Leave a comment

Advertisement