Euro 2024: Candidates who can “step on it” and memories of the first stage | Blog – Yannis Seritis

Giannis Serritis recaps the first stage of Euro 2024 and looks ahead to the Round of 16 and Quarter-Finals now that… The big match begins…

And now… it begins euro! 36 games have been played, only 15 to go, but they are already starting now. No, we will not remember moments from the first stage. Zakani’s goal to qualify first! Albania’s equaliser against Croatia (again) at the end! The brilliant Netherlands – Austria 2-3. The amazing Belgium – Slovakia 0-1. Akaydin’s own goal. And Mullen. Cristiano should be “defeated”. And deified for a simple assist: that’s right, it was news! The great Georgians, the “absolute” Spaniards, the heartbreaking England, the injury to Babi, the brilliant Sherin, the giant Mamardashvili from Valencia (for now), and many more…

All this will be forgotten quickly. Mainly matches. Some moments, some pictures, we will remember. The rest – for us from the couch – we will quickly forget. The “axe” begins. Extra time, penalties, beautiful things. With some clear favorites and some not in the “16” stage. We put two points, take a breath, do a short flashback and move on to the number “8”…

1. The last day of the matchdays for points led to a very significant drop in the goal average. There were 61 goals scored in 24 games and only one clean sheet, Netherlands vs France in the first two games. In the third round, only 17 goals were scored in eight games. Of the eight games, three ended 0-0 and only two ended in draws: Czech Republic – Turkey 1-2 (Czechs were sent off very early…) and Netherlands – Austria 2-3.
2. All teams scored in the first stage! But only the Spaniards kept their stoves intact. The Spaniards won only three!
3. In fact, the Spaniards had the best overall team performance at this year’s European Championships given their opponent’s position. 1-0 against the Italians..
4. Some may, of course, consider that the most “complete” performance was in the first phase for Germany in the first show – five against Scotland. Any Scotland guys?
5. Others might also consider the Germans… a super team, as they rank first in most statistical categories for creativity and aggression. Forgetting, apparently, that they faced the Scots and the Hungarians (who also conceded three clean chances!). In a difficult first match against Switzerland, Vilkronge equalized in the 90th minute…
6. The top scorer is… an own goal. Seven own goals in the qualifying stage alone, while a total of 27 goals have been scored in the history of the Euro! That means this year has seen a quarter of… history!
7. The top scorer is… Mikautatz, player of Metz Bologna. With three goals. Two of them are punishable. We said, Euros are very bad for strikers. For the good people participating in it. Let’s see in the knockout where the real euro begins. There, some will “speak”!
8. The first in the final attempts is Cristiano with a score of 12. That is 0/12. He is followed by Lukaku, Pape, Eriksen (!), Havertz and Mitrovic with 10.
9. Portugal is far ahead in crosses with 85! That’s about 30 crosses per game! Where do they go with the crosses? Let’s keep a small basket because it contains two players! They are also first in dribbling with 71…
10. After all, practically all the big boys continue except Croatia, which was certainly not… favorites to lift it! Those who are eliminated deserve to be eliminated. Yes Croats too! Even if in 1998 it was “eaten” by the counters of this type of Italians. The Czech Republic, Ukraine, Poland, Serbia, Scotland and Hungary are rightfully coming home.
11. Only one person leaves unjustly. Albania. Italy took their place in a deafening first half in the first round of the match, which later turned into “fireworks”.
12. Good refereeing continued for the most part. There are two or three exceptions that do not change the overall picture, where the motivational and, in most cases, quick intervention of VAR plays a very big role.
13. Only two expulsions in 32 matches! In the first, Germany – Scotland, against the Scots. And in the end, the Czech Republic – Türkiye vs. the Czech Republic.
14. Now that the Serbs, Albanians, Hungarians and Croats have left, the wood will also decline. We say now. You never know what will come your way…
15. The Balkans were also the most “exciting” fans inside the stadiums. We will see it in the next stage with the Romanians and Slovenes… and the Turks of course, who are probably the largest after the Germans! By the way, don’t write them off against the amazing Austrians. Whoever qualifies can also reach the final…
16. Austria vs Turkey looks like the only match without a clear favourite in the Round of 16. Let’s see who gets sent off..
17. Spaniards, Germans, Dutch, English vs. Georgia, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia It’s a little difficult to “get ahead of them.” An upset is perhaps more likely for the Swiss against the Italians, for the Belgians against the French (even if the top ten team has been bad so far) and for the Slovenians against the Portuguese, because they run a lot, have terrible cohesion and do not concede goals easily, although they do not concede badly. A year…full of talent (only 25 final attempts and 36.7% ball possession).
18. The amazing form of many goalkeepers continues. Let’s see Pickford now that the tough times have started…
19. Valencia’s terrible Mamardashvili saves first with a chaotic margin! The Georgian has 20, Ness from Romania has 13 and from 12 many more…
20. And the first to make mistakes is Sherine who has nine! Nine, no card! Well done kid…
21. First, in total tackles, the Georgia Warriors have 55! The second is the “suicide bombers” in Austria who are running around like crazy, numbering 51! Of these, only 13 succeeded! That’s why they have the most cards and the most mistakes in the competition… You won’t guess who has the least. Dairy, with 24! Are you saying they were banned for that?
22. Southgate’s best quote yet: “Our players aren’t ready enough to press effectively!” Terrible!